Glossary · Income Tax
TDS 24Q vs 26Q vs 27Q
Three quarterly TDS return forms — 24Q for salary, 26Q for non-salary (contractors / professionals / rent / interest), 27Q for TCS transactions.
The Income-tax Act requires every deductor to file quarterly TDS / TCS returns through NSDL-TIN using specific forms: Form 24Q covers TDS on salary (section 192) deducted by employers; Form 26Q covers TDS on all non-salary payments — contractor / professional (194C / 194J / 194I / 194A / 194H / 194EE etc.); Form 27Q covers Tax Collected at Source (TCS) — typically on sale of motor vehicles, scrap, alcoholic liquor, tendu leaves, parking, mining, and bullion / jewellery. Each form has salary-quarter columns (Q1 = Apr–Jun, Q4 = Jan–Mar) and is due by 15 days from the end of the quarter (extended by CBDT circulars in some years). All three share the TAN, PAN of deductee, challan serial, and BS / payment detail.
Examples
A company deducting TDS on both salary and rent files Form 24Q for salary and Form 26Q for rent separately.