What is TDS and how does it work?

TDS is an abbreviation for 'Tax Deducted at Source'. TDS has been introduced to collect tax from the source from where an Individual's income is generated. 

The government uses TDS as a tool to collect tax so as to minimize the tax evasion by taxing the income (partially or wholly) at the time it is generated rather than at a later date. 

TDS is applicable on the various incomes received such as salaries, interest received, commission received etc. 

TDS is not applicable to all incomes and all persons for all transactions. Different rates of TDS have been prescribed by the Income Tax Act for different payments and different categories of recipients. For example, payment of redemption proceeds by a debt mutual fund to a resident individual is not subject to TDS but for a Non-resident Indian is subject to TDS. 

TDS works on the concept that every person making specified type of payments to any person shall deduct tax at the rates prescribed in the Income Tax Act at source and deposit the same into the government's account. 

The person who is making the payment is responsible for deducting the tax and depositing the same with government. This person is known as 'deductor'. On the other hand, the person who receives the payment after the tax deduction is called 'deductee'. Form26AS is a statement which shows the amount of tax deducted and deposited in a person's name/PAN. 

An individual can, therefore, view/check the TDS from incomes paid to him by viewing this Form 26AS. Each deductor is also duty bound to issue a TDS certificate certifying how much amount is deducted in the deductee's name and deposited with the government. 

How TDS works 

The entity making a payment (which is subject to TDS) deducts a certain percentage of the amount paid, as tax and pays the balance to the recipient. The recipient also gets a certificate from the deductor stating the amount of TDS. The deductee can claim this TDS amount as tax paid by him (i.e. the deductee) for the financial year in which it is deducted. 

The deductor is duty bound to deposit the TDS with the government. Once deposited this amount reflects in the Form 26AS of individual deductees on the TRACES website linked to the income tax department's e-filing website. 

Rates prescribed for different types of payments 

There are different rates for TDS described in the different sections of the Act, depending on the nature of the payments. Some of the incomes subject to TDS are as follows: 

 

Source: Income tax website 

TDS only applicable above a threshold level 

One must remember that TDS on specified transactions is deducted only when the value of payment is above the specified threshold level. No TDS will be deducted if the value does not cross the specified level. 

Different threshold levels are specified by the Income Tax department for different payments such as salaries, interest received etc. For example, there will be no TDS on the total interest received on FD/FDs from a single bank if it is less than Rs 10,000 in a year from that bank. 

How to avoid TDS 

If a person expects that his total income in a financial year will be below the exemption limit, he can ask the payer not to deduct TDS by submitting Form 15G/15H. 

While receiving payment which is subject to TDS, deductee is required to provide his PAN details to avoid tax deduction at the higher rates. 

Source:-The Economic Times