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There is an obligation on the payer (either resident or non-resident) of income to withhold tax (also called as TDS) when certain specified payments are credited and/or paid. Tax has to be withheld at a prescribed rate (depending upon nature of payment) and has to be deposited with government within a prescribed time limit. Subsequently withholding (TDS) returns have to be filed and TDS certificates to be issued within prescribed time limit. If any of the activities, i.e. tax deduction, payment, filing return or issuing TDS certificate is not done in a prescribed way or time frame, there is a penalty, interest and late filing fee attached to it. Hence it is of paramount importance that withholding tax compliances are handled carefully.
We assist clients in reviewing their withholding tax compliances at regular intervals and also undertake withholding tax compliances. Our expertise in international tax law enables us to provide comprehensive solutions by examining tax treaties and related documentation. Our solutions provide a balance between the legal requirements and business realities to help businesses deal with contentious issues.
Withholding tax rate varies depending upon the nature of transaction. Below is the table reflecting nature of transactions and respective rates:
Payments to resident companies:
Nature of payment | WHT rate (%) |
Specified type of interest | 10 |
Non-specified type of interest | 10 |
Professional or technical service | 10 |
Commission and brokerage | 5 |
Rent of plant, machinery, or equipment | 2 |
Rent of land, building, or furniture | 10 |
Contractual payment (except for individual/HUF) | 2 |
Contractual payment to individual/HUF | 1 |
Royalty or fees for technical services | 10 |
Deemed dividend | 10 |
Notes:
Payments to non-residents:
Nature of payment | WHT rate (%) |
Interest on foreign currency (subject to conditions) | 5 |
Interest on money borrowed in foreign currency under a loan agreement or by way of long-term infrastructure bonds (or rupee denominated bonds) | 5 |
Interest on investment in long-term infrastructure bonds issued by Indian company (rupee denominated bonds or government security) | 5 |
Non-specified type of interest | 20 |
Royalty and technical fees | 10 |
Long-term capital gains other than equity shares of a company or units of an equity-oriented fund/business trust on which STT is paid | 20 |
Long-term capital gains on equity shares of a company or units of an equity-oriented fund/business trust on which STT is paid | 10 |
Income by way of winning from horse races | 30 |
Other income | 40 |
Notes:
The TDS has to be paid within 7 days from the end of the month in which TDS has been deducted. In case of any delay, there is an interest to be paid. TDS can be paid through a list of banks authorized by government. We assist companies in making tax payment in cases where they do not have an account with authorized banks or they do not want to take a risk of making payment under wrong account codes.
There are 3 types of TDS returns to be filed which include for employees (form 24Q), vendors (form 26Q) and non- residents (form 27Q). TDS return due dates are as under:
Quarter | Quarter period | Last date of filing |
Q1 | Quarter ended 30 June | 31 July |
Q2 | Quarter ended 30 September | 31 October |
Q3 | Quarter ended 31 December | 31 January |
Q4 | Quarter ended 31 March | 31 May |
If you fail to file the TDS return within the due date, then you will be liable to pay a penalty of INR 200 per day till you file the return. This fine is applicable each day until the fine amount equals the total liable TDS amount.
In case the taxpayer crosses 1-year time limit to file the return or provides wrong details of PAN, TDS sum, then the taxpayer will be required to pay a fine of minimum INR 10,000 to maximum INR 100,000.
TDS certificate is a certificate of deduction of tax at source. According to section 203 of the Income Tax Act, the deductor is required to provide a certificate to the deductee, wherein the details are provided regarding TDS for several transactions between the deductor and the deductee. The issue of TDS certificates to taxpayers is mandatory. TDS certificates have to be generated electronically on the income tax portal. It is important to take utmost care at the time of filing TDS returns to ensure that correct TDS certificates are generated from income tax portal.
What are the consequences a deductor would face if he fails to deduct TDS or after deducting the same fails to deposit it to the Government’s account?
A deductor would face the following consequences if he fails to deduct TDS or after deducting the same fails to deposit it to the credit of Central Government’s account: –
a) Disallowance of expenditure
As per section 40(a)(i) of the Income-tax Act, any sum (other than salary) payable outside India or to a non-resident, which is chargeable to tax in India in the hands of the recipient, shall not be allowed to be deducted if it is paid without deduction of tax at source or if tax is deducted but is not deposited with the Central Government till the due date of filing of return. However, if tax is deducted or deposited in subsequent year, as the case may be, the expenditure shall be allowed as deduction in that year. Similarly, as per section 40(a)(ia), any sum payable to a resident, which is subject to deduction of tax at source, would attract 30% disallowance if it is paid without deduction of tax at source or if tax is deducted but is not deposited with the Central Government till the due date of filing of return. However, where in respect of any such sum, tax is deducted or deposited in subsequent year, as the case may be, the expenditure so disallowed shall be allowed as deduction in that year. As per Section 58(1A) (as amended with effect from the assessment year 2018-19), the provisions of section 40(a)(ia) and 40(a)(iia) shall also apply in computing the income chargeable under the head “Income from other sources”.
b) Levy of interest
As per section 201 of the Income-tax Act, if a deductor fails to deduct tax at source or after the deducting the same fails to deposit it to the Government’s account then he shall be deemed to be an assessee in default and liable to pay simple interest as follows:-
(i) at one per cent for every month or part of a month on the amount of such tax from the date on which such tax was deductible to the date on which such tax is deducted; and
(ii) at one and one-half per cent for every month or part of a month on the amount of such tax from the date on which such tax was deducted to the date on which such tax is actually paid.
c) Levy of penalty
Penalty of an amount equal to tax not deducted or paid could be imposed under section 271C.
d) Late filing of return of TDS
TDS returns are required to be filed in the last month of following quarter i.e. 31st July, 31st October, 31stJanuary and in the case of March it is 31st May. Fees under section 234E are levied @ Rs 200/- per day subject to maximum amount of TDS until the return is filed.
e) Penalty for late filing of TDS return
Which are the different forms prescribed for TDS Return?
Below are the types of returns to be filed depending upon the nature of payments:
Form | Return type |
Form 24 Q | Deductions made from salary payments |
Form 26 Q | Deductions made from non-salaried payments |
Form 27 Q | Deductions made in the case of non-residents |
I am a deductor having more than one office/branch, do I file separate e-TDS/TCS returns for each office/branch or can I file a consolidated return for all offices/branches? Can I quote the same TAN for filing e-TDS/TCS returns for each branch?
If you have more than one office/branch you can file a consolidated e-TDS/TCS return for all offices/branches. In this case you should quote the same TAN. You can also file e-TDS/TCS returns office/branch-wise individually. In such cases you need to have separate TAN for every branch. In case you do not have separate TAN for each branch then you should apply for TAN for each of the branches filing separate e-TDS/TCS return.
How much TDS will be deducted in case of payment of remuneration to company’s director?
Sec 194J levies TDS on technical and professional services. As per the provisions of the Companies Act, director of the company is also a manager and thus, a technical personnel. As per Section 194J(1)(ba), any payment made to director in the nature of sitting fees, remuneration or any other sum other than those on which tax deductible under section 192 is to be considered for deduction of tax at source @ 10% under section 194J. Further, there is no threshold limit for deduction of tax at source.
Is it mandatory to deduct TDS on salary?
It is mandatory to employer to deduct TDS on salary if total salary exceeds the threshold exemption limits provided under Income tax act. Yes, it is compulsory to deduct tax under section 192 of Income tax act, 1961. Any salary paid for work done in India is deemed to accrue or arise in India.
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