Income Certificate Online – How to Apply Online?

What is an Income Certificate?

Income certificate is a document specifying the annual income of a person or his family from all sources. This certificate is issued by a state government authority. Village Tehsildards, Deputy commissioner, collector, revenue circle officer, and district magistrate issues the income certificate.

How to Calculate Income for Income Certificate?

Before issuing an income certificate, it is necessary to calculate the income of a family or a person. Income refers to the financial gain or earnings of an individual working for an organization. The income certificate can be issued after calculating the income.

The calculation of income includes the income of all the earning members of the family, such as unmarried daughters, unmarried brothers, and sisters living together. The earnings of family members include -

• Salary of members working in organizations.
• Pension
• Daily/Weekly wage of laborer
• Business profits
• Consultancy charges
• Commissions of agency work
• Regular financial benefits include employee bonuses, deposit interest, rent, dividends, gain on sale of assets, gifts, and inheritances.

The income of an individual or all the earning family members can be calculated by adding income from all the sources.

• Income from Salary - It includes basic salary, dearness allowance, and special allowance. Traveling allowance, HRA, and honorarium received are excluded from the salary income.
• Business or professional earnings: We calculate business earnings, earnings from any profession, or consultation/agency work of a family member based on their Income Tax Return (ITR) filing. If the member doesn't file taxes, we consider their income based on the declaration of the taxpayer.
• Pension income: We determine the income from a family member's pension primarily from their Pension Payment Order (PPO). However, this excludes any amounts received from commutation.
• Daily wage or labor income: We take into account the declaration made by a daily laborer to calculate their daily or monthly wage income.
• Real estate income: Income earned by a family member from rent or brokerage charges in real estate is considered. However, this income is calculated after deducting annual maintenance charges.

What are the Uses of Income Certificate?

As previously mentioned, the income certificate serves as evidence of eligibility for various schemes and benefits provided by the State Government across different sectors. These include, but are not limited to:

• Securing admission in educational institutions with reserved quotas for economically disadvantaged individuals, facilitating either free or discounted enrollment.
• Accessing scholarships offered by institutions/governments
• Availing medical benefits such as free or concessional treatment, subsidized medications, and financial aid for mothers of girl child.
• Obtaining loans from government employers at a concessional interest rate.
• Providing assistance to victims of natural disasters.
• Accessing various types of pensions, including those for widows, elderly individuals, and agricultural laborers.
• Accessing financial aid programs for ex-servicemen.
• Receiving free rations, among other benefits.
• Applying for government jobs reserved for specific categories.
• Claiming entitlement to government-provided accommodation, including hostels and flats.

How to Apply for Income Certificate Online?

Most states provide a dedicated website for administrative tasks, including applying for certificates like the income certificate. The application process typically involves these steps:

• Visit the official website of the respective State/District to initiate the certificate application.
• Register on the website by creating a unique username and password, secured with a mobile number.
• Log in to your account and locate the option for "Applying for income certificate" or similar.
• Complete the online application by providing personal details such as name, age/date of birth, address (including district/taluka/village), gender, etc.
• Submit identification proof such as Ration card, Driving License, Voter’s ID, or other relevant documents.
• Provide Aadhar card details, as it is often mandatory for unique identification and to prevent fraudulent claims.
• Specify religion, caste, and sub-caste, along with relevant details if belonging to SC/ST/OBC categories.
• Include documents proving parental income, such as Income tax returns, Form 16, salary certificates, etc. These may need attestation by Gazetted Government Officers.
• Submit utility bills (rent, maintenance, electricity, telephone, etc.) as proof of address, also possibly requiring attestation by Gazetted Government Officers.
• Prepare an affidavit affirming the accuracy of the information provided in the application.
• Depending on the state's infrastructure, submit the application either at the local district authority's office or upload it online.
• Pay a nominal application fee, which varies depending on the state.
• The certificate is typically issued within 10 to 15 days after submission of the application.

What are the Documents Required to Obtain Income Certificate?

The documents needed to obtain an income certificate can vary by state. However, the typical list includes:

• Identification proof like Voter ID card, Aadhaar card, driving license, passport, or a photo identity card issued by the Central or state government.
• Address proof such as a Voter ID card, Aadhaar card, passport, driver’s license, or any authorized document recognized by the Central or state government.
• Passport-sized color photograph.
• Ration card (BPL) or National Food Security Card, if applicable.
• Signed self-declaration from the applicant or head of the family.
• Additional documents like expenditure proof may be required based on individual state government or union territory regulations.

What is the Process of Checking Income Certificate Online?

• Log in with your phone number and pick the ‘get status’ page to check the status of your application.
• Enter the application number written in the acknowledgment receipt and click on the status.

Hope this article helped you understand the meaning and importance of an income certificate. An Income Certificate proves your income-generating capability and displays your financial stability. Getting your income certificate online in India is difficult. But following the above-mentioned steps can help you get an income certificate online in India.