Rated 4.9/5 by 312+ Chennai clientsZero penalty record across all filings24-hour response · WhatsApp-first supportOffices: Maduravoyal, Nerkundram & Nolambur (upcoming)15+ years of expert tax & compliance consulting500+ active clients across 243 Chennai areasRated 4.9/5 by 312+ Chennai clientsZero penalty record across all filings24-hour response · WhatsApp-first supportOffices: Maduravoyal, Nerkundram & Nolambur (upcoming)15+ years of expert tax & compliance consulting500+ active clients across 243 Chennai areas
Royapettah · near Royapettah Government Hospital · TDS Notice Reply desk

TDS Notice Reply · Royapettah healthcare hospitality residential Pocket

Professional TDS Notice Reply for Royapettah businesses near Royapettah Government Hospital — and a zero-penalty filing record

Handling TDS Notice Reply for Royapettah and Triplicane clients by qualified experts with a 15+ year, zero-penalty record. Call 9566-068-468.

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Quick Answer

What is Section 271C penalty for failure to deduct TDS in Royapettah, Chennai?

Section 271C levies a penalty equal to the amount of tax not deducted, leviable by a JCIT-rank officer under Section 274. Section 273B insulates the deductor where reasonable cause is shown — bona fide belief on non-applicability, characterisation issue, retrospective amendment, payee's TRC / DTAA claim. The Supreme Court in CIT v. Eli Lilly (2009) 312 ITR 225 held that Section 271C penalty is not automatic; reasonable-cause defence is read into Section 273B for all TDS penalty provisions.

Transparent Pricing

TDS Notice Reply in Royapettah — Plans & Pricing

Fixed fees · Zero hidden charges · Call 9566-068-468 for a custom quote.

MonthlyAnnualSave 2 Months
Basic Reply
Section 200A intimation reply
₹2,500/per notice

  • Section 200A Intimation Analysis
  • TRACES Justification Report Download
  • Default Head-Wise Mapping (Short Payment / Short Deduction / Interest / 234E)
  • Online Correction (C-1 Challan / C-2 Add Challan / C-9 PAN Correction) — 1 Quarter
  • Default Rectification Request (DRR) on TRACES
  • 30-Day Recovery Window Tracking under Section 220
  • Section 234E Pre-01-Jun-2015 Fee Challenge
  • Section 201(1A) Interest Recomputation
  • Form 26A Annexure-A Preparation
  • Section 201 Default Defence
  • Section 40(a)(ia) Disallowance Defence
  • CIT(A) Section 250 Appeal
  • Notice Type: Section 200A CPC-TDS Intimation
  • Quarter Coverage: Single Quarter (One Form 24Q/26Q/27Q/27EQ)
  • Deductee Rows: Up to 25
  • WhatsApp Acknowledgement of Filing
  • Senior Consultant Lead
Starter
234E challenge + 201(1A) interest recompute
₹5,500/per notice

  • Section 200A Intimation Analysis
  • TRACES Justification Report Download
  • Default Head-Wise Mapping
  • Online Correction (All Categories C-1 to C-9) — Up to 4 Quarters
  • Default Rectification Request (DRR) on TRACES
  • Section 234E Pre-01-Jun-2015 Fee Challenge — Fatehraj Singhvi (Kar HC) Citation
  • Section 201(1A) Interest Recomputation Period-Wise (1% + 1.5%)
  • Part-Month Interest Audit
  • Challan Correction OLTAS — Coordination with Bank / AO TDS
  • BIN Matching for Government Deductors
  • Form 26A Annexure-A Preparation
  • Section 201 Default Defence
  • Section 40(a)(ia) Disallowance Defence
  • CIT(A) Section 250 Appeal
  • Notice Type: Section 200A + 234E Demand
  • Quarter Coverage: Up to 4 Quarters / 1 Financial Year
  • Deductee Rows: Up to 100
  • WhatsApp + Email Filing Acknowledgements
  • Section 271H ₹10K-₹1L Penalty Defence
  • Senior Consultant Lead
Most Popular ⭐
Professional
Form 26A + Section 201 default defence
₹12,000/per notice

