Agriculture income from farming, dairy, poultry, or any agricultural activity is generally tax-free in India. This is a major benefit for farmers. However, the catch is that even though agricultural income is tax-free, it's used to determine your tax slab for non-agricultural income. So if you earn salary or business income plus agriculture income, your agriculture income pushes your non-agricultural income into higher tax slabs - this is called partial taxation through tax slab effect.
For FY 2025-26, pure agriculture income (from selling crops, milk, eggs, etc.) is completely tax-free. However, income from processing agriculture produce (like making jam, pickles), renting out farm equipment, or running a nursery might be partially taxable depending on the nature and scale. The definition of agriculture income is strict - it must be income from land used for agriculture, cultivation, or allied activities. Income from selling agricultural land gets treated as capital gains with special exemptions under Section 54B.
Our agriculture income tax calculator helps you understand if and how much tax applies on your farm income. If you only have agriculture income (no salary, business, or other sources), you pay zero income tax. But if you have agriculture income plus other income, your agriculture income makes your other income fall into higher tax slab. Use this calculator along with our complete income tax calculator to see the full impact on your total tax liability.
Many people don't realize that income from agricultural activities needs to be declared in ITR even though it's tax-free. You need to show this in ITR form schedule EI (Exempt Incomes). Failure to declare agriculture income can attract penalties. Also, if you've sold agricultural land during the year, use capital gains calculator to see if any tax applies, as selling farm land has special exemptions under Section 54B and 54F.
For detailed agriculture income tax rules and exemptions, check the Income Tax Department's FAQ page at agriculture income tax FAQ which explains what qualifies as agriculture income, how to declare it in ITR, and special provisions for farmers.
Input your total annual income from all sources combined.
Enter the portion of your income that comes from agricultural activities (farming, cultivation, etc.).
Input income from business, salary, house property, capital gains, and other non-agricultural sources.
Click the calculate button to see your tax liability on non-agricultural income only.
Agricultural income is exempt from income tax in India primarily because taxation of agriculture falls under the jurisdiction of state governments as per the Constitution of India. The central government, which administers income tax, does not levy tax directly on agricultural income to protect farmers and rural livelihoods.
The exemption also recognizes the inherent uncertainty in agriculture due to dependence on monsoons, weather conditions, and market volatility. Exempting farm income helps stabilize rural economies and encourages continued agricultural production across the country.
However, to prevent misuse of this exemption by high-income individuals, agricultural income is considered while determining the applicable tax slab for non-agricultural income. This mechanism ensures fairness while retaining the tax-free status of genuine farm income.
Not all income connected to rural land or farming activity automatically qualifies as agricultural income under tax law. To be treated as exempt, the income must arise directly from land used for agricultural purposes such as cultivation, harvesting, or allied farming activities.
Income from activities that involve significant processing, commercial branding, or non-farm usage may become partially or fully taxable. Understanding this distinction is essential to avoid incorrect tax reporting and future scrutiny.
✅ Considered Agricultural Income
❌ Not Agricultural Income
In real tax assessments, agriculture income itself is rarely questioned, but discrepancies arise when taxpayers fail to justify the scale of income in relation to landholding size, crop type, or regional yield averages. Authorities often compare declared income with land records and market rates.
Another frequent issue is misclassification where income from food processing, cold storage, or agri-trading is wrongly declared as fully exempt agricultural income. Such cases may lead to reassessment and penalties.
Maintaining land ownership documents, crop sale invoices, mandi receipts, and expense records significantly strengthens the credibility of agriculture income declarations and reduces the risk of disputes.
Agricultural income includes income from farming, cultivation, dairy farming, poultry farming, bee-keeping, and other agricultural activities. Income from processing agricultural produce may also qualify if certain conditions are met.
Yes, agricultural income is completely exempt from income tax under Section 10(1) of the Income Tax Act. However, if you have both agricultural and non-agricultural income, the non-agricultural portion is taxable.
For mixed income sources, only the non-agricultural portion is subject to income tax. The agricultural portion remains exempt. Tax is calculated on the non-agricultural income as per normal tax slabs.
Maintain proper records including land ownership documents, crop details, sale receipts, expenses related to agricultural activities, and any other relevant documentation to support your agricultural income claims.
Since agricultural income is exempt from tax, you cannot claim deductions against it. However, you can claim deductions on your non-agricultural income as per applicable tax laws.
If you have only agricultural income and no other taxable income, filing an ITR is generally not mandatory. However, filing is recommended for record-keeping, loan applications, and future compliance.
Agricultural income must be reported under “Schedule EI – Exempt Income” in your income tax return, even though it is tax-free.
Sale of agricultural land may be taxable as capital gains depending on whether the land is rural or urban. Rural agricultural land is generally exempt, while urban land may attract capital gains tax.
No. Agricultural losses cannot be set off against non-agricultural income. However, they can be adjusted against future agricultural income.