Income Certificate: Income certificate is an important document issued by the state government which specifies the income of an individual or family from all the resources. The income certificate issued by the competent authority varies from state to state. Basically, the village tehsildars are responsible to issue the income certificate, but for many states and union territories, there are other officials such as District Magistrate / Collector, Revenue Circle Officers, Sub Divisional Magistrates, or other Authorities.
Income certificate is also said to be an EWS certificate (Economically weaker section), in some states of the country. Basically, this certificate is given to those candidates who belong to the General category but the annual income of the family from all resources is less than 8 lacs. Only 10% of seats are reserved under this category. But it does not cover other reserved categories such as OBC (Other backward classes), SC (Scheduled Caste) and ST (Scheduled Tribes).
Students can find more about Certificates, explore the types used for academic purposes, professional purposes and more.
Purpose of Income Certificate
Indian government focuses more on the development of the country. Therefore, it is necessary that each individual of our nation should grow in a progressive way. To keep this growth and development continuing, the government of India has put some reservations for people who come under economically weaker sections and who cannot afford higher education or get a job.
The reservation is given to the General category under which few are having weaker financial conditions. As we already know that other categories like OBC, SC and ST are given the reservation in the education and employment sectors. But for general categories there are no reservations, though there are families who have very low annual income. Hence, if the total family income of general category candidates is less than 8 lacs per annum, they can apply for an income certificate to keep it as proof of the EWS category.
Income Certificate Application Form
Candidates who belong to different states have to reach their respective state government websites to get the income certificate. Here are steps to follow to submit the application form.
- Go to the official website of state government or district online portal
- Create an account if you do not have any and register yourself with user id and password.
- Login with same credentials and click on the link given to apply for income certificate
- The application form will appear on the screen
- Fill the complete details in the form such as Full Name, date of birth, category and subcategory, nationality, religion, gender, aadhaar card number, ID proof details, family total income, residential proof.
- Upload the scan copy of all the documents as per instructed
- Pay the application fee as per mentioned by the particular government (usually, it is between Rs. 30 to Rs. 50). Pay through any online mode (such as debit card/credit card/net banking)
- Submit the application form and download it
- Take a print out of it to keep as a reference for future
How To Fill Income Certificate Form Offline?
Candidates who are willing to apply offline shall take the print out of the application form, fill the details and submit it to the nearby issuing local district officer’s office, along with a copy of the required documents. The fees have to be submitted along with the form as per mentioned by the officials. It takes at least 10 to 15 days to verify documents and get the income certificate.
What Are The Documents Required for Income Certificate
Required Documents for Income Certificate are as follows
- Passport-sized photograph
- Aadhaar Card
- Ration card / BPL/ Driving License / Voter’s ID or such other ID proof
- Family income certificate, payslip, salary certificate, or any other proof of income
- Address Proof (Electricity bill, phone bill, rental agreement, etc.)
- Land/property documents
- Affidavit/Self Declaration
- Residential proof/Domicile Certificate
Validity of Income Certificate
The income certificate validity is dependent on the financial year as mentioned in the document. Usually, it is valid till one year only. To update the income certificate candidate has to provide the old income certificate copy as a reference.
Income Certificate Format
Income certificate is a formal or official document issued to the person by the government of India. It is a proof of a person’s income or family’s income. The featured details given in the certificate is the income of family from all the sources that states the income is less than 8 lacs per annum. If the annual income of the family is more than 8 lacs then they do not fall under the Economically backward classes category (EWS).
The important information included in the income certificate are:
- Name of the candidate
- Parent/Guardian Name of the candidate
- Address
- The annual income of the family from all resources, for the applicable financial year
- Date of issue of Income Certificate
- Signature and stamp of issuing District/State Government authority
Let us see the format of the income certificate here.
Application for Income Certificate Format
Income Certificate Format This is to certify that Mr. / Miss / Mrs. [Name of the candidate] S/o / D/o [Name of parent/guardian] is resident of [village/town], [District/Division], in the [Name of state]. As per the records/declaration, his/her family annual income for the financial year […..], from all the sources is Rs. […………] in words [………………………]. Date: Tehsildar/District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner Seal |
Income Certificate Issuing Authorities
An income certificate is an official document being issued by the state government officials. No private sector is obliged to provide the income certificate. Usually, the Tehsildar, District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner of the region are responsible to sign the income certificate provided the documents of the candidates are verified.
Uses of Income Certificate
As we have already discussed, the income certificates are for those Indian citizens who belong to the Economically Weaker Section of the society under the General category. Candidates have to keep proof of their family overall annual income to enjoy benefits provided by the government of India for such categories apart from OBC, SC and ST, under 10% reservation quota.
The income certificate is used to enjoying many benefits such as:
- To get admission in schools or colleges, which have reserved seats for candidates who are financially weak. There will be some concessions given to such candidates in their fees and also sometimes they are benefited from free education.
- To uplift the poor some institutions offer scholarships for such categories
- To avail the medical benefits such as free medical treatment, concessions, etc.
- To get a pension as old aged person from the government
- To use the benefits from various welfare schemes provided by the Indian government
- To get loans from government banks or organisations with concession in interest rate
- Getting relief at the time of crisis such as natural calamities.
FAQ’s on Income Certificate
Question 1.
What is an income certificate?
Answer:
An income certificate is proof of family income from all the sources issued by the state government authorities.
Question 2.
How to get an Income certificate?
Answer:
Candidates who belong to different states have to reach their respective state government websites to get the income certificate. Fill the application form and submit the required documents along with nominal application fees. The application can be submitted online in the respective portal or its print out can be submitted to the nearby district authority office.
Question 3.
What documents are required to apply for an income certificate?
Answer:
Passport-sized photograph, Aadhaar Card, Ration card / BPL/ Driving License / Voter’s ID or such other ID proof, Family income certificate, payslip, salary certificate, or any other proof of income, Address Proof (Electricity bill, phone bill, rental agreement, etc.), Land/property documents, Affidavit/Self Declaration and Residential proof/Domicile Certificate
Question 4.
What is the use of an income certificate?
Answer:
An income certificate is beneficial for those candidates who come under the economically weaker section of the society who come under the general category. They are liable to get admissions in school and colleges under reserved quota with concessions or zero fees. Also, they have reserved seats for them in the employment sectors. Scholarships and welfare schemes provided by the government have reservations for such candidates. They can also use medical benefits under the terms and conditions.