Difference between TDS and TCS – A Complete Guide

Difference between TDS and TCS – A Complete Guide

The Indian Government broadly collects two types of taxes direct and indirect taxes. Direct taxes are collected from individuals on their earned income. Whereas, the indirect tax is collected by the seller. Taxes Deducted at Sources (TDS) and Taxes Collected at Sources (TCS) are two types of indirect taxes. These terms are often mixed interchangeably. In 2017, the Government of India introduced GST (Goods and Service Tax) on goods and services to simplify indirect taxes. Let us dive deep into understanding the difference between TCS and TDS in detail.

What is TDS

Tax Deducted at Source is a type of tax that a business or individual must deduct from the payment made for the purchase of goods and services. According to section 194Q of the Income Tax Act, TDS is deducted if the payment exceeds ₹50 lakh for the purchase of goods and services like rent, consulting, legal fees, royalty, technical services, etc.  

The taxpayer can claim the TDS while filing an income tax return. The TDS rate might differ depending on the factors like kind of income, taxpayer, and place of residence. The central government tracks income using the TDS as the taxes are collected in advance.

Table of Content

  1. What is TDS
  2. TDS Rate Chart FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26)
  3. Example of TDS
  4. What is TCS
  5. TCS Rate Chart FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26)
  6. Example of TCS
  7. Difference between TCS and TDS
  8. Penalties for Not Filing TDS/TCS on Time
  9. TDS and TCS under GST

TDS Rate Chart FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26)

Collection codes under section 206C

Section Nature of PaymentThresholdIndividual/ HUF (%)Other (%)
192Salaries-Slab RateSlab Rate
192APremature withdrawal from EPF5000010-
193Interest on Securities100001010
194Dividends50001010
194AInterest (Banks)400001010
194AInterest - Senior Citizen (Banks)5000010-
194AInterest (Others)50001010
194BWinning from Lotteries100003030
194BAWinnings from online games-3030
194BBWinning from Horse Race100003030
194CContractor - Single Transaction3000012
194CContractor - During the F.Y.1 Lakh12
194CTransporter (44AE) declaration with PAN---
194DInsurance Commission (15G - 15H allowed)15000510
194DA

Payment received - Life insurance Policy

From: 01/10/2024

Upto: 30/09/2024

1 Lakh

 

2

5

 

2

5

194EEPayment received - National Savings Scheme (NSS)25001010
194FRepurchase Units by MFs (Upto 30/09/2024 - 20% TDS)---
194G

Commission – Lottery 

From: 01/10/2024

Upto: 30/09/2024

15000

 

2

5

 

2

5

194H

Commission / Brokerage

From: 01/10/2024

 Upto: 30/09/2024

15000

 

2

5

 

2

5

194I(a)Rent for Plant & Machinery2.40 Lakh22
194I(b)Rent for Land, Building & Furniture2.40 Lakh1010
194IATransfer of certain immovable property other than agriculture land50 Lakh11
194IB

Rent payment by individual / HUF not covered u/s 194I From 01/10/2024

Upto: 30/09/2024

50000 P. M.

 

2

5

 

2

5

194ICPayment under sthe pecified Joint Development Agreement-1010
194J(a)Fees - Technical Services, Call Centre, Royalty, Distribution / Exhibition of Cinematographic Films, etc.3000022
194J(b)Fees - All other Professional Services300001010
194KPayment of dividends by mutual Funds50001010
194LACompensation on transfer of certain immovable property other than agricultural land2.50 Lakh1010
194LBIncome by way of interest from infrastructure debt fund (non-resident)-55
194LBACertain income from units of a business trust (applicable from 01.10.2014)-1010
194LBBIncome in respect of investment of investment fund-10% for residents, 30% for non-residents10% for residents, 40% for non-residents
194LBCIncome in respect of investment in securitization trust-

30% for residents, 40% for

non-residents, 25% for individual & HUF

30%,

residents, 40% for

non-residents, 25% for individual & HUF

194LDInterest on certain bonds and Govt. Securities (from 01.06.2013)-55
194M

Payment made for Contracts, Brokerage, or Professional Fees by individual & HUF (other than Section 194C, 194H & 194J) 

From 01/10/2024

Upto: 30/09/2024

50 Lakh

 

 


 

2

5

 

 


 

2

5

194NCash withdrawal above 1 crore during the previous year from1 or more accounts with a bank or co-operative society (wef 01.09.2019)

1    Crore (Rs. 3 Crores if withdrawal is by Co-operative society)

20  Lakhs (If ITR not filed for previous 3 years)

2

 

 

 

2

(Rs. 20 Lakh - 1 Crore)

5

(Rs. 1 Crore and above)

2

 

 

 

2

 

 

5

194O

TDS on e-commerce participants

From: 01/10/2024

Upto: 30/09/2024

5 Lakh

 

 

0.1

1

 

 

0.1

1

194PTDS in case of Specified Senior Citizen (above 75 years) having Salary & Interest (ITR not required)-Slab RateNA
194QTDS on Purchase of Goods exceeding Rs. 50 Lakhs (Applicable From 01-July-2021)Above Rs. 50 Lakhs0.10.1
194RBenefits or perquisites of business or profession200001010
194SPayment of consideration for transfer of virtual digital assets by persons other than specified persons1000011

Example of TDS

Suppose an employee working for a company with a monthly salary of ₹50,000. The company will deduct TDS from the salary before making payment to the employee as per the income tax regulations.

