#CTC Calculator | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

badkitty3000 · 10 months ago

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You Can't Go Home Again

Chapters 3 and 4

Link to Chapters 1 and 2

Link to Chapter 5

All Five wants to do is rest. But when yet another apocalypse threatens to doom them all, he doesn't have that luxury. This time, the only solution for the Hargreeves to try and save the world is to unite Five with another, alternate version of himself.

Five starts to spiral when he is faced with the alternate life that he could have had, if only he hadn't gone and ruined everything. But maybe, just maybe, there's still time for him to obtain the happy ending he deserves.

An alternate season three rewrite for a request I received.

Warnings: None

More chapters will be posted as I continue writing this multi-chapter fic. Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Family

“Damn it!”

Five threw his pen onto the table in frustration, resting his head in his hands while aggressively raking his fingers through his hair. They had been working for hours, and he was starting to feel that familiar brain fatigue creeping in. With his suit coat and vest discarded on a nearby chair, and his tie hanging loosely down over his wrinkled shirt, Five could have really used another drink. He thought about telling his other self that, or even just going to help himself from the bottle stashed in the desk drawer, but he thought better of it.

“What’s the problem now?” the other him grumbled from the other side of the table. He had the briefcase torn apart, inspecting its inner workings and trying to apply his own research to rebuilding it.

“The problem is that none of this makes any god damn sense!” Five spat out. “The only way to make the closed timeline curve even possible is to have a temporally orientable spacetime. And with these numbers, that’s not happening.”

“The numbers are fine. You’re just not utilizing them correctly. Non-temporal orientability is not an obstacle for the CTC if a given general relativistic spacetime is not temporally orientable…” the other Five started to say.

Five, aggravated with being lectured to by his technically younger self, finished his sentence, “…in a spacetime that is everywhere locally the same as the given spacetime and is itself temporally orientable. You think I don’t know that? I’ve been working on this theory longer than you’ve been alive, shit-for-brains.”

“Well, considering you couldn’t even calculate your correct physical age, I’d say you still need to keep working on it.”

Five stood up and leaned across the table, his teeth gnashing together. “At least I’ve been able to actually do something with my powers. Instead of this…” he gestured at the room around him. “Theoretical nonsense! You egotistical moron!”

The other pointed a finger in his face, which Five promptly swatted out of the way. “Listen, you little jerk off, I have no qualms about kicking your ass into the ground right now.”

“Oh yeah? I’d like to see you try, fetus-brain.”

With a blink, the other Five was across the table, ready to strangle his smaller doppelganger. Anticipating himself doing that, Five created his own portal, appearing on the other side of the room. As both versions stood there with clenched fists, staring one another down, Five rolled his eyes and relaxed his posture. Apparently, you don’t have to be in full psychosis mode to want to kill your other self.

“Fuck, I’m too tired to do this again,” he said out loud, tipping his head back with a sigh. He faced his other self again. “Just sit down, ok? We don’t have time for this.”

“Look, it’s late and I’m tired as hell. I’m going to bed; I’ll work more on this in the morning.”

Five scoffed and attempted a strained smile. “Fine. Do you mind if I continue down here?”

The other him shrugged before heading for the stairs. “Just don’t mess up any of my shit.”

As he watched him trudge up the stairs, Five plopped down onto a chair again. He was exhausted, and he knew he wasn’t going to get anywhere tonight, either. But his siblings were all camped out in the living room up there, after Marie had insisted they stay, and Five had no desire to answer any of their questions at the moment. Let the other jackass deal with them. He just wanted peace and quiet and to let his mind clear for a moment. And to maybe have one more drink.

*******************************************

“Jesus Fucking Christ, what happened to you?”

Five’s eyelids slowly peeled back, feeling like they were permanently fused to his eyeballs. The light was piercing and he groaned loudly before closing them again. His head was splitting open with the world’s worst headache, which was not helped by the fact that he was apparently lying on a very hard surface. His mouth filled with saliva as his stomach churned. As a few more seconds passed, he remembered where he was. And who was talking to him. Fuck, can’t this guy give me a break?

Slowly, Five lifted his head, the movement making the acid in his stomach roil dangerously. With another groan, he sat upright and peered through bleary eyes at the face staring down at him with equal parts concern and disgust. His own face.

“Shit,” his other self murmured with a shake of his head. Reaching out to pick up the empty whiskey bottle that was lying on its side next to Five, he replaced it with a mug of steaming hot coffee. “Here.”

Five gave a short snort of appreciation before picking the mug up and taking a small sip. It was rich and flavorful and he sighed with relief at having finally found a decent cup of coffee. It was more than decent, actually. It tasted like heaven.

The alternate version must have noticed the look that had crossed his smaller self’s face and he chuckled softly. “Yeah, Marie makes the best coffee. One of the reasons I married her.”

Five nodded before wiping a hand down his face in an attempt to wake up. He had passed out while sitting at the desk after polishing off the last of the whiskey. The framed picture of his alternate universe family was lying face down next to where his head had been resting. He remembered staring at it while working his way through several glasses, until finally he had turned it over, unable to torture himself anymore. He quickly righted the frame, hoping that the him that was now sitting in a chair on the other side of the small room hadn’t noticed.

As he peered over at the older-looking face of himself, Five noted the morning stubble that had grown overnight. He passed a hand over his own chin, feeling nothing but baby-smooth skin. With another heavy sigh, he took a sip of coffee to hide the frustration he felt at being stuck in his current body. Look on the bright side. You didn’t wake up with a boner this time, which is a small miracle. Probably too drunk for a boner. Can you get whiskey dick at thirteen?

“So, if I had known you were going to polish off my best booze in the course of a few hours, I wouldn’t have left you unsupervised.”

Five gave another sarcastic snort. “Well, if we end up saving the world, I’ll buy you a new one.”

“I don’t really care about the whiskey; I’m more concerned about the teenager that looks they just got back from a three-day bender in Vegas that is currently sitting in my basement.”

“Not a teenager,” Five mumbled into his coffee.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. You’re an old man and much wiser to the ways of the world than myself. Which you have so clearly demonstrated.”

“So, now what? You going to give me some long heart to heart lecture on the error of my ways?”

The other Five shook his head. “Nope. I figure whatever you’ve gone through has been hellish enough to warrant all of this. I could be right there with you if it weren’t for my family.”

Five’s head was pounding and he closed his eyes again. He didn’t really need to hear from this asshole about how wonderful his life could have been.

“Well, we can’t all be as lucky as you,” Five murmured while rubbing his temples.

“I’m lucky now, I’ll admit it. I have my wife and my kids. But it wasn’t always like that. Remember, I started out the same as you. I was part of the Umbrella Academy and Reginald Hargreeves was my father.”

Five had actually forgotten that part. He nodded. “Did Dad give you the same stupid acorn lecture that I got?”

The other man smiled. “Sure did. Unfortunately, the old bastard ended up being right about that. We weren’t ready.”

“Yeah, that’s an understatement.”

“So, what happened to you?” the alt Five asked with genuine concern.

Five had not been anticipating having to get into all the gritty details, but he also felt trapped and his body was not in any shape to be blinking or even walking away at the moment. He sighed.

“I jumped, same as you. Thought I was a hotshot, too. Until my last jump landed me seventeen years in the future, with the world destroyed and me as the only inhabitant.”

“Shit,” the other Five whispered. “And you couldn’t get back?”

“Nope. I tried everything, but I was stuck. So, after burying the bodies of our siblings, I vowed I’d figure out a way to get back and warn them all about the end of the world. Dad always said that was our destiny. To save the world. I figured he must have been right, and the only ones to fix it were the Umbrella Academy.” He gave a short sarcastic laugh. “Turns out, we’re the ones that caused it.”

The other Five paused for a bit, thinking. “But you did make it back?”

“Forty-some odd years later, yeah, I made it back. In this wonderful body you see here. Just had to do a few side jobs involving conspiracy and multiple murders before being pumped full of bullets by my ex-boss, rewinding time, saving these assholes again, and ending up here. Where, as you can see, things are going great.”

“I see,” the other said. “I’m sorry.”

Five looked up in surprise before staring back down at his coffee. “Yeah.”

