Income Certificate

Income certificate is an official document that certifies the applicant’s/applicant’s family income details. This certificate is issued by the state government. It can be used by the citizens for multiple purposes, such as fee reimbursement, scholarships, etc. It provides the annual income of the applicant/applicant’s family through various sources as per the state government records for that specific financial year.

Who can Apply for an Income Certificate?

Any resident Indian who belongs to an economically weaker section of the society and is not required to pay income tax can apply for an income certificate.

Documents Required for Income Certificate

The documents required may vary slightly from one state to another. However, here is a list of the basic documents required to apply for an income certificate:

• ID proof 

• Address proof

• Passport-size photograph

• Old income certificate (if available/applicable)

• Ration card or National Food Security Card

• Signed self-declaration from applicant/head of the family

Sometimes, you may even have to provide an additional document, such as expenditure proof, depending on the requirement of the individual as provided by the state government or union territory.

Information in the Income Certificate Form

Here’s the list of the fields included in the income certificate:

• Applicant’s name

• Parent/Guardian’s name of the primary applicant

• Address of applicant mentioning the town, district, state, etc.

• Annual income for the concerned financial year

• Date of issue of income certificate

• Signature and Seal of State Government authority

Who Issues an Income Certificate and Where Is it Used?

As the income certificate is legal proof issued by the state government of a family’s/individual’s income, it is useful to register or apply for various government-sponsored subsidies and schemes. Let us look at some of the common uses of an income certificate:

• To get scholarships and economic assistance to economically backward students.

• To get admissions in seats reserved for economically backward classes in educational institutions.

• To apply for government jobs to specific reserved categories.

• To obtain benefits such as old-age pension from the government.

• To get free/subsidized medical care or medical benefits.

• To access various government-sponsored welfare schemes.

Validity of an Income Certificate

The income certificate is valid for one financial year, as mentioned in the document. Hence, the certificate must be updated every financial year to ensure validity. Also, an old certificate must be provided as a key documentary proof to issue an updated income certificate.

Income Certificate Sample

Let’s take a look at a sample Income Certificate. You can simply download the income certificate format from the AICTE website.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is the validity of an income certificate?

The income certificate is valid for one financial year, as mentioned in the document. It is valid for the fiscal i.e., on 1st April to 31st March of the subsequent year. 

Should I have an Aadhaar card to apply for an income certificate?

Not particularly. Any government-issued identity/address proof such as PAN, Voter ID card, Ration Card, etc. can be used to apply for an income certificate.

I am a resident of Delhi. Can I get an income certificate in Haryana?

No. An income certificate is issued by the state government. So, it can only be obtained from the government of the state where you reside.

Should I reapply if my income certificate application is rejected?

Your income certificate application can be rejected because of the following reasons:

• incorrectly filled-in application

• non-submission of documents that support the application request

• ineligibility for availing an income certificate

You can definitely reapply if the reason for the rejection is one of the first two.

Is an income certificate and agriculture income certificate the same thing?  

No. This certificate includes details of annual income from all sources, while an agriculture income certificate only contains details of income from any and all agricultural activities.