<PAGE>
<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 09/30/95
000 C000000 0000853977
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 HERITAGE INCOME TRUST
001 B000000 811-5853
001 C000000 8135738143
002 A000000 880 CARILLON PARKWAY
002 B000000 ST. PETERSBURG
002 C000000 FL
002 D010000 33733
002 D020000 3500
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 3
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 LIMITED MATURITY GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO
007 C030200 N
007 C010300 3
007 C020300 INSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO
007 C030300 Y
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
077 C000000 N
077 D000000 N
077 E000000 N
077 F000000 N
077 G000000 N
077 H000000 N
077 I000000 N
077 J000000 N
077 K000000 N
077 L000000 N
<PAGE>
<PAGE> PAGE 2
077 M000000 N
077 N000000 N
077 O000000 N
077 P000000 N
080 A00AA00 GULF INSURANCE COMPANY
080 C00AA00 4275
081 A00AA00 Y
081 B00AA00 11
082 A00AA00 N
082 B00AA00 0
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00 0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00 0
085 A00AA00 Y
085 B00AA00 N
062 A000100 Y
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 2.3
062 E000100 0.0
062 F000100 0.0
062 G000100 0.0
062 H000100 0.0
062 I000100 0.0
062 J000100 0.0
062 K000100 0.0
062 L000100 0.0
062 M000100 91.9
062 N000100 4.5
062 O000100 0.0
062 P000100 0.0
062 Q000100 0.0
062 R000100 0.0
071 A000100 44549
071 B000100 56735
071 C000100 27537
071 D000100 162
072 A000100 12
074 N000100 24633
074 T000100 24566
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 29332
062 A000200 Y
062 B000200 0.0
062 C000200 0.0
062 D000200 8.0
062 E000200 0.0
062 F000200 0.0
062 G000200 0.0
062 H000200 0.0
<PAGE>
<PAGE> PAGE 3
062 I000200 0.0
062 J000200 0.0
062 K000200 0.0
062 L000200 0.0
062 M000200 39.3
062 N000200 11.2
062 O000200 0.0
062 P000200 43.1
062 Q000200 0.0
062 R000200 0.0
071 A000200 32664
071 B000200 38250
071 C000200 30038
071 D000200 109
072 A000200 12
074 N000200 31764
074 T000200 30647
075 A000200 0
075 B000200 32394
062 A000300 N
062 B000300 0.0
062 C000300 0.0
062 D000300 0.0
062 E000300 0.0
062 F000300 0.0
062 G000300 0.0
062 H000300 0.0
062 I000300 0.0
062 J000300 0.0
062 K000300 0.0
062 L000300 0.0
062 M000300 0.0
062 N000300 0.0
062 O000300 0.0
062 P000300 0.0
062 Q000300 0.0
062 R000300 0.0
063 A000300 0
063 B000300 0.0
071 A000300 1315
071 B000300 3660
071 C000300 2853
071 D000300 46
072 A000300 12
074 N000300 23
074 O000300 0
074 P000300 6
074 Q000300 0
074 R010300 0
074 R020300 0
074 R030300 0
<PAGE>
<PAGE> PAGE 4
074 R040300 17
074 S000300 0
074 T000300 0
074 U010300 0
074 U020300 0
074 V010300 0.00
074 V020300 0.00
074 W000300 0.0000
074 X000300 0
074 Y000300 0
075 A000300 0
075 B000300 3715
076 000300 0.00
SIGNATURE STEPHEN G. HILL
TITLE PRESIDENT
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000853977
<NAME> HERITAGE INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> LIMITED MATURITY GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO (CLASS A)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-START> OCT-1-1994
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 23,978,567
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 24,228,437
<RECEIVABLES> 388,485
<ASSETS-OTHER> 24,244,536
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 24,633,021
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 67,019
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 67,019
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 30,922,051
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,644,129
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4,512,870
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 721,566
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (7,327,485)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 249,870
<NET-ASSETS> 24,566,002
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,892,860
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 278,344
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1,614,516
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (712,069)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1,324,202
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,226,649
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 1,803,808
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 268,941
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2,312,399
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 174,717
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (16,508,439)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2,985,426
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (2,506,763)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 430,227
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 29,331,594
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.10
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.62
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.12
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.55
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.29
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.95
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
<PAGE>
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000853977
<NAME> HERITAGE INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> LIMITED MATURITY GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO (CLASS C)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-START> OCT-1-1994
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 23,978,567
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 24,228,437
<RECEIVABLES> 388,485
<ASSETS-OTHER> 24,244,536
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 24,633,021
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 67,019
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 67,019
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 30,922,051
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,644,129
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4,512,870
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 721,566
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (7,327,485)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 249,870
<NET-ASSETS> 24,566,002
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,892,860
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 278,344
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1,614,516
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (712,069)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1,324,202
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,226,649
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 1,803,808
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 268,941
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2,312,399
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 174,717
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (16,508,439)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2,985,426
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (2,506,763)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 430,227
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 29,331,594
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.05
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.21
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.23
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.22
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.27
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.20
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
<PAGE>
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000853977
<NAME> HERITAGE INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 2
<NAME> DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO (CLASS A)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-START> OCT-1-1994
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 30,569,224
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 31,192,167
<RECEIVABLES> 558,204
<ASSETS-OTHER> 31,205,748
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 31,763,952
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1,002,500
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 114,785
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1,117,285
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 32,337,848
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 3,083,609
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 3,713,874
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 93,090
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (2,407,214)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 622,943
<NET-ASSETS> 30,646,667
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2,783,575
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 405,212
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,378,363
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1,106,214)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2,100,137
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 3,372,286
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 2,494,723
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 253,742
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,079,529
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 195,522
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (5,176,465)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2,692,274
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (1,014,329)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 277,151
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 110,700
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 488,875
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 32,393,777
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.65
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.72
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.31
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.74
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.94
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.25