“You know, it wasn’t all great for me, either. Not that it was as bad as what happened to you, but it took a while to get where I’m at today.”

Five resisted the urge to roll his eyes. What happened? You stubbed your toe once? “Oh yeah?”

“When I jumped, the same thing happened. It was going great until my last jump that I thought was the same day and time as when I left. I was so cocky and sure of myself. I was so excited to get home and show Reggie how wrong he was that I didn’t even notice the bird on the door where the umbrella should have been. When I burst into family dinner time, that’s when the horrible realization set in. My home wasn’t my home anymore. My entire family was gone and their replacements were sitting there looking like they wanted to kill me. When I saw Ben, though, I was so relieved. For about two seconds, until he called for Dad and Reggie came strolling in.”

Five waited for him to continue. When he did, Five noticed his voice was a little shakier and his eyes looked far away.

“You should have seen how he looked at me. Not that he was ever known for giving any affection, but this was worse. Like I was a bug he wanted to crush beneath his foot. Like he had never seen me before; which of course, he hadn’t.” He swallowed hard. “I tried to explain; to plead my case. But he refused to listen. That was the only home I’d ever known. My siblings were gone and my own father didn’t recognize me.”

“So, what did the old man do?” Five asked, genuinely curious.

“Threw me out. He didn’t even ask if I had a place to go or people I knew that could help. Just…kicked me to the curb like I was some piece of garbage he couldn’t be bothered to deal with. I was thirteen.”

Five nodded sympathetically. “Then what?”

The other version sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair. “Then I spent a couple days and nights on the street, trying to avoid some unsavory people and stay hidden. But eventually the cops caught me loitering around the back alley of a restaurant and they took me in. They didn’t believe my story, of course, even though I had the last name Hargreeves. They also didn’t try real hard to figure out where I came from, so I ended up in the foster care system.”

“And that’s when you were adopted?”

“After about a year of being bounced around to different homes, some of which were not great, I ended up with my current parents. They were kind and they had never had any kids of their own. They were patient with me when I wasn’t very nice to them, and they weren’t freaked out about my powers. After a while, they decided it should be official and they legally adopted me.” He paused. “Because I was already a teen, they asked if I wanted to keep the Hargreeves name. I said yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted the reminder of where I came from and what my first adoptive father put me through.” His voice hardened as Five stared back at his own familiar, cold eyes. “I have been tracking Reginald since that day he threw me out. I know he’s more than just an eccentric billionaire that adopted super heroes for the greater good. I know he’s going to do something horrible. Because he’s an evil man that is only interested in his own self gain.”

Five cleared his throat, not sure what to say. He understood, because of course, he was him, but he was able to look at it from a different point of view.

“You know, that’s not the same Reginald that raised either of us.”

The other Five narrowed his eyes for a moment before nodding slowly. “I’m aware. Doesn’t change the fact that he’s an evil, self-serving bastard that could very well be at the bottom of this kugelblitz stuff.”

“Well, I’ll give you the self-serving bastard part. I’m not sure he has anything to do with the kugelblitz, though. I’m fairly certain we’re the cause alone.”

When he didn’t receive a reply, Five looked into his empty coffee mug and felt his stomach rumble again. He was also starting to realize he probably was not smelling so great.

“Do you mind if I use your shower?” he asked his other self.

“Yeah, sure. Upstairs at the end of the hall, past the kitchen.”

Five nodded. “Thanks.”

Five managed to blink directly into the hallway he needed to be in, effectively avoiding his family that he could hear arguing and laughing in the other room. He needed to sober up just a little more to deal with them. As he headed for the bathroom at the end of the hall, Five noticed the walls on either side were lined in framed pictures. He slowed to look at them as he passed.

Most of them were of the kids. Baby pictures, toddler pictures, first day of school pictures. The boy looked like his mother and the girl was a spitting image of himself. He shook his head, not quite believing how that happened. He stopped when he came to a large portrait near one of the bedrooms. It was a wedding photo, taken during what must have been the bride and groom’s first dance. The version of himself in the photo held his new bride in his arms on the dancefloor. The newlyweds’ foreheads were touching and their eyes were closed, but they were both smiling. The love between them was obvious.

Five swallowed back an emotion he wasn’t sure what to call. Longing maybe? He wasn’t sure, but his chest tightened and he found it difficult to breathe again. Out of habit, he reached to loosen his tie, but found it had been discarded at some point and his shirt collar was already unbuttoned. He took in a gulp of air and tore his eyes from the picture.

“That one’s my favorite,” a voice said behind him and Five jumped.

It was Marie, and Five hastily tried to compose himself, coughing and shoving his hands into his pants pockets. He looked at the floor. “It’s nice.”

Marie came nearer, standing a few inches taller than him. She was holding a plastic shopping bag in one hand. After smiling at the picture on the wall, she looked down at Five. “I just can’t believe how much you look like him.”

“Well, I am him.”

She laughed and Five liked the way it sounded. “Yeah, you’re right. This whole thing is so weird.”

Five chuckled. “That’s for damn sure.”

“I’m sorry for everything that you’ve been through,” she said, her eyes full of concern. When Five’s eyebrows drew together in confusion, she explained, “Your family filled me in.”

“Ah,” he said with a nod, rubbing the back of his neck and glancing nervously around. He was suddenly very aware of the fact that he probably smelled like a distillery. “Thanks.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked.

“With what?”

“I don’t know, anything.”

“Letting us into your home is more than enough. Hopefully I can get my half-wit siblings out of your hair shortly.”

Marie laughed and shook her head. “I like having them here. Five always talks about them, from his other life, and it’s so nice to put faces to names now.”

Five paused for a moment. “He talks about them?”

“Of course! He really missed everyone after he left. He said he never realized it at the time, but he was lucky to have a family like yours. Even if you did all drive each other crazy. He said he knew deep down that if he ever needed anything, they were there for him.”

Five scoffed and looked away for a moment. “I highly doubt that. We aren’t a real family. Just a bunch of people thrown in a house together and bonded by trauma.”

“Well, sometimes that’s all you need to be a family. From what I’ve seen, they love you very much. And I think you love them, too. At least…I know my Five does, so I assume you’re the same.”

Five didn’t know how to respond to that, so he stayed silent. After a minute, he cleared his throat and pointed toward the bathroom. “Mind if I wash up?”

“Oh, not at all. There are clean towels in the cupboard in there. And here,” she held out the bag she had been holding.

“What’s this?”

“Our neighbor has a teenage son, so I asked to borrow some clothes for you. I figured you probably wanted to get out of that suit. Although you do look very handsome in it.”

Ignoring the fact that Marie’s comment was something you’d say to a child that had dressed up for Sunday church, he took the bag she offered. Inside were some jeans, a plain black t-shirt, and clean underwear and socks. He gave her a small smile. “Thank you, Marie. That’s very nice.”

“You’re welcome,” she said, before turning around and walking away.

Five stared after her for a moment, before making his way to the bathroom again. He tried to imagine meeting Marie as a young adult and whether or not he would have ended up dating and then eventually marrying her just like his other self. It was hard to think about since he barely knew her. She seemed nice enough, and was pretty with her light blue eyes and petite frame. But there was no instant connection or swooning feeling that pointed towards the concept of soul mates. He didn’t feel anything towards her except being grateful for her hospitality. Which thank god for that, because the last thing Five needed was to be lusting after his alternate self’s wife while stuck in a teenage body.

After showering, Five stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at his pale, hairless body. He knew he should be a little happy that he hadn’t ended up an infant or a ninety year old man when he screwed up the math. Being young did have its advantages and he hadn’t had this much energy in years. But somewhere closer to nineteen or twenty would have been preferable.

The jeans and black t-shirt that Marie had given him fit surprisingly well, and after changing he went to the kitchen, where his siblings were gathered. Diego was at the stove, a dish towel slung over his shoulder, looking like a short-order cook while taking breakfast orders from everyone.

“One at a time! Damn, you people are animals!” he yelled, while whisking a bowl of scrambled eggs and pouring them into a hot skillet. On another burner was a frying pan with sizzling bacon, and another filled with bubbling pancakes that looked like they were about ready to be flipped.

