Indian professional tax (profession tax).
Accountant-authored. Written and published by Mayur Deokar, an accountant approved on OpenAccountants. Their licence number (615638) is published on their profile, so you can check it against the register yourself. No second accountant has attested to this version yet. General reference material, not advice on your specific facts; don't file, pay, or take a position on it without a professional reviewing your situation.
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Every figure is drawn from this Guide and cited to its source.
Maximum per annum
₹2,500Constitution Art. 276
Up to ₹7,500/month
any female employee drawing a monthly gross salary of up to ₹25,000 is completely exempt from paying Profession Tax. If Gross salary exceeds 25000 then Rs 200/month PT Aapplicable(Reference: Maharashtra State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments (Amendment) Act, 2023)Maharashtra PT Act 1975
₹7,501 – ₹10,000
₹175/monthMaharashtra PT Act
Above ₹10,000
₹200/month (₹300 in Feb) = ₹2,500/yearMaharashtra PT Act
Karnataka – Up to ₹24,999/month
NilKarnataka PT Act 1976
₹25,000+
Rs 200 /month and Rs 300 for feb month. In total Rs 2500 year. (Karnataka PT Act)Karnataka PT Act
Up to ₹10,000
NilWest Bengal PT Act 1979
₹10,001 – ₹15,000
₹110/monthWB PT Act
₹15,001 – ₹25,000
₹130/monthWB PT Act
₹25,001 – ₹40,000
₹150/monthWB PT Act
Above ₹40,000
₹200/monthWB PT Act
Up to ₹5,999
Upto 12000- Nil above 12000 - Rs 200/month (Reference: Gujarat State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1976)Gujarat PT Act
₹6,000 – ₹8,999
Upto 12000- Nil above 12000 - Rs 200/month (Gujarat State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1976)Gujarat PT Act
₹9,000 – ₹11,999
Upto 12000- Nil above 12000 - Rs 200/month (Gujarat State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1976)Gujarat PT Act
₹12,000+
Upto 12000- Nil above 12000 - Rs 200/month (Gujarat State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1976)Gujarat PT Act
No PT
Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, PunjabN/A
Maximum per annum (Constitutional Limit)
₹2,500 (Article 276(2))Constitution of India, Art. 276
Deductibility
Fully deductible under s 16(iii) ITA (old regime)Income Tax Act, s 16(iii)
Maharashtra – Up to ₹7,500/month
Any female employee drawing monthly gross salary up to ₹25,000 is completely exempt from PT. If gross salary exceeds ₹25,000, ₹200/month PT applicable. The slab structure in the skill needs to reflect the 2023 amendment.Maharashtra State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments (Amendment) Act, 2023
₹7,501 – ₹10,000
₹175/monthMaharashtra PT Act
Above ₹10,000
₹200/month (₹300 in Feb) = ₹2,500/yearMaharashtra PT Act
Karnataka – Up to ₹24,999/month
NilKarnataka PT Act 1976
Karnataka – ₹25,000+/month
₹200/month and ₹300 for February = ₹2,500/yearKarnataka PT Act
West Bengal – Up to ₹10,000/month
NilWest Bengal PT Act 1979
₹10,001 – ₹15,000
₹110/monthWB PT Act
₹15,001 – ₹25,000
₹130/monthWB PT Act
₹25,001 – ₹40,000
₹150/monthWB PT Act
Above ₹40,000
₹200/monthWB PT Act
Gujarat – Up to ₹5,999/month
Nil up to ₹12,000/month (slab consolidated: up to ₹12,000 → Nil; above ₹12,000 → ₹200/month)Gujarat State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1976
Gujarat – ₹6,000 – ₹8,999/month
Nil (falls within revised ₹12,000 Nil threshold)Gujarat State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1976
Gujarat – ₹9,000 – ₹11,999/month
Nil (falls within revised ₹12,000 Nil threshold)Gujarat State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1976
Gujarat – ₹12,000+/month
Above ₹12,000 → ₹200/month (slab start corrected; old slab start was ₹12,000+ which is correct rate but old lower slabs need removal)Gujarat State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1976
States that do NOT levy PT
Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Odisha, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal PradeshN/A
February payment note
The February payment is ₹300 to make the annual total ₹2,500 (11 × ₹200 + 1 × ₹300).
Who pays
Salaried employees (employer deducts), self-employed professionals and traders (self-assess).
Enrollment (employer)
Form I (Registration Certificate) -- every employer with PT liability.
Enrollment (self-employed)
Form II.
Filing
Monthly payment by employers by the last day of following month.
Annual maximum
₹2,400 (₹200 × 12 months).
Note
Karnataka charges ₹200/month flat for those earning ₹25,000+ per month. This results in ₹2,400/year (below the ₹2,500 Constitutional cap).
