Tax · Free calculator

TDS Late Payment Interest & Fee Calculator (Section 201(1A) & 234E 2026)

Income-tax Act, 1961, ss. 201(1A), 234E and 40(a)(ia)

Calculate statutory interest for delayed TDS deduction (1%) and delayed deposit (1.5%) under Section 201(1A), plus Section 234E late return fee (₹200/day).

Quick Statutory Answer

Under Section 201(1A) of the Income-tax Act 1961, interest on delayed TDS is charged at 1% per month for delay in deduction (from due date to deduction date) and 1.5% per month for delay in deposit (from deduction date to payment date). Every part of a month is counted as a full month under Rule 119A. Delay in filing quarterly TDS returns (24Q/26Q) attracts a mandatory late fee of ₹200 per day under Section 234E up to the total TDS amount, and failure to deposit by the ITR due date disallows 30% of the underlying business expense under Section 40(a)(ia).

Check your compliance exposure — free All calculators

How this is calculated

  • Section 201(1A)(i): 1% per month or part of a month on the tax amount from the date tax was deductible to the date it is actually deducted.
  • Section 201(1A)(ii): 1.5% per month or part of a month on the tax amount from the date of actual deduction to the date tax is credited to the Central Government.
  • Rule 119A of Income-tax Rules: Any fraction of a month is deemed a full calendar month. A delay of 32 days counts as 2 whole months for interest calculation.
  • Section 234E: A statutory late fee of ₹200 for every day the quarterly TDS statement (Form 24Q, 26Q, 27Q) remains unfiled, capped at the total TDS amount.
  • Section 40(a)(ia): 30% of any expenditure payable to a resident on which TDS is not deducted or not deposited on or before the ITR due date is disallowed in computing business income.

Statutory TDS Delay Penalty, Interest Rates & Disallowance Matrix (AY 2026-27)

Statutory TDS Delay Penalty, Interest Rates & Disallowance Matrix (AY 2026-27)
Default Category Governing Section Statutory Rate / Penalty Computation Basis Max Cap / Disallowance
Delayed Deduction Section 201(1A)(i) 1% per month or part-month From date deductible to date deducted No cap (runs until deducted)
Delayed Deposit to Govt Section 201(1A)(ii) 1.5% per month or part-month From date deducted to date paid No cap (runs until deposited)
Quarterly Return Delay Section 234E ₹200 per day of default From return due date to filing date Capped at total TDS amount
Failure to File Statement Section 271H ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000 penalty Levied by AO if delay exceeds 1 year Minimum ₹10,000 fine
Year-End Non-Deposit Section 40(a)(ia) 30% Expense Disallowance Disallowed in year of expenditure Deductible in year of payment

Worked example

On ₹50,000 TDS deducted on 15 April 2026 and deposited on 15 July 2026 (delay of 3 months at 1.5% per month): statutory late deposit interest under section 201(1A)(ii) is ₹3,000. With Form 26Q statement due on 31 July 2026 filed 20 days late on 20 August 2026, Section 234E late fee at ₹200/day adds ₹4,000, totaling ₹7,000 in statutory additions. Furthermore, failure to deposit before return filing risks a 30% expense disallowance under Section 40(a)(ia).

Common questions

How is TDS interest calculated under Section 201(1A)?

TDS interest is charged in two phases: 1% per month from the date tax was deductible to the date actually deducted under s.201(1A)(i), and 1.5% per month from the date deducted to the date paid to the government under s.201(1A)(ii). Under Rule 119A, any part of a month is rounded up to a full month.

Is TDS interest calculated on a 30-day basis or calendar month?

Under Rule 119A of the Income-tax Rules, any fraction of a month is treated as a full calendar month. For example, if tax deducted on 10 April is deposited on 15 May, it spans two calendar months (April and May), so 2 months of interest (3%) is payable.

What is the penalty for late filing of TDS return under Section 234E?

Section 234E levies a mandatory fee of ₹200 for each day of default until the quarterly return (Form 24Q or 26Q) is filed. The total late fee cannot exceed the total amount of TDS deductible for that quarter.

What is the Section 40(a)(ia) disallowance on TDS default?

If TDS is deductible on payments made to a resident (e.g. contractor fees under 194C or professional fees under 194J) and is not deducted or not deposited on or before the ITR due date under Section 139(1), 30% of the entire expense is disallowed and added back to taxable business profits for that financial year.

Can TDS interest be claimed as a business expense?

No. Interest paid under Section 201(1A) is penal in nature and cannot be claimed as a deductible business expenditure under Section 37(1) of the Income-tax Act.