Tax Deduction Account Number

Why TAN is required?

As per section 203A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, every person who deducts or collects tax at source has to apply for the allotment of TAN. Section 203A also makes it mandatory to quote TAN in following documents:
(a) TDS statements i.e. return
(b) TCS statements i.e. return
(c) Statement of financial transactions or reportable accounts
(d) Challans for payment of TDS/TCS
(e) TDS/TCS certificates
(f) Other documents as may be prescribed

Documents to be submitted along with TAN application

No documents are required to be submitted along with application for allotment of TAN.

No separate TAN is required to obtain for the purpose of TCS

TAN allotted for TDS can be used for the purpose of TCS also. In other words, no separate TAN is required to obtain for the purpose of TCS, if the person already holds TAN for the purpose of TDS.

Taxpayer cannot hold more than one TAN

It is illegal to possess or use more than one TAN. Different branches/ divisions of an entity may, however, have separate TAN.
In case more than one TAN have been allotted, then the TAN which is being used regularly should be continued and the other TAN(s) should immediately be surrendered for cancellation.

FAQs

Q.1 What is TAN?
TAN or Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number is a unique ten-digit alpha-numeric number required to be obtained by all persons who are responsible for deducting or collecting tax. Under Section 203A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, it is mandatory to quote Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN) allotted by the Income Tax Department (ITD) on all TDS statements.
To facilitate deductors find their new TAN, ITD has now introduced a search facility on their website (www.incometaxindia.gov.in). Through this facility, deductors can search on name and old TAN to find the new TAN. Deductors are advised to find new TAN from this site before it is incorporated in their e-TDS statement to avoid any inconvenience at the time of furnishing e-TDS statements.
For more information, visit TIN.

Q.2 Who must apply for TAN?
Every person liable to deduct tax at source or collect tax at source is required to obtain TAN. However, a person required to deduct tax under section 194IA orsection 194-IB or section 194M can use PAN in place of TAN as such person is not required to obtain TAN.

1. Section 194IA provides for deduction of tax at source from payment on transfer of certain immovable property other than agricultural land.
2. Section 194-IB provides for deduction of tax at source at the rate of 5% from payment of rent. The tax shall be deducted if the rent paid or payable exceeds Rs. 50,000 per month or part of the month. This provision is applicable on individual and HUF, who is not liable to tax audit under Section 44AB in the immediately preceding financial year.
3. Section 194M provide for deduction of tax at source at the rate of 5% on the sum paid or credited, to a resident, on account of contractual work, commission (not being insurance commission referred to in section 194D), brokerage or professional fees, by an individual or a HUF, if aggregate of such sum exceeds Rs. 50 lakhs in a financial year. This provision is applicable on individual and HUF, who are not covered under section 194C, section 194H and section 194J.

Q.3 Why is it necessary to have TAN?
As per section 203A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, every person who deducts or collects tax at source has to apply for the allotment of TAN. Section 203A also makes it mandatory to quote TAN in TDS/TCS return (including any e-TDS/TCS return), any TDS/TCS payment challan, TDS/TCS certificates and other documents as may be prescribed. As per section 272BB, failure to apply for TAN or not quoting the TAN in the specified documents attracts a penalty of Rs. 10,000/-.

Q.4 How to apply for TAN?
There are two modes for applying for TAN: (1) Online mode and (ii) Offline mode, they are as follows:
OFFLINE—An application for allotment of TAN is to be filed in Form 49B in duplicate and submitted to any TIN Facilitation Centres (TIN-FC). Addresses of TIN-FCs are available at NSDL-TIN website (https://www.tin-nsdl.com).
In case of an applicant, being a company which has not been registered under the Companies Act, 2013, the application for allotment of Tax Deduction Account Number may be made in Form No. SPICe (INC-32) specified under sub-section (1) of section 7 of the said Act for incorporation of the company.
ONLINE—Online application for TAN can be made from the NSDL-TIN website.
Addresses of the TIN FC are available at www.incometaxindia.gov.in or https://www.tin-nsdl.com.

Q.5 Who will allot TAN?
TAN is allotted by the Income Tax Department on the basis of the application submitted to TIN Facilitation Centres (TIN-FC) managed by NSDL. NSDL will intimate the TAN which will be required to be mentioned in all future correspondence relating to TDS/TCS.

Q.6 Can an online application be made for allotment of TAN?
Yes. The application can be made online through https://www.tin-nsdl.com

Q.7 Can an application for TAN be made on a plain paper?
No. TAN Application can be made only on Form49B. The application form can be downloaded from the website of the Income Tax Department (www.incometaxindia.gov.in) or NSDL ( https://www.tin-nsdl.com ) or obtained from any other source. The application is also available at TIN Facilitation Centres.

Q.8 Can form 49B be filled on a typewriter?
Yes. But typing should be in capital letters with good impression.

Q.9 What are the documents that need to accompany the TAN application?
No documents are required to be accompanied with Form 49Bi.e. the application for allotment of TAN. However, where the application is being made online, the acknowledgment which is generated after online filling up the form will be required to be forwarded to NSDL. Detailed guidelines for the submission of application are available at https://www.tin-nsdl.com

Q.10 What is the fee for filing application for TAN?
Currently the fee for filing the TAN application is Rs.55/- + GST as applicable (the application fees may change from time to time).