What is Cess on Income Tax & the Types?

2 MIN • LAST EDITED BY ANOOP MENON ON AUGUST 21, 2024.
Fi.money
Written by Anoop Menon on APRIL 24, 2024.
LinkedInX
Table of contents
  1. What is Cess on Income Tax?
  2. Types of Cess in India
  3. How is a Cess Different from a Tax?
  4. Conclusion
  5. Frequently Asked Questions

Per the Annual Report (2022-23) the Ministry of Finance issued, cess collections accounted for one-fifth of the gross tax receipts in FY21. Despite being a major source of revenue for the government and a consistent liability for taxpayers, most of us often collate cess with taxes. However, there are several differences between a tax and a cess. The basic difference is that a cess is an extra tax charged on your base tax liability for a specific purpose.

What is Cess on Income Tax?

A cess is a kind of add-on tax the Indian government levies for collecting purpose-specific funds. For instance, the education cess on income tax proceeds is used to fund the country's development of primary, secondary, and higher education facilities.

Since this add-on cess is dedicated to generating welfare cause-specific funds, the government can discontinue its collection after achieving the project goals. In other words, a particular cess on income tax may not be permanent. The funds collected from the cess are deposited into the Consolidated Fund of India, and their usage is restricted to project-specific funding.

Types of Cess in India

Here’s a list of some common types of cess taxes implemented in the country:

Health and Education Cess

Introduced first in 2018 by the then Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, this cess on income tax collects funds to meet the health and education needs of the BPL (below poverty line) families. This cess tax is applicable on your income (regardless of the qualifying slab) at a 4% rate.

Road and Infrastructure Cess

Also known as the Motor Spirit cess tax, this charge applies to certain imported and excisable goods, as mentioned in the 6th Schedule of the constitution, like high-speed diesel and petrol. The proceeds from the cess go towards financing infrastructure projects in the country.

Crude Oil Cess

Oil and natural gas produced from domestic oil blocks in India are taxed at 20% of the total production volume. This cess is used for the development of the domestic oil industry.

Construction Workers Welfare Cess

This cess was introduced in 1996 by the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act. According to its mandate, employers of construction workers are liable to pay 1% of the total construction cost as a cess.

National Calamity Contingent Duty on Tobacco and Tobacco Products

This cess is levied on tobacco products, pan masala, and cigarettes. The 2023 Budget proposal sought to increase this cess on specified cigarettes by 16%.

GST Compensation Cess

The GST compensation cess is levied on certain specified goods like cigarettes, motor vehicles, etc. The cess also applies to goods mentioned under Section 3 of the Customs Tariff Act. Those exporting notified goods or covered under the GST composition scheme are exempt from this cess. While this cess was initially applicable for five years after GST implementation, the government has now extended the same until 31st March 2026.

GST implementation from 1st June 2017 abolished certain cess taxes like the Krishi Kalyan Cess, Tea and Jute Cess, and Clean Energy Cess.

How is a Cess Different from a Tax?

  • A cess tax is charged over and above the applicable tax rate.
  • Unlike certain taxes that need to be proportionally shared, the cess collected by the central government need not be shared with the state governments.
  • The government can use taxes in any way it deems fit. However, cess fund usage is limited to their stated collection purpose.
  • Introduction, modification, and abolition of cess taxes are easier than normal taxes that require amendments to existing tax laws.

Conclusion

While there may be many differences between cess and tax, they are both vehicles of socioeconomic development for the nation. That said, paying cess charges over your applicable income tax liabilities can make payments expensive.

But Fi's AI-powered Analyser can provide insights to help track your expenses: Analyse your spends by Merchants/Brands, Categories (like Food, Entertainment) & by Time (daily/monthly spends). FYI: Fi also provides thoughtful, non-intrusive nudges to help you maximise your savings/investments. Want to know your credit score? The Insights Hub on our Analyser can do that too. This is why over 2.5 million people trust Fi to get a 360-degree view of their money.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the 4 % cess on income tax?

The central government levies an education and health cess of 4% on income tax. This rate is applicable regardless of your slab.

2. How is cess on income tax calculated?

Cess on income tax is calculated on your total taxable income post applicable deductions. Cess calculations will also include a surcharge if the total income exceeds Rs. 50 Lakhs. Surcharge rates vary depending on your annual income.

