TDS Forms under the Income-tax Act, 2025: Complete Guide for Deductors, Businesses and Tax Professionals
The Income-tax Act, 2025 has changed the way TDS provisions are presented in the law. The good news is that the Government has largely simplified the structure without disturbing the basic TDS system. In simple words, the TDS law has not been reinvented, but the old provisions and forms under the Income-tax Act, 1961 have been reorganised, renumbered and aligned with the new Act and the Income-tax Rules, 2026. (Etds)
This is an important compliance update for employers, companies, firms, professionals, deductors, accountants and Chartered Accountants. From 1 April 2026, deductors must start using the new TDS form numbers and new statutory references for transactions governed by the Income-tax Act, 2025. The Department has also clarified an important transition rule: where the earlier of credit or payment falls on or before 31 March 2026, the old 1961 Act applies; where it falls on or after 1 April 2026, the new Act applies.
Why this change matters
Under the Income-tax Act, 1961, TDS provisions were spread across many separate sections such as section 192, section 194A, section 194C, section 194H, section 194I, section 194J, section 194-IA, section 194-IB, section 194M, section 194S and section 195. Under the Income-tax Act, 2025, these provisions have been substantially consolidated into a simpler framework, mainly under section 392 for salary and section 393 for other TDS payments, while section 395deals with certificates and lower or nil deduction, and section 397 deals with compliance and reporting such as TAN and TDS/TCS statements. (Etds)
This means that professionals handling TDS return filing must now understand two shifts at the same time:
first, the old section references have changed; and second, the form numbers have changed. If old section codes such as 194C, 194J or 194H are used for post-1 April 2026 transactions, the Department has indicated that this may create system validation issues. (Etds)
Old vs new TDS forms: the most important mapping
For daily office work, the following mapping is the one every deductor and tax professional should keep handy.
| Earlier form under the 1961 Act | New form under the 2025 Act | Main use |
| Form 24Q | Form 138 | Quarterly TDS statement for salary |
| Form 26Q | Form 140 | Quarterly TDS statement for resident non-salary payments |
| Form 27Q | Form 144 | Quarterly TDS statement for non-resident payments |
| Forms 26QB / 26QC / 26QD / 26QE | Form 141 | PAN-based challan-cum-statement for specified transactions |
| Form 16 | Form 130 | Salary TDS certificate |
| Form 16A | Form 131 | Non-salary TDS certificate |
| Forms 16B / 16C / 16D / 16E | Form 132 | Certificate against challan-cum-statement cases |
| Forms 15G / 15H | Form 121 | Declaration for receipt without deduction in eligible cases |
| Form 13 | Form 128 | Application for lower or nil deduction certificate |
| Form 15CA | Form 145 | Information for foreign remittance |
| Form 15CB | Form 146 | Accountant’s certificate for foreign remittance |
This mapping is drawn from the official guidance notes issued by the Income-tax Department for the new forms under the Income-tax Rules, 2026. (Etds)
The four most important TDS return forms you must know
1. Form 138 – replacement of old Form 24Q
Form 138 is the new quarterly TDS statement for salary payments. In substance, it replaces old Form 24Q. It is filed under section 397(3)(b) read with Rule 219 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026. Since salary TDS itself now flows from section 392, professionals should understand that the old section 192 logic is now housed in a new structure. (Etds)
2. Form 140 – replacement of old Form 26Q
Form 140 is the new quarterly TDS statement for resident non-salary payments, such as interest, commission, brokerage, professional fees, rent and other specified payments to residents. For many businesses, this will be one of the most used TDS forms under the Income-tax Act, 2025. (Etds)
3. Form 144 – replacement of old Form 27Q
Form 144 is the new quarterly statement for payments to non-residents or foreign companies. This form is especially relevant where cross-border payments, royalty, technical fee, interest, dividend or other taxable remittances are involved. (Etds)
4. Form 141 – the biggest practical change
Form 141 is perhaps the most important operational change in the new regime. Under the old law, separate challan-cum-statement forms were used for different special cases, namely Form 26QB, Form 26QC, Form 26QD and Form 26QE. Under the new law, these have been combined into one consolidated Form 141, with different schedules for different transactions. This is a major simplification for practice management and internal compliance systems. (Etds)
TDS certificates have also changed
The certificate forms have been renumbered as well. Form 130 is the new equivalent of old Form 16, Form 131 replaces old Form 16A, and Form 132 replaces old Forms 16B, 16C, 16D and 16E. So, even where the nature of compliance remains familiar, the documentation, back-office formats and client communication templates need updating. (Etds)
In practical office terms, this means that payroll teams, finance departments, deductors and professional firms must revise their standard operating formats, email templates, internal checklists, software masters and client advisories. A team that continues using old form names in communications after 1 April 2026 may create confusion for clients and staff, even if the underlying transaction is otherwise correct.
Due dates: what remains the same and what to watch
One reassuring point is that the quarterly due dates for the core TDS statements continue in the familiar pattern. The official notes for Forms 140 and 144 show due dates of 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May for Q1 to Q4 respectively, and Form 138 follows the same quarterly structure. (Etds)
For Form 141, however, the compliance format is transaction-based, not quarterly. The official guidance states that the challan-cum-statement in Form 141 must be furnished within 30 days from the end of the month in which deduction is made. This is an important point for property transactions, rent-related deduction in eligible cases, specified payments under the applicable table entry, and virtual digital asset cases. (Etds)
Similarly, TDS certificates continue to follow familiar timelines. Form 130 is to be issued by 15 June of the immediately following financial year. Form 131 is to be issued within 15 days from the due date of the corresponding quarterly TDS statement, which effectively means 15 August, 15 November, 15 February and 15 June for the respective quarters. Form 132 is to be issued within 15 days from the due date of the corresponding challan-cum-statement. (Etds)
What about Form 15G, Form 15H and lower deduction certificates?
