Income Tax in India

Income Tax In India

Central Revenue collections in 2007-08 (Source: Compiled from reports of Comptroller and Auditor General of India for relevant years)

Personal Income Tax (Direct) (17.43%) Corporate Tax (Direct) (32.76%) Other Taxes (Direct) (2.83%) Excise duty (Indirect) (20.84%) Customs duty (Indirect) (17.46%) Other Taxes (Indirect) (8.68%)

The Central Government has been empowered by Entry 82 of the Union List of Schedule VII of the Constitution of India to levy tax on all income other than agricultural income (subject to Section 10(1)). The Income Tax Law comprises The Income Tax Act 1961, Income Tax Rules 1962, Notifications and Circulars issued by Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Annual Finance Acts and Judicial pronouncements by Supreme Court and High Courts.

The government of India imposes an income tax on taxable income of all persons including individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), companies, firms, association of persons, body of individuals, local authority and any other artificial judicial person. Levy of tax is separate on each of the persons. The levy is governed by the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961. The Indian Income Tax Department is governed by CBDT and is part of the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India. Income tax is a key source of funds that the government uses to fund its activities and serve the public.

The Income Tax Department is the biggest revenue mobilizer for the Government. The total tax revenues of the Central Government increased from Rs. 139226 crore in 1997-98 to Rs. 588909 crore in 2007-08.