Let’s assume that 10% is the applicable TDS rate for the income slab. In this case, the employer will deduct 10% of the employee's salary as TDS amount to ₹5,000 (10% of ₹50,000). You will receive the amount of ₹45,000 after deducting TDS.

What is TCS

Tax Collected at source or TCS rate is applicable on the goods and services as per section 206C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. TCS applies to the seller on the sale of the goods collected from the buyer on the sale of goods more than ₹50 Lakhs.

TCS Rate Chart FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26)

Collection codes under section 206C

CodeNature of PaymentTCS Rate (%)
AAlcoholic Liquor for human consumption & Tendu leaves1
BTimber obtained under a forest lease or other mode2.5
CTimber obtained under any other mode other than forest lease2.5
DAny other forest produce not being a timber or tendu leaves2.5
EScrap1
FParking Lot2
GToll Plaza2
HMining and Quarring2
ITendu Leaves5
JMinerals1
KBullion & Jewellery1
LSale of Motor Vehicle (From 01/01/2025, more luxury items may be notified in addition to Motor Car)1
MSale in cash of any goods (other than bullion)1
NProviding of any service (other than Ch-XVII-B)1
OTour Program Package5
PLRS - Educational Loan - Financial Institution0.5
QLRS - Other purposes - Liberalized Remittance Scheme5
RSale of Goods0.1
TLRS – Education or Medical Treatment not covered under Code P5

Example of TCS

Suppose a business sells alcoholic beverages. As per the applicable tax regulations, TCS is collected by the seller when alcoholic liquor is sold.

Let's say the seller sells a case of alcoholic liquor to a customer for ₹ 10,000 and the TCS rate for alcoholic liquor is 1%. In this case, the seller will collect 1% of the sale value, which amounts to ₹100 (1% of ₹10,000) as TCS.

As per the specified timeline and procedures, the seller will remit the collected TCS amount of ₹100 to the government.

Difference between TCS and TDS

Key DifferencesTDSTCS
MeaningTDS is deducted from the payment made for purchasing of goods and services.Tax Collected at Source (TCS) is collected by the seller on the sale of goods to the buyer.
TransactionRent, commission, interest, rent, salaries, brokerage and moreSale of minerals, liquor, toll tickets, timber, scrap, forest products, cars, tendu leaves, etc.
DeductionTDS is deducted whenever a payment is due or made, whichever is earlier.TCS is collected at the time of sale by the seller.
Due Dates7th of next month, except for March, is the 30th of April of the next Financial Year.7th of next month, except for March, is the 7th of April of the next Financial Year. The returns have to be submitted quarterly.
LimitsTDS is applicable on the purchase of goods if the amount is more than 50 lakhs under section 194QTCS is applicable on the sales of goods if the amount is more than 50 lakhs under section 206C.

Penalties for Not Filing TDS/TCS on Time

SectionNature of Non-CompliancePenalty
Under Section 271HFailed to submit TDS/TCS return on time and accurately

Minimum  ₹10,000

Maximum up to ₹100000

  • For non-deduction of TDS, an interest rate of 1.5% per month is applicable from the date on which tax was deductible to the date on which tax is deducted under section 201 (1A).
  • For late TDS payments, the interest rate of 1.5% will apply from the deduction date to the payment date.

TDS and TCS under GST

Below is the overview of TDS and TCS under GST:

TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) under GST

Generally, the TDS rate is 2% (1% each for Central GST and State/Union Territory GST). TDS under GST applies to specified local authorities, government departments, and certain categories of taxpayers. A certain percentage is deducted from the invoice value while making payments to suppliers registered under GST. Providing details of the deducted tax and the supplier, the TDS return is filed by the deductor. The supplier can utilize the TDS amount for offsetting their GST liability which is credited to their electronic cash ledger.

TCS (Tax Collected at Source) under GST

TCS is collected at the time of collection/payment from the buyers and applies to e-commerce operators who facilitate the supply of goods or services through their platforms. The rate of TCS varies based on the nature of the supplies. The E-commerce operator collected the TCS at the time of receiving payment from the buyer. Providing details of the collected tax and the buyer, TCS is collected by the e-commerce operator. The buyer can utilize the TCS amount to pay their GST liability which is credited to their electronic cash ledger.

FAQ onDifference between TDS and TCS

Tax Deducted at Source is a type of tax that a business or individual must deduct from the payment made for the purchase of goods and services. According to section 194Q of the Income Tax Act, TDS is deducted if the payment exceeds ₹50 lakh for the purchase of goods and services like rent, consulting, legal fees, royalty, technical services, etc.

Tax Collected at source or TCS rate is applicable on the goods and services as per section 206C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. TCS applies to the seller on the sale of the goods collected from the buyer on the sale of goods more than ₹50 Lakhs.

Any person, including an individual, firm, HUF (Hindu Undivided Family), and NRI (non-resident Indian) is liable to pay TDS.

TCS is calculated on the gross payment amount.

Yes, its TDS is refundable if paid excessive tax.

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