Quick answer
What is TDS return filing and when is it due?
TDS return filing is the quarterly statement a deductor with a TAN files to report tax deducted and deposited. Returns are due on 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May for the four quarters. Late filing attracts a fee of ₹200 a day under section 234E, capped at the TDS amount.
- Four quarterly returns a year
- Due 31 Jul, 31 Oct, 31 Jan and 31 May
- Late fee ₹200 a day, capped at the TDS
- New form numbers reported from Q1 of tax year 2026-27
What is TDS return filing and who must file it?
Any person or business that deducts tax at source must file TDS returns every quarter using its TAN, giving the deductee's PAN, the amount paid, the tax deducted and the challan used to deposit it.
The return is what moves the credit into the deductee's Form 26AS and AIS. If it is not filed, or filed with a wrong PAN, your employee, landlord or vendor cannot see the tax you cut, and they will chase you for it. Common deductors among our Delhi clients:
- Companies and LLPs paying salaries above the taxable limit.
- Proprietors and firms whose accounts are audited, paying rent, contractors or professional fees.
- Factories in Wazirpur, Narela and Okhla paying job-work contractors and transporters.
- Start-ups paying consultants and freelancers.
- Anyone paying a non-resident, including an NRI selling property.
What is a TAN and how do you get one?
A TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number) is the ten-character number every deductor must quote on TDS challans, returns and certificates. It is separate from PAN, and you need it before the first deduction is deposited.
New companies and LLPs usually receive TAN with incorporation, because SPICe+ allots PAN and TAN together on one challan as part of company registration in Delhi. Proprietors, partnership firms and individuals who become deductors apply separately online. Keep one TAN per deducting unit unless a branch is set up to deduct on its own.
Need help with TDS return filing? Talk to a chartered accountant in Delhi today. First call is free.
Which TDS return forms apply now: 24Q and 26Q or the new forms?
For quarters up to Q4 of FY 2025-26 the familiar forms 24Q, 26Q, 27Q and 27EQ still apply. From Q1 of tax year 2026-27, reports say the Income-tax Act 2025 forms take over, with 24Q becoming Form 138 and 26Q becoming Form 140.
The new numbers come from secondary sources that map the old forms to the new rules, not from text we could read on an official site, so confirm the form name on the TRACES and e-filing portals before you prepare a statement. Your software vendor's update notes are another good check.
| Purpose | Form under the 1961 Act | Form reported under the 2025 Act |
|---|---|---|
| TDS on salary | 24Q | 138 |
| TDS on other resident payments | 26Q | 140 |
| TDS on payments to non-residents | 27Q | 144 |
| TCS return | 27EQ | 143 |
| Salary TDS certificate | Form 16 | 130 |
| Non-salary TDS certificate | Form 16A | 131 |
Reported mapping, not verified against the Income-tax Rules 2026 text. Sources: TDSMAN mapping note and Outlook Money coverage, checked October 2026. Salary TDS is reported to sit in section 392 and other TDS in section 393 of the new Act.
What are the TDS return filing due dates?
TDS returns are due on 31 July for April to June, 31 October for July to September, 31 January for October to December, and 31 May for January to March. These quarterly dates have not changed with the new Act.
| Quarter | Months covered | Return due |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | April to June | 31 July |
| Q2 | July to September | 31 October |
| Q3 | October to December | 31 January |
| Q4 | January to March | 31 May |
Q4 of FY 2025-26 (due 31 May 2026) used the old forms. Q2 of tax year 2026-27 is due 31 October 2026. Source: TDSMAN, checked October 2026.
How does our TDS return filing service work?
We handle TDS in a monthly and quarterly rhythm: classify payments, compute and deposit, then file the quarterly statement and issue certificates once the return is processed.
- 1
Classify payments
Each month we tag salary, rent, contract, professional and non-resident payments from your books and flag the ones that need TDS.
- 2
Check PAN and rates
Deductee PANs are validated, because a missing or invalid PAN usually forces a higher deduction and causes credit mismatches.
- 3
Deposit the tax
We prepare the challan so tax is paid on time, and keep the challan details ready for the return.
- 4
File the quarterly return
The statement is prepared in the current form, validated with the official utility, and uploaded before the due date.
- 5
Issue certificates
After processing we download Form 16 or 16A, or the new equivalents, and send them to your employees and vendors.
What is the penalty for late TDS return filing?
A late TDS return attracts a fee of ₹200 for every day of delay under section 234E, but the total fee cannot exceed the TDS amount. A separate penalty of ₹10,000 to ₹1 lakh can apply under section 271H.