  • Section 200A Intimation Full Analysis
  • TRACES Justification Report — Deductee-Wise Defence Mapping
  • Online Correction All Categories — Unlimited Quarters in 1 FY
  • Default Rectification Request (DRR)
  • Section 234E Fatehraj Singhvi Challenge
  • Section 201(1A) Interest Recomputation with Form 26A Truncation
  • Form 26A Annexure-A Preparation through Practicing C.A.
  • Online Filing of Form 26A on TRACES (Deductor + C.A. Login)
  • Form 26B Refund Request for Over-paid TDS
  • Section 201(1) Deemed Default Defence — First Proviso Hindustan Coca-Cola
  • Section 271C Failure-to-Deduct Penalty Defence under Section 273B
  • Section 271H Late Filing Penalty Defence
  • Section 197 Lower Deduction Certificate Application (Form 13)
  • Section 206AB / 206CCA Compliance Check Defence
  • Section 206AA PAN-less Higher Rate Defence
  • Challan + BIN Reconciliation
  • Section 40(a)(ia) Disallowance Defence in Income-Tax Assessment
  • CIT(A) Section 250 Appeal
  • Notice Type: 200A + 201(1) + 201(1A) + 234E + 271H
  • Quarter Coverage: All Open Quarters (24Q/26Q/27Q/27EQ)
  • Deductee Rows: Unlimited
  • WhatsApp + Email + Call Updates
  • 30/45-Day Demand Tracking under Section 220(2)
  • Senior Consultant Lead — C.A. with 15+ Years TDS Practice
Premium
40(a)(ia) disallowance defence + Section 250 appeal
₹35,000/per notice

  • All Professional Plan Inclusions
  • Section 40(a)(ia) 30% Disallowance Defence in Section 143(3) Assessment
  • Section 40(a)(i) 100% Disallowance Defence (Foreign Payee)
  • Form 26A Second Proviso Defence — No 40(a)(ia) Disallowance
  • Section 195 Chargeability Defence — Engineering Analysis (SC 2021)
  • DTAA Article 12 Royalty / FTS ""Make Available"" Defence
  • Section 90(2) Treaty Override on Section 206AA
  • TRC + Form 10F + No-PE Declaration Compilation
  • Section 201 Order Time-Bar Defence — Section 201(3) 7-Year Limit
  • Section 220(6) Stay of Demand Petition
  • CIT(A) Section 250 Appeal in Form 35 — Faceless Appeal Centre
  • Rule 46A Additional Evidence Petition
  • ITAT Section 253 Appeal in Form 36
  • ITAT Hearing Representation with Counsel Coordination
  • Section 276B Prosecution Compounding under CBDT 17-Oct-2024 Guidelines
  • Vivad se Vishwas 2024 Settlement Application Where Eligible
  • Notice Type: All — 200A / 201 / 201(1A) / 234E / 271C / 271H / 276B / 40(a)(ia) / 40(a)(i)
  • Quarter Coverage: Unlimited Quarters / Multiple Financial Years
  • Deductee Rows: Unlimited
  • Personal Hearing Representation (Video & Physical)
  • WhatsApp + Email + Dedicated Senior Consultant + Counsel
  • High Court Section 260A Filing Support Where Applicable

Swipe to see all plans

Prices exclude GST. For enterprise pricing, call 9566-068-468.

Why FilingPro?

Why Royapettah Clients Choose FilingPro

Expert TDS Notice Reply in Royapettah — qualified professionals, 15+ years experience, zero-penalty track record.

Default Rectification Request (DRR) for CPC Errors

Where the underlying statement is correct but CPC-TDS has wrongly raised default — challan paid but not visible due to OLTAS / BIN issue, double-counted interest — Default Rectification Request is raised on TRACES; CPC-TDS Ghaziabad responds in 30-45 days.