Five strolled over to the coffee maker, trying to hide his amused smile. He actually had no idea Diego knew how to cook. He realized he didn’t know a lot about any of them. As he poured himself a cup, he took in the mass chaos surrounding him. The kitchen table was filled with his siblings, all talking over one another.

“But I don’t like blueberries,” Klaus whined.

“Too bad, Viktor wanted blueberry pancakes, so that’s what I made. You can have eggs if you don’t want any,” Diego huffed while turning the bacon.

Klaus glared at Viktor, who just gave him a smirk in return. Allison sighed loudly and dramatically.

“You guys, Diego cannot possibly make all of our requests, he’s just one person.”

“Thank you, Allison,” Diego said with a smile.

“Now, if you don’t mind, can I just have some egg whites with a tiny piece of bacon on the side, but make sure it doesn’t have too much fat?” she said in her sweetest actress voice.

“Oh! If you’re going to make egg whites, can I have some too? Maybe with some avocado toast? Thanks, babe,” Lila said, coming over to give Diego a small slap on the butt.

“Don’t worry about me, bro. You know I’ll eat whatever. Just make sure the portion is big enough,” Luther added.

Diego growled. “I can’t believe Mom did this all those years without ripping all her wiring out. You guys are unbelievable.”

As Five observed everything, he smiled into his coffee mug, trying to hold in a laugh. What a bunch of assholes, he thought affectionately. Maybe I really did miss them.

“So, Fivey…did you get the time thingy straightened out yet?” Klaus asked, leaning back so that his chair balanced on two legs. Luther stuck out his hand to lower it back to the ground with a stern look. Klaus rolled his eyes.

“No, not yet,” Five replied. “We’ll make some headway today, though, I’m sure.”

“He’s pretty great though, right?” Klaus said.

“Who?”

“You! I mean, the other you. He seems pretty chill.”

“Chill?” Five asked, feeling his jaw tighten.

“Yeah,” Luther added, “Once the psychosis resolved, he seemed like a pleasant guy.”

“And?” Five asked, gesturing in the air with his coffee cup. “Your point?”

“Well, you know…it’s just surprising because…” Luther stammered.

Diego spoke up after flipping a pancake in the air and catching it expertly in the pan. “What the big boy over here means is that this other you isn’t a dick. Which, I think we can all agree, is a bit of a shock.”

Five glanced around the kitchen at his family that just a few seconds ago had actually been giving Five a good feeling. Now, just like always, they went and ruined it.

“Well, if he’s so goddamn amazing, why don’t you ask him to take my place in this family, because quite honestly, I could use the break.” Five gave a sarcastic chuckle and shook his head. “It’s never enough with you people, is it? I am working my ass off to try and get us back home AGAIN, but once more I seem to be the bad guy here.”

“Five…that’s not…” Viktor started to say before Five cut him off.

“No, really, let me apologize. While I am running on no sleep, inside a body that is smaller than one of Luther’s turds, having to deal with another version of myself that, let me tell you, is not as great as you think he is, all while trying to figure out the complexities of time travel, I will be sure and work on my manners so as not to offend anyone.”

The others glanced around nervously, but remained silent. Five waited to see if anyone had any smart-ass comments for him, but seeing as how they all looked like he would disappear from their sight, he would happily oblige.

Angrily topping off his coffee and swiping a few pancakes off a stack that Diego had just plated, he shoved one of them in his mouth before turning to walk out.

“Fuh-ing uh-gra-ful,” he mumbled with his mouth full as he stalked away to the basement again.

Chapter Four: A Different Angle

“I think I’m making some progress here,” Five said as he stood a few feet back from the white board and crossed his arms while reviewing his work. “What do you think?”

The other him glanced up from the miscellaneous parts that were strewn about the table in front of him. After looking the proofs over, he nodded. “Yeah, that looks right.”

From above, Marie’s voice called down to them. “Five?”

“Yeah?” they both answered in unison before looking back at one another.

“I think she means me,” the other Five said with a slight smile.

Five blushed, turning away. “Right.”

“Yeah?” he called up to his wife.

“The garbage disposal is doing that thing again. Can you come look at it?”

“Be right there!” He turned to Five. “I’ll be right back. Meanwhile, take a look at this over here; tell me what you think.”

As the other man left, Five began looking over the instruments and mechanisms on the table. Some were from the briefcase and some were of the other Five’s design. To the average person, it looked like a bunch of coils, wires, and dials, mixed with other things that looked like tiny spark plugs and fuses. Five started to play with a few of them when he heard small footsteps coming down the stairs. When he looked up, the little boy he’d seen from the pictures was standing at the bottom.

“Hello,” Five said.

“Hi,” the boy replied. After they regarded one another for a few moments, he spoke again. “You look like my dad from the pictures at my Grandma’s house.”

The boy was about seven or eight years-old, with blonde hair and blue eyes that matched his mother’s. He was small and skinny for his age, though, which Five could relate to.

“Yes, I’m sure I do,” Five answered.

“Are you my dad?”

“Uh, well, it’s complicated.” When the boy continued looking at him, as if expecting a better answer than that, Five continued. “I’m not your dad, no. But rather I’m a different permutation of him from another timeline. We are the same person, but yet not.”

The boy nodded, pursing his lips together in thought. “That makes sense.”

Five smiled. The boy appeared older and wiser than his age. Which, again, Five was familiar with.

Just then, a flash of blue appeared out of nowhere, revealing the little girl from the pictures, as she blinked directly in front of her brother. She was younger, maybe by about two years or so, and she stuck out her tongue at her older sibling.

“Haha! I didn’t use the stairs!” she gleefully sneered at him.

“Good for you. No one cares, Maddie,” the boy retorted, although Five could see he looked embarrassed.

“You can blink?” Five asked, surprised.

“Yep!” Maddie said with a proud smile. “Jack can, too, but he’s bad at it.”

“That’s not true!” the older boy shot back.

“Ok, then blink. I dare you,” she taunted.

Her older brother’s face turned red and Five was afraid he might start crying. Instead, he clenched his fists, emitting a small glow of blue around them, before relaxing them again. Letting out a loud exhale of air, he looked defeated.

“See?” Maddie laughed. “Told ya!” Then she stuck out her tongue again and blinked away.

“She’s so annoying!” Jack complained, stomping his foot and crossing his arms over his chest. “She thinks she’s so cool.”

Five nodded. He wasn’t sure how much he wanted to get involved in this matter. But he was fascinated that his power was passed on to another generation.

“So, what’s the problem? Why couldn’t you blink just now?” Five asked, not sugar coating anything.

Jack shrugged. “I don’t know. I can do it, but then sometimes if I start thinking too hard, my head gets all messed up. It’s like all the numbers get scrambled up in my head and then I can’t do it. My dad says I just need to concentrate and try harder.”

“Does that work?”

“Not really. I don’t know, maybe?” Jack scratched at his arm and looked at the floor. “I mean, I try to concentrate, but then either nothing happens or I end up blinking to the wrong place. My dumb sister has always been able to do it good, even though she’s younger than me.”

“Well,” Five corrected.

“Well what?”

“Your dumb sister has always been able to do it well.”

Jack rolled his eyes. “You sound just like my dad.”

Five let out a small laugh. “Sorry, force of habit. I’m sure you don’t need two dads telling you what to do.”

Jack shook his head with a smile and then cocked his head to the side. “How old are you?”

“Fifty Eight. How old are you?”

“Seven. How come you don’t look old?”

“It’s a long story, but let’s just say I understand numbers getting scrambled in your head and blinking to the wrong place. It must be genetic.”

When Jack just nodded, remaining silent, Five continued to look at him thoughtfully. There wasn’t much physical resemblance between them, but Five felt a small kinship with this boy. Annoying sibling, failed blinks, a father that tells you to try harder…Five could sympathize.

“Have you tried concentrating less?” Five asked.

Jack slowly shook his head. “Less?”

Five sat down in one of the chairs and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “If I tell you a secret about blinking, will you promise not to tell my family up there? I have a reputation to uphold.”

Jack nodded eagerly. “Yeah, I promise.”

“It’s not always about the math or how smart you are. A lot of it is feeling, and just allowing your mind to relax. Don’t think so hard about it. Rely on your instincts.”

