<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000853977
<NAME> HERITAGE INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 023
<NAME> INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT FUND CLASS C SHARES
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 24,465,185
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 24,347,759
<RECEIVABLES> 267,128
<ASSETS-OTHER> 669,035
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 25,283,922
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 104,151
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 104,151
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 35,804,175
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,741,142
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,454,388
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 335,312
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (10,842,290)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (117,426)
<NET-ASSETS> 25,179,771
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,828,789
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 265,024
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1,563,765
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (863,245)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 968,766
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,669,286
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 1,563,006
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,262,177
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 3,105,736
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 130,313
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 11,859,667
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 329,690
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (7,031,454)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 147,610
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 23,081
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,923,447
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.14
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.45
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.07
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.50)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.17
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.01
</TABLE>
