Difference Between TDS and TCS Explained with Examples

To improve tax compliance and ensure timely revenue collection, the government has implemented mechanisms like TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) and TCS (Tax Collected at Source). While both serve the broader purpose of collecting taxes at the source of income or transaction, they differ significantly in terms of process, rates, and applicability. However, many taxpayers often find it confusing to distinguish between the two. 

In this blog, we will discuss TDS and TCS, usage and the main difference between the two are explained in detail.

TDS Full Form and Meaning

TDS i.e. Tax Deducted at Source is a tax deduction process in which tax is deducted for the government at the time of making payment to a person. Its purpose is to make tax collection timely and transparent. TDS is used when the amount of payment exceeds a fixed limit, such as salary, rent, interest or professional fees.

When and why is TDS deducted?

When a payment is above the fixed limit, the person making the payment deducts TDS on it so that the government can get the tax in advance.

Who deducts TDS?

The person or organization who is making the payment (such as a company, employer or businessman) is responsible for deducting TDS.

In which cases is TDS applicable?

TDS is usually applicable on salary, bank interest, rent, contracting, professional fees, commission etc.

TCS Full Form and Meaning

TCS i.e. Tax Collected at Source is a process in which the seller collects tax from the customer on the sale of a particular good or service. This tax is later deposited to the government. TCS is applicable only on some selected goods and transactions such as the sale of scrap, liquor, wood, motor vehicle or foreign tour package.

When and why is TCS collected?

When a seller sells an item on which TCS is applicable, he collects tax from the customer at a fixed rate so that the government can get the tax on the sale in advance.

Who collects TCS?

The trader or company by which the goods or services are being sold collects TCS from the customer.

On which transactions is TCS applicable?

TCS is mainly applicable on transactions like scrap, minerals, wood, vehicles (above ₹ 10 lakh), and international travel.

Read Also: TCS Case Study: Business Model, Financial Statement, SWOT Analysis

Key Differences Between TDS and TCS

Particulars	TDS	TCS
Full Form	Tax Deducted at Source	Tax Collected at Source
Nature of Transaction	Deducted by payer when a payment is being made	Collected by seller when goods or services are sold
Applicable On	Payments like salary, rent, interest, contractor fees, commission, etc.	Sale of goods like alcohol, scrap, minerals, motor vehicles, foreign remittance, etc.
Who is Responsible	The person/entity making the payment (Deductor)	The seller or collector who receives payment (Collector)
When is it Deducted/Collected	At the time of making the payment	At the time of receiving the sale amount
Applicable Sections (Examples)	Section 192 (salary), 194C (contractor), 194J (professional fees), etc.	Section 206C (scrap, liquor), 206C(1H) (sale of goods), 206C(1G) (overseas tour/remittance)
Threshold Limit	Varies as per section; e.g., TDS on salary applies as per income slab; 194C: ₹30,000 per contract	Varies; e.g., TCS under 206C(1H) applies if sales exceed ₹50 lakh per buyer in a financial year
Deposit Due Date	7th of the following month	7th of the following month
Return Filing	Quarterly TDS returns (Form 24Q/26Q/27Q)	Quarterly TCS returns (Form 27EQ)
Reflects in Form	Appears in Form 26AS and AIS of the deductee	Also appears in Form 26AS and AIS of the buyer
Can Be Claimed in ITR?	Yes, as tax credit or refund	Yes, as tax credit or refund
Penalty for Non-Compliance	Non-deduction of TDS: 1% per monthLate payment of TDS: 1.5% per monthTCS non-compliance: 1% per month (increasing to 1.5% from April 1, 2025)	Interest @1% per month, late fee u/s 234E, and penalty under 271H

Key TDS Sections (FY 2025–26)

