TDS payment and return dates are fixed by the Income Tax Department to ensure systematic tax collection throughout the year. Missing these deadlines triggers automatic interest charges and penalties that can significantly increase your tax burden.
The golden rule is simple: deposit TDS by the 7th of the following month for all deductions made during that month. March is the only exception with an extended deadline of April 30th.
Monthly TDS Payment Schedule (FY 2025-26)
You must deposit TDS within a few days after deducting it from payments. This tight deadline ensures the government receives tax revenue regularly rather than in lump sums.
| Month | TDS Deduction Period | Due Date for TDS Payment | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2025 | April 2025 | 7th May 2025 | Monthly deposit |
| May 2025 | May 2025 | 7th June 2025 | Monthly deposit |
| June 2025 | June 2025 | 7th July 2025 | End of Q1 |
| July 2025 | July 2025 | 7th August 2025 | Q1 return due 31st July |
| August 2025 | August 2025 | 7th September 2025 | Monthly deposit |
| September 2025 | September 2025 | 7th October 2025 | End of Q2 |
| October 2025 | October 2025 | 7th November 2025 | Q2 return due 31st Oct |
| November 2025 | November 2025 | 7th December 2025 | Monthly deposit |
| December 2025 | December 2025 | 7th January 2026 | End of Q3 |
| January 2026 | January 2026 | 7th February 2026 | Q3 return due 31st Jan |
| February 2026 | February 2026 | 7th March 2026 | Monthly deposit |
| March 2026 | March 2026 | 30th April 2026 | Extended deadline |
If the 7th falls on a Sunday or public holiday, deposit on the next working day without penalty.
Example: Amit’s company deducts salary TDS in June 2025. The finance team must deposit this by 7th July 2025.
Quarterly TDS Return Filing Schedule
After depositing monthly TDS, you must file a quarterly statement summarizing all transactions. This return shows who you paid, how much TDS you deducted, and challan details.
| Quarter | Period | Due Date to File TDS Return | Last Day Extended To | Challan Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 1 Apr - 30 Jun 2025 | 31st July 2025 | 31st July 2025 | 7th May 2025 |
| Q2 | 1 Jul - 30 Sep 2025 | 31st October 2025 | 31st October 2025 | 7th October 2025 |
| Q3 | 1 Oct - 31 Dec 2025 | 31st January 2026 | 31st January 2026 | 7th January 2026 |
| Q4 | 1 Jan - 31 Mar 2026 | 31st May 2026 | 31st May 2026 | 30th April 2026 |
Form 24Q covers salary TDS, Form 26Q covers non-salary payments, and Form 27Q handles TDS on payments to non-residents.
Notice that Q4 has an extended deadline—31st May instead of 30th April. This extra month helps taxpayers compile year-end data accurately.
TDS Challan Payment Process
The challan is your proof of TDS deposit. Without a valid challan, your TDS return will be rejected, and deductees won’t get tax credit.
Step-by-Step Challan Filing:
- Visit the official tax payment portal.
- Select "Challan 281" for TDS payment
- Enter your TAN (Tax Deduction Account Number)
- Choose the appropriate TDS section (192, 194A, 194C, etc.)
- Enter the deduction month and amount
- Make payment via net banking or debit card
- Download and save the challan copy with CIN (Challan Identification Number)
Critical Dates
Mark these dates on your business calendar to avoid last-minute rushes.
Form 16 Issuance Deadline
Employers must issue Form 16 to all employees by 15th June of the assessment year. This certificate shows total salary paid, TDS deducted, and deposited with the government.
For FY 2025-26, the deadline to issue Form 16 is 15th June 2026. Employees need this document to file their income tax returns by 31st July 2026.
Delay in issuing Form 16 can result in penalties for the employer and create ITR filing difficulties for employees.
What Happens on Public Holidays?
The Income Tax Department allows next-working-day payment when deadlines fall on holidays. However, don’t rely on this extension—deposit a day earlier to avoid technical issues.
Bank Processing Time Considerations
While online challan generation is instant, banks may take 1-2 days to process payments. TDS credit appears in your TDS return only after bank confirmation.
Best Practice:Â Deposit TDS at least 2 days before the deadline. If the deadline is 7th May, deposit by 5th May to account for:
- Bank server downtime
- Network connectivity issues
- Payment gateway failures
- Incorrect TAN/PAN entry requiring resubmission
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I deposit TDS for multiple months together?
No, monthly TDS must be deposited separately with individual challans. Each month requires a distinct challan showing that month’s deduction period.
What if I miss the 7th but deposit before month-end?
You’ll pay interest under Section 234D from 7th until actual deposit date. The tax department calculates this automatically, and you must pay it along with principal TDS.
Do I need to file TDS return if no deduction was made?
No, TDS returns are required only for quarters where you actually deducted TDS. If you had no TDS transactions, no return filing is necessary.
Can I revise a TDS return after filing?
No, TDS returns cannot be revised. However, you can file a correction statement to fix errors in PAN, amount, challan details, or section codes.
