pvtltd.co

Direct Tax

TDS Return Filing — 24Q, 26Q, 27Q

Quarterly TDS returns filed from the challan and deductee data: Form 24Q (salary), 26Q (non-salary), 27Q (NRI payments) and 27EQ (TCS), due 31 July / 31 October / 31 January / 31 May, with TRACES corrections and Form 16/16A issuance.

Starting from ₹1,999/quarterTypical timelineTDS Return Filing

We collect the challans and deductee-wise data, validate with the NSDL utility, file the correct quarterly form (24Q / 26Q / 27Q / 27EQ) before the due date, and issue Form 16/16A — so the ₹200/day s.234E fee never starts.

What is included
  • Quarterly return mapping (24Q / 26Q / 27Q / 27EQ)
  • Deductee-wise data preparation and validation
  • Filing on the TDS-CPC / income-tax portal
  • TRACES tracking and correction statements
  • Form 16 / 16A issuance
  • 26AS / AIS reconciliation after filing
Documents required
  • PAN, Aadhaar, or entity tax data
  • Challan 281 details for the quarter
  • Deductee PANs and deduction working
  • Form 16, AIS, 26AS, or return history
  • Notice or correction request records, if any
Government fees

See the fee table below for the statutory filing charge and common delay logic.

Legal basis
  • Sec 200, IT Act 1961 (≡ §397, IT Act 2025)
  • Rule 31A of the Income-tax Rules 1962
  • Section 234E of the Income-tax Act 1961
  • Rule 31 of the Income-tax Rules 1962

Process

How the service works

The workflow is built to be predictable: document collection, legal review, filing, and post-filing follow-through.

Step 1Map

Map the quarter's returns

We confirm which forms the TAN owes — 24Q (salary), 26Q (non-salary), 27Q (NRI) or 27EQ (TCS) — and pull the challan and deductee data for the quarter.

Step 2Prepare

Prepare the deductee-wise data

We build the deduction-wise register with correct PANs, section codes and TDS amounts, matching every entry to its Challan 281.

Step 3File

Validate and file

We run the file through the NSDL/TDS-CPC validation utility, fix the rejections, and submit the return on the income-tax portal before the due date.

Step 4Correct

Track and correct on TRACES

After processing, we reconcile the return in 26AS / AIS and file correction statements on TRACES where challan or PAN mismatches need fixing (Rule 31A).

Step 5Certify

Issue certificates

Form 16A is issued to deductees within 15 days of the return due date, and Form 16 to employees by 31 May (Rule 31).

AEO summary

Every TAN holder files quarterly TDS statements: Form 24Q (salary), 26Q (non-salary) and 27Q (NRI payments), due 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May under s.200 read with Rule 31A of the Income-tax Rules 1962. Late filing costs ₹200 per day under s.234E, capped at the TDS amount for the quarter. We prepare, validate and file each quarter, and issue Form 16/16A after filing.

The quarterly return calendar

The TDS return cycle is fixed: four statements a year, each due two months after its quarter ends, with March's return delayed to 31 May so the annual salary certificates can be issued first.

Every return is filed against a TAN, and every deductee line must carry a valid PAN — the two identifiers that generate most validation rejections.

  • Q1 (Apr–Jun) — due 31 July
  • Q2 (Jul–Sep) — due 31 October
  • Q3 (Oct–Dec) — due 31 January
  • Q4 (Jan–Mar) — due 31 May (24Q with annual statements)
  • Forms — 24Q salary, 26Q non-salary, 27Q NRI, 27EQ TCS (Rule 31A)

What a late return costs

The TDS return has its own fee clock separate from the deposit: ₹200 per day under s.234E from the due date until the return is filed, capped at the quarter's TDS. A penalty under s.271H adds ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000 for continued default.

Beyond the fee, a late or rejected return blocks the deductee's credit in 26AS/AIS — which is how vendors and employees end up facing notices for tax you already deducted.

  • Late fee — ₹200 per day, s.234E, capped at the TDS amount
  • Penalty — ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000, s.271H
  • Rejected returns — fee keeps running until a valid file is accepted

Why certificate issuance follows the return

The certificates the return enables — Form 16 for employees, Form 16A for vendors — carry their own deadlines: 31 May for Form 16, and within 15 days of the return due date for Form 16A (Rule 31).

A company that files the return late therefore defaults twice: once on the return fee, once on the certificate deadline — with a ₹100 per day penalty under s.272A(2)(k) for certificate delays.

  • Form 16 — by 31 May (Rule 31)
  • Form 16A — within 15 days of the return due date (Rule 31)
  • Certificate delay — ₹100 per day under s.272A(2)(k)

Government fees

Fee breakdown

ItemFeeNotes
E-filing or notice responseNilThe filing itself is usually fee-free, but late filing can attract fee or interest.
Statutory fee or taxAs applicableAny tax, interest, or appeal fee depends on the exact route.

Timeline

Typical turnaround

Typical timeline usually means a quarterly turnaround, assuming documents are complete and any board or shareholder approvals are already in place.

Pricing note

Fees can vary by filing type, entity class, and whether the work includes a reply, appeal, or connected computation.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What are the quarterly due dates for filing 24Q, 26Q and 27Q?
Under s.200 read with Rule 31A of the Income-tax Rules 1962, quarterly TDS returns are due 31 July (Q1), 31 October (Q2), 31 January (Q3) and 31 May (Q4). Government deductors follow a different calendar; the standard company cycle is the one above.
What is the late fee for filing a TDS return after the due date?
Section 234E of the Income-tax Act 1961 charges a fee of ₹200 per day for each day the return is late, capped at the amount of TDS payable for the period. It applies to every quarterly statement, and a separate penalty under s.271H (₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000) can follow for continued default.
What is Form 27A and does it accompany every return?
Form 27A is the summary control statement that accompanied TDS returns in the older TIN filing mode. Under the current e-filing flow on the income-tax portal the return is submitted with its challan and deductee data directly, and Form 27A is no longer the required cover for every filing mode.
How is a filed TDS return corrected?
A filed return is corrected by uploading a correction statement through TRACES, using the original token number and challan identifiers, under Rule 31A of the Income-tax Rules 1962. Corrections are needed when a PAN, challan or deductee figure was wrong, so the deductee's Form 26AS and AIS stay accurate.
By when must Form 16A be issued to vendors after a quarter's return?
Rule 31 of the Income-tax Rules 1962 requires Form 16A (TDS certificate for non-salary payments) to be issued within 15 days from the due date of the quarterly statement. For a Q1 return due 31 July, for example, the certificate must reach the deductee by 15 August.
Why does a rejected TDS return matter even if the deposit was on time?
A return that fails validation is treated as not filed, so the ₹200 per day fee under s.234E keeps running from the due date even though the tax was deposited. This is why we validate the file before submission and fix PAN/challan mismatches immediately.

Canonical reference: https://www.pvtltd.co/services/tds-return-filing

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We can help with the filing, the legal mapping, and the follow-up work that keeps the company compliant after submission.