Section	Type of payment	TDS Rate	Threshold Limit
192	Salary	As per income tax slab	No threshold (applies on full income)
194C	Contract/Work Order	1% (Individual), 2% (Company)	₹30,000 per contract or ₹1,00,000 per year
194J	Professional/Technical Fees	10%	₹50,000 per year
194H	Commission/Brokerage	2%	₹20,000 per year
194I	Rent Land/Building	10%	Monthly rent > ₹50,000 AND annual > ₹6 lakh (for non-individuals)
194I	Rent Machinery/Plant	2%	₹2,40,000 per year
194IB	Rent (by Individual/HUF)	5%	₹50,000 per month
194A	Bank/Post Office Interest	10%	General limit: ₹10,000 (increased from ₹5,000)For senior citizens: ₹1,00,000 (increased from ₹50,000)Others: ₹50,000 (increased from ₹40,000)
194T	Partner’s Commission/Remuneration	10%	₹20,000 per year

Key TCS Sections (FY 2025–26)

Section	Transaction Type	TCS Rate	Threshold Limit
206C(1)	Sale of alcohol, tendu leaves, timber, scrap, etc.	Varies (usually 1%–5%)	No threshold
206C(1F)	Sale of motor vehicle > ₹10 lakh	1%	Vehicle value above ₹10,00,000
206C(1G)	Overseas remittance under LRS	5% / 20%*	₹10 lakh per financial year
206C(1G)	Foreign travel package	5%	No threshold

Due Dates for TDS and TCS Payment & Filing

The government has set clear deadlines to ensure timely collection of TDS and TCS and return filing. Delays attract both late fees and penalties.

Last date for monthly payment :

• Payment of TDS and TCS: By 7th of every month, on deduction/recovery of the previous month.
• For the month of March: The payment deadline is by 30th April.

Last Date for Filing Quarterly Returns:

Quarterly	Last date for filing TDS / TCS returns
April – June	31st July
July – September	31 October
October – December	31 January
January – March	31st May

Late fees and penalties:

• Late fee of ₹200 per day (Section 234E)
• Penalty up to ₹10,000 (Section 271H), if wilfully not filed or wrong return is filed.

TDS vs TCS with Real-Life Examples

The annual salary of an employee is ₹12,00,000. The company has to deduct TDS from the salary as per the new tax slabs as given below:

Applicable Slabs under New Regime :

• ₹0 – ₹4,00,000 = 0%
• ₹4,00,001 – ₹8,00,000 = 5%
• ₹8,00,001 – ₹12,00,000 = 10%

TDS Calculation Breakdown :

• ₹0-₹4 lakh = ₹0 tax
• 5% on ₹4-8 lakh = ₹20,000
• 10% on ₹8 -12 lakh = ₹40,000
• Total TDS = ₹60,000 (over the whole year)

The company deducts ₹5,000 every month and deposits it to the government.

Example of TCS (Luxury Car Purchase) :  Suppose a person is purchasing a new car worth ₹15,00,000. As per section 206C(1F) of the Income Tax Act, 1% TCS is levied on sale of motor vehicles above ₹10 lakh.

• Vehicle Price = ₹15,00,000
• TCS Rate = 1%
• TCS = 1% of ₹15,00,000 = ₹15,000

This ₹15,000 will be added separately to the showroom bill and deposited to the government as Tax Collected at Source. This amount will also be reflected in the customer’s Form 26AS and can be claimed in ITR.

Impact on Taxpayers: TDS and TCS in ITR Filing

When an individual makes a transaction related to salary, interest, professional fees or any big purchase, TDS or TCS is deducted/collected on it. All this information is automatically reflected in Form 26AS and AIS (Annual Information Statement).

Details of TDS and TCS in Form 26AS

Form 26AS is an annual tax statement that records TDS deducted or TCS collected from any source. It is a required document to claim tax credit while filing returns.

How to get a refund or adjustment?

If the total tax liability at the end of the year is less than the TDS deducted or TCS collected, then the individual has the right to claim refund. This can be done easily through an online process during ITR.

Why is PAN linking necessary?

All TDS and TCS entries are linked to PAN. If PAN is not linked properly, the information in Form 26AS will not be updated and there may be problems in claiming tax credit in ITR.

Conclusion

Both TDS and TCS are tax collection instruments that help the government get timely revenue. Understanding them not only helps taxpayers file correct ITR but also makes refund claims, document verification and future planning easier. If their records are maintained properly, many tax-related problems can be avoided. Therefore, it is very important for every taxpayer to keep the information related to TDS and TCS updated and correct.

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