3. Who pays cess tax?

Cess on tax is collected from every eligible taxpayer over and above their regular tax liabilities.

4. What is the cess rate?

Cess rates vary depending on the type of cess being collected. For instance, the education and healthcare cess is 4%, while the crude oil cess is capped at 20%.

Send it to someone who might find it helpful
Know more. All that you'll ever need to learn.
Scan QR to get the Fi app
Your Privacy.
Minus the jargon.
arrow
No Hidden
Fees!
arrow
Join the
team.
arrow
Fi logo
Pronounced  Fī(-ē) and sounds like
volume
hi
Greeting emoji
sky
Sky emoji
tie
Tie emoji
fly
Fly emoji
Contact Fi Money customer care
In-app chat
instagram
twitter
linkedin
Disclaimer: You may have noticed some brand logos used on this website to indicate where you, as a user, may or may not have spent money. We don’t endorse these brands. Nor do these brands endorse us. The logos of the specific brands are owned by them.

Products on our platform

Details

Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

Epifi Technologies Pvt. Ltd ('Epifi Tech') is a Third-Party App Provider ('TPAP') - and acts as a service provider and participates in UPI through a Payment Service Provider ('PSP') Bank (Federal Bank).

Savings Account and Deposits

Federal Bank offers savings account, fixed deposits and smart deposits to users on the Fi App (through Epifi Tech). Users' savings account and deposits are securely opened with Federal Bank.

Epifi Tech itself is not a bank and doesn't hold or claim to have a banking license.

Cards

Fi Brand Pvt. Ltd. markets and distributes co-branded cards in partnership with Federal Bank and Visa. Cards are issued by Federal Bank.

Loans

Epifi Tech facilitates loan distribution and acts as a lending service provider and/or digital lending application for various Banks, registered NBFCs and NBFC-P2P ('Lenders') List of Lenders.

Epifi Tech only provides a platform that enables you to avail instant loans. Epifi Tech is not a lender; neither does it represent to be a lender in its own capacity. The Lenders provide you personal loans as per their policies

Mutual Funds

Epifi Wealth Pvt. Ltd. ('Epifi Wealth') is a registered investment adviser and provides a platform for mutual funds investment. Epifi Wealth has partnered with MFCentral to provide mutual funds analyser to users.

Loans Against Mutual Funds

Epifi Tech in partnership with regulated entities including Epifi Wealth and Bajaj Finserv provides a platform for loans against mutual funds.

Bajaj Finserv is a registered NBFC and provides loans as per their policies.

US Stocks

Epifi Tech has partnered with US stock broker Alpaca Securities LLC to provide users the option to invest in US stocks.

Connected Accounts

Epifi Wealth (as a financial information user), in partnership with Finvu and Onemoney, provides users the option to link their existing financial accounts on Fi.

Credit Analyser

Epifi Tech (as a non-specified user) in partnership with Experian and CIBIL provides insights on users' credit scores

Fi-Coins

Fi-Coins are earned under a reward programme for engaging with products and services on the Fi App.

Fi Store

Fi-Coins can be redeemed on products and services listed on Fi Store such as merchandise, gift cards, air miles, among other things.

Insights

1. Net Worth: Helps users get a view of their financial Net Worth — in accordance with their assets & liabilities

2. Wealth Maximiser: Analyses your finances, shares financial reports to make informed money decisions

These products are governed by our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and any other product and partner specific terms and conditions as communicated to you.

©epiFi Technologies Pvt. Ltd. 2025

Fi is a money management platform that offers the perfect solution for all your financial needs. The Federal Bank Savings Account offered through Fi is an online savings account that you can open in 3 minutes! It goes beyond online account opening, as it has helped reimagine the banking experience in India

Through Fi, you can do more: apply for an instant personal loan, pick from many types of Mutual Funds, select the best SIP to invest in US Stocks, apply for a forex-free Debit Card (works for select account plans) to use while travelling abroad, analyse/improve their portfolio, get a 360-degree view of your spend insights and take steps building wealth.

You can also utilise Fi's free personal loan resources, such as the Personal Loan and EMI calculator, before proceeding to the quick loan application process. All of this is why over 35 lakh Indians feel that Fi is the only financial app you will ever need.