“What’s an instinct?”

“It’s like listening to your body when it tells you to do something.”

“Ok…” Jack said, looking at the floor again.

“Do you want to try again?” Five asked.

Jack shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets, which Five noted with amusement. “I don’t know, I guess. I probably can’t do it, though.”

“Well, just try. I promise I won’t even look.”

The boy nodded. “Yeah, ok.”

Five turned his chair around, so he was facing away from Jack. “Now, pick a spot that’s fairly easy, like the other side of the room. Run a few quick numbers and then clear your head. Relax and let your body do the rest.”

Five waited for a few minutes. He kept his promise and didn’t turn around, letting the boy have his space. He could hear him breathing loudly and muttering under his breath. After a while, Five was beginning to think he had put too much pressure on the kid and he wasn’t going to be able to do it. Until he heard the familiar sound of the air warping near him and Jack appeared on the other side of the room, facing Five.

The small boy’s face was still screwed up in concentration, his eyes shut tight and his hands clenched into fists. When he opened his eyes, though, and realized where he was, his face broke into a huge grin.

“I did it!”

Five nodded and gestured to him with his hand. “I told you. You just needed to look at it from a different angle, that’s all.”

Jack laughed before balling up his fists and ripping open another portal; appearing near the stairs again. He squealed and pumped his fists in the air.

“Yes! I can’t wait to rub this in Maddie’s face!”

“Alright, big shot, don’t get ahead of yourself. Blinking across a room is one thing. Don’t be thinking you’re hot shit with these puny little jumps you just did. You need a lot more practice before you try anything big. Otherwise you might find yourself on the roof in your underpants and no one wants that.”

“Did that happen to you?” Jack asked with big eyes.

“Maybe once or twice. But remember, you promised you wouldn’t tell my family.”

Jack laughed again, just as his dad came down the stairs. “Oh, I see you met Jack.”

Five nodded. “We were just having a little lesson in blinking.”

The other Five’s eyebrows knitted together as he looked down at his son who was grinning up at him.

Five gestured to the boy. “Go ahead, show him. But remember, keep it small.”

Jack nodded before closing his eyes and biting his lip in concentration. Then his shoulders relaxed as he opened his eyes, at the same time disappearing in a flash of blue. When he popped up a few feet away, he looked up at his dad, waiting for his reaction.

His father’s mouth dropped open and then his face broke into a giant smile. “Holy shit, Jack! That was amazing!”

Jack laughed, right before reversing his new skill and jumping back to where he had been standing. His dad scooped him up and hugged him. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, dad! Now I can blink just like you and Maddie and she can’t make fun of me anymore.”

“Now, just remember, don’t try anything big yet…” the other Five started to warn him.

“Oh yeah, I know. I need to practice more so that I don’t end up on the roof in my underwear.”

“Uh..yeah…” Five’s other self agreed in confusion before setting his son down.

“Can I try to the top of the stairs?” Jack asked eagerly.

“I suppose so.”

In a flash, Jack was gone from their sight and the two Fives could hear his excited voice and the sound of his feet as he hopped up and down excitedly on the floor above them. “I did it! Hey mom, look!”

Both men regarded one another and Five was wondering if he’d overstepped his boundaries. But his other self just smiled and shook his head. “I’ve been trying to work with him on that for months. How did you do that?”

Five shrugged. “I just gave him a different way of looking at things. Sometimes that’s all it takes.”

The other him nodded thoughtfully. “Thank you for that.”

Five was caught off guard by his sincerity and he looked away, uncomfortable. “No big deal. Seems like a good kid.”

“He is. He’s the best.”

Five nodded again, staring at the table of weird electrical parts in front of him. Suddenly, he jumped up, knocking his chair over in the process. “Holy fuck! I see it! I see what we’ve been missing! God, we’re so stupid!”

“Speak for yourself. What do you see?”

Five took two gears off the table and held them up. “We’ve been looking at time dilation all wrong. Instead of trying to produce special relativity, we should be producing—”

“General relativity,” the other him finished. “Shit, you’re right.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Why didn’t we see that earlier?”

“I don’t know, but this makes so much more sense now. Do you see it?”

“Yeah,” his alternate nodded, a smile starting to form on his face. “Yeah, I see it.” He chuckled. “If we can get this up and running, then maybe I can finally figure out what our old man has been up to.”

Five frowned, a little concerned that he seemed to be so focused on Reginald. “Let’s just start with stopping the world from imploding, ok?” He looked back down at the table full of tiny, metal pieces. “Alright, we’re going to need more of your wife’s coffee, because this is going to take a while.”

Thanks for reading and if you want to be tagged for future chapters, let me know!

@kaybreezy3000

#five hargreeves #five hargreeves fanfic #number five #number five fanfic #umbrella academy #umbrella academy fanfic #tua fanfic #tua 3 #fanfiction requests #fanfiction #badkittywrites #multi chapter #tua #the umbrella academy

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harsh0022 · 10 months ago

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Top 5 Ways to Encourage Positive Communication at the Workplace

Effective communication has become one of the most essential requirements for a successful and thriving workplace. Well-articulated views only help in making the most of teamwork. Positive and relevant communication leads to enhanced employee morale and productivity. Further, it fosters a culture of positivity and transparency which are essential for any organisation’s success today. Below are proven strategies to encourage positive communication that you can consider incorporating.

Understand What is Formal Communication

Formal communication is the structured and official method of sharing information within an organization. This may include emails, reports & official notices. Formal communication channels will ensure that only accurate information passes in the organization. This will eliminate potential chances of misunderstandings

Encourage Constructive Feedback

Employees need to know how they are performing and how satisfactory their work is, so when communicating about their performances it's important to focus on both strengths as well as the areas that need improvement. Encouraging them for their good work and at the same time allowing them to understand their weaknesses will help them to better their efficiency without unnecessary doubts

Positive Work Environment

Remuneration of Employees is an indispensable part of every workplace. However, we should not forget to motivate employees from time to time. Allowing employees to put forward work-related ideas and encouraging them to voice their views on essential matters will profoundly impact them. Organizations should foster an environment where employees can collaborate freely and communicate positively without fears

Articulate Work Policies Properly

Not communicating work policies properly has been known to create an environment of chaos. Right from compensation policies, how to calculate CTC, and performance expectations to personal leave reasons list, companies should put forward everything that employees should know about. Also, employees should be encouraged to clarify their doubts or any questions that they may have regarding the same

Be Specific and Concise

When an organization is working towards making the workplace more open to free and positive communication then it's essential to focus on what is being communicated and how it is communicated. Relevant messages should be crisp and concise so that no unnecessary information is added to the message

In conclusion, creating positive communication in the workplace is all about encouraging structured and formal communication, providing constructive feedback, creating a positive work environment, and advancing crisp and relevant information. Just by implementing these simple strategies, organizations can become more cohesive, and productive workplaces.

#hrms software #hrautomation #hr services #hr solutions

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7academy · 11 hours ago

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Can Payroll Training in Thane Help You Land Jobs in MNCs and Large Corporates

Payroll has become a critical backbone of every organization, ensuring timely and accurate salary disbursement, statutory compliance, and transparent employee management. As companies expand, adopt digital processes, and work across state or country borders, payroll management has become complex and legally sensitive. Professionals handling payroll are responsible for accurate deductions, benefits management, tax calculations, and timely filings while adhering to evolving labor laws and government regulations. In this scenario, gaining structured payroll knowledge adds significant value to a professional’s profile. Payroll training helps individuals understand statutory laws, practical calculation methods, and software usage for real-world application. For HR and finance professionals, it ensures they can manage pay cycles confidently and handle audits without fear of error. It improves employability, builds credibility, and increases opportunities in MNCs and large corporates where compliance accuracy is essential. Payroll professionals are now seen as valuable strategic contributors to organizational success, making this a smart skill to acquire for a stable, growth-oriented career.

