If your business deducts TDS on salary, rent, professional fees, contractor payments or property purchase, you have to file a quarterly TDS return — even in a quarter with no deductions, once you have an active TAN. Missing the due date attracts a daily late fee, a separate penalty, and interest on top. This guide covers the exact due dates for FY 2026-27, the applicable forms, and what late filing actually costs you.
Quick Summary
- Quarterly due dates (FY 2026-27): 31 Jul 2026, 31 Oct 2026, 31 Jan 2027, 31 May 2027
- Monthly deposit due date: 7th of the next month (30 April for March)
- Late fee: ₹200/day (Section 427), capped at the TDS amount
- Penalty: ₹10,000–₹1,00,000 (Section 461) — usually waived if filed within 1 month with dues cleared
- Interest: 1% per month (non-deduction) / 1.5% per month (late deposit) — Section 398(3)
TDS Return Due Dates for FY 2026-27
Every deductor — company, LLP, firm, or an individual whose accounts were tax-audited in the previous year — must file a quarterly TDS statement under Section 397(3)(b) of the Income-tax Act, 2025 (earlier Section 200(3)) read with Rule 219 (earlier Rule 31A).
| Quarter | Period | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | April – June 2026 | 31 July 2026 |
| Q2 | July – September 2026 | 31 October 2026 |
| Q3 | October – December 2026 | 31 January 2027 |
| Q4 | January – March 2027 | 31 May 2027 |
These are separate from the monthly TDS deposit due date— the tax deducted in a given month has to reach the government by the 7th of the next month (30 April for the month of March). The quarterly return is filed only after that month's challans are already deposited.
Which TDS Form Applies to You?
| Form | New Form No. | Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Form 24Q | Form 138 | TDS on salary payments |
| Form 26Q | Form 140 | TDS on non-salary payments to residents (rent, professional fees, contractor payments, commission etc.) |
| Form 27Q | Form 144 | TDS on payments to non-residents |
| Form 27EQ | Form 143 | TCS (Tax Collected at Source) |
| Form 26QB / 26QC / 26QD / 26QE | Form 141 | TDS on property purchase, rent above the threshold, and certain contract/commission payments by individuals (no TAN required — it is a combined challan-cum-statement) |
Late Fee for Delayed TDS Return Filing
If the quarterly TDS return is filed after its due date, Section 427 of the Income-tax Act, 2025 (earlier Section 234E) charges a mandatory late fee of ₹200 for every day of delay, counted from the day after the due date until the day the return is actually filed. This fee is capped at the total amount of TDS deductible for that quarter, but it applies automatically — the department does not need to issue a separate order — and it must be paid before the return can be filed.
Example
If your Q1 TDS return (due 31 July 2026) is actually filed on 20 August 2026, that is 20 days of delay. Late fee = 20 × ₹200 = ₹4,000 (subject to the cap of your quarter's total TDS amount).
Penalty for Not Filing or Filing an Incorrect TDS Return
Separately from the late fee, Section 461 (earlier Section 271H) empowers the assessing officer to levy a penalty of ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000 if a TDS/TCS statement is not filed at all, or is filed with incorrect details (like a wrong PAN or wrong challan amount). This penalty is discretionary, and it is generally not levied if all of the following are satisfied:
- The TDS amount, along with applicable late fee and interest, has been deposited
- The return is filed within one month of the prescribed due date (this relaxation window applies from 1 April 2025)
Interest on Late Deduction or Late Deposit of TDS
Under Section 398(3) of the Income-tax Act, 2025 (earlier Section 201(1A)), interest applies in two different situations:
| Default | Interest Rate |
|---|---|
| TDS not deducted at all | 1% per month |
| TDS deducted but deposited late | 1.5% per month |
Interest is calculated from the month the tax was deductible/payable up to the month it is actually deducted or deposited, and part of a month is treated as a full month — so even a one-day delay across a month-end can count as an extra month of interest.
Form 16 and Form 16A Issue Dates
Once a TDS return is processed, the deductor has to issue TDS certificates to employees and vendors so they can claim credit in their own income tax returns:
- Form 16 (Form 130) — salary TDS certificate: issued annually, by 15 June following the end of the financial year
- Form 16A (Form 131) — non-salary TDS certificate: issued quarterly, generally within 15 days of the quarterly return due date (around 15 August, 15 November, 15 February and 15 June)
Delayed TDS return filing has a knock-on effect here — if the return itself is late, Form 16/16A also gets delayed, which can hold up your employees' and vendors' own income tax return filing and cause avoidable friction. Read more on Income Tax Return filing.
How to Avoid Late Fee, Penalty and Interest
- Deposit TDS by the 7th of every month (30 April for March) — do not wait for the quarter to end
- Keep challan details (BSR code, date, amount) organised so return preparation isn't delayed by missing data
- File the quarterly return well before the due date, not on the last day
- Match deductee PAN and challan amounts carefully to avoid a rejected or defective statement
- If a due date is missed, file within one month and clear all dues immediately to stay within the no-penalty window
TDS Return Filing Help
Rajput Lalit & Associates handles quarterly TDS return preparation, challan matching, correction statements and Form 16/16A issuance for businesses and individuals across India, with in-person support for clients in Ambala. We track your due dates so you don't pay late fee or penalty unnecessarily. Book a consultation or see our TDS Return Filing service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the TDS return due dates for FY 2026-27?
Q1 (April–June) is due 31 July 2026, Q2 (July–September) is due 31 October 2026, Q3 (October–December) is due 31 January 2027, and Q4 (January–March) is due 31 May 2027. This quarterly TDS statement is filed under Section 397(3)(b) of the Income-tax Act, 2025 (earlier Section 200(3)) read with Rule 219 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026 (earlier Rule 31A).
What is the late fee for filing a TDS return after the due date?
Section 427 of the Income-tax Act, 2025 (earlier Section 234E) charges ₹200 for every day of delay, capped at the total TDS amount deductible for that quarter. This late fee applies automatically and has to be paid before the return is filed.
Is there a separate penalty apart from the late fee?
Yes. Section 461 (earlier Section 271H) allows the tax department to levy a penalty of ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000 for not filing the TDS statement, or for filing it with incorrect information. However, if the return is filed within one month of the due date and the TDS along with late fee and interest has been deposited, this penalty is generally not levied — this one-month relaxation window applies from 1 April 2025 onwards.
What is the due date for depositing TDS every month?
TDS deducted in a month must be deposited to the government by the 7th of the following month. For TDS deducted in March, the due date is extended to 30 April. Government offices that deduct TDS without a challan generally have to remit it on the same day.
How much interest is charged for late deduction or late deposit of TDS?
Under Section 398(3) of the Income-tax Act, 2025 (earlier Section 201(1A)), interest at 1% per month applies if TDS is not deducted at all, and 1.5% per month applies if TDS is deducted but deposited late. Interest is calculated from the month the deduction/deposit was due until the month it is actually done, and a part of a month counts as a full month.
When should Form 16 and Form 16A be issued to employees and vendors?
Form 16 (renumbered Form 130), the annual salary TDS certificate, must be issued by 15 June following the financial year. Form 16A (renumbered Form 131), the quarterly certificate for non-salary TDS, is generally due within 15 days of the return filing due date for each quarter — broadly around 15 August, 15 November, 15 February and 15 June.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information based on the Income-tax Act, 2025 and related rules as of September 2026. Rules, forms and portal processes change from time to time, so please verify the latest position or consult a professional before acting.