Filing
Employer must deposit by the 20th of the following month. Annual return by 30 April.
Annual maximum
₹2,500.
Filing
Monthly by the 21st of following month. Annual return by 31 May.
Annual maximum
₹2,500.
Filing
Monthly by 10th of following month.
Annual maximum
₹2,500.
Annual maximum
₹2,500.
Annual maximum
₹2,500 (adjustment in March).
Annual maximum
₹2,500.
New Tax Regime (Section 115BAC)
Under the new regime (default from FY 2023-24), the standard deduction of ₹75,000 covers both the standard deduction and profession tax deduction. Separate Section 16(iii) claim may not be additionally available under new regime.Section 115BAC
Old Tax Regime
Professional tax is separately deductible under Section 16(iii) in addition to the ₹50,000 standard deduction.
Multiple Employments
If an individual has multiple employers in the same state, each employer must deduct PT independently. The maximum combined deduction may exceed ₹2,500/year in practice -- the employee can claim refund of excess from the state authority.
Multi-State Employment
If an individual works in multiple states (e.g., transferred mid-year), PT is payable in each state for the period of employment in that state. Deduction under Section 16(iii) covers total PT paid across all states.
Directors
Company directors receiving sitting fees or remuneration are liable for PT in the state where the company is registered or where they attend meetings (varies by state).
Freelancers / Gig Workers
Self-employed professionals (doctors, lawyers, CAs, engineers, consultants) must self-enroll and pay PT in the state where they practice. Threshold varies by state.
NEVER compute without state
NEVER compute professional tax without knowing the STATE of employment/practice
NEVER exceed cap
NEVER exceed ₹2,500/year for any state (Constitutional maximum)
NEVER deduct without proof
NEVER deduct PT under Section 16(iii) without evidence of actual payment
NEVER apply wrong slabs
NEVER apply one state's slabs to another state's employees
NEVER assume PT in non-levying states
NEVER assume PT applies in states that do not levy it (Delhi, UP, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab)
NEVER double-claim
NEVER double-claim PT deduction under both Section 16(iii) and Section 37(1) for the same amount
NEVER present as definitive
NEVER present tax calculations as definitive -- always label as estimated
Rendered from the canonical facts model. General reference only — confirm with a qualified professional before acting.
Reviewed against the cited tax authorities by Mayur Deokar on 2026-06-06. Items flagged for further clarification are tracked separately and excluded here. This block is generated from verified skill_facts — edit the facts, not the prose.
Quick Reference
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country | India (Republic of India) |
| Tax | Professional Tax (Profession Tax / PT) |
| Currency | INR only |
| Tax year | 1 April 2025 -- 31 March 2026 (FY 2025-26 / AY 2026-27) |
| Constitutional basis | Article 276 of the Constitution of India |
| Maximum permissible | ₹2,500 per annum (Constitutional cap per Article 276(2)) |
| Deductibility | Fully deductible under Section 16(iii) of Income Tax Act, 1961 |
| Skill version | 1.0 |
Professional Tax is a state-level tax levied by state governments and union territories on individuals earning income through employment, trade, profession, or calling. Each state has its own rates, slabs, and administrative rules. The maximum amount any state can levy is ₹2,500 per annum (Constitutional limit).
States That Levy Professional Tax
| State / UT | Levies PT? | Administering Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | Yes | Maharashtra State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1975 |
| Karnataka | Yes | Karnataka Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1976 |
| West Bengal | Yes | West Bengal State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1979 |
| Andhra Pradesh | Yes | AP Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1987 |
| Telangana | Yes | Telangana Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act |
| Tamil Nadu | Yes | Tamil Nadu Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act |
| Gujarat | Yes | Gujarat State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act |
| Madhya Pradesh | Yes | MP Vritti Kar Adhiniyam, 1995 |
| Odisha | Yes | Orissa State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act |
| Assam | Yes | Assam Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Taxation Act |
| Kerala | Yes | Kerala Municipality Act (local bodies levy) |
| Bihar | Yes | Bihar Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act |
| Jharkhand | Yes | Jharkhand Tax on Professions Act |
| Meghalaya | Yes | Meghalaya Professions Tax Act |
| Tripura | Yes | Tripura Professions Tax Act |
| Sikkim | Yes | Sikkim Tax on Professions Act |
| Delhi | No | -- |
