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Difference between gross income and net income

Updated on: 5th Mar 2024

5 mins read

What is the difference between Gross Income and Net Income  

Gross income is the total amount you make in a year before subtracting any costs. It’s like your total earnings. On the other hand, net income is what’s left after you subtract all your business expenses and deductions from your gross income. It’s like the profit your business actually makes. Understanding both can give you a different view and influence the decisions you make for yourself or your business. 

What is gross income and how to calculate it  

Gross Income: Gross income is the full amount you make in a year before subtracting any costs. It’s like the profit from the services you offer, adding up all the money your clients pay you before taking away expenses, taxes, or any deductions. 

How to calculate: To find your yearly gross income, just add together all the money you received from clients in the last year. For instance, if your client’s billings total 100Cr in revenue, that’s your annual gross income or total earnings. 

  1. Add up all your earnings: Start by adding together all the money you make. This includes your salary, income from any side jobs, or any other sources of money you receive. 
  1. Include all sources: Make sure to consider all sources of income, not just your main job. This could include bonuses, rental income, or any other payments you receive. 
  1. Use this formula: Gross Income=Total Earnings  
  1. That’s it! The result is your gross income. It’s the total amount of money you’ve earned before any deductions or expenses are taken away. 

In simple terms, gross income is just the sum of all the money you bring in from different sources. 

What is net income and how to calculate it  

Net Income: Net income is the amount of money your business earns after subtracting all the costs and allowable deductions from its total earnings. It’s the profit you end up with. 

How to calculate: To figure out net income, start with your total earnings and then subtract all your business costs like marketing, travel, office expenses, taxes, etc. Also, subtract any eligible deductions such as those for a home office, retirement plan, or legal and professional fees.  

  1. Start with all the money you made. That’s your total earnings, also known as gross income. 
  1. Take away all the business expenses. These are the costs of running your business, like rent, supplies, and employee salaries. 
  1. Also, subtract any allowed deductions. These are special discounts or savings you’re allowed to subtract, like for working from home or putting money into a retirement plan. 
  1. Use this formula:  Net Income=Total Earnings−Business Expenses−Allowed Deductions  
  1. What’s left is your net income. It’s the actual profit or money you have after considering all your costs and deductions. 

So, to sum it up, net income is what’s left in your pocket after you’ve paid all your business bills, and you can find it using the formula. 

Goss vs net income: Why understanding the difference is important  

Understanding the difference between gross and net income is crucial for both personal finances and running a successful business, especially if you’re a small business owner or self-employed. Here’s what you need to know:  

  • It helps in making important decisions like when to increase prices, deciding on necessary expenses, and choosing the right income sources, projects, and clients. 
  • For instance, gross income tells you how much money you’ve earned overall, which is helpful for tracking yearly revenue and understanding sales trends.  
  • However, it doesn’t show if your business is making a profit.  
  • On the other hand, net income reveals the real picture by considering all expenses. 
  • It tells you how much money your business is truly making or losing over time.  
  • If your net income is lower than expected, it signals that you might need to cut costs to improve your financial situation. 

Conclusion  

In short, gross income is the total money you earn, while net income is what you have left after subtracting expenses and deductions. Gross shows overall earnings, and net reveals actual profit. Understanding both helps manage finances wisely. 

FAQs  

Does Gross Income include taxes?  

Absolutely, gross income is like the big total of all the money a person or a company earns before they start taking away things. It’s the full amount they make, including everything, before they subtract out their costs, interest, and taxes. So, it’s like the whole pile of money they get before any of the important stuff is taken out. 

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