General TDS FAQ

1.  What is annual e-TDS/TCS Return?

Annual e-TDS/TCS return is the TDS return under section 206 of the Income Tax Act (prepared in Form Nos. 24, 26 or 27) or TCS return under section 206C of the Income Tax Act (prepared in Form No. 27E), which is prepared in electronic media as per prescribed data structure. Such returns furnished in a CD/floppy should be accompanied by a signed verification in Form No. 27A in case of Annual TDS returns or Form No. 27B in case of Annual TCS return.

2.  What is quarterly e-TDS/TCS statement?

TDS/TCS returns filed in electronic form as per section 200(3)/206C, as amended by Finance Act, 2005, are quarterly TDS/TCS statements. As per the Income Tax Act, these quarterly statements are required to be furnished from FY 2005-06 onwards. The forms used for quarterly e-TDS statements are Form Nos. 24Q, 26Q and 27Q and for quarterly e-TCS statement is Form No. 27EQ. These statements filed in CD/floppy should be accompanied by a signed verification in Form No. 27A in case of both e-TDS/TCS statements.

3.  Who is required to file e-TDS/TCS return?

As per Income Tax Act, 1961, all corporate and government deductors/collectors are compulsorily required to file their TDS/TCS returns on electronic media (i.e. e-TDS/TCS returns). However, deductors/collectors other than corporate/government can file either in physical or in electronic form.

4.  e-TDS/TCS returns have been made mandatory for Government deductors. How do I know whether I am a Government deductor or not?

All Drawing and Disbursing Officers of Central and State Governments come under the category of Government deductors.

5. Under what provision should e-TDS/TCS returns be filed?

An e-TDS return should be filed under Section 206 of the Income Tax Act in accordance with the scheme dated August 26, 2003 for electronic filing of TDS return notified by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) for this purpose. CBDT Circular No. 8 dated September 19, 2003 may also be referred. An e-TCS return should be filed under Section 206C of the Income Tax Act in accordance with the scheme dated March 30, 2005 for electronic filing of TCS return notified by the CBDT for this purpose. As per section 200(3)/206C, as amended by Finance Act 2005, deductors/collectors are required to file quarterly TDS/TCS statements from FY 2005-06 onwards.

6.  Who is the e-Filing Administrator?

CBDT has appointed the Director General of Income Tax (Systems) as e-Filing Administrator for the purpose of electronic filing of TDS/TCS returns.

7. Who is an e-TDS/TCS Intermediary?

CBDT has appointed National Securities Depository Limited, (NSDL), Mumbai, as e-TDS/TCS Intermediary. NSDL has established TIN Facilitation Centres (TIN-FCs) across the country to facilitate deductors/collectors file their e-TDS/TCS returns.