Professional Tax
Professional tax is a tax levied by state governments in India on income earned through salary, trade, or profession, under Article 276 of the Constitution. It is deducted monthly by employers from employee salaries and deposited with the respective state's commercial tax department.
Professional tax slabs vary from state to state and are based on salary/income brackets, but the total professional tax payable in any state cannot exceed ₹2,500 per year as per the constitutional cap. Not all states levy professional tax — for example, Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh currently do not impose it, while Maharashtra, Karnataka, and West Bengal do.
Key points
- ✓ A state-level tax, not a central levy, so rules and slabs differ by state
- ✓ Constitutionally capped at ₹2,500 per person per year
- ✓ Deducted monthly by the employer from salary and remitted to the state
- ✓ Some states (e.g., Delhi, Haryana) do not levy professional tax at all
- ✓ Applies to salaried employees, professionals, and traders alike
Example
In Maharashtra, an employee earning above ₹25,000/month pays ₹200 professional tax for 11 months and ₹300 in February, totalling ₹2,500 for the year, which the employer deducts from the monthly payslip and remits to the state.
Frequently asked questions
Is professional tax applicable in every Indian state?
Who is responsible for depositing professional tax?
Is professional tax deductible from taxable income?
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