Practical Payroll Training in Thane focuses on transforming theoretical understanding into actionable skills that MNCs and corporates value. Institutes in Thane design practical modules to train learners in real-time salary processing, TDS calculation, PF and ESI management, and compliance filings. Students work on mock salary registers and statutory returns to build confidence and accuracy in payroll handling. Companies prefer hiring individuals who can manage payroll without depending on extended in-house training. By mastering practical payroll tasks, learners become job-ready and can confidently contribute from day one. Practical training in Thane includes exposure to payroll software like GreytHR, Spine, and Saral, along with government portal for PF, ESI, and professional tax filings. These tools are commonly used by MNCs and large corporates stand out in interviews. By focusing building real operational expertise, practical payroll training in Thane serves as a bridge between learning and job placement in top-tier companies.

MNCs and large corporates demand professionals who understand compliance frameworks, reporting structures, and statutory regulations that vary across states and countries. Payroll Training in Thane prepares learners to align with these corporates requirement effectively. Institutes in Thane update their modules regularly to match government changes and budget updates, ensuring learners stay relevant in dynamic business environments. Training also covers advanced payroll topics such as gratuity calculations, bonus management, final settlements, and leave encashment, which MNCs handle routinely at scale. Learners gain insight into how payroll data contributes to HR analytics and financial forecasting, adding value to organizations that seek payroll professionals capable of supporting strategic decision-making. Institutes often conduct mock interviews and provide placement guidance specifically tailored for MNC roles. Thane’s training programs combine local accessibility with corporate-oriented curriculum, making learners suitable for high-value roles in large companies that prioritize precision, compliance, and operational efficiency.

Payroll Training Courses in Thane are designed to give learners a competitive edge by focusing on structured, step-by-step learning of payroll concepts along with live practical implementation. Courses begin with foundational modules explaining CTC structures and statutory components, followed by advanced modules on software usage, compliance filing, and payroll reconciliation. Learners are given case-based exercises to solve real payroll challenges, preparing them to handle practical situations in corporate environments. Courses also cover the preparation of MIS reports and statutory registers that MNCs demand for audits and internal financial tracking. Learners develop analytical skills to interpret salary data, manage compliance changes, and prepare management reports, aligning them with roles that require precision and accountability. By focusing on detailed, systematic teaching, payroll training courses in Thane prepare learners for high-pressure environments where accuracy is non-negotiable, making them preferred candidates for MNC recruitment.

Payroll Courses in Thane offer learners a structured path to transition into corporate payroll careers. These courses equip individuals with the technical knowledge and operational exposure that large companies expect from their payroll professionals. Learners understand the integration of payroll with HRMS and accounting systems, which is crucial in MNC environments for smooth workflow and error-free reconciliation. Additionally, the course prepares learners for the compliance-heavy responsibilities they will face in large corporates, such as managing multiple states’ statutory requirements, handling employee queries, and supporting HR audits. Courses often include guidance on professional communication and documentation, essential soft skills for payroll professionals in corporate settings. By completing certified payroll courses in Thane, learners can confidently apply to roles in HR operations, payroll processing, and compliance management, ensuring they stand out in competitive hiring processes conducted by MNCs and large corporate.

Selecting the right Payroll Training Institute in Thane plays a critical role in determining a learner’s readiness for MNC placements. Reputed institutes in Thane focus on delivering training that combines statutory expertise, software skills, and practical payroll knowledge aligned with corporate job profiles. They provide updated training material reflecting the latest legal and compliance changes, ensuring learners are never left behind in a rapidly evolving domain. These institutes also offer placement support, conducting mock interviews and resume-building sessions that focus on corporate payroll expectations. Trainers with real corporate experience guide learners in handling advanced payroll scenarios, enabling them to showcase practical knowledge during interviews. Students often receive exposure to corporate-level challenges, including payroll audits, handling large employee databases, and maintaining compliance documentation, which strengthens their profile for MNC jobs. By choosing the right payroll training institute in Thane, learners position themselves effectively for stable, well-paying roles in large organizations seeking accurate, efficient, and software-ready payroll professionals.

#hrtrainingwithplacement #hrcourseswithplacement #payrolltraining #7academy #education

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safe-money · 24 days ago

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ITR Filing 2025: How Salaried Taxpayers Can Maximise Their Refunds

For some salaried taxpayers, the tax return season may feel like a chore, yet it is also one of the few chances to get some money back, especially if too much tax was deducted over the year. With the��ITR filing window now open for ITR 1 and ITR 4, this is a crucial time for salaried employees to know how they can maximise their refunds this year.

Not always but sometimes there’s a real possibility that you have overpaid taxes, without even realising it. This usually happens when your employer deducts more tax than required or when you forget to account for deductions that never made it into your Form 16. It could be rent receipts you didn’t submit on time, a last-minute ELSS investment, or home loan interest that didn’t get factored in. Whatever the case, filing your return is how you claim that excess tax back.

What Triggers a Refund?

There are a few common scenarios where salaried people end up paying more tax than necessary:

You have changed jobs during the year and both employers deducted tax assuming you had no other income

You invested in tax-saving instruments late but after the declaration deadline

Deductions were not submitted to the employer, so your full exemption was not considered

You paid advance tax or self-assessment tax based on an overestimated liability

The bottom line for this is if any of the above happened to you, you will likely get a refund, but only if you file your income tax return.

Which Tax Regime Should You Pick?

There’s no individual answer to this question since it’s not a one-size-fits-all decision anymore. The old regime allows you to claim deductions for everything from life insurance premiums to housing loan interest and children’s tuition fees. The new regime offers lower slab rates but no deductions.

If you have made a bunch of investments and paid rent, the old regime might work out better. If not, the new one could be simpler and lighter.

What should you do?

Use a tax calculator that lets you compare both regimes after entering your actual numbers, not assumptions. Don’t just go by what your colleagues are doing.

Says Sujit Sudhakar Bangar, founder, TaxBuddy.com, “This year the new tax regime is the default tax regime. Therefore, if you don’t select the old tax regime, the new regime would be applied by default. Therefore, one needs to be very cautious while selecting the appropriate tax regime. Wrong selection of tax regime would directly have an impact on enhanced tax outgo and reduced refunds.”

How To Maximise Your Refunds This Year?

Bangar notes that the best possible hack for salaried employees to maximise their refund is restructuring of CTC. “You can request your employer to put a certain portion of CTC as your employer's contribution to NPS. This will benefit in the new as well as old tax regime. And in turn help maximize refund.

Moreover, you should also check for deductions you can still claim. One of the most common mistakes people make is assuming that if it wasn’t declared to the HR team, it’s gone. That’s not true. When you file your return (under old tax regime), you can still claim:

80C deductions (up to Rs 1.5 lakh) which include PPF, EPF, ELSS, LIC, home loan principal, NSC, Sukanya Samriddhi

80D for health insurance for self and family, and even parents (senior citizens get higher limits)

24(b) home loan interest, up to Rs 2 lakh

HRA even if rent was not declared earlier, you can still claim it now

80G if you have donated to recognised organisations

80E education loan interest (no limit)

Interest on savings accounts up to Rs 10,000 under 80TTA

For documentation support to claim these deductions, you should through your bank statements, insurance receipts, rent agreements, and donation acknowledgements.

Reconcile All Your Income

If you have more than one employer, make sure to consolidate salaries from both. Each employer may have deducted TDS assuming they are your only one. When combined, your total income might push you into a higher slab, so it is on you to fix that while filing.

Also, check Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS). These documents show all income reported to the tax department by banks, employers, and mutual funds. If something is missing in your return but shows up in these records, your refund might get delayed, or worse, you might get a notice.

Declare Even Exempt or Miscellaneous Income

Some kinds of income, like interest from savings accounts or tax-free PPF withdrawals, might be exempt, but you still need to report them. Same goes for dividend income, which is taxable beyond Rs 5,000 now, and capital gains from mutual funds. Declare all of it, clearly.

File Early

There is no upside to waiting. This year, the income tax department has extended the ITR filing deadline to September 15, 2025. With ample time to get your proofs and deduction claims together, you should try to file the ITR before the due date. Filing late returns may attract penalties from the taxman. Moreover, you can’t carry forward certain losses if you file after the deadline.

More importantly, the sooner you file, the sooner your refund arrives.

