Professional tax is a tax that a state government levies on any individual who earns income through any medium. Unlike the name suggests, professional tax is not just for professionals but for all individuals. The list includes all kinds of individuals from all professions, trades callings and employments and trades. The professional tax appears on the deduction side of a payslip. It is around INR 200. However, it varies from state to state. Also, the upper limit has been set to INR 2,500 per annum per individual.

It is the maximum amount of professional tax a State Government can levy. Professional tax is deducted under Section 16 (iii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. According to this section, the professional tax that an employee pays is allowed as a deduction from their gross salary while filing their income tax returns. P-tax is a State Government tax levied on individuals who earn income from any profession, trade or employment.