e-TDS and e-TCS, Overview of eTDS and eTCS (Complete Details)

e-TDS

Entities (both corporate and non-corporate deductors) making payments to third parties (deductees) are required to deduct tax at source from these payments and deposit the same at any of the designated branches of banks authorised to collect taxes on behalf of Government of India. They should also furnish TDS returns containing details of deductee(s) and challan details relating to deposit of tax to ITD.

Must Read – Interest on non Payment/Deduction of TDS

As a part of automation of collection, compilation and processing of TDS returns ITD has notified an “Electronic Filing of Returns of Tax Deducted at Source Scheme, 2003”. It is applicable to all deductors furnishing their TDS return in electronic form. As per this scheme:

• It is mandatory (w.e.f. June 1, 2003) for corporate deductors to furnish their TDS returns in electronic form (e-TDS return).
• From F.Y. 2004-2005 onwards furnishing TDS returns in electronic form is also mandatory for government deductors in addition to corporate deductors.
• Deductors (other than government and corporates) may file TDS return in electronic or physical form.
• NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited (NSDL) as the e- TDS Intermediary (appointed by ITD) receives, on behalf of ITD, the e-TDS returns from the deductors.

Deductors can submit e-TDS returns through TIN-Facilitation Centres (TIN-FC) established by NSDL or directly upload through NSDL web-site.

Must Read – TDS Section 194IA

e-TCS

TCS means collection of tax at source by the seller (collector) from the buyer (collectee/payee) of the goods (specified u/s 206C of Income-tax Act, 1961, like timber obtained under forest lease, scrap, any other forest produce not being timber or tendu leaves etc.,). For e.g. if purchase value of goods is Rs.10,000/-, the buyer will pay an amount of Rs.10,000/- + X (X being the value of TCS as prescribed under Income-tax Act, 1961) to the seller. The seller will deposit the tax collected at source (TCS) at any of the designated branches of the authorised banks.

Following the automation of TDS returns in 2003, ITD has now notified an “Electronic Filing of Returns of Tax Collected at Source Scheme, 2005”. It is applicable to all deductors furnishing their TCS return in electronic form. As per this scheme:

• It is mandatory for corporate and government deductors to furnish their TCS returns in electronic form (e-TCS return) from F.Y. 2004-2005 onwards.
• Deductors (other than government and corporates) may file TCS return in electronic or physical form.
• NSDL as the e-TCS Intermediary (appointed by ITD) receives, on behalf of ITD, the e-TCS returns from the deductors.

REVISED FORMS AND FILE FORMATS FOR e-TDS/e-TCS RETURNS
Financial Year	Form	Periodicity	Remarks
2005-2006	24Q – TDS 26Q – TDS 27Q – TDS 27EQ – TCS	Quarterly Quarterly Quarterly Quarterly	Corporates, Government Departments / Organisations – mandatory to file in electronic form Other deductors – may file in electronic form or in physical form
	Form 27A to be filed in physical form with each e-TDS/TCS return submitted through TIN-FC.

e-TDS/e-TCS returns will be filed quarterly for F.Y. 2005-2006. However, filing of quarterly e-TDS/TCS returns facility upto FY 2006-07 has been discontinued from TIN as advised by Income Tax Department (ITD). The file formats for quarterly returns (Forms 24Q, 26Q, 27Q and 27EQ) have been notified by the ITD and have been made available on NSDL web-site.

Must Read – TDS on Sale of Property

Deductors furnishing e-TDS/TCS returns are required to furnish a control chart – Form 27A in physical form along with the e-TDS/TCS return furnished in CD/Pen Drive.

Form 27A is a summary of e-TDS/TCS return (Form 24Q, 26Q, 27Q & 27EQ), which contains control totals of ‘Amount Paid’, ‘Income tax deducted at source’& ‘Tax Deposited (Total challan amount)’. The control totals mentioned on Form 27A should match with the corresponding control totals in e-TDS/TCS return file. Form 27A is required to be furnished separately for each e-TDS/TCS return (Form 24Q, 26Q, 27Q & 27EQ).

Procedures and guidelines for preparing and furnishing e-TDS/e-TCS return are given in Deductors Manual available at downloads section.

With effect from February 1, 2014, it is mandatory to submit Form 27A generated by TDS/TCS FVU (File Validation Utility) duly signed, along with the TDS/TCS statement(s). Any other Form 27A submitted will be treated as invalid submission and the same will be rejected by TIN-FC branches.

NSDL has developed a freely downloadable utility called File Validation Utility to verify whether the e-TDS/e-TCS return files prepared by the deductors/ collectors conform to the prescribed format.