Section 195 Engineering Analysis Defence

For Section 195 short-deduction on software / cloud / SaaS payments to non-residents, Engineering Analysis Centre of Excellence v. CIT [2021] 432 ITR 471 (SC) is invoked — payment is not royalty under DTAA Article 12, no TDS obligation, no 201 default, no 40(a)(i) disallowance.

Section 206AB Compliance Check Defence

Short-deduction defaults under Section 206AB are defended by producing the dated Compliance Check screenshot from the Reporting Portal proving the deductee was NOT a specified person at the time of payment. Status snapshot is the dispositive evidence.

Section 276B Prosecution Compounding

Where non-deposit of TDS exceeds ₹25 lakh threshold triggering compulsory prosecution under Section 276B, we coordinate full deposit of TDS + 1.5% interest, file compounding application under the latest CBDT Compounding Guidelines dated 17-Oct-2024 — criminal proceedings closed before trial commencement.

15+ Years of TDS Practice in Chennai

Our team has handled TDS defaults since the TRACES portal launch in 2012-13 — over 200 Royapettah deductors defended across Section 200A intimations, Section 201 orders, Section 234E fee challenges, Form 26A filings and Section 40(a)(ia) disallowance defences in scrutiny.

30-Day Section 220 Recovery Window Tracked

Every Section 200A intimation received by Royapettah clients is logged with a 30-day countdown to Section 220(1) recovery. Online Correction or Default Rectification Request is filed at least 5 days before expiry; Section 220(2) interest at 1% per month and Section 221 penalty are pre-empted.

Key Benefits

What Royapettah Clients Get

Every TDS Notice Reply engagement delivers measurable, guaranteed outcomes — expert professionals, on time, every time.

Section 40(a)(i) 100% Disallowance Defeated for Foreign Payments
For non-resident payments, Section 195 chargeability is challenged through DTAA Article 12 "make available" test, Engineering Analysis (SC 2021) for software, GE India Technology (SC 2010) on chargeability — entire 100% Section 40(a)(i) disallowance dropped.
Section 271H Penalty Dropped
₹10,000 to ₹1 lakh penalty under Section 271H for incorrect / late TDS return is dropped invoking Section 273B reasonable cause — payroll migration, vendor PAN issues, bona fide belief on TDS applicability — Eli Lilly (SC 2009) doctrine.
Section 271C Failure-to-Deduct Penalty Defeated
Section 271C penalty equal to TDS not deducted is defeated where the deductor establishes bona fide belief in non-applicability — software characterisation, FTS make-available test, threshold limits, reimbursement classification — under Section 273B.
Section 276B Prosecution Compounded
Section 276B compulsory prosecution for non-deposit beyond ₹25 lakh threshold compounded by Pr. CCIT — TDS + 1.5% interest deposited, compounding fee at 2-3% per month paid, criminal proceedings closed without trial.
Section 220(2) Interest Avoided
Section 220(2) interest at 1% per month from expiry of 30 days of demand is pre-empted by filing Online Correction / DRR / Form 26A within the window — recovery action under Section 222 / 226 prevented.
Section 201 Time-Bar Defence
Section 201 orders against resident deductors beyond 7 years from end of FY of payment are quashed on time-bar — Section 201(3) limit is jurisdictional and cannot be cured by extension.
Comparison

Section 200A Intimation vs Section 201 Default Order

Why this matters here — Royapettah businesses operate where the business activity radiating outward from Royapettah Government Hospital and nearby commercial pockets, and with quick access via Royapettah Bus Stop and feeder routes connecting Royapettah to the rest of Chennai.

