Faq - e-tds - Income Tax

e-TDS/TCS return has to be prepared in the data format issued by e-Filing Administrator. This is available on the Income Tax Department website (www.incometaxindia.gov.in) and NSDL-TIN website (www.tin-nsdl.com). There is a validation software (File Validation Utility) available along with the data structure which should be used to validate the data structure of the e-TDS/TCS return prepared. The e-TDS/TCS return should have following features:

Each e-TDS/TCS return file should be in a separate CD/Pen Drive.
Each e-TDS/TCS return file should be accompanied by a duly filled and signed (by an authorised signatory) Form No. 27A in physical form.
Each e-TDS/TCS return file should be in one CD/Pen Drive. It should not span across multiple floppies.
If an e-TDS return file is required to be compressed, it should be compressed using Winzip 8.1 or ZipItFast 3.0 compression utility (or higher version thereof) to ensure quick and smooth acceptance of the file.
Label should be affixed on each CD/Pen Drive mentioning name of the deductor, his TAN, Form no. (i.e. 24, 26 or 27) and period to which the return pertains.
There should not be any overwriting/striking on Form No. 27A. If there is any, then the same should be ratified by an authorised signatory.
No bank challan or copy of TDS/TCS certificate should be filed alongwith e-TDS/TCS return file.
In case of Form Nos. 26 & 27, deductor need not file physical copies of certificates of no deduction or lower deduction of TDS received from deductees.
In case of Form 24, deductor should file physical copies of certificates of no deduction or deduction of TDS at lower rate, if any, received from deductees. However, there is no such requirement in case of Form 24Q.
e-TDS/TCS return file should contain TAN of the deductor/collector without which, the return will not be accepted.
CD/Pen Drive should be virus-free.

In case any of these requirements are not met, the e-TDS/TCS return will not be accepted at TIN-FCs.

NSDL has made available a freely downloadable return preparation utility for preparation of e-TDS/TCS returns. Additionally, you can develop your own software for this purpose or you may acquire software from various third party vendors. A list of vendors, who have informed NSDL that they have developed software for preparing e-TDS/TCS returns, is available on the NSDL-TIN website.

Forms for filing TDS/TCS returns were notified by CBDT. These forms are same for electronic and physical returns. However, e-TDS/TCS return is to be prepared as a clean text ASCII file in accordance with the specified data structure (file format) prescribed by ITD.

Following are the forms for TDS/TCS returns and their periodicity:

Form No.	Particulars	Periodicity
Form No. 24	Annual return of 'Salaries' under Section 206 of Income Tax Act, 1961	Annual
Form No. 26	Annual return of deduction of tax under section 206 of Income Tax Act, 1961 in respect of all payments other than 'Salaries'	Annual
Form No. 27	Statement of deduction of tax from interest, dividend or any other sum payable to certain persons	Quarterly
Form No. 27E	Annual return of collection of tax under section 206C of Income Tax Act, 1961	Annual
Form No. 24Q	Quarterly statement for tax deducted at source from 'Salaries'	Quarterly
Form No. 26Q	Quarterly statement of tax deducted at source in respect of all payments other than 'Salaries'	Quarterly
Form No. 27Q	Quarterly statement of deduction of tax from interest, dividend or any other sum payable to non-residents	Quarterly
Form No. 27EQ	Quarterly statement of collection of tax at source	Quarterly

Form No. 27A is a control chart of quarterly e-TDS/TCS statements to be filed in paper form by deductors/collectors alongwith quarterly statements. It is a summary of e-TDS/TCS returns which contains control totals of 'amount paid' and 'income tax deducted at source'. The control totals of 'amount paid' and 'income tax deducted at source' mentioned on Form No. 27A should match with the corresponding control totals in e-TDS/TCS return. A separate Form No. 27A is to be filed for each e-TDS/TCS return.

In case of Annual Returns the relevant control charts are Form 27A for e-TDS and Form 27B for e-TCS.

While submitting Form No. 27A/B, one should ensure that:

a) There is no overwriting/striking on Form No. 27A/B. If there is any, then the same should be ratified (signed) by the authorised signatory.
b) Name and TAN of deductor and control totals of 'amount paid' and 'income tax deducted at source' mentioned on Form No. 27A/B should match with the respective totals in the e-TDS/TCS return.
c) All the fields of Form No. 27A/B are duly filled.

e-TDS/TCS return should be prepared in accordance with the data structure (File Format) prescribed by the e-filing administrator. Separate data structure has been prescribed for each type of form whether it is annual return (up to FY 2004-05) or Quarterly return (FY 2005-06 onwards).

Bank Challan Number is a receipt number given by the bank branch where TDS is deposited. A separate receipt number is given for each challan deposited. You are required to mention this challan number in the e-TDS/TCS return and not the preprinted numbers on the bank challan form i.e. ITNS 269 or ITNS 271.

Reserve Bank of India has allotted a unique seven-digit code to each bank branch. You are required to mention the code of the bank branch where TDS is deposited in the e-TDS/TCS return. You can get this code from the bank branch where TDS amount is deposited.

Yes, it is mandatory to mention the 10 digit reformatted (new) TAN in your e-TDS/TCS return.

No. A single Form No. 26Q with separate annexures corresponding to each challan payment for each type of payment has to be filed for all payments made to residents.

Bank Branch code or BSR code is a 7-digit code allotted to banks by RBI. This is different from the branch code, which is used for bank drafts etc. This number is given in the OLTAS challan or can be obtained from the bank branch or from the search facility at NSDL-TIN website. It is mandatory to quote BSR code both in challan details and deductee details. Hence, this field cannot be left blank. Government deductors transfer tax by book entry, in which case the BSR code can be left blank.

If payment to the parties (on which TDS has been deducted) has been made actually i.e. by cash, cheque, demand draft or any other acceptable mode, then 'otherwise' has to be mentioned in the specified field. But if payment has not been actually made and merely a provision has been made on the last date of the accounting year, then the option 'Paid by Book Entry' has to be selected.

Form 27A is the summary of the TDS/TCS statement. It has to be signed by the same person who is authorized to sign the TDS/TCS statement in paper format.

In case PANs of some of the deductees are not mentioned in the e-TDS/TCS return, the Provisional Receipt will mention the count of missing PANs in the e-TDS/TCS return. The details of missing PANs (to the extent it can be collected from the deductees) may be filed within seven days of the date of Provisional Receipt to TIN-FC. e-TDS/TCS return will be accepted even with missing PANs. However, if PAN of deductees is not given in the TDS return, tax deducted from payment made to him cannot be posted to the statement of TDS to be issued to him u/s 203AA.

Yes. Challan Identification Number is necessary for all non-Government deductors.

PAN of the deductors has to be given by non-Government deductors. It is essential to quote PAN of all deductees failing which credit of tax deducted will not be given.

If you have more than one office/branch you can file a consolidated e-TDS/TCS return for all offices/branches. In this case you should quote the same TAN. You can also file e-TDS/TCS returns office/branch-wise individually. In such cases you need to have separate TAN for every branch. In case you do not have separate TAN for each branch then you should apply for TAN for each of the branches filing separate e-TDS/TCS return.

In case of salary e-TDS/TCS return (Form No. 24), you have to file certificate for no deduction or concessional deduction of TDS alongwith the e-TDS/TCS return. In case of non-salary (Form No. 26/27) you need not file certificates for no deduction or concessional deduction of TDS alongwith the e-TDS/TCS return. This is not required in case of any quarterly statements.