<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000853977
<NAME> HERITAGE INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> HIGH YIELD BOND FUND CLASS B 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> 43,724,696
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 34,562,002
<RECEIVABLES> 1,225,876
<ASSETS-OTHER> 1,264,500
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 37,052,378
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 200,487
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 257,737
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 458,224
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 50,409,238
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 4,658,643
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 5,622,931
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 303,514
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (5,955,904)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (9,162,694)
<NET-ASSETS> 36,594,154
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 4,793,284
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 573,026
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 4,220,258
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (2,074,309)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (3,620,288)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (1,474,339)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 4,296,513
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 593,202
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,879,908
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 322,418
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (13,824,018)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 371,787
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (2,873,613)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 255,529
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 56,078
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 3,298,849
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.94
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.86
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (1.10)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.86)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.83
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.02
</TABLE>
