Chapter IV - Computation of Total Income
Section 92
Section 92: income from other sources
Section 92 is the residuary or 'catch-all' head of income: any income that does not fall under the four other heads listed in Section 13(a) to (d) is chargeable to tax as 'Income from other sources.' The section then lists, without limiting the general rule, specific kinds of income that are always taxed under this head - including dividends, lottery and gambling winnings, certain employee contributions, Keyman insurance receipts, forfeited advance money on a failed asset sale, and gifts of money or property that exceed ₹50,000 from persons who are not relatives.
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This article is for general information. Refer to the Income-tax Act, 2025 as amended by the Finance Act, 2026 and the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2026 for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.
Statutory text
Bare law
(1) Income of every kind which is not to be excluded from the total income under this Act, shall be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Income from other sources”, if it is not chargeable to income-tax under any of the heads specified in section 13(a) to (d).
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), the following incomes shall be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Income from other sources”:–– (a) any dividend; (b) any winning from lotteries, crossword puzzles, races including horse races, card games and other games of any sort or from gambling or betting of any form or nature; (c) any sum received by the assessee from employees as contributions to any provident fund, superannuation fund, any fund set up under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948, or any other fund for the welfare of such employees, if the income is not chargeable to income-tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession”; (d) any sum received under a Keyman insurance policy, as defined in Schedule II (Note 1) including the bonus allocated on such policy, if such income is not chargeable to income-tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” or under the head “Salaries”; (e) any income by way of interest on securities, if the income is not chargeable to income-tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession”; (f) any income from machinery, plant or furniture belonging to the assessee and let on hire, if the income is not chargeable to income-tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession”; (g) any income from letting on hire of machinery, plant or furniture, belonging to the assessee and also buildings, where the letting of the buildings is inseparable from the letting of such machinery, plant or furniture, if the income is not chargeable to income-tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession”; (h) any sum of money received as an advance or otherwise during negotiations for the transfer of a capital asset, if–– (i) such sum is forfeited; and (ii) the negotiations do not result in transfer of such capital asset; (i) any income by way of interest received on compensation or on enhanced compensation referred to in section 278(1); (j) any compensation or other payment, due to or received by any person, by whatever name called, in connection with the termination of his employment, or the modification of its terms and conditions; (k) any specified sum received by a unit holder from a business trust during the tax year with respect to a unit held by him at any time during such tax year, the computation of which shall be–– specified sum = A-B-C (which shall be deemed to be zero, if the sum of B and C is greater than A), where— A = aggregate of the sum distributed by the business trust with respect to such unit, during the tax year or during any earlier tax year or years, to such unit holder, who holds such unit on the date of distribution of sum or to any other unit holder who held such unit at any time prior to the date of such distribution, which is— (a) not in the nature of income referred to in Schedule V (Table: Sl. No. 3 or 4); and (b) not chargeable to tax under section 223(2); B = amount at which such unit was issued by the business trust; and C = amount charged to tax under this clause in any earlier tax year; (l) where any sum, including bonus allocated, is received, during a tax year, under a life insurance policy, other than— (a) sums received under a unit linked insurance policy; or (b) income referred to in clause (d), and such sum is not to be excluded from the total income of that tax year under Schedule II (Table: Sl. No. 2), the sum exceeding the aggregate of the premium paid, during the term of such life insurance policy, and not claimed as a deduction under this Act, computed in such manner, as may be prescribed; (m) where any person receives in any tax year, from any person or persons–– (i) any sum of money without consideration, the total of which exceeds ₹ 50000, the whole of such sum; (ii) any immovable property— (A) without consideration, the stamp duty value of which exceeds ₹ 50000, the stamp duty value of such property; (B) for a consideration, the stamp duty value of such property that exceeds such consideration, if this excess amount is more than the higher of the following amounts:— (I) ₹ 50000; or (II) 10% of the consideration; (iii) any property, other than immovable property,— (A) without consideration, the aggregate fair market value of which exceeds ₹ 50000, the whole of the aggregate fair market value of such property; (B) for a consideration which is less than the aggregate fair market value of the property by an amount exceeding ₹ 50000, the aggregate fair market value of such property as exceeds such consideration.
