How 44ADA works
Under presumptive taxation, a professional doesn’t work out actual profit. You declare 50% of gross receipts as income (or more, if your real profit is higher) and pay tax on that at normal slab rates. You don’t need detailed books or a tax audit, and you pay advance tax in one go by 15 March.
From 1 April 2026 the Income-tax Act, 2025 replaces the 1961 Act and uses “tax year” instead of “previous year”. The presumptive scheme for professionals carries over with the same 50% and ₹50 lakh / ₹75 lakh rules. Most people still call it 44ADA, so we do too.
New regime slabs used here
| Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹4 lakh | Nil |
| ₹4–8 lakh | 5% |
| ₹8–12 lakh | 10% |
| ₹12–16 lakh | 15% |
| ₹16–20 lakh | 20% |
| ₹20–24 lakh | 25% |
| Above ₹24 lakh | 30% |
A rebate makes tax nil up to ₹12 lakh of income, with marginal relief just above it. Add 4% health and education cess. The ₹75,000 standard deduction is for salary only, so it doesn’t apply to freelance income.
Worked example
Arjun is a freelance developer. In the year he receives ₹30 lakh, all by bank transfer, and his clients deduct ₹3 lakh TDS.
- Presumptive profit: 50% × ₹30 lakh = ₹15 lakh
- Tax on slabs (new regime): ₹20,000 + ₹40,000 + ₹45,000 = ₹1,05,000
- No rebate (income is over ₹12 lakh). Cess 4% = ₹4,200, so total tax = ₹1,09,200
- TDS of ₹3,00,000 is more than the tax, so Arjun gets a refund of ₹1,90,800 when he files ITR-4
Common mistakes
- Treating TDS as final. Clients often deduct 10% TDS, which is more than the tax actually due. File your return to get the difference back.
- Leaving out foreign receipts. Payments from abroad are part of gross receipts. Count them in rupees at the rate you received them.
- Missing the 15 March deadline. Under 44ADA the whole advance tax is due in one instalment, and interest starts if you’re late.
- Mixing up GST and income tax limits. 44ADA’s ₹50 / ₹75 lakh is for income tax. GST registration has its own ₹20 lakh limit. Check it with the GST registration checker.
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