1How is a security agency's income taxed?
On the service margin — not gross billings, much of which is pass-through wages of deployed staff. Keep books separating your margin from the wage component so taxable income isn't overstated.
Security and facility-management agencies run people-heavy service businesses where wages dominate costs and pass-through billing is common. Here's how these agencies can save tax and stay compliant.
Reviewed by CA Harika Chebolu, FCA · Last updated 2026-06-14
Quick answer
These are people-heavy service businesses with large pass-through wages — so clean books, TDS discipline and GST are key. Here's how.
Much of what you bill clients is the wages of deployed guards and staff that you pay onward. Your real income is the service margin, not gross billings — so keep books that separate your margin from the pass-through wage component, or your taxable income will be hugely overstated.
Because billings are large and margins thin, presumptive on gross billings would massively overstate income. Keep books and claim actual costs — staff wages, uniforms and equipment, supervisor and admin salaries, vehicles, and office overheads — to reflect your real, smaller profit.
As an employer of many staff, you have provident fund, ESI and TDS obligations on wages and salaries. Handling these correctly keeps the wage costs fully allowable and keeps you compliant — payroll compliance is central to this business.
Security and facility services attract GST, with specific rules in some cases on who pays it. Getting registration, rate and any reverse-charge treatment right keeps you compliant and your cash flow correct — separate from income tax but essential.
On your personal return (if a proprietorship/partnership), use 80C, the Rs 50,000 NPS and 80D health insurance in the old regime. Pay advance tax on profits in the four instalments if your tax exceeds Rs 10,000, to avoid 234B/234C interest.
On the service margin — not gross billings, much of which is pass-through wages of deployed staff. Keep books separating your margin from the wage component so taxable income isn't overstated.
No — with large billings and thin margins, presumptive on gross billings would massively overstate income. Keep books and claim actual costs to reflect your real profit.
Provident fund, ESI and TDS obligations on the wages and salaries it pays. Handling these correctly keeps wage costs fully allowable and the business compliant.
Running a security or facility agency? Write to the firm and we'll separate your margin and keep payroll, TDS and GST clean.