Source Link: https://www.outlookmoney.com/tax/itr-filing-2025-how-salaried-taxpayers-can-maximise-their-refunds

Website Link: https://www.taxbuddy.com/

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managetrix · 3 months ago

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Understanding the Key Components of a Professional Salary Slip Format

A salary slip, also known as a payslip, is an essential document provided by an employer to employees as proof of salary payment. It includes detailed information about the earnings, deductions, taxes, and net pay for a specific period. Creating an accurate salary slip format is not only crucial for ensuring transparency between the employer and the employee, but also for compliance with statutory regulations and internal auditing processes.

Why Salary Slips Matter

Before diving into the format creation, it’s important to understand why salary slips are important:

Proof of Income: Employees use salary slips for visa applications, loan approvals, and rental agreements.

Legal Compliance: Organizations must comply with labor laws, tax regulations, and employee welfare provisions.

Transparency: Salary slips help maintain trust by clearly explaining how salaries are calculated.

Internal Record-Keeping: They help businesses track payroll expenses and manage HR records.

Components of an Accurate Salary Slip

To create a salary slip format that is both complete and accurate, you must include several standard components. These components are typically divided into two categories: Earnings and Deductions.

1. Basic Information

Every salary slip must begin with basic employee and employer information, including:

Company Name and Logo

Employee Name

Employee ID

Designation

Department

Pay Period (Month and Year)

Date of Issue

PAN/Aadhaar Number (in India) or other tax ID

2. Earnings Section

This section details all the components that contribute to the gross salary:

Basic Salary: The fixed component of the salary, usually 35-50% of the CTC (Cost to Company).

House Rent Allowance (HRA): Offered to employees to cover rental housing expenses.

Dearness Allowance (DA): Provided to offset inflation, common in government or PSU jobs.

Conveyance Allowance: For travel-related expenses.

Medical Allowance: Medical reimbursement if applicable.

Special Allowance or Performance Bonus: Variable pay based on performance.

Overtime or Incentives (if any): Additional payments for extra hours or achievements.

3. Deductions Section

Deductions are amounts subtracted from gross earnings to arrive at the net salary:

Provident Fund (PF): Statutory retirement benefit deduction, usually 12% of basic pay.

Professional Tax: Levied by state governments in some countries.

Employee State Insurance (ESI): Deduction for health insurance under the ESI Act.

Income Tax (TDS): Tax Deducted at Source based on income slab.

Loan Repayments or Advances: If the company has offered a loan.

Other Deductions: Late penalties, canteen charges, etc.

4. Net Pay

Net salary is calculated using:

Net Salary = Gross Salary – Total Deductions

This is the amount credited to the employee’s bank account.

5. Bank and Payment Details

Bank Account Number (partially masked)

Mode of Payment: Bank transfer, cheque, etc.

Date of Credit

6. Other Optional Details

Leave Balance Summary

Taxable and Non-Taxable Income Breakdown

Digital Signature of HR/Manager

Also Read- What is the Full Form of HR in the Company

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Salary Slip Format

Step 1: Choose the Tool

You can use any of the following tools to create a salary slip:

MS Excel or Google Sheets – Great for small businesses and startups.

Payroll Software (like Zoho Payroll, QuickBooks, etc.) – Ideal for larger organizations.

Custom ERP/HRMS systems – Tailored solutions for medium to large enterprises.

For beginners, Excel is highly recommended due to its flexibility and simplicity.

Step 2: Design the Layout

Create clear sections for:

Company Header

Employee Details

Earnings

Deductions

Net Pay

Notes or Approvals

Use borders, shading, and alignment to ensure the slip looks professional and easy to read.

Step 3: Add Formulas (in Excel)

Use basic Excel formulas to automate calculations:

=SUM() for total earnings and deductions

=Gross - Deductions for net salary

Conditional formatting to highlight errors or missing data

Step 4: Maintain Compliance

Ensure your salary slip adheres to the legal requirements of your jurisdiction. For example:

In India, include PAN/TAN details and statutory deduction breakdown.

In the U.S., display FICA, federal and state tax deductions.

Consult a legal or financial advisor if unsure.

Step 5: Test for Accuracy

Before generating salary slips in bulk:

Cross-verify sample data

Ensure formulas are working correctly

Validate statutory calculations (PF, ESI, TDS, etc.)

Step 6: Automate (Optional)

If your organization grows, consider automating slip generation via payroll software that integrates with attendance, leave, and tax modules.

Sample Salary Slip Format (Text Version)

Here’s a simple, textual format:

ABC Pvt. Ltd. 123 Business Park, New York, NY Salary Slip for the Month of March 2025

Net Pay: USD 4,120.00 Bank A/C: ****4567 | Payment Mode: Direct Deposit This is a computer-generated slip and does not require a signature.

Tips for Accuracy and Compliance

Regularly update tax rates and statutory deduction rules.

Keep employee information up to date.

Maintain confidentiality when sharing or storing slips.

Use password protection for digital slips.

Conclusion

Creating an accurate salary slip format is more than just entering numbers in a table—it reflects the financial and legal integrity of your organization. By including all necessary components, verifying calculations, and ensuring compliance, you not only build trust with employees but also streamline your payroll process. Whether you’re just starting or upgrading your HR practices, investing time in a precise salary slip format pays long-term dividends.

#Salary Slip Format

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balkikhalnews · 4 months ago

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Gratuity eligibility, payout and formula: Leaving job before 5 years? Here’s how you can still get gratuity

Gratuity payment calculations are governed by specific guidelines outlined in the Payment of Gratuity Act. (AI image) Salaried employees quite often have gratuity as a component of their CTC (cost to company). The Payment of Gratuity Rules, 1972, stipulates that staff members become entitled to gratuity after completing five years of uninterrupted service with an organisation. But, did you know…

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ksknair · 5 months ago

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Decoding Your Job Offer: What's Really in Your CTC?

Hey everyone!

So, you got a job offer! Congrats! 🎉 You see that big number, the CTC, and you're thinking, "Wow, I'm rich!" But... is it really all yours?

Let's talk about CTC, or Cost to Company. It's the total amount your employer spends on you each year. Sounds great, right? But here's the thing: it's not all cash you'll see in your bank account.

Think of it like a big pie. Your basic salary is a slice, allowances (like for rent or travel) are another, and then you have things like health insurance, retirement funds, and sometimes even meal vouchers! All of that adds up to your CTC.

I remember when I first got my offer, I was so excited about the CTC number, but then I realized my take-home pay was different. It's like finding out your birthday cake has a layer you can't eat! 🎂

In my latest blog post, I break down all the components of CTC, show you how to calculate your actual salary, and explain why it matters. It's super important, especially if you're a student or recent grad, to understand this so you can make smart decisions.

Don't get caught off guard! Check out my blog post to learn how to really understand your job offer and plan your finances.

#CTC #SalaryNegotiation #JobOffer #GradLife #CareerTips #FinanceForStudents #PersonalFinance #JobSearch #NewGrad #blog #blogger #students #fresherblog #college #college life #desiblr #india #StudentLife

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kontakrecruitmentagency · 5 months ago

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SARS eFiling and Tax Compliance Administrator (JB5122) Randpark Ridge, Johannesburg R15 000 - R20 000 CTC per month Permanent We are looking for a detail-oriented SARS eFiling and tax compliance administrator to join our team. This role focuses on SARS submissions, tax calculations, and ensuring accurate compliance with VAT, PAYE, and Income Tax regulations. The ideal candidate has at least 2 years of tax and SARS eFiling experience, with strong administrative skills and a structured approach to managing tax-related tasks efficiently. Minimum Requirements: Completed Grade 12. Diploma or certificate in Taxation, Accounting, or a related field (advantageous). Registered Tax Practitioner (advantageous). Duties and Responsibilities: 2 or more years of experience in SARS eFiling and tax compliance. Strong understanding of VAT, PAYE, Income Tax, and Provisional Tax. Proficiency in SARS eFiling and tax administration. Experience using accounting software (Sage, Xero, or Pastel) and MS Excel.@kontakrecruitmentagency For full JD & to apply online https://bit.ly/SarstaxJB5122

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zimyohrtech · 5 months ago

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In-Hand Salary Calculator: Know Your Take-Home Pay Effortlessly

Description:

Take-Home Salary is the amount an employee receives after all mandatory deductions such as PF, ESIC, and LWF are subtracted from the gross salary. Understanding your in-hand salary is crucial for financial planning, and our In-Hand Salary Calculator makes this process simple and accurate.

