TDS Compliance Calendar & Quarterly Return Filing Workflow
Quarterly timelines, return forms (24Q, 26Q, 27Q), deposit challans, and error-prevention steps for tax deduction at source in India.
1. Monthly TDS Deposit Deadlines
Every entity deducting tax at source under Chapter XVII-B of the Income Tax Act must deposit the deducted amount to the Central Government account via Challan ITNS 281 within the prescribed statutory period.
- General Rule: TDS deducted during any calendar month must be deposited on or before the 7th of the following month.
- Special Rule for March: TDS deducted in the month of March can be deposited up to 30th April.
- Government Deductors: Same day deposit where tax is paid without production of income tax challan.
2. Quarterly TDS Return Filing Schedule
Deductors must file quarterly statements detailing deductee PANs, transaction amounts, deduction sections, and challan identification numbers (CIN).
| Quarter | Period Covered | Statutory Return Due Date | Applicable Statement Forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 (April – June) | 1st April – 30th June | 31st July | Form 24Q (Salary), Form 26Q (Non-Salary), Form 27Q (Non-Resident) |
| Q2 (July – Sept) | 1st July – 30th September | 31st October | Form 24Q, Form 26Q, Form 27Q |
| Q3 (Oct – Dec) | 1st October – 31st December | 31st January | Form 24Q, Form 26Q, Form 27Q |
| Q4 (Jan – March) | 1st January – 31st March | 31st May | Form 24Q (with Annexure II salary summary), 26Q, 27Q |
3. TRACES Reconciliation & Justification Reports
After filing quarterly statements, deductors should download the Justification Report from TRACES (TDS Reconciliation Analysis and Correction Enabling System) to identify short deductions, late deduction interest, PAN errors, and challan unconsumed balances. Any discrepancies should be rectified through a Correction Statement (C1, C2, C3, or C9 correction).
Summary for Practice & Compliance Files
- 1Deposit monthly TDS by the 7th of every succeeding month to avoid interest under Section 201(1A).
- 2Verify valid PANs for all payees to prevent mandatory higher rate deduction under Section 206AA (20%).
- 3Issue Form 16 to employees by 15th June following the financial year; issue Form 16A quarterly within 15 days of return due date.
- 4Check TRACES Justification Reports periodically to clear pending defaults before departmental inquiries.
Official Government & Statutory References
- TDS Reconciliation Analysis and Correction Enabling System (TRACES)(Income Tax Department / CPC-TDS)
- Income Tax Department e-Filing Portal(Central Board of Direct Taxes)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the penalty for late filing of TDS returns?
Under Section 234E, a late fee of ₹200 per day is levied for every day the default continues, subject to a maximum of the total TDS amount for that quarter.
How can PAN errors in filed TDS returns be corrected?
Deductors can file a C3 correction on TRACES to update or correct invalid deductee PAN records.
Track TDS Deadlines & Client Returns from One Unified Board
Taxoryn provides tax practices with consolidated TDS client registers, due-date reminders, and partner sign-off queues.
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