AspectSection 200A IntimationSection 201 Default Order
Nature of processSummary, computer-driven, non-adversarial; no opportunity of hearing before issue but rectification under Section 154 is availableQuasi-judicial; pre-decisional show-cause and personal hearing mandated by the Madras HC in Tube Investments of India and natural-justice jurisprudence
Liability quantumLate-filing fee under Section 234E at ₹200 per day capped at TDS amount, plus interest under Section 201(1A) for short/late payment surfaced at processingFull TDS shortfall as deductor's primary liability, plus Section 201(1A) interest at 1 per cent per month for non-deduction and 1.5 per cent per month for non-payment
Deductee tax credit reliefNot a route for relief — 200A only validates the statement; Section 197 lower-deduction certificates and Section 199 credit issues are handled separatelyForm 26A under proviso to Section 201(1) read with Rule 31ACB — if deductee has filed its return, paid the tax and obtained chartered accountant certificate, deductor is exempted from Section 201 default
Appeal forumRectification under Section 154 to CPC-TDS first; appeal under Section 246A(1)(a) before CIT(A) (NFAC) lies against an intimation that adjudicates Section 234E fee or Section 201(1A) interestAppeal under Section 246A(1)(ha) before CIT(A) (NFAC) within 30 days of order; further appeal to ITAT under Section 253(1)(a) and HC under Section 260A
Stay of demandSection 220(6) stay application before the AO; 20 per cent pre-deposit per CBDT Office Memorandum F.No.404/72/93-ITCC dated 29 Feb 2016 is the working benchmarkStay before the CIT(A) under inherent powers (Asahi India Safety Glass ratio) or before ITAT under Section 254(2A); writ to Madras HC where serious prejudice is shown
Penalty exposureSection 234E late-filing fee operates here; Section 271H penalty for non-filing or inaccurate statement is initiated separately if delay exceeds one year or particulars are wrongPenalty under Section 271C (failure to deduct) at 100 per cent of TDS, under Section 271CA (failure to collect) and prosecution under Section 276B (failure to deposit) — separate proceedings
Reasonable cause defenceSection 273B reasonable-cause defence is generally not available against Section 234E fee — the fee is automatic per Karnataka HC in Fatheraj Singhvi and Madras HC follow-up rulingsSection 273B is a complete defence against Sections 271C and 271CA penalties; bonafide interpretation, certified opinion or vendor's Form 26A operates to negate mens rea
Strategic response postureRapid reconciliation, correction statement (Form 27A) within the 30-day intimation window, Section 154 rectification for system errors; 234E challenge route is largely foreclosedDetailed factual reply to Section 201 show-cause, Form 26A from deductees where possible, written submissions citing GE Technology Centre and Hindustan Coca-Cola; preserve appellate record
Statutory anchorComputer-processed intimation generated by CPC-TDS under Section 200A(1) of the Income Tax Act 1961 after processing the TDS statement filed under Section 200(3)Quasi-judicial order passed by the jurisdictional Assessing Officer (TDS) under Section 201(1) read with Section 201(1A) treating the deductor as an assessee-in-default
TriggerArithmetical errors, incorrect claim apparent from the statement, short payment as per challan-statement match, or late-filing fee under Section 234E surfaced during automated processingFailure to deduct, short deduction, failure to deposit after deduction, or wrong-section deduction noticed by the AO after enquiry under Section 201(1) read with Rule 31A reconciliation
Issuing authorityCentralised Processing Cell-TDS at Vaishali, Ghaziabad, operating as the prescribed authority under the Centralised Processing of Statements Scheme 2013Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (TDS) — for Chennai deductors this is the ITO/ACIT (TDS) wards at Nungambakkam, after issuing a Section 201 show-cause notice with opportunity of hearing
Limitation periodMust be issued within one year from the end of the financial year in which the statement is filed per the proviso to Section 200A(1)Seven years from the end of the financial year in which payment is made or credit is given, per Section 201(3) as substituted by Finance (No. 2) Act 2024 (earlier six years)
Documents Required

Documents for TDS Notice Reply

Share documents via WhatsApp to 9566-068-468. No office visit required for Royapettah clients.

