Income certificate
An income certificate signed by the Tahsildar or Deputy Tahsildar, through your village or ward secretariat. It is valid for four years.
About this guidePending verification
Published on 12-11-2026. Not every fact has been checked against its official source yet: confirm at the office.
For whom: Anyone living in Andhra Pradesh who has been asked for proof of the family's income. State welfare schemes and scholarships no longer need it: see the first question.
Answer the questions below first. Then the documents and steps open.
1Your situation
We show only what your answers need.
- What do you need it for?
Your answers stay on this phone.
Each step below says who it is for. Confirm yours at the office, then change your answer here.
Another route for you
State welfare departments (Social, BC, Tribal and Minority Welfare and others) no longer ask for an income certificate for their schemes, and scholarships, post-matric included, do not ask for a separate one; the secretariats' department checks eligibility through the "six-step validation". If the six-step check does not pass you, the department that runs the scheme sends your case to the Revenue Department to confirm your income; the order gives Revenue three working days. The order keeps the income certificate for EWS certification for State and Central Government jobs, other Central Government needs and the Jagananna Videshi Vidya Deevena scheme. For a state department's schemes for the poor (BPL), a white ration card is enough. The order also says the Revenue Department will give an income certificate to students in Class X and XII who do not have one; the secretariats list an "Income Certificate For Students" service, so ask there. (Revenue Department G.O.Ms.No.484 of 2023; G.O.Ms.No.229 of 2017)
→ If you are unsure about eligibility, ask at your village or ward secretariat. A dispute about the six-step validation can be taken to the secretariats' department (now the Swarna Gramam and Swarna Wardu Department). Apart from the cases the order keeps (named above), if a state welfare department asks for an income certificate for its scheme, or a state department asks for one for a scholarship, that goes against G.O.Ms.No.484 (2023). Show it the order; if that does not settle it, complain through PGRS (pgrs.ap.gov.in, or at the secretariat). You need your Aadhaar number to register a complaint. Whether the secretariat will issue a certificate for such a purpose is not confirmed; the steps are under "Something else" above.
Sources: 3, 2, 6, 5, 9
Another route for you
EWS reservation has its own service, "Issuance of Income & Asset Certificate for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)", also available at village and ward secretariats. This guide does not cover that service's documents and steps.
→ Ask your village or ward secretariat for the EWS certificate service and its list of documents.
Sources: 6, 3
2Documents you need
Tick the ones you have. They are kept in this browser.
Details
Sources: 1
Details
Sources: 1
Nothing to get ready before these steps.
3Your steps
· Do them in order. Tick each one when it is done.
- Do this nowIf: Something else: a central government need or another purpose
Check whether you already have an income certificate less than four years old: it is still valid, so show that one first.
If you need another copy, the secretariats list a "Re-Issuance of Income Certificate" service; ask there.
Not confirmed
Whether a certificate issued for another purpose is accepted is not confirmed; ask the office that wants it.
Sources: 1, 6
- Do this nowIf: Something else: a central government need or another purpose
Ask at your village or ward secretariat whether your family is in the household database.
If not, get added first: every government service is checked against that database.
Sources: 4, 5
- Do this nowIf: Something else: a central government need or another purpose
Fill in three copies of the Income Declaration Form; the first copy must be on ₹10 non-judicial stamp paper.
Write clearly what the certificate is for (for example, the central government scheme or office that asked for it). The order asks only for this form and the Aadhaar copy; it names no payslip or tax return. In the form you declare the income yourself.
Not confirmed
The three copies and the stamp paper come from the annexure to a 2015 order. We could not confirm officially whether the secretariats' online system still asks for them, or where to get the form; ask at the secretariat before you apply.
Sources: 1, 3
- Do this nowIf: Something else: a central government need or another purpose
At the secretariat, apply for the "Income Certificate" service.
Hand in the form and the Aadhaar copy, pay the charge, and keep the receipt.
Not confirmed
A district website lists this service as an AP Seva service at village and ward secretariats. The charge and the time limit are not confirmed; ask at the secretariat. An older MeeSeva service list gave 7 days for a first certificate.
Sources: 6, 5, 7, 1, 8
- Do this nowIf: Something else: a central government need or another purpose
The application may be sent for a field enquiry into your income; if the Revenue staff ask you anything, answer them.
The Tahsildar or Deputy Tahsildar then signs the certificate.
Sources: 1, 2
- Do this nowIf: Something else: a central government need or another purpose
Show your receipt at the secretariat and ask for the status, and collect the certificate once it is approved.
It is valid for four years from the date of issue. No department may keep the original: it must be given back right after it is checked.
Not confirmed
Whether the status can be seen online, and whether the certificate is handed over at the secretariat or can be downloaded online, is not confirmed officially.
Sources: 1, 2, 6
If something goes wrong
If it is rejectedAsk at the secretariat why it was rejected.
Ask at the secretariat why it was rejected. If they cannot tell you, ask the Tahsildar (MRO) office, which issues the certificate. If you think it was wrongly rejected, complain through PGRS: at the secretariat on any day, at the Collectorate on Mondays, on pgrs.ap.gov.in or in the PGRS app. You need your Aadhaar number to register a complaint. If you are not satisfied with the answer you can reopen the complaint twice: first it goes to a district officer, then to the head of the department.
PGRS (Public Grievance Redressal System) · Open the official page
Sources: 9, 1
If it is lateIf the certificate has not come after the time limit, complain through PGRS (the secretariat, the Collectorate on Mondays, pgrs.ap.gov.in or the app).