How is In-Hand Salary Calculated?

The formula used in our calculator is:

Take-home salary = Gross salary - (PF Contribution + LWF + ESIC [if applicable])

Key Salary Components Explained:

Basic Salary: Typically 50% of the Cost to Company (CTC).

House Rent Allowance (HRA): 40% of the basic salary.

Labour Welfare Fund (LWF):

Haryana: ₹50 (Employer) + ₹25 (Employee) = ₹75

Delhi: ₹2.25 (Employer) + ₹0.75 (Employee) = ₹3

Karnataka: ₹40 (Employer) + ₹20 (Employee) = ₹60

Gross Salary: Sum of Basic Salary, HRA, and Allowances/Bonuses.

Provident Fund (PF):

12% of basic salary if the basic salary is less than ₹15,000.

A fixed deduction of ₹1,800 for salaries greater than ₹15,000.

Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC):

Employees earning ₹21,000 or less are liable for ESIC.

Employer contributes 3.25% of CTC, while the employee contributes 0.75%.

With our In-Hand Salary Calculator, you can instantly compute your net salary and make better financial decisions.

👉 Check Your In-Hand Salary Now

#salarycalulator #takehomesalary #inhandsalary

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jcmarchi · 6 months ago

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Riding the AI Wave: Navigating the Intersection of Tax and Technology

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/riding-the-ai-wave-navigating-the-intersection-of-tax-and-technology/

Riding the AI Wave: Navigating the Intersection of Tax and Technology

In the new wave of technological transformation, governments at all levels are intensifying their efforts to regulate and capitalize on technological advancements. This dynamic is triggering a critical reconstruction of how businesses approach compliance, with tax and finance leaders anticipating a 79% surge in audit volume and complexity within the next two years.

The digital landscape has fundamentally reshaped business operations, creating a complex ecosystem where traditional tax strategies must evolve rapidly to meet emerging challenges. Transaction volumes have exploded and show no sign of slowing down. B2C commerce happens everywhere now – in brick-and-mortar (physical) stores, online through e-commerce websites, marketplaces, within social media, etc. B2B commerce is being overhauled with e-invoicing mandates requiring continuous transaction controls (CTC) and real-time data feeds to governments (B2G). Traditional approaches to periodic reporting and audits are becoming increasingly unmanageable, necessitating advanced technological solutions. These solutions must address tax determination and calculation, exemption management, tax collection, multi-jurisdictional remittance and reporting, real-time financial reporting and reconciliation, compliance reporting, and continuous transaction controls.

Growing Use of Technology & Data Analytics

Digital experiences have revolutionized everything from shopping to social commerce, compelling businesses to disrupt and reimagine their traditional tax strategies developed in a much less complicated world. The modern transaction ecosystem is intricate—what appears to be a straightforward online purchase is underpinned by complex business operations involving multiple layers of financial reporting, technological infrastructure, and nuanced tax legislation.

Companies are increasingly leveraging advanced technologies to navigate this complexity. Data analytics has become a critical tool, enabling businesses to transform reactive compliance approaches into proactive strategic management. By aggregating and analyzing vast amounts of financial data, organizations can now anticipate the impact of regulatory changes, identify potential compliance risks, and develop more agile response mechanisms.

Trust and Transparency in Technology

As technological capabilities expand, so too does the imperative for responsible and trustworthy systems. The integration of advanced technologies such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning and Generative AI) must be balanced with a robust human-centered approach. “Human-in-the-Loop” oversight remains crucial in ensuring that data exchanges between businesses and consumers maintain security, privacy, and transparency.

System and Organization Controls (SOC) reports have emerged as a critical mechanism for building organizational trust. These compliance standards help businesses manage how they report financial and security data, providing transparency and establishing credibility with stakeholders. By inserting SOC reports along with audit logs and adopting comprehensive data exchange agreements like the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), organizations can create foundational trust mechanisms that protect both corporate and consumer interests.

Business-to-Business and Government Data Sharing

The landscape of data sharing is undergoing a profound transformation. The transition to e-invoicing and continuous transaction controls (CTC) represents a significant shift in how businesses approach regulatory compliance. Companies are now carefully navigating a delicate balance between meeting compliance requirements and protecting sensitive information.

Internationally, approaches to e-invoicing vary significantly. The European Union has taken a proactive stance, with many countries integrating the Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line) network to simplify cross-border trade and digital reporting. In contrast, the United States has a more market-driven approach, with e-invoicing solutions still being tested by businesses and government agencies.

Governments worldwide are increasingly expecting—and mandating—automation in compliance processes. E-invoicing mandates now require intricate specifications: specific formatting, detailed data fields, and sophisticated error-handling protocols. Over half of tax and finance executives anticipate more intense audits, driven by growing demands for transparency and comprehensive disclosure. These mandates are strategic initiatives to minimize errors, expedite processes, and create more robust financial ecosystems. For businesses, this necessitates investing in advanced technological infrastructure that can adapt to rapidly changing regulatory landscapes.

AI’s Expanding Role in Tax and Compliance

Generative AI (GenAI) is rapidly becoming a game-changer in tax and compliance management, with governments making substantial investments in AI technologies to enhance detection capabilities, reconcile financial discrepancies, and combat emerging forms of financial fraud.

The potential of AI extends far beyond simple data processing. Machine learning algorithms can now analyze complex financial datasets, identifying subtle patterns and potential irregularities that would be practically impossible for human auditors to detect manually. For instance, in value-added tax (VAT) reporting, AI can instantly cross-reference income declarations with actual financial flows, highlighting potential discrepancies that might indicate fraudulent activities. Governments are particularly interested in AI’s potential to streamline cross-border VAT accountability. By leveraging machine learning and advanced data analytics, tax authorities can create more sophisticated tracking mechanisms, reducing opportunities for tax evasion and improving overall financial transparency.

However, the integration of AI is not about replacing human expertise but augmenting it. The most effective AI-driven tax strategies maintain a critical human-in-the-loop approach. While AI can process and analyze vast amounts of data with unprecedented speed and accuracy, human oversight ensures ethical implementation, contextual understanding, and nuanced decision-making.

Ultimately, the intersection of tax and technology represents a complex, dynamic landscape of both challenges and opportunities. Businesses that successfully navigate this terrain will be those that proactively adopt sophisticated technologies while maintaining a commitment to transparency, ethical practices, and human insight.

By embracing advanced technological solutions, developing robust compliance strategies, and maintaining a balanced approach to innovation, organizations can transform tax compliance from a regulatory burden into a strategic advantage. The future of tax management lies not in resisting technological change, but in intelligently integrating these powerful tools to drive sustainable growth in an increasingly data-driven global economy.

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biomedres · 6 months ago

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Application of Hybrid CTC/2D-Attention end-to-end Model in Speech Recognition During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Application of Hybrid CTC/2D-Attention end-to-end Model in Speech Recognition During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

Speech recognition technology is one of the important research directions in the field of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. Its main function is to convert a speech signal directly into a corresponding text. Yu Dong, et al. [1] proposed deep neural network and hidden Markov model, which has achieved better recognition effect than GMM-HMM system in continuous speech recognition task [1]. Then, Based on Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) [2,3] and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) [4-9], deep learning algorithms are gradually coming into the mainstream in speech recognition tasks. And in the actual task they have achieved a very good effect. Recent studies have shown that endto- end speech recognition frameworks have greater potential than traditional frameworks. The first is the Connectionist Temporal Classification (CTC) [10], which enables us to learn each sequence directly from the end-to-end model in this way. It is unnecessary to label the mapping relationship between input sequence and output sequence in the training data in advance so that the endto- end model can achieve better results in the sequential learning tasks such as speech recognition. The second is the encodedecoder model based on the attention mechanism. Transformer [11] is a common model based on the attention mechanism. Currently, many researchers are trying to apply Transformer to the ASR field. Linhao Dong, et al. [12] introduced the Attention mechanism from both the time domain and frequency domain by applying 2D-attention, which converged with a small training cost and achieved a good effect.