(3) The provisions of sub-section (2)(m) shall not apply to any sum of money or any property received— (a) from any relative; or (b) on the occasion of marriage of the individual; or (c) under a will or by way of inheritance; or (d) in contemplation of death of the payer or donor; or (e) from any local authority as defined in Schedule III (Note 6); or (f) from or by any registered non-profit organisation as defined in section 355(g), except when received by any person referred to in section 355(h); or (g) by way of a transaction not regarded as transfer under section 70(1)(a), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (i), (j), (k), (l), (n), (o), (t), (u), (v) or (w); or (h) from an individual by a trust created or established solely for the benefit of relative of the individual; or (i) from such class of persons and subject to such conditions, as may be prescribed. (4) For the purposes of sub-section (2)(m)(ii),–– (a) if the date of agreement fixing the amount of consideration for the transfer of immovable property and the date of registration are not the same, the stamp duty value on the date of agreement shall apply, provided the consideration, in whole or in part, has been paid in specified banking or online mode as defined in section 66(32) on or before the date of agreement for transfer of such immovable property; (b) if the stamp duty value of immovable property is disputed by the assessee on the grounds mentioned in section 78(2), the Assessing Officer may refer the valuation of such property to a Valuation Officer, and the provisions of sections 78(2) and 288(1) (Table: Sl. No. 8) shall, as far as may be, apply to the stamp duty value of such property as they apply for valuation of capital asset under those sections. (5) For the purposes of this section,–– (a) “assessable” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 2(105); (b) “card game and other game of any sort” includes any game show, an entertainment programme on television or electronic mode, where people compete to win prizes or any similar game; (c) “fair market value” of a property, other than an immovable property, means the value determined by such method as may be prescribed; (d) “jewellery” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 2(22); (e) “lottery” includes winnings from prizes awarded by draw of lots, by chance, or in any other manner under any scheme or arrangement by whatever named called; (f) “property” means the following capital asset of the assessee:— (i) immovable property being land or building or both; (ii) shares and securities; (iii) jewellery; (iv) archaeological collections; (v) drawings; (vi) paintings; (vii) sculptures; (viii) any work of art; (ix) bullion; or (x) virtual digital asset; (g) “relative” means— (i) in case of an individual— (A) spouse; (B) brother or sister; (C) brother or sister of the spouse; (D) brother or sister of either of the parents; (E) any lineal ascendant (maternal as well as paternal) or descendant; (F) any lineal ascendant (maternal as well as paternal) or descendant of the spouse; (G) spouse of the person referred to in items (B) to (F); and (ii) for a Hindu undivided family, any member thereof; (h) “unit linked insurance policy” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Schedule II (Note 1).
Introduction
Income from other sources is the residual head for taxable income not chargeable under the four other heads, but Section 92 also names specific receipts, including certain forfeited advances and money or property received without adequate consideration. Each receipt needs its own statutory test.
Key takeaways
Residual income head
Income of a kind specified in this section is charged under 'Income from other sources' when it is not chargeable under the other income heads.
Specified receipts
The list includes dividends, interest, family pension and qualifying receipts of money or property without, or for inadequate, consideration, subject to statutory thresholds and exceptions.
The residuary rule
Any income of any kind that is not excluded from total income under the Act, and is not chargeable under any of the other four heads of income listed in Section 13(a) to (d), is chargeable to tax under the head "Income from other sources."
Specific incomes always taxed under this head
Section 92(2) lists categories of income taxed under this head, without limiting the general residuary rule above:
- Any dividend
- Winnings from lotteries, crossword puzzles, races (including horse races), card games and other games of any sort, or from gambling/betting of any form
- Employee contributions received by the assessee for provident fund, superannuation fund, ESI fund, or similar employee welfare funds (if not taxable as business income)
- Sums received under a Keyman insurance policy, including allocated bonus (if not taxable as business income or salary)
- Interest on securities (if not taxable as business income)
- Income from letting machinery, plant or furniture on hire (if not taxable as business income)
- Income from letting machinery/plant/furniture together with buildings where the letting is inseparable (if not taxable as business income)
- Money received as an advance or otherwise during negotiations to transfer a capital asset, where that sum is forfeited and the negotiations do not result in a transfer
- Interest received on compensation or enhanced compensation for compulsory acquisition
- Compensation or other payment received in connection with termination of employment, or modification of its terms
- A specified sum received by a unit holder from a business trust, computed by a formula that nets out amounts already taxed or excluded
- Sums (including bonus) received under a life insurance policy that are not otherwise excluded from total income, to the extent they exceed the aggregate premiums paid and not already claimed as a deduction (excluding unit-linked policies and Keyman policies, computed in a prescribed manner)
- Money or property received without adequate consideration above certain thresholds, as detailed below
Gifts of money and property above ₹50,000
Where a person receives, in a tax year, from one or more persons: (i) any sum of money without consideration totalling more than ₹50,000, the whole sum is taxable; (ii) immovable property without consideration, where the stamp duty value exceeds ₹50,000, the whole stamp duty value is taxable; (iii) immovable property for consideration, where the stamp duty value exceeds the consideration paid by more than the higher of ₹50,000 or 10% of the consideration, the excess is taxable; (iv) other property (not immovable) without consideration, where the aggregate fair market value exceeds ₹50,000, the whole fair market value is taxable; (v) other property received for a consideration less than fair market value by more than ₹50,000, the excess is taxable.
