Glossary · Income Tax
TDS Return
Also known as: TDS statement, 24Q, 26Q, 27Q
A TDS return is a quarterly statement of tax deducted at source. Form 24Q covers salaries and 26Q covers non-salary payments to residents; 27Q covers payments to non-residents. The quarterly returns are due 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May. TDS itself is paid by the 7th of the next month.
A TDS return is the quarterly statement a deductor files to report tax deducted at source and deposited with the government. It links each deduction to the deductee’s PAN, which is what allows the credit to appear in the recipient’s Form 26AS.
How it works
There are different forms for different payments:
- 24Q — TDS on salaries
- 26Q — TDS on non-salary payments to residents
- 27Q — TDS on payments to non-residents
The quarterly return due dates are:
| Quarter | Due date |
|---|---|
| Apr–Jun (Q1) | 31 July |
| Jul–Sep (Q2) | 31 October |
| Oct–Dec (Q3) | 31 January |
| Jan–Mar (Q4) | 31 May |
Separately, the TDS deducted must be deposited by the 7th of the following month. (Always confirm near the deadline — government extensions are common.)
Late filing attracts a fee per day until the return is filed, and incorrect PANs lead to mismatches that clients notice when they file their ITR. Accurate, timely TDS returns are also part of the groundwork for clients under tax audit.
For a CA firm, TDS is a relentless quarterly rhythm across many clients, which is why it belongs on a well-maintained compliance calendar. See how tools manage these cycles in our rankings and our QwikCA review, and find related terms in the glossary.