Manager - Finance & Accounts
58399 Points
Joined June 2010
Hey Bujjulu! Great question about the FVU and UENC files in the TDS filing process. Here’s a quick explanation:
What is an FVU file?
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FVU stands for File Validation Utility.
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It’s a software provided by the Income Tax Department to validate your TDS/TCS data files before uploading them.
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When you prepare your TDS return using Form 24Q/26Q/27Q, the data is saved in a file with an extension like .fvu
.
What is a UENC file?
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UENC stands for Encrypted File.
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The FVU tool encrypts the validated .fvu
file to generate a .uenc
file.
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This encrypted .uenc
file is what you actually upload on the TDS filing portal.
-
Encryption ensures data security and integrity while transferring sensitive TDS information.
So, why does FVU create a UENC file?
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To secure your TDS data before uploading.
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To prevent tampering or unauthorized access during submission.
-
The portal accepts only the .uenc
file for filing, not the raw .fvu
file.
Summary:
Step |
Purpose |
Prepare TDS return |
Create .fvu file |
Validate .fvu |
Check errors in data |
Encrypt via FVU |
Generate .uenc file |
Upload .uenc |
Submit TDS return securely |