Income Tax Act, 2025  ·  Chapter II — Basis of Charge  ·  Section 5

Section 5
Scope of total income

IT Act 2025 Chapter II Effective 1 April 2026 Old: 5
New Provision
Section 5, IT Act 2025
Replaces (IT Act 1961)
5
Chapter
Chapter II — Basis of Charge
Effective From
1 April 2026
Statutory Text — Section 5

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the total income of any tax year of a person, who is a resident, includes all income from whatever source derived, which— (a) is received or deemed to be received in India in that year by or on behalf of such person; (b) accrues or arises, or is deemed to accrue or arise, to such person in India in that year; or (c) accrues or arises to such person outside India in that year, but when such person is “not ordinarily resident” in India under section 6(13), such income shall be included only when it is derived from a business controlled in or a profession set up in India. (2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the total income of a tax year of a person, who is a non-resident, includes all income from whatever source derived, which–– (a) is received or deemed to be received in India in that year by or on behalf of such person; or (b) accrues or arises, or is deemed to accrue or arise, to such person in India in that year. (3) Income accruing or arising outside India shall not be deemed to be received in India under this section by reason only of the fact that it is taken into account in a balance sheet prepared in India. (4) If an income has been included in a person’s total income on the basis that it–– (a) has accrued or arisen; or

(b) is deemed to have accrued or arisen, to such person, it shall not again be included on the basis that it is received or deemed to be received by that person in India.

Shahi & Co. — Our Understanding
This section falls under Chapter II (Basis of Charge) which establishes when and how income tax is levied on persons in India.
Practical Note: These provisions determine the fundamental charge of tax — who is taxable, on what income, and in which tax year. Understanding residential status (Section 6) is critical before applying any income computation provision.
Shahi & Co., Chartered Accountants
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Disclaimer: This is a reproduction of Section 5 of the Income Tax Act, 2025 (No. 30 of 2025) as published in the Official Gazette of India (CG-DL-E-22082025-265620) for informational and reference purposes only. Shahi & Co., Chartered Accountants makes no warranty as to completeness or accuracy. For the official authenticated text refer to egazette.gov.in or incometaxindia.gov.in. This does not constitute legal or tax advice.