The 271H penalty range is drawn from a secondary source, so treat it as indicative. Interest for late deduction or late deposit is charged separately from the filing fee. Because the fee runs daily, a return that is only a few weeks late can cost more than the professional fee for filing it on time.
| Default | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Return filed after due date | ₹200 a day under section 234E, capped at the TDS amount |
| Return not filed or wrong details | Penalty of ₹10,000 to ₹1 lakh under section 271H (reported) |
| Tax deducted but deposited late | Interest for the period of delay |
| Tax not deducted at all | The payer can be treated as a defaulter for that amount |
Source: TaxHeal summary of 234E and 271H, checked October 2026. Section numbers change under the 2025 Act.
How do you correct a TDS return?
Mistakes in a filed TDS return are fixed with a correction statement on TRACES, using the consolidated file for that quarter. Wrong PANs, unmatched challans and short deductions are the most common reasons to correct.
We download the justification report, find the exact rows the department flagged, and file a correction so your deductees see the right credit. Corrections matter most before your employees and vendors file their own ITRs, because their returns rely on the credit showing in Form 26AS. If a demand notice has already arrived, our income tax notice reply team can respond on the portal.
TDS for Delhi manufacturers, traders and start-ups
Delhi businesses run into TDS mostly through contractor payments, rent for shops and godowns, and salaries, and the volume of small vendor payments in industrial areas makes monthly tracking important.
A steel or plastics unit in Wazirpur may pay dozens of job workers and transporters a month, each needing a TDS check. A trader renting a shop and a godown deducts on rent. A start-up paying freelance developers deducts on professional fees. We tie TDS to your bookkeeping so that deductions, challans and returns come from the same ledger, which also makes your income tax return easier at year end.
If you buy property worth ₹50 lakh or more, TDS works differently: the buyer files a one-time statement instead of a quarterly return. See our guide to TDS on purchase of property.
Who handles TDS returns among the listed firms?
Khubchandani & Co. Chartered Accountants lists TDS returns and advance tax among its services, and Moneymji lists TAN and TDS alongside its income tax work. Both suit businesses that want TDS handled with their regular accounts.
Greenwolf Advisors is the better fit when TDS arises from cross-border payments or a group structure across India and other countries. Each firm's address and services are set out on our CA firms in Delhi listing. Online platforms advertise TDS filing packages, but scope varies widely; we give a fixed quote per quarter or per year before work starts.
Frequently asked questions
What are the due dates for TDS return filing?
31 July for the April to June quarter, 31 October for July to September, 31 January for October to December, and 31 May for January to March. The Q2 return for tax year 2026-27 is due on 31 October 2026.
What is the late fee for TDS returns?
₹200 for each day the return is late, under section 234E of the 1961 Act, capped at the total TDS for that return. A penalty of ₹10,000 to ₹1 lakh can also apply under section 271H, as reported by secondary sources. Interest on late deposit is separate.
Are 24Q and 26Q replaced by new forms?
Reports say yes, from Q1 of tax year 2026-27: 24Q maps to Form 138, 26Q to Form 140, 27Q to Form 144 and 27EQ to Form 143. We have not verified this against the official rules text, so check the TRACES portal and your utility before filing.
Do I need a TAN to deduct TDS?
Yes. A TAN is required to deposit TDS, file returns and issue certificates. Companies and LLPs usually get it at incorporation through SPICe+. Others apply online. Quoting PAN in place of TAN on a challan is a common error that leaves the deposit unmatched.
What happens if I deduct TDS but forget to file the return?
The deductee will not see the credit in Form 26AS or AIS, the 234E fee starts running from the due date, and a 271H penalty may follow. File the return as soon as possible; the daily fee stops when the return is filed.
Can a TDS return be revised after filing?
Yes. You file a correction statement on TRACES for the same quarter, fixing PANs, amounts or challan details. There is no separate filing fee for a correction, but any short deduction or interest it reveals has to be paid.
When are Form 16 and Form 16A issued?
Form 16 for salary is issued once a year after the Q4 return is processed, and Form 16A for other payments after each quarterly return. Under the 2025 Act these are reported to become Forms 130 and 131, so the name on the certificate may change from tax year 2026-27.
Is TDS return filing needed for a nil quarter?
If you had no deductions in a quarter, the treatment depends on the portal rules for that period. Many deductors file a declaration for a nil quarter so that the portal does not show the return as missing. Ask us to check your TRACES status.
Do you handle TDS for businesses outside North West Delhi?
Yes. TDS work is document-based and done online, so we serve clients across Delhi. Many come from Wazirpur, Pitampura and Rohini because the office is near Netaji Subhash Place metro, but location makes no difference to the filing.