Are you filing your TDS Return on time? If yes, then it is good, but if you are not then it may lead to some serious consequences. You will have to pay Rs. 200 per day for the delay as per section 234E. So the importance of TDS return due date is very high.
TDS return is filed quarterly containing all information related the challans & deductee.
The due dates of TDS is as per section
The TDS Return Due Date is changed with effect from 1st June 2016 by Income-tax (11th Amendment) Rules, 2016. Check here the notification No. 30/2016 for change in due dates of TDS return.
TDS Return Due Date Chart from 1st June 2016
| Quarter | Months of quarter | Due date |
| 1st | April to June | 31st July of the financial year |
| 2nd | July to September | 31st October of the financial year |
| 3rd | September to December | 31st January of the financial year |
| 4th | December to March | 31st May of the financial year immediately following the financial year in which the deduction is made |
Rule 31A of income Tax Rules provides for due date of TDS return. It is applicable for all forms like 24Q, 26Q & 27Q.
These due dates are not applicable for Form 26QB ( TDS on Property U/s 194AI). The same will be filed within 30 days from the end of the month in which deduction is made.
Upto 31st may 2016, the due date of TDS return is given in below chart:
| Quarter | Months of quarter | Due date |
| 1st | April to June | 15th July of the financial year |
| 2nd | July to September | 15th October of the financial year |
| 3rd | September to December | 15th January of the financial year |
| 4th | December to March | 15th May of the financial year immediately following the financial year in which the deduction is made |
So file your TDS return on time to save yourself from fee under section 234E.
Section 234E
Clause of Section 234E is given below:
(1) When a person fails to file TDS Return within the time prescribed in Section 200(3) or section 206C(3), he shall be liable to pay a fee of 200 rupees for every day during which the failure continues.
(2) The fee referred above shall not exceed the amount of TDS/TCS.
(3) The fee referred above shall be paid before filing the TDS return.
(4) The provisions of this section is applicable form 1st day of July, 2012.
The provision of Section 234E is challenged many times in the court of law, but every time it is held that the section holds good.
Fee under section 234E is paid before filing of TDS return.
If you have filed the TDS return after due date and late you paid the Fee under section 234E, then you will have to again revise the TDS return and show it in the Fee paid by you.
You can check the Fee after login to your TRACES account under Defaults tab as shown below:
Or you can also calculate it yourself at the rate of Rs. 200 per day for delay in TDS filing.