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TDS Return Due Date — FY 2026-27 Quarterly Schedule

When each quarter's TDS/TCS return is due for FY 2026-27, which form to file (including the new Form 138/140 numbering), and what a late or incorrect return costs under Sections 234E, 271H and 201(1A).

On this page Quarterly due dates Which form (24Q/26Q → 138/140) Payment date vs. return date Section 234E late fee Section 271H penalty Interest on late deduction/deposit

TDS return due dates, FY 2026-27

QuarterPeriodDue date
Q1April – June31 July 2026
Q2July – September31 October 2026
Q3October – December31 January 2027
Q4January – March31 May 2027

These dates apply uniformly to salary TDS, non-salary TDS on residents, TDS on non-resident payments and TCS statements — only the form used differs (below). As of today, the next deadline is Q2, 31 October 2026.

Which form — and the 24Q/26Q → 138/140 renumbering

Old formNew form (from FY 2026-27)Used for
Form 24QForm 138TDS on salary
Form 26QForm 140TDS on non-salary payments to residents
Form 27QForm 144TDS on payments to non-residents
Form 27EQForm 143TCS statements

Under the new Income-tax Act, these four TDS/TCS statement forms were renumbered, effective for transactions from 1 April 2026 onward. Practically: FY 2026-27's Q1 return (covering April-June 2026 deductions, due 31 July 2026) is the first to use the new numbers. Any return covering transactions up to 31 March 2026 still uses the old 24Q/26Q/27Q/27EQ numbering — so if you're filing a belated or revised return for an earlier period, check which numbering applies to that period rather than assuming the new forms.

Don't confuse this with the TDS payment due date

The date above is for filing the quarterly statement that reports everything you deducted in that quarter — it is separate from the monthly payment (deposit) of the tax you already deducted, which is due much sooner:

TDS deducted inPayment due date
April – February7th of the following month
March (non-government deductor)30 April
March (government deductor, paid by challan)7 April

So a full quarter's compliance has two separate deadlines: deposit each month's TDS by the 7th (30 April for March), then file the consolidated quarterly return by the date in the schedule above. Missing the monthly payment date triggers Section 201(1A) interest (below); missing the quarterly return date triggers the Section 234E fee.

Section 234E — late filing fee

If the quarterly return itself is filed after its due date, Section 234E charges a fee of ₹200 for every day of delay, counted from the day after the due date until the date you actually file, capped at the total TDS amount for that quarter. This fee is automatic and computed by the system when you file — there's no discretion to waive it, so even a short delay adds up daily.

Section 271H — penalty for late or incorrect returns

Separately, an Assessing Officer can levy a penalty under Section 271H of ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000 — in addition to the Section 234E fee — for a return that is filed late or contains incorrect details (wrong PAN, wrong TDS amount, incomplete challan details, etc.). From AY 2025-26 onward, this penalty is waived if you file the return within one month of the due date and have also paid the tax deducted, the late fee, and any interest in full by then — so a short delay corrected quickly and paid in full avoids 271H, even though the 234E daily fee still applies for those days.

Section 201(1A) — interest on late deduction or deposit

This is a third, distinct consequence — interest for not deducting or not depositing TDS on time in the first place (as opposed to filing the return late):

  • 1% per month if TDS was deducted later than it should have been.
  • 1.5% per month if TDS was deducted on time but deposited to the government late.

Interest is calculated for every month or part of a month — so a delay of even a few days counts as a full month. This interest is charged in addition to, and independent of, the 234E fee and 271H penalty above, since it addresses a different failure (paying late) rather than reporting late.

For your own tax planning around these dates, check what you owe with the advance tax calculator or income tax calculator, and see how monthly salary TDS is worked out with the TDS on salary calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the TDS return due dates for FY 2026-27?
TDS/TCS statements are filed quarterly: Q1 (Apr-Jun) by 31 July, Q2 (Jul-Sep) by 31 October, Q3 (Oct-Dec) by 31 January, and Q4 (Jan-Mar) by 31 May. These dates apply to salary TDS, non-salary resident TDS, non-resident TDS and TCS statements alike.
Is the TDS return due date the same as the TDS payment due date?
No — these are two different deadlines. TDS payment (deposit) is due monthly, by the 7th of the following month (30 April for TDS deducted in March, for non-government deductors). The TDS return (statement) reporting all of a quarter's deductions is due later, on the quarterly dates above. Missing the monthly payment date and missing the quarterly return date trigger different consequences (interest under Section 201(1A) vs. late fee under Section 234E).
What form do I file, and has it changed for FY 2026-27?
Salary TDS uses Form 24Q, non-salary payments to residents use Form 26Q, payments to non-residents use Form 27Q, and TCS statements use Form 27EQ. Under the new Income-tax Act, these are renumbered Form 138, 140, 144 and 143 respectively, effective for transactions from 1 April 2026 onward — so from FY 2026-27's Q1 return (due 31 July 2026), the new form numbers apply. Transactions up to 31 March 2026 still use the old form numbers.
What happens if I file my TDS return late?
A late fee applies automatically under Section 234E: ₹200 for every day of delay, capped at the total TDS amount for that quarter. This fee is mandatory and computed automatically when you file — there is no officer discretion to waive it, so it accrues regardless of the reason for delay.
Is there a penalty beyond the ₹200/day late fee?
Yes — Section 271H allows a separate penalty of ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000, on top of the Section 234E fee, and also covers filing an incorrect return. From AY 2025-26, this penalty can be avoided if the return is filed within one month of the due date along with full payment of the tax, the late fee and any interest due.
What if I deducted TDS late, or deducted it on time but deposited it late?
These attract interest under Section 201(1A), separate from the return-filing fee/penalty above: 1% per month for late deduction (from when TDS should have been deducted to when it actually was), and 1.5% per month for late deposit after deduction (from the deduction date to the actual payment date). Any part of a month counts as a full month.

Formulas and rates verified against official sources on . How we build these

Estimates are for information and education only — not financial, tax or investment advice. Verify current rates and rules with official sources.

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