These have also been migrated to the new form structure. Old Forms 15G and 15H are now represented through Form 121 under section 393(6). Likewise, old Form 13 is now Form 128, used for applying for a certificate authorising deduction at a lower or nil rate under section 395(1) or 395(3). (Etds)
This is very important for compliance-sensitive taxpayers and deductees. Many businesses focus only on return filing, but equally important are the declarations, certificates and exception documents that reduce wrongful deduction, excess deduction or post-filing correction work. Under the new Act, these documents remain important, but their references have changed. (Etds)
What about foreign remittance compliance?
Foreign remittance compliance has also moved to the new form structure. Old Form 15CA is now Form 145, and old Form 15CB is now Form 146. Form 145 is the information form to be furnished before remittance to a non-resident or foreign company in covered cases, and Form 146 is the Chartered Accountant’s certificate required in specified taxable remittance situations under Rule 220. (Etds)
This area needs special care because foreign remittance compliance often involves not only TDS but also chargeability analysis, treaty review, documentation, Form 144 linkage, and backend verification. For businesses making overseas payments, this is one part of TDS compliance where professional review is strongly advisable. (Etds)
Practical compliance impact for businesses and professionals
If you are an employer, company, partnership firm, LLP, proprietor, startup, accountant or CA firm, the transition to the Income-tax Act, 2025 means that your TDS compliance process should now be reviewed in six areas.
First, your software and masters should be updated to reflect the new form names and section references.
Second, your team should stop using old section language for new-period transactions after 1 April 2026.
Third, your internal compliance calendar should separately track quarterly statement forms and event-based forms like Form 141, Form 145 and Form 146.
Fourth, your certificate issuance process should be updated to new form names.
Fifth, your client-facing communication should explain the change in plain language.
Sixth, your correction mechanism and reconciliation workflow should remain active, because the Department continues to permit correction statements where original TDS statements contain errors. (Etds)
Common mistakes likely to happen in the first year
The first year of a new law usually brings practical errors. In the TDS area, the most likely mistakes are:
- quoting old section numbers for new-period transactions,
- selecting the wrong new form number,
- mixing up quarterly forms and challan-cum-statement forms,
- issuing certificates in old nomenclature,
- missing the transition rule around 31 March 2026 and 1 April 2026,
- ignoring corrections where PAN, challan or deductee details are incorrect. (Etds)
A well-run TDS practice in 2026 will not depend only on filing. It will depend on correct classification, correct form selection, correct timing, correct deduction, correct reporting and timely correction.
Quick old vs new TDS form snapshot
If you remember only one thing, remember this:
24Q becomes 138, 26Q becomes 140, 27Q becomes 144, 26QB/26QC/26QD/26QE merge into 141, Form 16 becomes 130, Form 16A becomes 131, Form 15G/15H becomes 121, Form 13 becomes 128, and Form 15CA/15CB become 145/146. (Etds)
Frequently asked questions
1. Has the TDS law completely changed under the Income-tax Act, 2025?
No. The Department’s transition FAQ clearly states that broadly there is no change in policy. The law has mainly been simplified, consolidated and restructured. (Etds)
2. Which sections now govern TDS?
For practical purposes, section 392 covers salary-related TDS and section 393 covers other TDS payments. Section 395deals with certificates and lower or nil deduction, and section 397 deals with compliance and reporting.
3. Do the quarterly due dates change?
For the main quarterly TDS statements, the official guidance continues the familiar due-date pattern of 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May. (Etds)
4. What is the most important practical change?
The biggest day-to-day change is Form 141, because multiple earlier challan-cum-statement forms are now consolidated into one structure. (Etds)
5. Which law applies for March 2026 transactions?
The transition depends on the earlier of credit or payment. If that falls on or before 31 March 2026, the old law applies. If it falls on or after 1 April 2026, the 2025 Act applies. (Etds)
Final word
The shift to the Income-tax Act, 2025 is not merely a change in section numbering. It is a compliance transition that affects TDS return filing, TDS certificates, TDS lower deduction applications, declarations, foreign remittance forms, internal checklists, software configuration and client advisory language. Businesses that update early will face fewer defaults, fewer validation issues and smoother TDS compliance. (Etds)
For deductors and professionals, the right approach is simple: learn the new form numbers, map them to the correct section, update your process, and file with the new references from day one.
Frequently asked questions
Which new form replaces old Form 24Q?
Old Form 24Q is replaced by Form 138 for salary TDS reporting.
Which new form replaces old Form 26Q?
Old Form 26Q is replaced by Form 140 for resident non-salary TDS reporting.
Which new form replaces old Form 27Q?
Old Form 27Q is replaced by Form 144 for non-resident TDS reporting.
What is Form 141?
Form 141 is the consolidated challan-cum-statement replacing old Forms 26QB, 26QC, 26QD and 26QE.
Which section now broadly governs salary TDS?
Salary TDS is now broadly placed under section 392 of the Income-tax Act, 2025.
Which section now broadly governs other TDS payments?
Other TDS payments are broadly organised under section 393 of the Income-tax Act, 2025.
What are the due dates for quarterly TDS statements under the new regime?
The familiar quarterly pattern continues as 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May.
Which new form replaces old Form 15CA and Form 15CB?
Old Form 15CA is now Form 145, and old Form 15CB is now Form 146.
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