If the certificate has not come after the time limit, complain through PGRS (the secretariat, the Collectorate on Mondays, pgrs.ap.gov.in or the app). You need your Aadhaar number to register a complaint. You get a grievance number by SMS and can follow the status with it. The District Swarna Gramam & Swarna Wardu Officer is responsible for secretariat services being delivered on time.
PGRS (Public Grievance Redressal System) · Open the official page
Sources: 9, 5
If you are asked for more moneyThe current charge at the secretariat is not confirmed officially; ask what it is before you pay.
The current charge at the secretariat is not confirmed officially; ask what it is before you pay. If anyone asks for a bribe, call the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on its toll-free number 1064, or email complaints-acb@ap.gov.in. Do not pay agents who offer to speed things up.
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), toll-free 1064
Sources: 10, 9
AlsoIf a state welfare department asks for an income certificate for its scheme, or a state department asks for one for a scholarship, that goes against G.O.Ms.No.484 (2023); the order keeps the certificate for EWS certification for jobs, Central Government needs and the Jagananna Videshi Vidya Deevena scheme.
If a state welfare department asks for an income certificate for its scheme, or a state department asks for one for a scholarship, that goes against G.O.Ms.No.484 (2023); the order keeps the certificate for EWS certification for jobs, Central Government needs and the Jagananna Videshi Vidya Deevena scheme. If a state department asks for one for a scheme for the poor although you have a white ration card, or asks for a new one when a scholarship or scheme is renewed, if an employer, government or private, asks for one for a job (EWS reservation apart), or if a bank asks for one for a crop or land loan, that goes against G.O.Ms.No.186 (2015) and G.O.Ms.No.229 (2017). Show them the order; if that does not settle it, complain through PGRS.
PGRS (Public Grievance Redressal System) · Open the official page
Sources: 3, 1, 2, 9
Official websites for this work
- PGRS (Andhra Pradesh) Complain to the state government
Related guides
The 10 official pages and papers this guide is written from
- G.O.Ms.No.186, 26.05.2015: Issue of Income Certificate by Revenue Authorities – Revised orders – IssuedRevenue (Services.II) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh (A.P. Government Orders Issue Register), Paragraphs 3, 5 (i)–(vi) and 7; Annexure: procedure for applying and the format of the certificate (26-05-2015) · read on 02-11-2026
- G.O.Ms.No.229, 23.06.2017: Issue of Income Certificate by Revenue Authorities – Revised orders – IssuedRevenue (Services.II) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh (A.P. Government Orders Issue Register), Paragraphs 1 and 4 (white ration card as proof for BPL schemes; four-year validity) (23-06-2017) · read on 02-11-2026
- G.O.Ms.No.484, 10.10.2023: Issue of Income Certificates by Revenue Authorities – Revised Orders – IssuedRevenue (Services.II) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh (A.P. Government Orders Issue Register), Paragraph 5 (a)–(h) (six-step validation in place of income certificates; cases where the certificate continues) and 7 (10-10-2023) · read on 30-10-2026
- G.O.Ms.No.2, 07.03.2025: Mandatory for all citizens of Andhra Pradesh to be included in the household database to access any citizen services, schemes or benefitsDepartment of Grama Sachivalayams and Ward Sachivalayams, Government of Andhra Pradesh (A.P. Government Orders Issue Register), Paragraph 4 (07-03-2025) · read on 30-10-2026
- G.O.Ms.No.1, 09.02.2026: Roles and responsibilities of District Swarna Gramam & Swarna Wardu Officers and Mandal / Urban officersDepartment of Swarna Gramam and Swarna Wardu, Government of Andhra Pradesh (A.P. Government Orders Issue Register), Paragraph 2 (secretariats renamed Swarna Gramam and Swarna Wardu Offices, Ordinance No. 2 of 2026); paragraph 4, I.A (c) and (j), I.B (b) (09-02-2026) · read on 30-10-2026
- Village Secretariat & Ward Secretariat System: AP Seva services from village and ward secretariatsAnakapalli District Administration, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Table "AP SEVA Services Details From Village and Ward Secretariats", Revenue: Duplicate of OBC/EBC/Integrated Certificates; Income Certificate; Income Certificate For Students; Integrated Certificate; Issuance of Income & Asset Certificate for EWS; Re-Issuance of Income Certificate · read on 30-10-2026
- MeeSeva Citizen CharterElectronic Services Delivery (MeeSeva), Government of Andhra Pradesh, on the Ananthapuramu district website, Revenue: Income Certificate; Integrated Certificate (Caste-Nativity-Date of Birth); Reissuance of Integrated Certificate (service level, category and service charge) · read on 30-10-2026
- Citizen Charter: the district website's list of documentsAnanthapuramu District Administration, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Row "MeeSeva Citizen Charter": date 16/04/2017, with the link to the PDF · read on 02-11-2026
- PGRS: FAQ'sPublic Grievance Redressal System (PGRS), Government of Andhra Pradesh (Real Time Governance Society), Who can register and how; status; re-opening a grievance twice; corruption and bribes (ACB helpline); 1100 · read on 30-10-2026
- MeeSeva Official Portal, home pageElectronic Services Delivery (MeeSeva), Government of Andhra Pradesh, Notice "Asking Bribe? – Call ACB 1064 or send a mail to complaints-acb@ap.gov.in" · read on 30-10-2026