How to File TDS Return

TDS Return is a quarterly statement, summarising all the entries for TDS collected by the deductor, that he or she has to submit to the government. For example, if the employer were to pay salary to his or her employee, then he or she will be deemed as the deductor that will have to pay a certain amount as TDS to the income tax department.

Step by Step Breakdown of How to File TDS Returns

The entire process of filing TDS returns must be completed on the TRACES portal, which is the official website of the income tax department.

But before one files his or her TDS returns, there are certain documents/ information that must be kept handy. These are – 

• One must have TDS statements that have been prepared using Return Preparation Utility (RPU) and validated using File Validation Utility (FVU).

One Must Have a Valid TAN Which Should Have Already Been Registered for e-Filing of Returns and a Valid DSC

• One must provide the contact bank account details or the demat account details or the PAN number provided it has already been linked to aadhar.
• Also please note, there are different TDS return forms for different purposes. They are –

1. Form 24Q - Statement for tax deducted at source from salaries prepared for deduction of salary under Section 192 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
2. Form 26Q - Statement for tax deducted at source on all payments other than salaries prepared for deduction under section 200(3), 193 and 194 of the Act.
3. Form 27Q - Statement for tax deduction on income received from interest, dividends, or any other sum payable to non residents prepared for deduction under section 200(3) of the Act.
4. Form 27EQ - Statement of collection of tax at source prepared for deduction under section 206C of the Act.

Also, one must note that there are specific dates within which these TDS statements are to be filed for each quarter. They are as follows – 

The manner in which these returns are to be filed are as follows – 

Step 1: The first step is to open the home page of http://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/ and click on Login Here option.

Step 2: Then enter your login credentials and click on ‘Login’. Please remember that your user ID will be your TAN Number.

Step 3: Click on the ‘Upload TDS’ option next.

Step 4: Provide all the statement details accurately and click on ‘validate’. 

Step 5: The returns can be validated through the following modes:

Firstly, Validate using DSC or Digital Signature Certificate, by uploading the TDS zip file and the digital signature file.

Step 6: Once the TDS statement is uploaded, there will be a  success message on the screen. You will also get a confirmation mail on your registered email ID. 

The second method is that one can validate using EVC or Electronic Verification Code. 

Step 1: After Step 4, if you haven’t generated a DSC, use this method. Upload the TDS zip file and click on ‘Click here to E-verify’.

Step 2: The following page will provide you with the option of using an EVC already generated or generate a new EVC for you.  

Step 3: Select the relevant option, enter the EVC and click on the ‘Submit’ button.  

Please note: Late filing of TDS returns will attract a penalty under the Income Tax Act based on the income slab that one falls under. To avoid the same, pay your taxes well within time!

Conclusion

Payment of TDS online comes with a lot of benefits such as an easy, systematic process that is less time consuming; effective prevention of tax evasion; a timely collection of taxes; and a steady source of revenue for the government which translates into a host of benefits and schemes for the citizens. 

With this important responsibility vested in you by virtue of being a valued citizen of this country, it becomes important that this process is continually done in a prompt and transparent manner.