Exceptions to the gift-taxation rule
The gift-taxation rule above does not apply to money or property received:
- From a relative (as defined in the section)
- On the occasion of the individual's marriage
- Under a will or by way of inheritance
- In contemplation of the death of the payer or donor
- From a local authority
- From or by a registered non-profit organisation (with a specific carve-out)
- By way of a transaction not regarded as a transfer under specified clauses of Section 70(1)
- From an individual, by a trust created solely for the benefit of that individual's relative
- From such other class of persons and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed
Who counts as a "relative"
For an individual, "relative" means the spouse; brother or sister; brother or sister of the spouse; brother or sister of either parent; any lineal ascendant or descendant (of the individual or of the spouse); and the spouse of any of these persons. For a Hindu undivided family, any member of the family is a relative.
Immovable property: which date's stamp duty value applies
If the agreement fixing the consideration and the registration date differ, the stamp duty value on the agreement date applies - but only if at least part of the consideration was paid through a specified banking or online mode on or before the agreement date. If the assessee disputes the stamp duty value, the Assessing Officer may refer the valuation to a Valuation Officer, applying the same procedure used for disputed stamp duty values elsewhere in the Act.
Key definitions used in this section
"Property" for the gift-taxation rule is limited to: immovable property (land or building); shares and securities; jewellery; archaeological collections; drawings; paintings; sculptures; any work of art; bullion; or a virtual digital asset. "Fair market value" of non-immovable property is determined by a prescribed method. "Lottery" includes winnings from prizes awarded by draw of lots, chance, or any scheme by whatever name called, and "card game and other game of any sort" includes game shows or television/electronic entertainment programmes involving competing for prizes.
Step-by-step flow for applying Section 92
- 1
Is the receipt chargeable under salary, house property, business or capital gains?
- Yes: Tax it under that head, not Section 92.
- No: Go to the next step.
- 2
Is it excluded from total income?
- Yes: Not taxable.
- No: Go to the next step.
- 3
Is it one of the specific items in Section 92(2)?
Examples: dividends, winnings from lotteries and games, interest on securities, hire income from plant or furniture, forfeited advances for a capital asset, and gifts covered by clause (m).
- 4
For receipts without (or for inadequate) consideration: do they cross the ₹50,000 limits?
Money received without consideration above ₹50,000 in aggregate is fully taxable; immovable property is tested on stamp duty value, and for inadequate consideration the excess must exceed the higher of ₹50,000 and 10% of the consideration. Check the exceptions (for example, relatives) before taxing.
- 5
Compute and deduct allowable expenses under Section 93
Practical checklist
Do
- First determine whether the receipt belongs under another specific income head or an exclusion.
- For a gift or property receipt, document relationship, occasion, value, consideration and any statutory exception.
Avoid
- Do not tax every gift without testing the listed exceptions and valuation rules.
- Do not apply the ₹50,000 threshold to an unrelated category without reading its specific clause.
Illustrative example
Worked example: cash gifts from friends
Hypothetical facts (illustration only, not a real taxpayer): During the tax year Mr. Das receives ₹30,000 from one friend and ₹40,000 from another, with no consideration. Neither is a relative and no other exception applies.
Head
The money is not salary, rent, business or capital gains, so Section 92 is the relevant head.
Aggregate test
Section 92(2)(m)(i) looks at the total received without consideration in the year: ₹70,000, which exceeds ₹50,000.
Amount taxable
Once the limit is crossed, the whole sum, ₹70,000, is taxable, not only the excess.
Outcome
- ₹70,000 is income from other sources.
- If the money had come from relatives as defined in the section, it would not be taxed under this clause.
Glossary
- Residuary head
- The income head used when taxable income is not chargeable under the other listed heads.
- Stamp duty value
- The property valuation benchmark used in certain receipt tests.
Frequently asked questions
What is the threshold above which a cash gift becomes taxable under Section 92?
₹50,000 in aggregate during the tax year, from persons other than relatives or the other exempted categories listed in the section.
Are gifts from my parents or siblings taxable?
No - gifts from a "relative" as defined in Section 92 (spouse, siblings, siblings of spouse, siblings of parents, lineal ascendants/descendants, and their spouses) are excluded from the gift-taxation rule.
Is money received as a wedding gift taxable?
No - sums or property received on the occasion of the individual's own marriage are specifically excluded from the gift-taxation rule under Section 92(3).
What happens to an advance I received for selling property, if the deal falls through and I keep the advance?
Under Section 92(2)(h), a forfeited advance received during negotiations for transferring a capital asset is taxable as income from other sources, if the negotiations do not result in a transfer of that asset.
Need help applying this provision to your situation?
Get help reporting income from other sources correctlyLast updated 10 October 2026