TDS deducted in a month is paid by the 7th of the next month (30 April for March, for non-government deductors), and quarterly returns are due on 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May. The Q2 return for FY 2026-27 is due on 31 October 2026, three weeks away.
Facts checked: 9 October 2026. Dates below match what secondary sources report and the long-standing schedule. I could not open an official notification for FY 2026-27 in this check. Also note that the Income-tax Act 2025 applies from 1 April 2026, so FY 2026-27 (tax year 2026-27) falls under it, with renumbered sections and, according to some guides, new return form numbers. Sources disagreed on those form numbers, so I have not listed them. Sections here are shown under the 1961 Act, and you should confirm the 2025 Act equivalent and the form number on the e-filing portal before you file.
Quarterly return dates for FY 2026-27
| Quarter | Period | Return due | Status on 9 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | April to June 2026 | 31 July 2026 | Passed |
| Q2 | July to September 2026 | 31 October 2026 | Open |
| Q3 | October to December 2026 | 31 January 2027 | Upcoming |
| Q4 | January to March 2027 | 31 May 2027 | Upcoming |
The same dates apply to salary returns (24Q), non-salary resident returns (26Q), non-resident returns (27Q) and TCS returns (27EQ). Use the TDS rate finder for rates and the salary TDS calculator for section 192.
TDS and TCS payment dates
| Deduction month | Deposit by |
|---|---|
| April to February | 7th of the next month |
| March | 30 April |
Government offices paying through book entry follow a different rule, so check separately if your client is one.
What a delay costs
- Late filing fee, section 234E: ₹200 per day until the return is filed, capped at the TDS in that statement. It must be paid before filing.
- Penalty, section 271H: ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000 for not filing on time, or filing with incorrect details. It is not charged if the return is filed within one year of the due date with tax, interest and fee paid.
- Interest, section 201(1A): 1% per month or part month from the date tax was deductible to the date it was deducted, and 1.5% per month or part month from deduction to payment.
Worked example
A firm deducts ₹30,000 on a contractor payment on 12 August 2026, deposits it on 20 October 2026, and files the Q2 return on 20 November 2026 (20 days late).
| Item | Working | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Interest on late deposit | 1.5% x 3 months (12 Aug to 20 Oct, part month counts) x ₹30,000 | ₹1,350 |
| Late fee, section 234E | ₹200 x 20 days = ₹4,000, below the TDS in the statement | ₹4,000 |
| Total | ₹5,350 |
If the statement's total TDS were only ₹3,000, the fee would be capped at ₹3,000. Run your own figures in the TDS interest and late fee calculator.
Related reading
Tax audit reports must tie TDS compliance to the books; see Form 3CD Clause 34 and the audit calendar. For income tax return dates, read ITR due dates for AY 2026-27.
Frequently asked questions
What is the TDS return due date for Q2 FY 2026-27?
31 October 2026 for July to September 2026 deductions.
Is the section 234E fee waived if the TDS is small?
It is capped at the TDS amount, so it falls with the tax, but it is not waived.
Can section 234E be charged on a correction statement?
Generally the fee relates to the original late filing. Treat it as payable on delay and confirm on the TRACES demand view.
Do the 1961 Act section numbers still work for FY 2026-27?
Not as law for that year. The 2025 Act renumbers them, so quote the 1961 section only as a familiar label and check the new number before citing it in a notice reply.
Statutory facts on this page are checked against their sources, and the page says where it relied on secondary reporting. How we verify · Report an error