TDS filing deadlines, quarterly returns, and keeping your documentation straight

Most individuals only receive income with TDS deducted, but some — employers, landlords, businesses paying contractors or professionals — are deductors who must deposit TDS and file returns with the government. Even if you are not a deductor, understanding the compliance cycle helps you know when to expect your Form 16 or 16A and why delays happen.

The quarterly TDS cycle

TDS compliance runs on a quarterly calendar. The financial year is divided into four quarters:

• Q1: April to June
• Q2: July to September
• Q3: October to December
• Q4: January to March

For each quarter, the deductor must:

1. Deduct TDS at the time of payment (or credit, whichever is earlier).
2. Deposit the TDS with the government by the 7th of the following month (some categories allow deposit by the end of the month for government deductors).
3. File a TDS return by the end of the month following the quarter. For example, the Q1 (April–June) return is due by 31st July.

These deadlines are strict. Late deposit attracts interest at 1% to 1.5% per month, and late filing incurs a penalty. The Income Tax Department issues challan correction and mismatch notices when the return data does not match the deposited challan.

Form 16 and Form 16A: your proof of TDS

Form 16 is the certificate your employer issues at the end of the financial year. It is split into two parts:

• Part A: quarterly summary of salary paid and TDS deducted, with challan details.
• Part B: detailed break-up of your salary, allowances, deductions claimed (HRA, 80C, etc.), and the final tax computation.

Form 16 is issued by 15th June (or within a reasonable time if you leave the job mid-year). You need it to file your ITR; it is also proof for a home loan, visa, or any situation where you must show your income and tax compliance.

Form 16A is the certificate issued by any other deductor — a client who paid you professional fees, a tenant who deducted TDS on rent, a company that deducted TDS on a contract payment. Form 16A is simpler: it states the amount paid, the TDS deducted, the date of deposit, and the challan details. It is generated quarterly (though often consolidated and issued at year-end).

Both Form 16 and 16A can be downloaded by the deductee (you) from the TRACES portal if the deductor has filed the TDS return correctly.

What 'TDS return' actually means: Form 24Q, 26Q, 27Q

When people say 'TDS return', they mean a structured file the deductor uploads to the Income Tax Department every quarter, listing every deduction made. The form number depends on the nature of payment:

The return must match the challans (deposit receipts) exactly. Mismatches trigger notices. Once the return is processed, the credit appears in the deductee's Form 26AS. This is why 26AS updates a few weeks after the quarter ends — the deductor has until the end of the following month to file.

Why record-keeping is not optional

Whether you are a deductor or a deductee, you must keep records for at least six assessment years (in practice, many keep them longer). As a deductee, save:

• Form 16 and 16A certificates.
• Copies of contracts or invoices showing TDS clauses.
• Screenshots or PDFs of Form 26AS and AIS at the time you file your ITR.
• Acknowledgements of ITR filing and any tax payments.

As a deductor, you must keep challan counterfoils, TDS return acknowledgements, and a register of TDS deductions. The Income Tax Act mandates these records, and the department can ask for them during assessment or audit.

TDS compliance is a paper trail. The government, the deductor, and the deductee all hold pieces of the same puzzle. When the pieces match, credits flow smoothly. When they do not, notices follow.

Qualitative due dates (do not rely on these for action)

As a general guide, TDS must be deposited by the 7th of the next month and the quarterly return filed by the end of the month following the quarter. For example, TDS deducted in April must be deposited by 7th May, and the Q1 return (covering April–June) is due by 31st July. Always confirm the current assessment year's calendar on the Income Tax Department website or TRACES before acting — dates can shift when they fall on holidays.

Key takeaways

• TDS follows a quarterly cycle: deduct, deposit by the 7th, file a return by the end of the following month.
• Form 16 is your salary TDS certificate; Form 16A covers all other TDS.
• Both can be downloaded from TRACES once the deductor files the return.
• TDS returns (24Q, 26Q, 27Q) feed into your Form 26AS; mismatches delay credits.
• Keep all TDS certificates and 26AS records for at least six years.

Official sources

This explainer is based on official and primary sources. Always confirm figures and dates on these before acting:

• Income Tax e-Filing portal
• Income Tax Department — incometax.gov.in
• Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Department of Revenue
• Income Tax Act & Rules — incometaxindia.gov.in

Reviewed: October 2026. Tax rules change — verify the current financial year and assessment year before you rely on any figure.

This is general educational information for Indian taxpayers, not personalised tax, legal or financial advice. Union of Taxpayers is an independent platform and not a government body. Consider a qualified professional for your specific situation.