Frequently Asked Questions
What is a TDS return and who must file it? ＋
A TDS return is a quarterly statement filed by deductors (employers, businesses) showing TDS deducted and deposited. Any person/entity with a TAN who has deducted TDS must file quarterly returns: Form 24Q for salary, Form 26Q for non-salary domestic payments, Form 27Q for payments to non-residents.
What are the quarterly TDS return due dates? ＋
Q1 (Apr–Jun): 31 July | Q2 (Jul–Sep): 31 October | Q3 (Oct–Dec): 31 January | Q4 (Jan–Mar): 31 May. A ₹200/day late fee applies under Section 234E, capped at the TDS amount.
What is Form 24Q vs 26Q? ＋
Form 24Q is for TDS on salaries (Section 192). It includes employee-wise salary and tax details. Form 26Q is for TDS on non-salary payments — contractor, rent, professional fees, interest, commission, etc. Both are quarterly returns.
What is the penalty for wrong TDS return filing? ＋
Section 271H: Penalty of ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000 for incorrect information in TDS return (wrong PAN, wrong amount, wrong challan). Plus ₹200/day under Section 234E for late filing. However, if corrected within 1 year, Section 271H penalty may not apply.
How do I correct a TDS return after filing? ＋
File a correction statement through TRACES (TDS Reconciliation Analysis and Correction Enabling System). You can correct challan details, deductee PAN, TDS amounts, and other fields. Multiple corrections can be filed. The deadline for correction is 6 years from the end of the financial year.