Total Income (TI) or Gross Total Income (GTI) terms differ in substance. Gross Total Income is calculated by adding earnings received as per all five heads of income. Total income is arrived at after deducting from Gross Total Income deductions under Section 80C to 80U under the Income Tax Act 1961. This means GTI is a bigger component out of which on deducting certain specified amount we can get the TI.
Why Finding of Total Income (TI) important for Income Tax Act?
You must be wondering why it is important to know total income?? Understanding total income becomes necessary because it directly impacts your tax payments. Tax is calculated on total income or net income of a person and not on Gross Total Income. If the calculation of Total Income is made wrong i.e. either it is calculated higher than actual income or lower, following consequences may follow
- In case TI has been calculated more than the actual amount. Then the tax would be calculated on such enhanced amount and you might end up paying higher taxes unnecessarily.
- The other side is even more distressing. Computing lower Total Income and resultantly paying lower income tax will be an open invite for tax notices, penalties & prosecution.
How Total Income is Calculated?
Total Income can be calculated by
- Adding up earnings from all five heads of income
- Reducing from it allowable deductions under Section 80C to Section 80U of the Income Tax
The resultant amount is Total Income.
For better understanding, find below the tabular presentation of how to compute total income.
Particulars |
Amount |
|
|---|---|---|
| Rs. | Rs. | |
| 1. Income from salaries | ||
| Income from salary Income by way of allowances Taxable value of perquisites |
xxx xxx xxx |
|
| Gross salary | xxx | |
| Less: Deduction under Section 16 | ||
| Entertainment allowance Professional tax |
xxx xxx |
|
| Income from salaries | xxxx | |
| 2. Income from house property | ||
| Adjusted net annual value Less: Deduction under section 24 |
xxx xxx |
|
| Income from house property | xxxx | |
| 3. Profit and gains of business or profession | ||
| Net profit as per profit and loss account | xxx | |
| Add:Amounts which are debited to P&l a/c but are not allowed as a deduction under the act | xxx | |
| Less: Expenditure which are not debited to P&L a/c but are allowed as a deduction under the act | xxx | |
| Less: Income which are credited to P&L a/c but are exempt under section 10 | xxx | |
| Add: Income which are not credited to P&L a/c but are taxable under this head | xxx | |
| Profit and gains of business or profession | xxxx | |
| 4. Capital Gains | ||
| Amount of capital gains Less: Amount exempt under sections 54, 54B,54D,54EC,54F, 54G, 54GA, 54GB, and 54H |
xxx xxx | |
| Income from Capital Gains | xxxx | |
| 5. Income from other sources | ||
| Gross income Less: Deduction under section 57 |
xxx xxx |
|
| Income from other sources | xxxx | |
| Total [i.e., (1) +(2) +(3) +(4) +(5)] | xxxx | |
| Less: Adjustment on account of set-off and carry forward of losses | xxx | |
| Gross total income | xxxx | |
| Total Income or Net income | XXXX | |