Computation Of Total Income And Tax Payable By An Individual– Step By Step Procedure

Income-tax is levied on an assessee’s total income. Such total income has to be computed as per the provisions contained in the Income-tax Act, 1961. Steps 1 to 8 given hereunder have to be followed for computing the total income of an individual assessee as per the regular provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Thereafter, Steps 9 to 15 have to be followed for computing the tax payable.

Step 1 – Determination of residential status

The residential status of an individual has to be determined to ascertain which income is to be included in his total income (TI). In case of an individual, the duration for which he is present in India in the relevant previous year or relevant previous year and the earlier previous years, as the case may be, determine his residential status. Based on the days spent by him in India, he may be resident or a non-resident.

Step 2 – Classification of income under five heads

An individual may earn income from different sources. Under the Income-tax Act, 1961, for computation of TI, all income of an individual tax payer can be classified into five different heads of income.

  • Salaries
  • Income from house property
  • Profits and gains of business or profession
  • Capital gains
  • Income from other sources
Step 3 – Computation of income under each head

Income under each head (–) exemptions (–) deductions allowable under that head

Step 4 – Clubbing of income of spouse, minor child etc.

In case of individuals, income-tax is levied on a slab system on the total income. The tax system is progressive i.e., as the income increases, the applicable rate of tax increases. Some taxpayers in the higher income bracket have a tendency to divert some portion of their income to their spouse, minor child etc. to minimize their tax burden. In order to prevent such tax avoidance, clubbing provisions have been incorporated in the Act, under which income arising to certain persons (like spouse, minor child etc.) have to be included in the income of the person who has diverted his income for the purpose of computing tax liability

Step 5 – Set-off of current year losses and brought forward losses

An assessee may have different sources of income under the same head of income. He may have profit from one source and loss from the other. Similarly, an assessee can have loss under one head of income and profits under another heads of income. There are provisions in the Act for allowing inter-head adjustment in certain cases. The losses is allowed to be set off in the following series :

  • Inter-source set-off of losses
  • Inter-head set-off of losses
  • Set-off of brought forward losses
  • Set-off of unabsorbed depreciation

Thereafter, unabsorbed losses and unabsorbed depreciation would be carried forward.

Step 6 – Computation of gross total income

Gross Total Income = Add income computed under each head → Apply clubbing provisions → Apply the provisions for set-off and carry forward of losses

Step 7 – Deductions from gross total income

There are deductions under Chapter VI-A allowable from Gross Total Income. These deductions are of following types:

  • Deductions in respect of certain payments
  • Deductions in respect of certain incomes
  • Deductions in respect of other incomes
  • Other deductions
Step 8 – Computation of total income

Total Income = Gross total income (–) Deductions under Chapter VI-A
Total Income should be rounded off to the nearest multiple of 10

Step 9 – Application of rates of tax on total income in case of an individual
Total Income Rate of Tax
Upto 2,50,000 (in case of an individual below 60 years)
Upto 3,00,000 (in case of an individual who is 60 years or more but less than 80 years and resident in India)
Upto 5,00,000 (in case of an individual who is 80 years or more and resident in India)
Nil
2,50,001/ 3,00,001, as the case may be, to 5,00,000 5%
5,00,001 to 10,00,000 20%
Above ₹10,00,000 30%
Step 10 – Surcharge and Rebate

Surcharge

S No. Particulars Rate of Surcharge on Income tax
1 Where the TI (including dividend income and capital gains chargeable to tax u/s 111A, 112 and 112A) > 50 lakhs but ≤ 1 crore 10%
2 Where TI (including dividend income and capital gains chargeable to tax u/s 111A, 112 and 112A) > 1 crore but ≤ 2 crore 15%
3a Where TI (excluding dividend income and capital gains chargeable to tax u/s 111A, 112 and 112A) > 2 crore but ≤ 5 crore 25%
3b The rate of surcharge on the income-tax payable on the portion of dividend income and capital gains chargeable to tax u/s 111A, 112 and 112A Not exceeding 15%
4a Where TI (excluding dividend income and capital gains chargeable to tax u/s 111A, 112 and 112A) > 5 crore 37%
Step 11 – Health and Education cess on Income-tax

Health and Education cess – 4% of income-tax and surcharge, if applicable
Total Tax Liability = Tax on total income at applicable rates (+) Surcharge, at applicable rates, if total income > 50 lakhs, or (+) HEC@4% (-) Rebate u/s 87A, if total income ≤ 5 lakh

Step 12 – Examine the applicability of Alternate Minimum Tax (AMT)
  • If an individual is claiming dedn u/s 10AA or u/s 35AD or section 80JJAA, 80QQB & 80RRB and his adjusted TI > 20 lakhs, AMT provisions will apply.
  • Compute AMT [18.5% of adjusted TI plus surcharge, if applicable plus HEC @4%]. • If AMT > tax computed as per regular provisions, adjusted TI would be deemed to be TI.
  • Tax is leviable @18.5% of adjusted total income plus surcharge, if applicable plus HEC @4%.
  • Tax credit can be c/f for maximum 15 A.Ys. = AMT less Tax computed as per regular provisions. Individuals exercising option u/s 115BAC are not liable to AMT u/s 115JC.
Step 13 – Examine whether or not to exercise the option under section 115BAC for availing concessional tax slab rates

As per section 115BAC, individuals have an option to pay tax in respect of their TI (other than income chargeable to tax at special rates under Chapter XII) at following concessional rates, if they do not avail certain exemptions/ deductions like LTC, std deduction under the head “Salaries”, int. on housing loan on self-occupied property, deductions under Chapter VI-A (other than 80CCD(2) or section 80JJAA), set-off of b/f loss or depreciation, if they relate to any of the above deductions, set-off of loss from house property against income under any other head, etc.

Total Income Tax Rate
Upto ₹2,50,000 Nil
From ₹2,50,001 to ₹5,00,000 5%
From ₹5,00,001 to ₹7,50,000 10%
From ₹7,50,001 to ₹10,00,000 15%
From ₹10,00,001 to ₹12,50,000 20%
From ₹12,50,001 to ₹15,00,000 25%
Above ₹15,00,000 30%

Surcharge would be attracted at the same rates and above the same thresholds of TI as applicable under the regular provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Further, HEC @4% would be attracted on income-tax so calculated plus surcharge, if applicable.
Examine the tax liability computed under the regular provisions of the Act (including provisions relating to AMT, if applicable) with the tax liability computed u/s 115BAC. Thereafter, if tax liability is lower as per the provisions u/s 115BAC, then opt to pay tax as per section 115BAC.
Note – If an individual having income from business or profession exercises option to pay tax u/s 115BAC in a P.Y., then, the said provisions would apply for all subsequent PYs. An individual not having income from business or profession can exercise the option to pay tax u/s 115BAC for each P.Y. He may exercise the option in a particular P.Y., but may not do so in another P.Y., depending on whether or not exercising the option is beneficial to him in the respective P.Y.

Step 14 – Credit for advance tax, TDS and TCS

Tax payable/ Tax refundable = Total tax liability (-) TDS (-) TCS (-) Advance tax paid

Step 15 – Tax payable/ Tax refundable
  • Tax payable/ Tax refundable should be rounded off to the nearest multiple of 10.
  • The assessee has to pay the amt of tax payable (called self- assessment tax) at the time of filing of return of income.
  • If any refund is due, assessee will get the same after filing the return of income.