Quick answer
A TDS return is a quarterly statement of the tax you deducted at source from salaries, rent, professional fees and other payments, and deposited with the government. You need a TAN, and you file Form 24Q, 26Q or 27Q. Late filing attracts a fee of ₹200 per day, and the fee cannot exceed the TDS amount.
Also searched as: tds rates chart · form 16
Overview
What you need to know about TDS Return Filing – 24Q, 26Q & 27Q
Tax deducted at source must be deposited and reported through the applicable statements. Regular deductors generally need a Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number, or TAN, although specified challan-cum-statement transactions follow separate rules.
Form 24Q reports salary TDS, Form 26Q generally reports non-salary payments to residents, and Form 27Q generally reports relevant payments to non-residents. Selecting the correct section, rate and deductee classification is essential.
The service covers quarterly statement preparation, challan mapping, validation and acknowledgement tracking. Correction statements and TRACES default resolution can be assessed separately when earlier filings contain errors.
Is this for you?
Who needs this and when
Any person or business that makes specified payments above the limits in the Income-tax Act must deduct tax at source and file quarterly TDS returns. This covers employers who pay salary, and businesses that pay contractors, professional fees, rent, commission or interest. Companies and firms are covered, and so are some individuals and HUFs whose business is subject to audit.
You need a Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN) before you can deduct or file. Form 24Q is for salary, 26Q for non-salary payments to residents and 27Q for payments to non-residents. Deductees depend on your return to see credit in their Form 26AS. If you deduct tax but do not deposit or report it, they lose their credit, and you can face interest and penalties.
Benefits
What you get with LawLine
- Selection of Form 24Q, 26Q or 27Q
- PAN and deductee information checks
- Challan allocation and payment reconciliation
- Review of deduction sections and applicable rates
- Validation before statement submission
- Guidance on acknowledgements and TDS certificates
Process
Step-by-step: how it works
- 1Review the QuarterConfirm the statement type, deductor details and transactions requiring reporting.
- 2Reconcile DeductionsMatch payment records, deductee PANs and deposited challans.
- 3Validate and FilePrepare and validate the statement, then submit through an authorised filing route.
- 4Track ProcessingShare the acknowledgement and review processing status and identified defaults.
Documents required
Clear scans or phone photos are enough to get started.
- TAN allotment details and deductor PAN
- Authorised signatory details and contact information
- Deductee PAN, address and payment records
- Salary register and employee declarations for Form 24Q
- TDS deduction ledger and section-wise working
- Tax payment challans with CIN details
- Previous statement tokens and TRACES default reports, if relevant
Pricing
Cost breakdown
| Item | Amount | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Government fee for TDS return filing | ₹0 | There is no filing fee. Late filing fees under section 234E may apply. |
| TAN application (government fee) | About ₹65 plus tax | The fee is set by the TIN-NSDL / Protean facilitation centre and can change. |
| LawLine quarterly TDS return (24Q or 26Q) | ₹1,499 onwards | It depends on the number of deductees and challans. |
| Correction statement | ₹999 onwards | It is used to fix errors in PAN, challans or amounts. |
| Form 16 / 16A generation | ₹50 onwards per certificate | It depends on the volume of certificates. |
Taxes, interest, late fees and any applicable portal or facilitation charges are separate from the indicative professional fee.
Timeline
How long it takes
Collect deduction and challan details
1–2 days
Prepare the return and validate it
1–2 days
Upload to the TIN/Protean system
Same day
Statement processing and credit in Form 26AS
Usually a few days to weeks
Issue Form 16 / 16A
Within the due dates under the law
Avoid delays
Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering a wrong or invalid PAN for a deductee. The deductee then does not get credit, and the higher rate of deduction may apply under section 206AA.
- Depositing TDS late. Interest is charged from the date the tax should have been deducted, and the rates are different for late deduction and late payment.
- Not filing a return because no TDS was deducted in the quarter. Check whether a nil statement is needed, and do not assume the answer.
- Mismatching the challan details with the return, such as the BSR code, date and serial number. Credit then fails, and a correction statement is needed.
- Missing the due dates, which are usually 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May. The late fee of ₹200 a day builds up fast.
Next steps
After it’s done: staying compliant
After filing, check the status of your statement in the TRACES portal and download the Justification Report to see defaults. Issue Form 16 for salary and Form 16A for other payments to your deductees within the time allowed. Deductees need these certificates to claim credit in their own returns, so share them promptly and keep your copies.
If TRACES shows a short deduction, late payment or interest demand, pay it and file a correction statement. Keep your TDS working papers, challans and PAN records safe. If you get a notice from the department about default, reply in time and seek professional advice, since penalties can apply for continued failure.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
When are quarterly TDS returns due?
The usual deadlines are 31 July for April–June, 31 October for July–September, 31 January for October–December and 31 May for January–March. Check any notified extension for the relevant quarter.
What is the late fee under section 234E?
The fee is ₹200 for each day of delay, limited to the amount of TDS reportable in the statement. Interest and a separate penalty under section 271H may also apply, subject to statutory conditions.
Do I always need a TAN?
Regular TDS deductors generally require a TAN. Specified transactions, such as certain property, rent and other payments reported through prescribed challan-cum-statements, have exceptions and are outside ordinary quarterly statement filing.
Are deposit dates the same as return dates?
No. For many non-government deductors, TDS is generally deposited by the seventh of the following month, with March deductions generally due by 30 April. Government deductors and specified transactions have different rules.
Can a wrong PAN or challan be corrected?
A correction statement can often resolve incorrect PANs, challan mapping or omitted records, subject to validation and current correction time limits. Some challan errors require a separate bank or departmental correction process.
What determines the professional fee?
The number of deductees, forms, challans and corrections determines the scope. The starting fee is indicative for a simple quarterly statement and excludes tax, interest, statutory fees and historical default resolution.
Key takeaways
- Anyone who deducts TDS must have a TAN and file quarterly statements.
- Form 24Q covers salary, 26Q covers resident non-salary payments and 27Q covers payments to non-residents.
- The late filing fee under section 234E is ₹200 per day, capped at the TDS amount.
- Correct PANs and challan details are essential for the deductee to get credit.
- Issue Form 16 or 16A on time and check TRACES for defaults.
Official sources & government portals
- Income Tax Department e-filing portal
- Protean (TIN-NSDL) TAN services
- GST Portal
- Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
- TRACES (TDS reconciliation)
This guide is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Laws and fees change; confirm with an expert before acting.
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