I am a software professional with an annual income of Rs 4.7 lakh. On a part-time basis, I run a blog and a website where I post-sponsored posts and product reviews, for which I get paid in dollars in my paypal account, which I am planning to shift to my bank account. What should this blogging income be called and how would I be taxed for it?
Priyanka Shah

Income arising from running your own blog can be considered as Income from Other Sources. You can claim deduction for expenses you incur to earn this income to arrive at net income from blogging. Such expenses can be internet connection expenses, depreciation on your computer, expenses relating to purchases of products reviewed, travelling expenses, etc. The net income so arrived at will be added to your taxable income and would be taxed as per your applicable tax slab. You can continue earning blogging income in your own name and need not register any company for the same.

I am in the highest tax bracket. If I have also some agricultural income, is it taxable?
Amardeep Singh

Though agricultural income is exempt from tax, it is taxed indirectly albeit at a lower rate. Lets assume your non-agricultural net taxable income is Rs 3,000,000 and net agricultural income is Rs 1,000,000.

1) Compute tax on your net total income, including agricultural in-come. (Tax on Rs 4,000,000 comes to Rs 1,104,000).
2) Add the amount of basic exemption limit applicable to you to the agricultural income. Compute tax as if this amount is your total tax-able income. Tax on Rs 1,160,000 (1,000,000 +160,000) comes to Rs 252,000.
3) Deduct the amount arrived at under 2 from the amount arrived at under 1 to arrive at tax payable. (Rs 1,104,000 Rs 252,000 = Rs 852,000). Add education cess of 3% on Rs 852,000 to arrive at total income tax.

I am in the US from January 2009 and my employer is generating an Indian salary and remitting it to us with some allowance (US living allowance). I am paying the tax on all the money in the US (on Indian salary and as well as on allowance). I am coming back to India in January. I just wanted to know about the income tax rules in this scenario. On which money will I have to pay tax in India?
Sanjay Singh

Assuming that you would be an ordinarily resident in India for the current financial year, you will be required to pay taxes in India on your worldwide income. That would include your US salary/allowances for the period April 2009 to January 2010. But you would be eligible to claim credit of federal income tax paid in the US on such income in accordance with the Double Tax Avoidance Treaty between India and the US.