What it is
Form 24Q reports TDS on salaries; Form 26Q covers all other resident payments.
Form 27Q covers payments to non-residents; Form 27EQ covers TCS.
Returns are filed quarterly through the TIN-FC network or the income tax portal, and processed by TRACES.
Who it applies to
- Every deductor holding a TAN must file, even for a quarter with no deduction, where returns are otherwise regularly filed.
Documents required
- •TAN and the deductor's details
- •Challan details (BSR code, date and serial number) for every tax deposit
- •PAN and deduction details for every deductee
- •Salary breakup and declarations for Form 24Q Annexure II in Q4
Step-by-step process
- 1
Deposit tax by the 7th
TDS deducted in a month must be deposited by the 7th of the following month, and by 30 April for the March deduction.
- 2
Prepare the statement
Use the utility to build the return, mapping every deduction to the challan through which it was deposited.
- 3
Validate with the FVU
Run the File Validation Utility. Most rejections happen here — invalid PANs, mismatched challan amounts, wrong section codes.
- 4
Upload the return
File by 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May for Q1 to Q4 respectively.
- 5
Download Form 16 / 16A
After processing, download the certificates from TRACES and issue them to deductees within the statutory timelines.
- 6
File a correction if needed
Where a PAN or challan is wrong, file a correction statement promptly — unmatched challans create demands that grow with interest.
Fees and timeline
Government fees
No filing fee. Late filing attracts ₹200 per day under section 234E (capped at the TDS amount) and a penalty of up to ₹1,00,000 under section 271H.
Typical timeline
Quarterly: 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May.
Common mistakes and rejection reasons
- Invalid or inoperative PAN of a deductee, which triggers a short-deduction demand at 20%.
- Challan amount not matching the sum of deductions mapped to it.
- Wrong section code, e.g. reporting a professional payment under 194C.
- Not filing a nil return where the department expects one, leading to default notices.
Frequently asked questions
What is the late fee for a TDS return?
₹200 per day under section 234E, capped at the total TDS in the statement, plus possible penalty under section 271H.
Do I need to file a nil TDS return?
There is no statutory nil return, but filing a declaration on TRACES for a no-deduction quarter avoids default notices.
When must Form 16 be issued?
Form 16 for salaries is due by 15 June following the financial year; Form 16A is due within 15 days of the quarterly return due date.
Do it with help, or do the maths first
More in Income Tax
This guide is general information on public compliance procedures and is not professional advice for your specific facts. Government fees and timelines change; verify on the official portal before filing.