Tax deduction at source (TDS) in India is a means of collecting tax on income, dividends, or asset sales by requiring the payer (or legal intermediary) to deduct tax due before paying the balance to the payee (and the tax to the revenue authority).
Under the Indian Income Tax Act of 1961, income tax must be deducted at source as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Any payment covered under these provisions shall be paid after deducting a prescribed percentage of income tax. It is managed by the Central Board for Direct Taxes (CBDT) and is part of the Department of Revenue managed by Indian Revenue Service. It has a great importance while conducting tax audits. Assessee is also required to file quarterly return to CBDT. Returns states the TDS deducted & paid to government during the Quarter to which it relates.
Objectives of income tax deducted at source
- To enable the salaried people to pay the tax as they earn every month. This helps the salaried persons in paying the tax in easy installments and avoids the burden of a lump sum payment.
- To collect the tax at the time of payment of income to various assesses such as contractors, professionals etc.
- Government requires funds throughout the year. Hence, advance tax and tax deducted at source help the government to get funds throughout the year and run the government well
TDS certificates
A deductor is required to issue a TDS certificate called form 16 for salaried employees and form 16A for non-salaried employees within a specified time. Form 16D is a TDS Certificate issued for payment of a commission, brokerage, contractual fee, the professional fee under section 194M by the payer. Under Section 194M if the payments to resident contractors and professionals exceeding INR 50,00,000 during the Financial Year, the payer/deductor has to deduct tax at the rate of 5% from the sum payable to a resident payee/deductee.
Deductor has to issue TDS Certificates within two months of the next financial year.
Documents Required:
- Pan Card
- Aadhar Card