Understanding TDS Certificate and How To Download It Online

A Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) certificate is a non-negotiable document for taxpayers, as it serves as proof that taxes have been deducted from the payer's income at source and remitted to the Government of India. And now, thanks to digital advancements, obtaining these certificates has become easier, allowing taxpayers to download TDS certificates online, not only saving time but also making the entire income tax return filing process more straightforward and less cumbersome.

By the end of this blog, you will be familiar with the steps to download the TDS certificate online, understand why these certificates are essential, and know how they facilitate an easy income tax filing experience.

What is Tax Deducted at Source?

Tax Deducted at Source is a system in Indian taxation under which the Government of India collects taxes directly at the source of income. The TDS aspect is governed by the Indian Income Tax Act of 1961. Under this concept, a person making a specified payment is a deductor, and any person who receives the payment is a deductee.

Before crediting the amount to the deductee, the deductor must deduct the tax at source and remit it to the Central Government of India.

What is a TDS Certificate?

Form 16A is a TDS certificate that is issued by the deductor, who could be a company, individual, or even a bank. This certificate serves as proof that tax has been accurately deducted and deposited with the government in respect of income other than salary.

Form 16A is a TDS certificate that is issued by the deductor, who could be a company, individual, or even a bank. This certificate serves as proof that tax has been accurately deducted and deposited with the government in respect of income other than salary.

What is the Importance of a TDS Certificate?

The following are the reasons why a taxpayer must have a TDS certificate:

Acts as Proof: Be it a non-resident Indian (NRI) or a resident of India, the TDS certificate acts as proof that the tax is deducted at the source from the income.

Tax Credit Claims: TDS certificates are crucial for claiming tax credits, as their absence can complicate tax deductions during the filing process.

Income Verification: Furthermore, tax-deducted at source (TDS) certificates help Indian residents and NRIs verify their income for a financial year, as they provide detailed information on the income source and the tax deducted from it.

Eliminated tax Duplication: The tax deducted at source certificates also help ensure that taxpayers are not obliged to pay the taxes more than once on the same income source.

TDS Certificate Format

• Full name and address of the deductor.
• Full name and address of the deductee.
• Permanent Account Number (PAN) of both the deductee and the deductor
• Unique TDS certificate number
• The assessment year (AY) for which the certificate is issued
• The period covered by the TDS certificate
• Summary of TDS deducted and deposited
• Details about the income source that was subject to TDS, like interest, rent, professional fees, and so on
• TDS challan details, including the date of deposit, BSR code, and challan identification number
• Any other relevant information or disclosures

However, the format of the tax deducted at source certificate may vary in accordance with updates issued by the Income Tax Department. It is the responsibility of the deductor to ensure that the information provided in Form 16A is correct and matches the details submitted to the tax authorities.

What are the Different Types of TDS Certificates?

Form 16: This form is issued by employers to their salaried employees, which details the TDS deducted from the salary. This form will be valid only for NRIs who are employed by an Indian company and receive a salary in India.

Form 16A: Issued for TDS on non-salaried income. This is the most suitable TDS certificate for NRIs. It is issued by the deductor for non-salary income, which includes:

• Interest income on NRI bank accounts and fixed deposits
• Rental income from property in India
• Capital gains from the sale of securities or properties, and more

Form 16B: This form is issued for Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on property sales. If an NRI sells a property in India, they will receive the Form from the buyer.

Form 16C: Issued for TDS on rent, which is payable when the monthly rent is above a certain threshold. This form is primarily applicable to Indian residents.

Difference Between Form 16, Form 16A, Form 16B, and Form 26AS

How to Download TDS Certificate Online

Before downloading the TDS certificate, certain prerequisites must be followed, including the following steps:

• Ensure that the taxpayer's PAN is linked to the TDS details.
• The taxpayer must be registered on the TRACES website to file or download TDS certificate forms 16, 16A, or 16B.
• To view or download Form 26AS, the taxpayer must have an account on the Income Tax e-filing website.

How to Download Form 16

• The taxpayer must access their TRACES account.
• Now go to “Downloads” and select Form 16.
• Enter all required details, including the deductor's PAN number, the assessment year, and more.
• Complete the required authentication.
• Once completed, the taxpayer can file and save their Form 16.

How to Download Form 16A

• The taxpayer must log in to their TRACES Account
• Under the download sections, choose Form 16A.
• Enter the deductor's TAN, the deducee's PAN, the relevant quarter, and the financial year.
• Post validation, the form is ready to download.

How to Download Form 16B

• Log in to the TRACES account.
• Go to the “Form 16B for Buyers” section and enter transaction details such as the date, amount, and the seller's PAN.
• Download the form once it has been processed.

What is the Role of Form 26AS?

Form 26AS plays an essential role in verifying TDS deductions.

Detailed Documentary Records: Form 26AS provides a detailed record of all kinds of taxes deducted under the taxpayer's PAN. Hence, this form acts as a comprehensive documentary record for obtaining TDS deduction details.

Cross Verification: This form also allows the taxpayer to verify the tax deducted at source reported by the deductors against their records. In a nutshell, Form 26AS helps cross-verify the TDS details reported by the deductors.

Error-checking: This form helps identify discrepancies in tax deductions or credits and take corrective measures.

Stay Tax-Compliant With Savetaxs.

Handling your taxes effectively starts with having the right knowledge and guidance. Talking about the TDS certificate is one of the most essential aspects of ITR filing, whether it's for filing your TDS certificate PDF or obtaining it from your bank or employer. A TDS certificate for NRIs ensures that your tax deductions are correctly accounted for, making the entire tax filing process effortless and stress-free for NRIs.

Tax planning is crucial, especially for NRIs, as Indian income tax laws can be overwhelming. Hence, for simplified NRI tax management and expert financial advice, SaveTaxs is here to guide you from dawn to dusk. NRIs stay tax complaint and secure with Savetaxs.