BANGALORE: Just like everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to actually die, all of us would want to get our incomes increased and want to stay away from tax. However, it is good news for at least for that there are certain incomes for which you need not pay tax!

The Indian income tax law as per the Indian Income tax Act of 1961 has a provision to exempt certain incomes for the ambit of income tax. Such exempted incomes are not to be added to the total income of the assesses for the particular assessment year.

Let us take a look at some of the most well known sources of income that are out of taxman’s sword.

1. Gratuities

Under the provisions of Section 10(10) of the IT Act, any death-cum-retirement gratuity of a government servant is completely exempt from income tax. However, in respect of private sector employees gratuity received on retirement or on becoming incapacitated or on termination or any gratuity received by his widow, children or dependants on his death is exempt subject to certain conditions.

Of course, this is further subject to certain other limits like the one half-month's salary for each year of completed service, calculated on the basis of average salary for the 10 months immediately preceding the year in which the gratuity is paid or 20 months' salary as calculated. Thus, the least of these items is exempt from income tax under Section 10(10).