Editorial policy

RealBill publishes practical guides and calculator explanations for Indian tax, salary, and personal finance. Every page is written to answer a real question a salaried professional or small business owner actually has — not to chase a keyword. This policy explains how content is researched, written, reviewed, and corrected, so you can judge how much to rely on it.

Research & sourcing

Tax and compliance content starts from primary sources: the Income Tax Act and rules as published by the Income Tax Department (incometax.gov.in), GST law and rate notifications from the GST portal and CBIC, EPFO circulars for provident fund matters, and RBI or National Savings Institute notifications for interest-rate-linked products like PPF and NSC. Where a rule changes with a Union Budget, we update affected pages after the Finance Act text is available rather than reacting to budget-speech headlines.

  • Worked examples use realistic rupee amounts and show the step-by-step math, so readers can reproduce the calculation.
  • Where payroll practice differs from strict statutory language (for example, metro classification for HRA), we say so explicitly.
  • We avoid duplicate templated paragraphs across pages; each guide is written for its specific question.
  • Rates and thresholds that change periodically (PPF interest, tax slabs, rebate limits) are stated with the caveat to verify the current notified figure before filing.

How calculators are built and checked

Each calculator implements the formula that is displayed on its own page — nothing hidden. Formulas are checked against official examples where the government publishes them (for example, gratuity and EPF computations) and against manual spreadsheet calculations for edge cases like part-year tenures and rounding. When a statutory rate changes, the calculator and its explanatory content are updated together. Our methodology page lists the formula and assumptions used by each calculator category.

Review and updates

Guides carry a published date and, where meaningfully revised, an updated date in article metadata. Pages tied to a financial year (slabs, rebate limits, deduction caps) are reviewed at the start of each financial year and after major budget changes. Older posts that no longer reflect current rules are either rewritten or removed rather than left to mislead readers.

Corrections

If you spot an error, email us via the contact page. Verified factual mistakes are corrected within 48–72 hours, and corrections that could change a reader's financial decision (a wrong limit, rate, or formula) are prioritised over stylistic fixes. We do not silently rewrite substantive claims — materially corrected pages get an updated date.

AI disclosure

Drafts may use AI assistance for structure and first drafts. All published pages are human-edited for accuracy, tone, and India-specific context before release — including checking every number, section reference, and worked example against the sources above. AI is never the final authority on a tax figure.

Advertising and independence

RealBill may display advertising (such as Google AdSense) to keep tools free. Advertisers have no influence on editorial content, calculator formulas, or which topics we cover. We do not accept payment for product recommendations, and we do not currently run affiliate placements inside guides.

Not professional advice

Articles and calculators are educational tools. They help you estimate, plan, and ask better questions — they are not a substitute for personalised advice. For filing decisions, audits, notices, or legal disputes, consult a qualified CA or tax professional. See our disclaimer for the full scope of what this site does and does not do.