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
<PAGE>
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000853977
<NAME> HERITAGE INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 2
<NAME> DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO (CLASS C)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-START> OCT-1-1995
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 30,569,224
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 31,192,167
<RECEIVABLES> 558,204
<ASSETS-OTHER> 31,205,748
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 31,763,952
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1,002,500
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 114,785
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1,117,285
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 32,337,848
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 3,083,609
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 3,713,874
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 93,090
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (2,407,214)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 622,943
<NET-ASSETS> 30,646,667
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2,783,575
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 405,212
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,378,363
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1,106,214)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2,100,137
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 3,372,286
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 2,494,723
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 253,742
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,079,529
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 195,522
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (5,176,465)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2,692,274
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (1,014,329)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 277,151
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 110,700
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 488,875
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 32,393,777
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.62
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.31
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.28
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.30
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.91
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.70
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
<PAGE>
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000853977
<NAME> HERITAGE INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> INSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO (CLASS A)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-START> OCT-1-1994
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 6,613,153
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 6,613,153
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ASSETS-OTHER> 22,882
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 22,882
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 22,882
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 22,882
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 145,577
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 812,253
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 590
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (146,167)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 0
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 214,323
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 27,862
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 186,461
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (102,914)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 130,496
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 214,043
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 234,755
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 103
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 836,431
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 24,075
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (7,929,196)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 201,803
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (43,253)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 146,317
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 3,714,846
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.79
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.56
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.02
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.56
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.81
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.75
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
<PAGE>
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000853977
<NAME> HERITAGE INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> INSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO (CLASS C)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-START> OCT-1-1994
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 6,613,153
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 6,613,153
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ASSETS-OTHER> 22,882
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 22,882
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 22,882
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 22,882
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 145,577
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 812,253
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 590
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (146,167)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 0
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 214,323
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 27,862
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 186,461
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (102,914)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 130,496
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 214,043
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 234,755
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 103
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 836,431
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 24,075
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (7,929,196)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 201,803
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (43,253)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 146,317
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 3,714,846
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.71
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.20
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.11
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.20
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.82
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.30
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
<PAGE>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Shareholders and the Board of
Trustees of Heritage Income Trust:
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements
and financial highlights of Heritage Income Trust (comprised of the
Limited Maturity Government Portfolio, the Diversified Portfolio and the
Institutional Government Portfolio) for the fiscal year ended September
30, 1995, we considered its internal control structure, including
procedures for safeguarding securities, in order to determine our auditing
procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinion on the financial
statements and financial highlights and to comply with the requirements of
Form N-SAR, not to provide assurance on the internal control structure.
The management of Heritage Income Trust is responsible for
establishing and maintaining an internal control structure. In fulfilling
this responsibility, estimates and judgments by management are required to
assess the expected benefits and related costs of internal control
structure policies and procedures. Two of the objectives of an internal
control structure are to provide management with reasonable, but not
absolute, assurance that assets are safeguarded against loss from
unauthorized use or disposition and that transactions are executed in
accordance with management's authorization and recorded properly to permit
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
Because of inherent limitations in any internal control
structure, errors or irregularities may occur and not be detected. Also,
projection of any evaluation of the structure to future periods is subject
to the risk that it may become inadequate because of changes in conditions
or that the effectiveness of the design and operation may deteriorate.
Our consideration of the internal control structure would not
necessarily disclose all matters in the internal control structure that
might be material weaknesses under standards established by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A material weakness is a
condition in which the design or operation of the specific internal
control structure elements does not reduce to a relatively low level the
risk that errors or irregularities in amounts that would be material in
relation to the financial statements and financial highlights being
audited may occur and not be detected within a timely period by employees
in the normal course of performing their assigned functions. However, we
noted no matters involving the internal control structure, including
procedures for safeguarding securities, that we consider to be material
weaknesses, as defined above, as of September 30, 1995.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of
management of Heritage Income Trust and the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Boston, Massachusetts COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
November 27, 1995
<PAGE>