⭐ UNIT 1 – INTRODUCTION (FULL FLEDGED NOTES)
1. Meaning and Definition of Income
Income refers to any monetary or non-monetary gain received by a person during a
financial year.
The Income Tax Act, 1961 gives a very broad meaning to “income.”
Income includes:
• Salary and wages
• House rent received
• Business or professional profit
• Capital gains from sale of property, gold, shares, etc.
• Interest on savings, FD, recurring deposit
• Commission, bonus, incentives
• Lottery winnings, gift amounts
• Pension received
• Family pension
• Dividend from shares
Features of Income:
1. Income must come from a definite source (salary, property, business).
2. Income may be regular or irregular (salary is regular, lottery is irregular).
3. Income may be monetary or non-monetary (rent-free accommodation).
4. Illegal income is also taxable.
In simple words:
Anything which increases your wealth is income.
2. Agricultural Income
Agricultural income means income earned through cultivation or farming activities.
Examples:
• Income from growing crops
• Rent received from agricultural land
• Income from farmhouses used for agriculture
• Sale of agricultural produce
Is Agricultural Income taxable?
Agricultural income is exempt from tax, but it is used for rate purposes.
This method is called partial integration of agricultural income.
3. Person (Under Sec. 2(31))
Tax is charged on “persons.”
The term “person” includes 7 categories:
1. Individual (normal human being)
2. HUF (Hindu Undivided Family)
3. Company
4. Firm (Partnership or LLP)
5. AOP (Association of Persons)
6. BOI (Body of Individuals)
7. Artificial Juridical Person (temples, clubs, universities)
Each “person” is separately assessed for tax.
4. Assessee
An “assessee” is a person who is:
• liable to pay tax, or
• required to file return, or
• undergoing assessment.
Types of Assessee:
1. Ordinary assessee – every taxpayer.
2. Representative assessee – person who pays tax on behalf of others (guardian,
agent).
3. Deemed assessee – treated as assessee by law (legal heir after death).
4. Assessee in default – does not pay tax/TDS on time.
5. Assessment Year (AY)
Assessment Year is the year in which:
• income is assessed, and
• tax is paid.
It starts on 1 April and ends on 31 March of next year.
Example:
• If income is earned in 2024–25,
• It is assessed in 2025–26, which is the Assessment Year.
6. Previous Year (PY)
Previous Year is the financial year in which income is earned, i.e.,
1 April to 31 March.
Example:
Income earned between 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
is taxed in AY 2025–26.
Rule: Income of the previous year is always taxed in the next Assessment Year.
7. Gross Total Income (GTI)
GTI is the total income from all 5 heads of income before deductions.
Five heads of income:
1. Income from Salary
2. Income from House Property
3. Income from Business/Profession
4. Income from Capital Gains
5. Income from Other Sources
Formula:
GTI = All incomes added together (before deductions)
8. Total Income (Taxable Income)
Total Income = Gross Total Income – Deductions (Chapter VI-A)
Common deductions:
• 80C (LIC, PF, ELSS, tuition fees)
• 80D (medical insurance)
• 80G (donations)
• 80TTA/TTB (interest on savings)
Tax is calculated on Total Income.
9. Maximum Marginal Rate of Tax
This is the highest tax rate applicable in India, including:
• Income tax
• Surcharge
• Health & education cess
Used for calculating tax on special incomes, etc.
10. Permanent Account Number (PAN)
PAN is a 10-digit alphanumeric code issued by the Income Tax Department.
Uses of PAN:
• Filing Income Tax Return (ITR)
• Opening a bank account
• Buying property
• High-value transactions
• Identity for tax purposes
• Preventing tax evasion
Without PAN, many financial operations are restricted.
11. Residential Status
Residential status determines how much income is taxable in India.
Types:
1. Resident
2. Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident (RNOR)
3. Non-Resident (NR)
1. Resident:
A person is resident if he stays in India for:
• 182 days or more in the PY, OR
• 60 days in PY + 365 days in last 4 years.
2. RNOR:
Resident but stays mostly outside India.
3. Non-Resident:
Does not satisfy the above conditions.
12. Taxability Based on Residential Status
Residential Status Taxable Income
Resident Global income taxable in India
RNOR Only income from India + controlled foreign income
Non-Resident Only income earned or received in India
This is one of the most important concepts of income tax.
13. Scope of Total Income
Scope means what income will be taxed, depending on residential status.
Income may be:
Earned in India
Earned outside India
Received in India
Accrued in India
A resident is taxed on all of these.
A non-resident is taxed only on Indian income.
14. Exempted Incomes (Section 10)
Section 10 lists incomes which are fully or partly exempt from tax.
Important Exemptions:
Agricultural income
Scholarships
Certain allowances (HRA, LTA)
Gratuity (subject to limits)
Leave encashment
Commuted pension
Incidental allowances for MPs/MLAs
Income of minor child up to a limit
Dividends from companies (subject to rules)
These exemptions reduce the taxable income.
15. Kautilya’s Taxation Policy (Ancient Indian Tax System)
Kautilya (Chanakya) wrote “Arthashastra,” which explains how taxation should be fair and
useful.
Key Principles:
1. Taxes should be reasonable, not burdensome.
2. Tax should be collected like honey from a flower—without destroying it.
3. Rich should pay more, poor should pay less.
4. Tax system should be simple and corruption-free.
5. Money collected should be used for public welfare, not for luxury.
6. Taxation must ensure economic growth and social justice.
These ideas still influence modern taxation.
⭐ SUMMARY OF UNIT 1
This unit helps you understand the basic concepts of income tax such as:
What income is
Who is taxed
When income is taxed
Which incomes are exempt
What deductions apply
Who is treated as resident
What is GTI and Total Income