Q2 TDS Returns Due 31 October 2026: Forms 24Q/26Q Filing Checklist

Which Returns Are Due on 31 October 2026

31 October 2026 is the due date for Q2 FY 2026-27 TDS/TCS returns — covering deductions and collections made between 1 July and 30 September 2026. The forms due:

• Form 24Q — TDS on salary payments (Section 192)
• Form 26Q — TDS on non-salary payments: professional fees, commission, rent, interest, contractor payments
• Form 27Q — TDS on payments to non-residents
• Form 27EQ — TCS returns (due 15 October 2026, already passed — file now with late fee if missed)

Note the distinction: TDS deposit for September 2026 was due by 7 October 2026. The return — the quarterly statement reconciling those deposits — is what falls due on 31 October.

Before You File: The 5-Point Reconciliation Checklist

Most TDS defaults that trigger notices come from mismatches, not from missing the deadline. Run these checks first:

1. Challan vs. return totals. The TDS deposited through challans 281 for the quarter must exactly equal the TDS reported in the return. Even a ₹1 difference flags the statement.
2. Deductee PAN validation. Every deductee row needs a valid PAN. Invalid or missing PANs attract 20% TDS under Section 206AA instead of the normal rate — and the shortfall becomes your liability.
3. Rate check per section. Verify the correct section and rate for each payment type: 194J professional fees (2%/10%), 194I rent (2%/10%), 194C contractors (1%/2%), 194A interest (10%), 192 salary (slab rates). Wrong section = wrong return.
4. Lower/nil deduction certificates. If any deductee gave you a Form 13 certificate or filed Form 15G/15H, confirm the certificate is valid for Q2 and the TAN/PAN mapping is correct in the return.
5. 27A cross-check. The control totals in Form 27A (the summary) must match the return file exactly — number of deductee records and total TDS.

How to File: FVU Validation and Upload

TDS returns are filed electronically on the income tax e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in) or through NSDL:

• Prepare the return in the RPU (Return Preparation Utility) — download the latest version; old FVUs get rejected.
• Validate with the FVU (File Validation Utility). Zero errors is the only acceptable outcome — warnings should also be reviewed.
• Upload the validated .fvu file with Form 27A details, signed with DSC or EVC.
• Download the provisional receipt and acknowledgement number — you need these if the department raises a query later.

Late Filing: Fees and Interest

Missing 31 October gets expensive fast:

• Section 234E late fee: ₹200 per day of delay, until the return is filed (capped at the TDS amount for the quarter).
• Section 201(1A) interest: 1% per month on late deduction, 1.5% per month on late deposit of TDS.
• Late filing also delays Form 16A/16 issuance to your deductees, which blocks their ITR filing and TDS credit — a common source of employee and vendor complaints.

The 234E fee applies per day even if the TDS was deposited on time — deposit and return are separate compliances.

Common Errors That Trigger Notices

• Unmatched challans: challan deposited under the wrong TAN, section code or assessment year. Use Challan Status Enquiry on NSDL to verify each challan is “consumed” correctly before filing.
• Wrong assessment year: Q2 FY 2026-27 returns carry AY 2027-28. Selecting the wrong AY is one of the most common filing errors.
• Salary TDS without Form 12BB: for 24Q, ensure employee declarations (12BB), HRA proofs and 80C evidence were actually collected — the department cross-checks.
• Revised returns: if you discover an error after filing, file a correction statement (revised return) promptly. Corrections filed before the department issues a notice are treated far more leniently.

What To Do This Week

1. Pull the Q2 challan deposit summary and reconcile against your books today.
2. Run PAN validation on all deductee masters — fix invalid PANs before generating the FVU.
3. Generate and validate the return by 28–29 October, leaving buffer for corrections.
4. Upload and preserve the acknowledgement; issue Form 16A by 15 November 2026 (within 15 days of the return due date).

Filing TDS returns for the first time, or cleaning up past quarters? Our GST and tax compliance team handles quarterly TDS end-to-end. Also see the FY 2026-27 compliance calendar for every upcoming deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the due date for Q2 TDS return FY 2026-27?

31 October 2026 for Forms 24Q, 26Q and 27Q covering July–September 2026. Form 27EQ (TCS) was due 15 October 2026.

What is the late fee for delayed TDS return filing?

₹200 per day under Section 234E until filed, capped at the quarter’s TDS amount. Interest under Section 201(1A) applies separately on late deduction/deposit.

Can I revise a TDS return after filing?

Yes — file a correction statement through the RPU/FVU route. File corrections as soon as errors are found; voluntary correction before a department notice is treated leniently.

Is TDS deposit and TDS return the same compliance?

No. Deposit (monthly, by the 7th) pays the tax to the government. The return (quarterly) reports deductee-wise breakups. Both are mandatory, with separate penalties.