1How is a sole proprietor taxed?
On business profit, at your personal slab rates — there's no separate company tax. Every legitimate expense and old-regime deduction reduces that profit, so good records pay off directly.
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ArticleAs a sole proprietor your business and personal tax are one and the same — profits are taxed at your slab rate. That's simple, but it means every legitimate expense and deduction matters. Here's how sole proprietors save tax.
Reviewed by CA Harika Chebolu, FCA · Last updated 2026-06-13
Quick answer
Sole proprietors are taxed on business profit at personal slabs — so presumptive schemes, real expenses, NPS and advance tax are the key levers. Here's how.
If you run a business, 44AD lets you declare 8% of turnover (6% digital) as income within Rs 2 crore turnover; if you're a professional, 44ADA lets you declare 50% of receipts within Rs 50 lakh. Both skip audit and detailed books and often reduce tax for small operators — choose the one that matches your activity.
If you keep books instead, deduct all real costs of running the business — rent, internet and phone, software, travel, professional fees, and depreciation on your equipment. A home office means a fair share of rent and utilities can be claimed too. Keep invoices.
Your business profit flows into your personal return, so the usual old-regime deductions apply: 80C up to Rs 1,50,000, the extra Rs 50,000 NPS under 80CCD(1B), 80D health insurance (Rs 25,000, plus up to Rs 50,000 for senior parents). Compare the total against the new regime each year.
Without an employer pension, NPS and PPF do double duty — they build your corpus and cut tax. The Rs 50,000 NPS deduction over and above 80C is particularly valuable for the self-employed.
With no TDS on your business income, pay advance tax in the four instalments if your tax exceeds Rs 10,000, to avoid 234B/234C interest. Also track your turnover against the audit thresholds — crossing them, or opting out of presumptive, can trigger a tax-audit requirement.
On business profit, at your personal slab rates — there's no separate company tax. Every legitimate expense and old-regime deduction reduces that profit, so good records pay off directly.
44AD if you run a business, 44ADA if you're a professional. 44AD declares 8% (6% digital) of turnover within Rs 2 crore; 44ADA declares 50% of receipts within Rs 50 lakh — both skip audit.
Yes — a fair share of rent, utilities and internet used for the business is deductible when you keep books. Keep a reasonable basis for the split and retain the bills.
Just gone solo? Write to the firm and we'll set up the simplest compliant way to file and save.