What is an Income Certificate?
Benefits of an Income Certificate
1. Income certificates are often mandatory when applying for government and private scholarships aimed at students from economically weaker sections.
2. Many educational institutions offer fee waivers or concessions for students from low-income families, which require an income certificate as proof.
3. Subsidies on electricity, LPG connections (like Ujjwala Yojana), and agricultural support schemes also require an income certificate.
4. For availing free or subsidised healthcare in government hospitals or applying for health schemes like Ayushman Bharat, an income certificate is often needed.
5. Income certificates are used in the issuance or renewal of Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration cards, which offer subsidised food grains.
7. Some banks and government institutions offer educational or agricultural loans at concessional rates for low-income applicants, with income certificates as a necessary document.
8. Income certificates can also be useful in legal matters like compensation, insurance claims, or civil court matters to prove economic status.
How to get an Income Certificate?
An income certificate is issued by the designated authorities under different state governments, and the issuing authority may vary from state to state. Please note that a small fee is typically charged by the state government when an applicant applies for an income certificate. The table given below highlights the list of income certificate issuing authorities along with their processing time and application charges.
State-Wise List of Authorities for Income Certificate
| State | Providing Authority | Processing Time* | Application Fee# |
| Andhra Pradesh | Tehsildar/Deputy Tehsildar | 7 days (for 1st time), thereafter 15 min. | ₹10 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Administrative Officer of the area | 15 days | ₹110 (If form is obtained offline)
|
| Assam | Concerned Office of the Circle Officer | 10 days | User/Statutory charges – ₹30
Service charge (in case of applying from PFC/CSC) – ₹30 Printing charge (in case of any printing from PFC/CSC) – ₹10 Per Page Scanning charge (in case documents are scanned in PFC/CSC) – ₹5 Per page Convenience fee – ₹10 |
| Bihar | Zonal Officer/SDO/District Magistrate | 10 working days | Free of cost |
| Chhattisgarh | SDM Offices | 15 days | ₹30 |
| Goa | Deputy Collector/Sub-Divisional Officer | 1 day | ₹50 if applied for the general purpose or mediclaim
₹150 if applied for the purpose of acquiring land |
| Gujarat | Mamlatdar / Taluka Development Office | 7 days | ₹20 |
| Haryana | SDM of the concerned Subdivision or Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district | 7 working days | ₹30 |
| Himachal Pradesh | Concerned Revenue Officer | 7 days | ₹30 |
| Jharkhand | Department of Revenue, Land Reforms and Registration/Department of Personnel,
Administrative Reforms and Rajbhasa |
7 to 15 days | Not specified |
| Karnataka | Deputy Tehsildar and Tehsildar | 7 days | ₹25 |
| Kerala | Revenue Department Authorities or Tehsildar | 6 days | General Caste – ₹28
SC/ST – ₹12 BPL – ₹20 |
| Madhya Pradesh | Tehsil/Revenue/Circle Office | 7 to 15 days | Not specified |
| Maharashtra | Naib Tehsildar/Sub-Divisional Officer | 15 days | ₹20 |
| Manipur | District Administration Office/ Sub-Division Office/ Circle Office | 7 to 15 days | Free of cost |
| Meghalaya | Office of the Deputy Commissioner | 30 days | Not specified |
| Mizoram | Office of the Deputy Commissioner | 2 to 3 days | ₹10 |
| Nagaland | Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner, or Sub-Divisional Officer | 10 to 15 days | Not specified |
| Odisha | District Magistrate/ADM/SDO/Tahsildar | 15 days | ₹30 |
| Punjab | At tehsil level – Tehsildar
At sub-tehsil level – Naib tehsildar. |
7 days | ₹75 |
| Rajasthan | Magistrate or Notary Public | 7 days | ₹40 |
| Sikkim | District Administrative Centre | 7 days | ₹50 |
| Tamil Nadu | Taluk Office | 15 days | ₹60 |
| Telangana | Tehsil/Revenue Office | 7 days | ₹45 + Postal charges |
| Tripura | Municipal/Block Development Office | 15 days | Not specified |
| Uttar Pradesh | Tehsildar/Revenue Department Authorities | 7 working days | ₹10 |
| Uttarakhand | Respective Tehsil /Revenue/Circle Office | 15 days | ₹40 |
| West Bengal | District Welfare Office/SDO/BDO | 7 working days | No fee required |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Concerned Tehsildar Officer | 7 working days | Not Specified |
| Chandigarh | Deputy Commissioner Office | 30 days | ₹2 court fee stamp |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli | Mamlatdar office/Collector office | 7 working days | Not Specified |
| Daman and Diu | Mamlatdar office/Collector office | 7 working days | Not specified |
| Delhi | Deputy Commissioner/ Sub-District Magistrate/ Sub-Divisional Magistrate | 14 days | Free of cost |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Tehsildar | 7 to 15 days | Not specified |
| Ladakh | Revenue Department | Not specified | Not specified |
| Lakshadweep | Revenue Department | 7 days | Not specified |
| Puducherry | Revenue Department | 14 days | Not specified |
*The processing time mentioned above is tentative. It may change depending on providing authority.
