Profession tax is the tax levied and collected by the state governments in India. It is a direct tax. A person earning an income from salary or anyone practicing a profession such as chartered accountant, company secretary,cost accoutant, lawyer, doctor etc. are required to pay this professional tax. Different states have different rates and methods of collection. In India, profession tax is imposed every month. However, not all states impose this tax. The states which impose professional tax are Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Assam, Kerala, Meghalaya, Odisha, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Sikkim, Mizoram. Business owners, working individuals, merchants and people carrying out various occupations come under the purview of this tax.

Profession tax is levied and collected by the Commercial Taxes Department of State Governments, in some states by particular Municipal Corporations and majority of the Indian states are collecting this tax. It is a source of revenue for the government. The maximum amount payable per year is INR 2,500 and in line with tax payer’s salary, there are predetermined slabs. It is also payable by members of staff employed in private companies. It is deducted by the employer from their employee every month and remitted to state exchequer and in some states sent to the Municipal Corporation. It is mandatory to pay professional tax. The tax payer is eligible for income tax deduction for this payment