TDS Return & Payment Due Dates for FY 2025-26

What is TDS?

TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) is a system where tax is collected at the time income is generated. Under this mechanism, the person making the payment deducts TDS and deposits it directly with the government on your behalf.

If excess TDS is deducted, you can claim a refund while filing your Income Tax Return (ITR).

Forms for Filing TDS Returns

There are multiple TDS forms depending on the income of the deductee or the type of deductee paying taxes

A challan-cum-statement in forms 26QB and 26QC is applicable if the tax is deducted at the source under sections 194-IA and 194-IB. The deductor is required to provide the challan-cum-statement within 30 days from the last date of the month in which the tax was deducted.

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Due Date of TDS payment and return filing

TDS Payment Due Dates

*For the government deductors, making the TDS via book entry (Treasury Challan) should be deposited on the same day of deduction, whereas for March month by 7th of April.

Due Date to File TCS Returns

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Penalty For Late Filing Of TDS/TCS Returns

If there is a delay in filing the TDS returns or you fail to file your TDS return by the TDS return due date, you might have to pay a penalty.

Late Filing Fee (Section 234E)

As per section 234E of the Income Tax Act, the person who is required to or responsible for collecting and depositing TDS/TCS has to pay a penalty of Rs.200 per day until the day when the TDS return is filed or until the time the penalty amount becomes equal to the TDS amount.
For example -
If you have deducted Rs.10,000 on 13th May, and you miss the TDS return due date, file the TDS return on 13th Nov for the first quarter. Since the TDS return due date is July 31st, the delay in TDS return filing will be 109 days.
Now, Total TDS penalty Amount - 200*109 = Rs.21,800
The penalty amount is greater than the total TDS deducted, i.e., Rs.10,000. Therefore, you will only have to pay Rs.10,000 as a penalty.

Penalty (Section 271H)

Any individual or person who fails to file a TDS return by the due date, on the order of the government, may be required to pay a penalty of Rs.10,000 under section 271H. This amount can be extended to Rs.1,00,000. The penalty levied under this section has to be paid along with that mentioned in section 234E.

However, there are certain exceptions to the applicability of section 271H -

• If the tax collected or deducted is paid to the credit of the government
• Late filing interest or fees that are paid to the government’s credit.
• If the TDS/TCS is filed before the completion of 1 year from the TDS return due date.

Prosecution Under Section 276B

If the deductor fails to pay the amount to the credit of the Central Government, as per the provisions of Chapter XVII-B, then such a person can get rigorous imprisonment for a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 7 years, along with a fine.

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What is the Interest on Late Deposit of TDS?

• If the TDS has not been deducted (fully or partially), then interest of 1% per month is leviable on the TDS/TCS amount from the date on which the tax was supposed to be deducted to the date on which it is actually deducted.
• If the TDS has been deducted but not deposited with the government, then an interest of 1% per month on the TDS/TCS amount will be leviable from the date of deducting the tax to the date of depositing it.

Note: The above interest should be paid before filing the TDS return.

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Prosecution Under Section 276B of the Income Tax Act

Failure to deposit Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) to the credit of the Central Government as required under the provisions of Chapter XVII-B can attract severe penalties under Section 276B of the Income Tax Act.

Punishment Details:

• Rigorous Imprisonment: A minimum of 3 months, which may extend up to 7 years.
• Fine: An additional monetary penalty imposed along with imprisonment.

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How to Make TDS Payment Online

• Step 1: Log in to the e-filing portal using TAN login credentials.
• Step 2: On the dashboard, click ‘e-File’ > ‘e-Pay Tax.’
• Step 3: On the e-Pay Tax page, click on ‘New Payment.’
• Step 4: On the New Payment page, click on ‘Proceed’ on a tax payment tile that is applicable.
• Step 5: Select the Assessment Year, fill in other details, and click on ‘Continue.’
• Step 6: Add the breakup of the total tax payment on the ‘Add Tax Breakup Details’ page.
• Step 7: On the payment page, select the preferred payment gateway and click on ‘Continue’.
• Step 8: Verify the details and click on ‘Pay Now’.
• Step 9: You will receive a confirmation email and sms on your email and mobile number, which is registered with the e-filing portal

Every assessee whose Tax Deducted at Source (TDS ) has been deducted will have to file his/her TDS return. Connect with our tax experts for help with TDS payment and filing.

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