Calculating Income for an Income Certificate
What is counted as income in the income certificate? This is a common question that comes to the mind of most applicants. An income certificate serves as proof of your total income from various sources. However, the following types of earnings are exempted:
- Income of a widow, sister or daughter
- Terminal benefits
- Surrender leave salary
- Family pension
- Festival allowance
The key components considered while calculating family income include:
- Income from salary
- Income from business
- Income from property
- Income from rented buildings
Income Certificate Application Process
The application for an income certificate can be made either online or offline through the respective state administration websites or the concerned authorities. However, in this technically advanced world, most of the issuing authorities prefer online applications for the ease of the process. If you wish to obtain an income certificate, you primarily need to ensure that you have all the required documents and fulfil the respective eligibility conditions.
Online Application
For online applications, each state administration has a dedicated website for obtaining an income certificate. Individuals who are permanent residents of a particular state can refer to their respective state’s website for the application. The table below provides a detailed overview of state-wise application portals through which you can apply for the income certificate online. The process for online application is quite simple. You just need to create a login on the portal and complete the application requirements as specified.
Income Certificate Application Direct Link: State-Wise
| State | Where to apply? |
| Andhra Pradesh | Apply through the MEESEVA app (ap.meesevaapp.com/) of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Apply through the Arunachal eServices portal (eservice.arunachal.gov.in/) of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh. |
| Assam | Apply through the e-District services of the Assam state portal (assam.gov.in/) |
| Bihar | Apply through the RTPS portal (serviceonline.bihar.gov.in/) of the Bihar Government. |
| Chhattisgarh | Apply through the e-district portal (edistrict.cgstate.gov.in/PACE/login.do?lang=en) of Chhattisgarh state |
| Goa | Apply through the Goa Online portal (goaonline.gov.in) |
| Gujarat | Apply through the Digital Gujarat portal (digitalgujarat.gov.in/CitizenNew/ServiceDescriptionNew.aspx) |
| Haryana | Apply through the e-Disha portal (edisha.gov.in/Downloadforms) of Haryana |
| Himachal Pradesh | Apply online through the Himachal Online Seva (e-District) portal (http://edistrict.hp.gov.in/) |
| Jharkhand | Apply online through the Jharkhand e-District (JharSewa) portal (https://jharsewa.jharkhand.gov.in/) |
| Karnataka | Apply online through the official Seva Sindhu website (sevasindhuservices.karnataka.gov.in/loginWindow.do) |
| Kerala | Apply online through the Akshaya portal (akshaya.kerala.gov.in/services/6/income-certificate) of the Government of Kerala. |
| Madhya Pradesh | Apply online through the MP e-District portal (https://mpedistrict.gov.in/) |
| Maharashtra | Apply online through the Aaple Sarkar portal of the Government of Maharashtra (https://aaplesarkar.mahaonline.gov.in/en/Login/Login) |
| Manipur | Apply through the e-District portal of Manipur (eservicesmanipur.gov.in/eda/) |
| Meghalaya | Apply through the e-District portal of Meghalaya (https://megedistrict.gov.in/) |
| Mizoram | Apply through the e-District portal of Mizoram (edistrict.mizoram.gov.in/) |
| Nagaland | Apply through the state portal of Nagaland (nagaland.gov.in/eservices) |
| Odisha | Apply through the e-District portal of Odisha (edistrict.odisha.gov.in/) |
| Punjab | Apply through the state portal of Punjab. |
| Rajasthan | Apply through the e-Mitra portal of the Government of Rajasthan (emitra.rajasthan.gov.in/content/emitra/en/home.html) |
| Sikkim | Apply through the e-Services portal of Sikkim (eservices.sikkim.gov.in/) |
| Tamil Nadu | Apply through the Tamil Nadu e-Sevai centre (tnesevai.tn.gov.in/) |
| Telangana | Apply through the MeeSeva portal of the Government of Telangana (ts.meeseva.telangana.gov.in/meeseva/Applicationforms.htm) |
| Tripura | Apply through the e-District portal of Tripura (https://edistrict.tripura.gov.in/) |
| Uttar Pradesh | Apply through the e-Saathi web portal (edistrict.up.gov.in/edistrictup/) or mobile app. |
| Uttarakhand | Apply through the e-District portal of Uttarakhand (edistrict.uk.gov.in/Edistrict-EN/MainSecureSewaLogin.aspx) |
