Question

Elucidate any five features of Income Tax.

Answer 1

Features of Income Tax in India:

1. Levied as Per the Constitution Income tax is levied in India by virtue of entry No. 82 of List I (Union List) of Seventh Schedule to Article 246 of the Constitution of India.

2. Levied by Central Government Income tax is charged by the Central Government on all incomes other than agricultural income. However, the power to charge income tax on agricultural income has been vested with the State Government as per entry 46 of List II, i.e., State List.

3. Direct Tax Income tax is a direct tax. It is because the liability to deposit and ultimate burden are on the same person. The person earning income is liable to pay income tax out of his own pocket and cannot pass on the burden of tax to another person.

4. Annual Tax Income tax is an annual tax because it is the income of a particular year that is chargeable to tax.

5. Tax on Person It is a tax on income earned by a person. The term ‘person’ has been defined under the Income-tax Act. It includes individual, Hindu Undivided Family, Firm, Company, local authority, Association of Person or Body of Individual or any other artificial juridical persons. The persons who are covered under Income-tax Act are called ‘assessees’.