<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000853977
<NAME> HERITAGE INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 023
<NAME> HIGH YIELD BOND FUND CLASS C SHARES
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START> SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 48,332,582
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 39,766,144
<RECEIVABLES> 1,262,818
<ASSETS-OTHER> 291,346
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 41,320,308
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 267,133
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 267,133
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 53,299,520
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 5,020,822
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 5,622,931
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 367,421
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (4,047,328)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (8,566,438)
<NET-ASSETS> 41,053,175
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2,595,375
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 311,619
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,283,756
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1,164,166)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (3,024,032)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (1,904,442)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 2,297,195
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 299,746
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,069,147
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 167,292
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (9,364,997)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 371,787
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (2,873,613)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 138,874
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 95,668
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 11,254,760
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.94
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.48
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.79)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.48)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.11
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.02
</TABLE>