| Rajasthan | No | -- |
| Uttar Pradesh | No | -- |
| Haryana | No | -- |
| Punjab | No | -- |
Conservative Defaults
| Ambiguity | Default |
|---|---|
| Unknown state of employment | Do not compute -- confirm state |
| Unknown gross salary / income slab | Do not compute -- obtain salary details |
| Unknown whether employer deducts PT | Assume employer deduction (most common for salaried) |
Maharashtra Slabs
| Monthly Gross Salary/Wages (INR) | Monthly PT | Annual PT |
|---|---|---|
| Up to ₹7,500 | Nil | Nil |
| ₹7,501 -- ₹10,000 | ₹175 | ₹2,100 |
| Above ₹10,000 | ₹200 (₹300 for Feb) | ₹2,500 |
Karnataka Slabs
| Monthly Gross Salary (INR) | Monthly PT |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹24,999 | Nil |
| ₹25,000 and above | ₹200 |
West Bengal Slabs
| Monthly Gross Salary (INR) | Monthly PT |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹10,000 | Nil |
| ₹10,001 -- ₹15,000 | ₹110 |
| ₹15,001 -- ₹25,000 | ₹130 |
| ₹25,001 -- ₹40,000 | ₹150 |
| Above ₹40,000 | ₹200 |
Andhra Pradesh Slabs
| Half-Yearly Gross Salary (INR) | Half-Yearly PT |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹15,000/month | Nil |
| ₹15,001 -- ₹20,000/month | ₹150/month |
| Above ₹20,000/month | ₹200/month (₹200 × 6 = ₹1,250 per half-year) |
Telangana Slabs
| Monthly Gross Salary (INR) | Monthly PT |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹15,000 | Nil |
| ₹15,001 -- ₹20,000 | ₹150 |
| Above ₹20,000 | ₹200 |
Tamil Nadu Slabs
| Half-Yearly Gross Salary (INR) | Half-Yearly PT |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹21,000/month | Nil |
| ₹21,001 -- ₹30,000/month | ₹135/month |
| ₹30,001 -- ₹45,000/month | ₹315/month |
| ₹45,001 -- ₹60,000/month | ₹690/month |
| ₹60,001 -- ₹75,000/month | ₹1,025/month |
| Above ₹75,000/month | ₹1,250/half-year (₹2,500/year cap) |
Gujarat Slabs
| Monthly Gross Salary (INR) | Monthly PT |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹5,999 | Nil |
| ₹6,000 -- ₹8,999 | ₹80 |
| ₹9,000 -- ₹11,999 | ₹150 |
| ₹12,000+ | ₹200 |
Madhya Pradesh Slabs
| Monthly Gross Salary (INR) | Monthly PT |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹18,750 | Nil |
| ₹18,751 -- ₹25,000 | ₹125 |
| ₹25,001 -- ₹33,333 | ₹167 (₹2,000/year) |
| Above ₹33,333 | ₹208 (₹2,500/year) |
Section 16(iii) Rules
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Section | 16(iii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 |
| Deduction basis | Allowed in the year of PAYMENT (not accrual) |
| Cap | No cap on deduction (but PT itself is capped at ₹2,500/year) |
| For self-employed | Deductible under Section 37(1) as business expenditure |
| ITR reporting | Shown as deduction from gross salary in Part B of Form 16 / ITR-1 |
Impact on Tax Computation
| Step | Computation |
|---|---|
| Gross Salary | As per employer records |
| Less: Standard Deduction | ₹75,000 (FY 2025-26 under new regime; ₹50,000 under old regime) |
| Less: Professional Tax paid | Up to ₹2,500 (under old regime; included in standard deduction under new regime) |
| = Income from Salary | Taxable amount |
Employer Obligations
| Obligation | Detail |
|---|---|
| Registration | Obtain Profession Tax Registration Certificate (RC) from state authority |
| Deduction | Deduct PT from employee salary monthly as per slab |
| Deposit | Remit to state government by prescribed due date |
| Return filing | File periodic return (monthly/quarterly/annually per state) |
| Penalty for non-deduction | Varies by state (typically interest at 1-2% per month + penalty) |
Self-Employed / Professional Obligations
| Obligation | Detail |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | Obtain Profession Tax Enrollment Certificate (EC) from state authority |
| Self-assessment | Calculate PT based on gross income/turnover slab |
| Payment | Pay annually or as prescribed by state |
| Due date (Maharashtra) | 30 June of each year |
| Penalty | Interest on late payment + penalty per state rules |
Due Dates by State
| State | Employer Deposit Due | Return Due |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | Last day of following month | Annual: 31 March |
| Karnataka | 20th of following month | Annual: 30 April |
| West Bengal | 21st of following month | Annual: 31 May |
| Andhra Pradesh | 10th of following month | Annual: varies |
| Gujarat | 15th of following month | Annual: 30 September |
Common exemptions across states:
Filing Requirements Summary
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Employer registration | Mandatory if employees earn above state threshold |
| Form 16 reporting | PT deducted shown in Part B under Section 16(iii) |
| ITR disclosure | Professional tax appears as deduction from gross salary |
| Proof required | Salary slip showing deduction; or PT challan (self-employed) |
| Records retention | 7 years (Income Tax Act record retention period) |
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