| West Bengal | Apply through the West Bengal e-District portal (https://edistrict.wb.gov.in/PACE/login.do) |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Apply through the official e-district portal of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration (edistrict.andaman.gov.in/Home/Index) |
| Chandigarh | Apply through the e-district portal of Chandigarh (chdservices.gov.in/) |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli | Apply through the official portal of the Dadra and Nagar Haveli Administration (sugam.dddgov.in/services) |
| Daman and Diu | Apply through the official portal (diu.gov.in/) of the Daman and Diu Administration. |
| Delhi | Apply through the e-District portal of Delhi (https://edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in/in/en/Home/Index.html) |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Apply through Jammu & Kashmir State e-Services (https://jk.gov.in/jkeservices/home.action) |
| Ladakh | Apply offline through the Revenue Department. |
| Lakshadweep | Go to serviceonline.gov.in/ and choose the state as Lakshwadeep to apply for the income certificate |
| Puducherry | Apply through the e-District portal (https://edistrict.py.gov.in/)of Puducherry |
Offline Application for Income Certificate
Despite the ease of online applications, some citizens still consider the offline mode of application a more convenient option. If you also wish to apply for an income certificate offline, you need to contact the designated authority in your area. You can apply through one of the following offices:
- SDM Office
- Tehsildar Office
- Revenue Office
- CSC (Citizen Service Centres)
- Collector Office
- District Magistrate Office
- BDO Office
Documents Required to Get an Income Certificate
Since income certificate applications are handled by respective state government authorities, the list of required documents may vary slightly by state. However, some commonly required documents that an individual must provide in support of his/her application include:
1. Identity proof such as
- Aadhaar Card
- Voter ID Card
- Driving License
- PAN Card
- Passport
- RSBY Card
- MGNREGA Job Card
2. Address proof such as
- Voter ID Card
- Passport
- PAN Card
- Aadhaar Card
- LPC
- Driving License
- Ration Card
- Land Allotment Passbook
- Electricity bill
- Water bill
3. Passport-size coloured photograph of the applicant
4. Income proof
- Income Tax Return Statement
- Salary Slip
- Form 16 (for salaried individuals)
- Certificate from BDO (for rural areas)
- Certificate from the concerned authorities for persons having income from agriculture, horticulture and veterinary sources
5. Age proof such as
- Birth Certificate
- Bonafide Certificate
- School Leaving Certificate
Income Certificate Renewal Process
An Income Certificate is a critical document that must be renewed every financial year. The renewal application can be submitted online, and the details are provided below:
- Visit the official state government portal responsible for issuing income certificates.
- Navigate to the Income Certificate Renewal section.
- Complete the application form and upload the required documents.
- Pay the applicable fee, if required, and submit the application.
- Upon submission, a reference number will be generated for future tracking.
Required Documents
Applicants are typically required to submit the following documents for renewal:
- Existing income certificate
- Valid proof of identity (such as Aadhaar Card, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving License)
- Proof of residence (such as an electricity bill or water bill)
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Salary slips or bank statements, if there is a change in income from the previous financial year.
Note – To read this article in Hindi, please click here
FAQs
Who can apply for an income certificate?
Any Indian citizen can apply for an income certificate through their state government offices or online e-service portals.
Where can an income certificate be used?
It can be used for fee concessions, applying for scholarships, securing quota seats in professional colleges, receiving free ration, disaster relief, applying for loans or pensions, and more.
What is the application fee to be paid for an income certificate?
The fee varies by state—from ₹2 to ₹150—or may even be free in some states.
Can an individual apply for the income certificate online?
Yes, most Indian states offer online application through their e-district or service portals.
How to get an income certificate online in Uttar Pradesh?
Visit the e-Saathi portal at edistrict.up.gov.in/edistrictup/ and follow the steps to apply online.
How to check the income certificate status?
Use the reference number received after application on the same state portal to track your application status.
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