Section 200A intimation copy / Section 201(1) order / TRACES default summary email with reference number and DIN
TRACES Justification Report (PDF + CSV) downloaded from Defaults > Justification Report Download for the relevant Quarter / FY
Filed TDS statements — Form 24Q (salary) / 26Q (resident non-salary) / 27Q (non-resident) / 27EQ (TCS) — Conso File and Form 27A acknowledgement
Challan-payment proof — CIN / BSR Code / Date of Deposit / Challan Serial No. with bank counterfoil; for govt deductors Form 24G + BIN
Deductee details — PAN, Aadhaar (Section 139AA), TRC + Form 10F for non-residents, vendor Form 16/16A acknowledgement, payee Form ITR-V
Supporting evidence — invoices, contracts, 194I rent agreements, 194C work orders, 194J professional engagement letters, Section 197 lower-deduction certificates, Section 206AB Compliance Check screenshots
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Statutory Deadlines

Compliance deadlines that matter

Miss any of these and the next consequence kicks in automatically.

Deadlines in this neighbourhood — Royapettah businesses operate where the cluster of healthcare, hospitality, education businesses that defines Royapettah's commercial fabric.

Trigger eventDaysFormConsequence
Service of Section 200A intimation by CPC-TDS30 daysOnline response on TRACESSection 220(2) interest at one per cent per month accrues from day thirty-one onward
Service of Section 201(1) order treating deductor as assessee in default30 daysForm 35 first appealRight of first appeal under Section 246A lapses subject to delay condonation
Filing of corrected TDS statement to extinguish short-deduction default365 daysConso File correction through TRACESSection 271H(3) immunity window closes on completion of one year from due date
Outer limit for passing Section 201(1) order2555 daysNot applicableLimitation under Section 201(3) bars passing of order beyond seven financial years
Receipt of Section 200A intimation by email or post30 daysOnline Correction / DRR on TRACESDemand becomes recoverable under Section 220(1) with Section 220(2) interest at 1% per month and Section 221 penalty risk
Receipt of Section 201(1) deemed-default order by email30 daysForm 35 CIT(A) appeal / Section 220(6) stay applicationSection 220(2) interest at 1% per month accrues; PAN-level recovery tag activates on TRACES blocking refunds
Section 234E late-fee crystallisation on Section 200(3) due-date breachOn due dateForm 26Q / 24Q / 27Q / 27EQ — file immediately on defaultFee accrues at ₹200/day from the due-date until statement filed; capped at TDS amount; Section 271H penalty notice within 12 months
Service of Section 271H show-cause notice30 daysWritten reply with Section 273B reasonable-cause submissionsMinimum ten-thousand and maximum one-lakh-rupee penalty stands confirmed

Deadline pressure points we see in Royapettah: For Royapettah engagements specifically — for the professional and salaried population of Royapettah navigating personal-tax and home-office GST.

Forms Library

Forms used in this engagement

Form 26ACertificate from accountant under first proviso to Section 201(1)

Certifies that the deductee has filed return, included the receipt and paid the tax, thereby extinguishing the deductor's deemed-default exposure.

May be filed at any time before the order under Section 201(1) is passed Filed electronically through TRACES portal to jurisdictional Assessing Officer (TDS)
Form 24QQuarterly statement of TDS on salaries

Carries deductee-wise particulars of tax deducted from salary payments under Section 192, with Annexure II in the fourth quarter for salary computation.

Within thirty-one days of the end of the relevant quarter Filed electronically through TIN-FC or NSDL to CPC-TDS Ghaziabad
Form 26QQuarterly statement of TDS on non-salary domestic payments

Carries deductee-wise particulars of tax deducted on payments to residents other than salaries — Sections 194 to 194T as applicable.

Within thirty-one days of the end of the relevant quarter Filed electronically through TIN-FC or NSDL to CPC-TDS Ghaziabad
Form 27QQuarterly statement of TDS on payments to non-residents

Carries deductee-wise particulars of tax deducted on payments to non-residents under Section 195, with country code, residential status and DTAA rate fields.

