If you’re an employer or HR professional responsible for salary disbursements, understanding Form 24Q, its due dates, and challan requirements under Income Tax Act, 1961 is crucial. Filing accurate and timely TDS returns builds financial credibility and helps avoid penalties.
What Is Form 24Q?
Form 24Q is a quarterly TDS return filed by a deductor (employer) to report TDS deducted on salary payments to employees as per Section 192 of the Income Tax Act. It contains:
Salary details of employees
TDS amount deducted and deposited
Details of PAN, deductions under Chapter VI-A, HRA, LTA, etc.
Challan and payment details
Who Is Required to File Form 24Q?
Any employer (including companies, firms, LLPs, sole proprietors, trusts, government offices) who:
Pays salary to one or more employees, and
Deducts TDS on such salary payments
must file Form 24Q quarterly. Even if TDS is NIL, the return must be filed if there is a TAN and salary is paid.
Payment of TDS – Challan 281
Employers must deposit TDS through Challan No. 281, either online via TIN-NSDL or through authorized banks.
Due Date for TDS Payment7th of next month (for non-Govt deductors)Same day (for Govt deductors without challan)
Link Between Form 24Q and Form 16
Form 24Q Q4 includes Annexure II, which has annual salary details.
Form 16 is auto-generated by TRACES based on Q4 Form 24Q filing.
If Form 24Q Q4 is not filed properly, Form 16 will be incorrect or missing.
⚠️ Penalties for Non-compliance
Default Penalty
Late filing of 24Q ₹200 per day (u/s 234E, up to TDS amount) Non-filing / wrong filing ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000 (u/s 271H)
Late payment of TDS Interest @1% or 1.5% u/s 201(1A) Not deducting TDS Treated as Assessee-in-default
Structure of Form 24Q Form 24Q consists of two annexures: 1. Annexure-I
Contains challan-wise and deductee-wise details
Must be submitted every quarter
2. Annexure-II
Details of total salary paid, deductions claimed, taxable income, and TDS computation
Required only in Q4 (Jan–Mar), as it reflects full financial year details
If you’re an employer or HR professional responsible for salary disbursements, understanding Form 24Q, its due dates, and challan requirements under Income Tax Act, 1961 is crucial. Filing accurate and timely TDS returns builds financial credibility and helps avoid penalties.
What Is Form 24Q?
Form 24Q is a quarterly TDS return filed by a deductor (employer) to report TDS deducted on salary payments to employees as per Section 192 of the Income Tax Act.
It contains:
Salary details of employees
TDS amount deducted and deposited
Details of PAN, deductions under Chapter VI-A, HRA, LTA, etc.
Challan and payment details
Who Is Required to File Form 24Q?
Any employer (including companies, firms, LLPs, sole proprietors, trusts, government offices) who:
Pays salary to one or more employees, and
Deducts TDS on such salary payments
must file Form 24Q quarterly.
Even if TDS is NIL, the return must be filed if there is a TAN and salary is paid.
Payment of TDS – Challan 281
Employers must deposit TDS through Challan No. 281, either online via TIN-NSDL or through authorized banks.
Due Date for TDS Payment7th of next month (for non-Govt deductors)Same day (for Govt deductors without challan)
Link Between Form 24Q and Form 16
Form 24Q Q4 includes Annexure II, which has annual salary details.
Form 16 is auto-generated by TRACES based on Q4 Form 24Q filing.
If Form 24Q Q4 is not filed properly, Form 16 will be incorrect or missing.
⚠️ Penalties for Non-compliance
Default Penalty
Late filing of 24Q ₹200 per day (u/s 234E, up to TDS amount) Non-filing / wrong filing ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000 (u/s 271H)
Late payment of TDS Interest @1% or 1.5% u/s 201(1A) Not deducting TDS Treated as Assessee-in-default
Structure of Form 24Q
Form 24Q consists of two annexures:
1. Annexure-I
Contains challan-wise and deductee-wise details
Must be submitted every quarter
2. Annexure-II
Details of total salary paid, deductions claimed, taxable income, and TDS computation
Required only in Q4 (Jan–Mar), as it reflects full financial year details