Understand the Five Heads of Income Tax

When you have to do your taxes at the end of the year, you have to classify the income you have earned in the financial year into five categories. These categories are listed in Section 14 of the Income Tax Act of 1961.

Since people have different sources of income, it can be confusing sometimes to tell which of the earnings in a particular financial year will fall under which category. To correctly classify your earnings, you need to have a clear understanding of each of the five income tax heads, and in this blog, we will do just that! We’ll break down each head individually to make things easier for you and help you make informed decisions about your finances so that you can engage in effective tax planning.

Five Heads of Income

The 5 heads of income tax are mentioned below:

1. Income from salary
2. Income from house property
3. Income from profits and gains from business or profession
4. Income from capital gains
5. Income from other sources

1. Income from salary

The first head of income is the income from salary. The majority of us derive our primary income from salaries. If an employer gives you, an employee, monetary compensation, your income is classified under this head. Our salary is the fruit of our labour, but how is it categorised as far as income tax goes? Well, there are several components within this head, such as

• Your basic wages
• Pension 
• Perquisites
• Gratuity
• Commission
• Any bonuses such as an annual bonus
• Leave encashment
• Advance salary, and others. 

When all such components are added, you get your gross salary, and this gross amount is what is charged under the income from the salary head.

Some of the components of your salary are exempt from taxes under the Income Tax Act, such as

• House Rent Allowance, which an employee gets in a standard package and is used to pay the house rent. Exemptions for HRA are listed under Section 10 of the Income Tax Act.
• Conveyance Allowance, which an employee receives for travel between the office and home. This exemption is also listed in Section 10 of the Income Tax Act, and one can claim a maximum exemption of Rs. 1,600 per month.
• Leave Travel Allowance, which is the compensation an employee receives for personal travel, such as for vacations. Under Section 10(5) one can claim LTA tax benefits for two trips in four years.
• Medical allowance, which is received by employees to cover their medical expenses. Under Section 17 of the Income Tax Act, one can claim up to Rs. 15,000 as tax exemption per year.

If you are an investor who is looking for a tax-saving investment option, you should consider Equity-Linked Savings Scheme mutual funds. Understanding the ELSS mutual fund meaning can help you optimise your tax liabilities. These funds have potentially high returns as they invest in equities or equity-related instruments, and under Section 80C they also provide tax benefits. This dual benefit, coupled with the fact that ELSS has the shortest lock-in period compared to other tax saving options at three years is why ELSS is a popular pick among people looking to minimise their tax liabilities.

2. Income from house property

Income from house property is the next head of income tax. This head is outlined in Section 22 to Section 27 of the Income Tax Act and offers a comprehensive view of the earnings associated with a property. Income from house property goes beyond what you earn in rent – it’s a calculated amount that includes what you could have earned.

The primary source of income in this category is the rental income received by the property owner. This includes the rent paid by tenants for the use of the property. In cases where a property is not let out but has the potential to generate rental income, or if all the properties are self-occupied, the tax still has to be paid on the value of rent the taxpayer would have received in case they had rented the property. 

There are a few conditions for income to be taxable under this head:

• The house property has to be owned by the taxpayer.
• The house property has to be a building, house, or land appurtenant.
• The house property cannot be used for any other purpose other than residency. 

Many deductions are allowed under this head. Property owners can deduct the municipal taxes paid during the fiscal year. A standard deduction is allowed to account for various expenses related to the maintenance and upkeep of the property. Owners are also allowed deductions on payment of home loan interests.

3. Income from profits and gains from business or profession

The third head of income is income from profits and gains from business or profession. If you make your money through business or are self-employed, you have to classify your income under this head. Business means any kind of trade or manufacturing, and profession means you have acquired your skills in a specific field after studying and passing related examinations. Since the tax is levied on gains, you have to subtract your expenses from your total revenue to get a gross amount. This gross amount is what is taxed. 

Some rules under Section 28 of the Income Tax Act have to be satisfied for income to be charged under this head:

• The business or profession that you declare has to be legitimate. 
• As the taxpayer, you have to carry out the operations of the business or profession.
• For the majority of the previous year, the taxpayer has to be actively controlling the business or profession.
• The tax is charged on the gains made by the business or profession when it was operating in the previous year.
• The taxpayer has to list all other businesses or any other professions that they are carrying out. 

Under this head, some of the kinds of income that can be charged include:

• All profit an organisation makes on income.
• Gains you receive due to partnership with another firm.
• Any benefits that your business receives.
• Profit made by the sale of certain licences. 
• Bonuses and incentives received.
• Sale of imports.
• Commissions.

Remember that your business or profession doesn’t have to be operational for the entirety of the previous year to be charged under the head. If it was active at any time in the previous year, tax can be charged.

4. Income from capital gains

When you invest in a capital asset and make a profit upon selling it, that profit becomes taxable and it is classified under the head of income from capital gains. Some of the capital assets include stocks, real estate, gold, bonds, and mutual funds. 

There are two types of gains one can make on capital assets – short-term capital gains and long-term capital gains. Short-term capital gains are gains you make when you sell your capital assets within three years or 36 months. Depending on the asset, a maximum of 15% tax can be applied to these gains. 

On the other hand, long-term capital gains are made after you sell an asset you’ve invested in for over three years. The rate of tax on these gains is applied up to a maximum of 20%. This is why when you’re investing, it’s important to consider the holding period of the asset, as it has tax implications later.

Under Section 54 and Section 54F of the Income Tax Act, there are various exemptions available for capital gains.

5. Income from other sources

The fifth and final head of income is a catch-all category. It includes earnings from various sources that are not covered under the previous four heads. This head falls under Section 56 (2) of the Income Tax Act and includes the following sources of income:

• Lotteries,
• Interest income on savings accounts,
• Gambling rewards such as card games,
• Sports rewards,
• Gift cards,
• Royalties,
• Any amount exceeding Rs. 50,000 received from someone who is not your relative, and many other sources.

Given the complexity and diversity of income sources falling under this category,  it could be smart to consult a tax advisor to minimise your liabilities. An experienced tax advisor can guide you on proper classification and help you make sure you don’t miss out on potential deductions and benefits.

Differences between heads of income tax & sources of income

The terms “heads of income” and “sources of income” are often used in the context of taxation and accounting, and they refer to different aspects. Here are the key differences between the two:

Conclusion:

Albert Einstein once said, “The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax.” Of course, he was exaggerating and said so in jest, but there is some truth behind his statement. Income tax laws can be quite complex but with the right knowledge and approach, tax can become a manageable aspect of our lives. You now know all about the different heads of income so you can easily classify your income when filing for your tax.

Remember though that accurately calculating tax is an entirely different thing, so if you have any confusion, you can seek the help of an income tax planner. Not only can an income tax planner help you avoid unnecessary penalties, but can also enable you to take advantage of the various exemptions, deductions, and benefits and guide you through the ever-changing landscape of tax laws.