TDS on Car Hire

Yes, TDS is required to be deducted U/s 194 C  @ 2.06% .

Rashi is correct

TDS willbe applicable under Section 194C

The provisions relating to deduction of tax at source (TDS) have assumed paramount importance in the past few years. The legislature has also introduced provisions for disallowance of expenditure if the TDS provisions are not complied with.

Companies are putting in additional time and efforts to ensure that they are on the right side of the law.

The provisions contained in Section 194-I, which deal with deduction of tax at source on rent, were amended with effect from July 13, 2006, whereby the definition of rent has been enlarged.

Pursuant to the amendment, rent paid for leasing/sub- leasing/tenancy of machinery, plant and equipment is also liable for TDS.

Companies generally provide cars to their executives, employees and guests. Often these cars are taken on hire from a car hiring agency.

In such arrangements, the issue arises whether payment made to the agency for hiring of the car is to be considered as rent and tax thereon to be deducted as per the provisions of Section 194-I or whether the payment is to be considered as that to a contractor and tax thereon deducted under Section 194C?

TDS rate

It is worthwhile to mention that the basic TDS rate for rent under Section 194-I is 10 per cent whereas for payment to a contractor under Section 194C is 2 per cent.

For deciding whether the payment of hire charges by the employer to the agency attracts deduction of tax under Section 194-I or Section 194C, the terms of the contract between the parties need to be examined.

If the agreement is for leasing of the car per se, the payment would attract tax deduction under Section 194-I.

However, if the agreement is for a service of transportation to be provided by the agency, the payment would attract tax deduction under Section 194C (the definition of the term ‘work’ includes inter alia carriage of goods and passengers by any mode of transport).

Control matters

Another important factor to be considered is whether the car is under the control of the company or the agency.

In the former case, the payment would generally constitute rent, whereas in the latter, the payment would be for carriage of passengers.

Guidance on the appropriate rate to be applied can also be taken from Circular No. 558 dated March 28, 1990, issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, which deals with deduction of tax at source from payments by a State Transport Corporation to private bus owners.

Some of the relevant criteria indicated in the Circular are provision of a driver, keeping the bus (in our case, the car) road worthy, payment based on usage, etc., which indicate that the contract was a service contract and the provisions of Section 194C are applicable.

In sum, if a chauffeur-driven car is hired for one day, Section 194C would be attracted as the payment is essentially for carriage of passengers.

On the other hand, if a car is leased for, say, a year and is under the control of the company and it is the company’s responsibility to run and maintain it, the payment would be in the nature of rent and Section 194-I would be applicable.

(The author is Manager, Deloitte Haskins & Sells, Mumbai

section 194C requires to make TDS @ 2% subject to surcharge and E.cess on contract when the payment at one time exceeds 20,000 or the total payment of the year exceeds 50,000.

In ur question total payment per year exceeds 50,000. So, TDS under sectoin 194C is required @ 2%(In this reply i have ignored the surcharge, EC & SHEC)

Sec.194C is applicable. Refer Expln III to the said Section. It covers Carriage of goods and passengers by any mode of transport other than railway. Sec 194I is not applicable to Transport. The word Equipment in Sec. 194I does not include Motor Car or any other vehicles.

Thanks,

CA. Ashok Shah

yes dear tds must be applicable on this case becouse the contract arise between compay and travel agency sec 194c applicable on this case

Thanks a lot to everyall

INDRA

WEll thanx for the details

Hello Everyone

My Question is that , When a Company booked a train ticket through travel agent and bill is given by him then :-

1. which TDS section is applicable.

2. And TDS will be deduct on gross amount or commission charged by Travel agent.

Hi Deepak

yes TDS @ 10% u/s 194H will be deducted only on amount exceeds ticket exp provided it is separately shown i.e. on commission. and TDS will be not deducted if commission not exceed Rs 5000.