And Abdelrahman Mohamed [13] both used the characterization extracted from the convolutional network to replace the previous absolute position coding representation, thus making the feature length as close as possible to the target output length, thus saving calculation, and alleviating the mismatch between the length of the feature sequence and the target sequence. Although the effect is not as good as the RNN model [14], the word error rate is the lowest in the method without language model. Shigeki Karita, et al. [15] made a complete comparison between RNN and Transformer in multiple languages, and the performance of Transformer has certain advantages in every task. Yang Wei, et al. [16] proposed that the hybrid architecture of CTC+attention has certain advancement in the task of Mandarin recognition with accent. In this paper, a hybrid end-to-end architecture model combining Transformer model and CTC is proposed. By adopting joint training and joint decoding, 2DAttention mechanism is introduced from the perspectives of time domain and frequency domain, and the training process of Aishell dataset is studied in the shallow encoder-decoder network.

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netcommlabs-blog · 10 months ago

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Top 5 Ways to Encourage Positive Communication at the Workplace

Understand What is Formal Communication

Encourage Constructive Feedback

Positive Work Environment

Articulate Work Policies Properly

Be Specific and Concise

FAQs

What is positive communication in the workplace?

Positive communication is most important in the workplace. It refers to friendly & constructive interactions between employees. It is all about avoiding negativity or criticism that can lead to conflicts between colleagues. This form of communication fosters a culture of collaboration that enhances transparency and supports better teamwork and productivity. Overall, organizations should prioritize creating a culture of positive communication & interaction.

What are the 5 benefits of positive communication?

The top 5 benefits of positive communication include 1) Improved teamwork 2) Friendlier peer relations 3) Enhanced problem solving 4) Higher productivity 5) Stronger work culture. Positive communication is one of the best strategies to ensure that your employees feel respected and valued in your organization.

What is a valid reason for a leave of absence?

A valid reason for a leave of absence may include reasons that involve personal or family health issues. Some serious mishaps or medical treatment can be examples of it. Other valid reasons include maternity or paternity leave. Sabbaticals are also valid leave of absence as these are taken by employees to advance in professional life by opting for higher education or specialized training.

What are casual leave reasons?

Casual leave is usually undertaken by employees under unforeseen situations such as personal errands or urgent incidents. This may not require extended time off as these leaves are for non-serious issues. Casual leave reasons include minor health issues, personal commitments or some family event, emergencies & unexpected events.

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7academy · 7 days ago

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How Does Payroll Training in Navi Mumbai Equip You to Handle Real-World Payroll Challenges

Payroll is no longer a simple administrative task. It is a complex, compliance-driven process that impacts financial accuracy, statutory adherence, and employee trust within an organization. Delays or errors in payroll can result in penalties, loss of reputation, and employee dissatisfaction. Companies now require professionals who understand not only the rules and calculations involved but also how to align payroll with business goals while ensuring complete compliance with labor laws. Payroll training addresses this by preparing individuals to handle tax calculations, statutory filings, leave integrations, and reconciliation with accuracy. It equips professionals to manage audits, interpret changes in legal frameworks, and ensure employees receive their entitlements correctly. Those who master payroll gain a valuable skill set that adds immediate operational value to HR and accounts departments. As organizations in India, especially in fast-paced hubs like Navi Mumbai, continue to adopt advanced HR technology, the demand for professionals with practical payroll knowledge has grown. This is why structured payroll training is now considered an essential investment for career growth in HR, accounts, and finance domains.

The first step to handling real-world payroll challenges confidently begins with hands-on exposure and operational understanding. Practical Payroll Training in Navi Mumbai helps learners build this foundation by offering training modules focused on live payroll environments. Instead of relying solely on theoretical lectures, learners engage with practical tasks such as preparing salary sheets, computing deductions, and managing compliance registers. They learn to handle statutory components including PF, ESI, PT, and TDS through manual calculation as well as using payroll software. Trainers simulate real company scenarios where participants experience the process of onboarding employees, processing full and final settlements, and reconciling payroll data with accounting records. By working with industry-based templates, learners understand documentation standards, reporting protocols, and error-checking procedures. This practical structure develops confidence, precision, and speed, which are critical when handling large-scale payroll operations in corporate environments. Practical Payroll Training in Navi Mumbai empowers professionals to navigate the complexities of statutory compliance and operational payroll processing seamlessly, preparing them to excel in HR and accounts roles.

While payroll theories are crucial, applying this knowledge to actual processes and compliance challenges is what distinguishes a capable professional. Payroll Training in Navi Mumbai is designed to bridge this critical gap between learning and execution. These training programs incorporate statutory laws and explain how they translate into practical payroll calculations and processes. Trainers guide learners on structuring CTC, calculating overtime, managing gratuity, and preparing monthly compliance reports. Participants work on real case files, exploring scenarios such as leave encashment, bonus distribution, and statutory audits within the context of company operations. The programs emphasize the integration of payroll with HRMS systems, showing how to align payroll with leave management, attendance tracking, and HR documentation. Learners also gain exposure to payroll analytics, learning how to interpret reports for management decision-making and compliance tracking. The goal is to prepare professionals who can handle pressure, identify errors, and resolve payroll-related queries confidently. Payroll Training in Navi Mumbai thus offers a practical, real-world approach that helps professionals master the technical and compliance aspects of payroll in a structured and accessible way.

A structured learning path that combines compliance mastery, calculation proficiency, and software expertise is essential to thrive in payroll roles. Payroll Training Courses in Navi Mumbai deliver this comprehensive approach to learners through carefully curated modules. These courses cover advanced topics such as payroll audits, reconciliation processes, tax-saving structures, and statutory report generation within a practical framework. Learners receive training in using payroll software like Zoho Payroll, Tally, and Excel-based automated systems, preparing them to operate confidently in digital HR environments. Trainers provide assignments and assessments that simulate real organizational payroll challenges, requiring learners to troubleshoot errors, prepare final statements, and reconcile payroll records with finance teams. The courses also introduce learners to the latest changes in labor codes, ensuring they stay updated and compliant with evolving laws. Participants learn to handle data confidentiality, manage payroll communication with employees, and prepare audit-ready reports for statutory inspections. Payroll Training Courses in Navi Mumbai prepare learners to become indispensable assets to their organizations, equipping them to manage payroll with precision and compliance while improving operational efficiency within HR and accounts departments.

Professionals aiming to advance in HR and finance careers find Payroll Courses in Navi Mumbai an effective pathway to gain both compliance knowledge and practical payroll skills aligned with the region’s active business environment. These courses focus on end-to-end payroll management, covering statutory compliance, tax calculation, and employee benefits processing while offering hands-on exposure to software like Tally, Saral PayPack, and Zoho Payroll. Trainers use real case files and practical scenarios, ensuring participants learn to process salaries, generate statutory reports, and manage reconciliations confidently. These courses also emphasize understanding the latest labor laws and tax provisions, enabling learners to adapt quickly to changing compliance requirements. By including live assignments and mock audits, Payroll Courses in Thane prepare learners to handle challenges commonly faced by HR and accounts teams within SMEs and large enterprises. This localized, practical training helps professionals in Thane position themselves as skilled payroll specialists ready to contribute effectively to organizational efficiency while ensuring legal and operational accuracy.

Choosing a well-recognized Payroll Training Institute in Navi Mumbai provides learners with a competitive edge in building their careers. Such institutes offer industry-relevant, software-based training programs led by experienced trainers who bring real-world insights into every session. Institutes collaborate with HR software companies to ensure learners gain hands-on exposure to the tools used in modern payroll environments. Participants work on live assignments, learn to prepare compliance documentation, and simulate payroll processing for various industries, gaining experience that directly translates to workplace readiness. Small batch sizes allow trainers to offer personalized feedback, helping learners identify areas of improvement while building confidence. These institutes often provide career services, including resume preparation, interview training, and placement support to ensure learners transition smoothly into HR and accounts roles. Certification from a reputed Payroll Training Institute in Navi Mumbai adds significant value to a candidate’s profile, demonstrating proficiency in handling real-world payroll challenges efficiently. This combination of structured learning, practical assignments, and placement readiness makes such institutes crucial for professionals seeking to build expertise in payroll and secure stable, rewarding careers in HR and finance functions.

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