Sreeram Viswanath

Expert

Published on: Jun 24, 2026

Tds Certificate

TDS or Tax Deduction at Source refers to a tax collection methodology under income tax law. Any person who is required to deduct tax at source and has deducted TDS must issue a TDS certificate. TDS certificate helps the assessee to claim the applicable tax credit, along with the applicable refunds. This article mentions the different types of Tds Certificates.

TDS Deductor

Any person who is engaged in the deduction of TDS is required to issue a Tds Certificate. To deduct TDS, a deductor must first obtain

TAN registration. Presently, TAN registration is provided along with company registration automatically.

Types of Tds Certificate

TDS certificates are of two types namely, Annual TDS Certificate and Quarterly Tds Certificate.

Annual Tds Certificate

Annual Tds Certificate is issued to employees for

TDS on Salary. The Tds Certificate issued by employers to employees is also known as Form 16. Form 16 should contain details pertaining to the TDS deducted by an employer from salary and the details of TDS deposited with Government. Taxpayers should note that Form 16 or need not be issued for employees whose total income is less than Rs 2,50,000, as TDS would not be applicable in such cases.

Quarterly Tds Certificate

Quarterly TDS certificates are issued for deduction of TDS on income other than salary and are issued in Form 16A. For instance, the quarterly Tds Certificate is issued by banks when TDS is deducted on interest earned by the depositor on fixed deposits.

Due Date for Issuing Tds Certificate

As per the provisions of the

Income Tax Act, Tds Certificate must be issued by employers to an employee within 15 days of filing their fourth-quarter TDS returns. Hence, Form 16 must be issued within 15 days of filing the fourth quarter TDS returns. The due dates for issuing Form 16A are listed below:
  • For first-quarter of 1st April to  30th June – 15th August
  • For second-quarter of 1st July to 30th September – 15th November
  • For third-quarter of 1st October to 31st December – 15th February
  • For fourth-quarter of 1st January to 31st March – 15th June

Digital Signature

Deductors can digitally sign the TDS certificate using a digital signature certificate. A verified digital signature on a Tds Certificate will be supported by a checkmark, in contrast to the unverified one which bears a question mark.

Penalty for Not Issuing Tds Certificate

If a deductor fails to issue Tds Certificate within the specified date, he/she will be levied with a penalty of Rs 100 per day for each certificate. The amount of penalty will not exceed the TDS amount for the quarter.

Cross-Verification of Details

The TDS certificate should be verified with Form 26AS. Form 26AS is an annual record which contains details of deduction. Form 26AS can be used to facilitate the cross verification of details stated in the Tds Certificate with that of Form 26AS. In the event of any mismatch, the concerned taxpayer must approach the deductor for rectification of the same.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about TDS Certificate Issuance and Compliance for Financial Services.

A TDS certificate is a document issued by the deductor (the person or entity deducting tax at source) to the deductee (the person from whom tax is deducted). It serves as proof of tax deducted and helps the deductee claim credit for the tax paid when filing their income tax returns.
Any person or entity that is engaged in deducting TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) is required to issue a TDS certificate. This includes employers for salaried individuals, banks for interest on deposits, and companies for payments made to contractors or professionals.
The two main types of TDS certificates are the Annual TDS Certificate (Form 16) issued for TDS on salary, and the Quarterly TDS Certificate (Form 16A) issued for TDS on income other than salary, such as interest, rent, or professional fees.
For salaried employees, the Annual TDS Certificate (Form 16) must be issued within 15 days of filing the fourth-quarter TDS returns by the employer. For Quarterly TDS Certificates (Form 16A), the due dates are 15th August, 15th November, 15th February, and 15th June for the respective quarters.
No, a TDS certificate (Form 16) need not be issued to employees whose total income is less than Rs. 2,50,000, as TDS would not be applicable in such cases.
If a deductor fails to issue a TDS certificate within the specified due date, they will be levied a penalty of Rs. 100 per day for each certificate, up to a maximum of the TDS amount for that quarter.
Yes, deductors can digitally sign the TDS certificate using a digital signature certificate. A verified digital signature on a TDS certificate will be supported by a checkmark, while an unverified one will bear a question mark.
The details in a TDS certificate should be cross-verified with Form 26AS, which is an annual record containing details of tax deducted at source. In case of any mismatch, the taxpayer should approach the deductor for rectification.
Yes, it is advisable to keep a copy of the TDS certificate for future reference and to facilitate the claiming of tax credit while filing income tax returns.
If you haven't received a TDS certificate from the deductor within the specified due date, you should follow up with them and request the issuance of the certificate. If the deductor fails to issue the certificate, you can approach the relevant income tax authorities for assistance.