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TDS Return Filing FY 2026-27: Forms, Due Dates, Steps & Late Fees

Updated for FY 2026-27: From 1 April 2026, TDS provisions are governed by the Income-tax Act, 2025 and Income-tax Rules, 2026. Quarterly statement deadlines remain 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May.

TDS Return Filing FY 2026-27

Businesses, employers and other deductors must not stop after deducting and depositing TDS. They must also report the deduction through the prescribed quarterly TDS statement so that deductees receive proper tax credit. The most important controls are accurate PAN/TAN data, correct challan mapping, timely filing and reconciliation with the tax portal.

Contents
  1. Quarterly due dates
  2. Forms
  3. Filing process
  4. Pre-filing checks
  5. Late filing
  6. FAQs

FY 2026-27 quarterly TDS statement due dates

QuarterPeriodDue date
Q1April–June 202631 July 2026
Q2July–September 202631 October 2026
Q3October–December 202631 January 2027
Q4January–March 202731 May 2027

These quarterly deadlines are separate from the due date for depositing tax deducted at source. In general, non-government deductors deposit TDS by the 7th of the following month; TDS deducted in March is generally deposited by 30 April. Challan-cum-statement transactions follow their own timelines.

Which TDS statement applies?

Current form referenceBroad purpose
Form 138Quarterly statement for salary and specified pension/interest reporting; earlier Form 24Q
Form 140Quarterly TDS statement for non-salary payments to residents; earlier Form 26Q
Form 144Quarterly TDS statement for specified payments to non-residents; earlier Form 27Q

The exact form depends on the nature of the payment and the applicable provision. Do not select a form only because it was used in a previous year; verify the current form and utility applicable to the transaction.

Practical filing process

  1. Close the quarter. Freeze the payment and TDS ledger for the reporting period.
  2. Reconcile deductions. Match expense/payment entries with TDS deducted, deposit dates and challans.
  3. Validate deductee data. Review PAN, name, section, payment amount, deduction date and rate.
  4. Map challans. Ensure BSR/challan references and amounts are correctly allocated.
  5. Prepare the statement. Use the prescribed return preparation/filing utility or approved filing route applicable for the year.
  6. Run validation. Resolve file-validation errors before upload.
  7. Submit and retain acknowledgement. Keep the filing acknowledgement and working papers.
  8. Reconcile after processing. Check the processed statement, defaults and deductee credits.

Pre-filing control checklist

TANCorrect deductor TAN and profile
PANValid deductee PAN where required
Section/rateCorrect provision and rate for each payment
ChallanAmount and challan details match books
QuarterCorrect financial year and quarter selected
Nil/lower deductionCertificate/declaration details retained where applicable
Prior correctionsEarlier defaults or correction statements considered

Late filing and correction

Late filing can trigger statutory late fees and, depending on the facts, penalty exposure. Under the legacy provisions, section 234E levied a fee of ₹200 per day subject to the amount of TDS; the Income-tax Act, 2025 has corresponding provisions and current portal guidance should be checked before payment. Correction statements should be filed promptly when deductee PAN, challan mapping or deduction details are wrong.

Important: A filed statement is not the end of compliance. Review defaults and confirm that deductees receive the expected tax credit.

Frequently asked questions

What are the quarterly TDS return due dates for FY 2026-27?

31 July 2026, 31 October 2026, 31 January 2027 and 31 May 2027 for Q1 to Q4 respectively.

Is TDS deposit date the same as TDS return filing date?

No. Tax deposit and quarterly statement filing are separate compliance events with separate timelines.

Has Form 24Q changed under the Income-tax Act, 2025?

The Income Tax Department's current guidance refers to Form 138 as the form earlier known as Form 24Q. Similar renumbering applies to other quarterly TDS statements.

Should I verify the latest utility before filing?

Yes. Use the current Income Tax Department/authorised filing utility and instructions applicable on the filing date.

Official references