The Income-tax Act, 2025 replaced the 1961 Act from 1 April 2026. If your business deducts TDS, the biggest visible change is the form numbers. The return for July–September 2026 is due on 31 October 2026, so this is a good time to check you are using the right ones.
Old form, new form
| What it is | New form | Earlier form |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly TDS return – salaries | Form 138 | Form 24Q |
| Quarterly TDS return – other payments to residents | Form 140 | Form 26Q |
| Quarterly TDS return – payments to non-residents | Form 144 | Form 27Q |
| Quarterly TCS return | Form 143 | Form 27EQ |
| Salary TDS certificate | Form 130 | Form 16 |
| Non-salary TDS certificate | Form 131 | Form 16A |
The 'assessment year' is gone too. Returns and certificates now refer to the tax year, which is the same as the financial year. TDS provisions sit in sections 392 to 394 of the new Act, so make sure your accounting software and returns use the updated payment codes.
Due dates (unchanged)
| Quarter | Months | Return due by |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | April – June | 31 July |
| Q2 | July – September | 31 October |
| Q3 | October – December | 31 January |
| Q4 | January – March | 31 May |
TDS deducted in a month is normally deposited by the 7th of the next month (March deductions by 30 April). A late return costs ₹200 for every day of delay, and interest runs at 1% a month for late deduction and 1.5% a month for late deposit.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Wrong or missing PAN of the payee, which means a higher TDS rate and no credit for them
- Challan details that don't match the return
- Filing salary TDS in the wrong form (Form 138 is for salaries only)
- Issuing old-format certificates instead of Form 130 and Form 131
QTS handles TAN, monthly TDS working, quarterly returns, certificates and corrections for Chennai businesses. See TDS return filing in Chennai, or our payroll service if you also want salaries handled.
Need help? Call or WhatsApp QTS on 87789 49661, or book a ₹499 + GST expert consultation. Our Chennai head office is at 5/99, 2nd Floor, Kundrathur Main Road, Mowlivakkam, Porur, Chennai 600125 (Monday to Saturday, 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM).