Within thirty-one days of the end of the relevant quarter Filed electronically through TIN-FC or NSDL to CPC-TDS Ghaziabad
Form 27EQQuarterly statement of tax collected at source

Carries collectee-wise particulars of tax collected under Section 206C, covering scrap, timber, motor vehicles, foreign remittance and overseas tour package items.

Within thirty-one days of the end of the relevant quarter Filed electronically to CPC-TDS Ghaziabad through TIN-FC or NSDL
Form 16Certificate of tax deducted at source from salary

Issued to salaried employees evidencing tax deducted under Section 192, carrying Part A from TRACES and Part B with detailed salary computation.

By the fifteenth day of June of the financial year immediately following the year of deduction Issued by the deductor-employer to the employee
Form 16ACertificate of tax deducted at source on non-salary payments

Issued to deductees evidencing tax deducted on payments other than salary, downloaded from TRACES with verifiable certificate-number for credit reconciliation.

Within fifteen days of the due date for furnishing the quarterly statement Issued by the deductor to the deductee
Form 26ASAnnual tax statement

Consolidated tax credit statement reflecting tax deducted, tax collected, advance and self-assessment tax paid, refunds and high-value transactions, accessed via the e-filing portal.

Continuously updated; reconciled with quarterly TDS statements Generated by the Income-tax Department; viewed by deductee

TDS Notice Reply in Royapettah, Chennai 600014

Records we prepare for Royapettah carry the geo-zone 600xx tag and coordinates 13.0537, 80.2667, which map each submission back to this locality. For TDS Notice Reply at PIN 600014, understanding the Mylapore Division's documentation norms removes most of the friction from the process. Because PIN 600014 sits inside the Chennai South jurisdiction, the handling office for Royapettah stays consistent across years, which matters when filings or approvals span cycles. Businesses registered in Royapettah share the Chennai South jurisdiction, and their statutory matters route through the same Mylapore Division each time.

Vendors and customers tied to the Royapettah Bus Stop network show up across the invoice trail we reconcile for Royapettah TDS Notice Reply clients. Each TDS Notice Reply cycle for Royapettah reflects its commercial rhythm — invoices generated near Stella Maris College, expenses routed through the Royapettah Bus Stop freight network. Most commerce in Royapettah — invoices, expenses, purchases and statutory records — eventually surfaces in the TDS Notice Reply working file we maintain for clients here. The healthcare hospitality residential mix of Royapettah shapes what lands in our workpapers — a blend of residential activity and the commercial pulse around Stella Maris College.

The business mix in Royapettah centres on hospitality, and that sector carries its own TDS Notice Reply quirks we plan for in advance. For a hospitality business in Royapettah, the TDS Notice Reply scope is rarely generic; we tailor the checklist to how that sector actually transacts. A hospitality operator in Royapettah gets a TDS Notice Reply workflow shaped by sector norms, not a one-size-fits-all template. Mixed hospitality activity across Royapettah means our TDS Notice Reply team keeps sector playbooks ready rather than improvising per client.

Our Royapettah TDS Notice Reply process is built to be predictable, documented, and on time, cycle after cycle. Turnaround for Royapettah TDS Notice Reply is deterministic — fixed fee, a scoped timeline, and a same-business-day acknowledgement once filed. From the first TDS Notice Reply cycle, a Royapettah engagement is set up to be audit-ready rather than reconstructed under pressure later. We keep a repeatable TDS Notice Reply checklist for Royapettah so nothing in the cycle is improvised or missed.

From the same Royapettah team we also serve Alwarpet and other nearby localities without re-onboarding clients. A client relocating between Royapettah and Alwarpet keeps the same TDS Notice Reply file and the same team. Coverage from Royapettah naturally extends to Alwarpet, so group entities across the area share one TDS Notice Reply workflow. Group companies spread across Royapettah and Alwarpet consolidate their TDS Notice Reply under one engagement with us.

Patterns we track for Royapettah include residential documentation gaps, timing mismatches, and the questions the Mylapore Division tends to raise. The longer we serve Royapettah, the more precisely we predict where a TDS Notice Reply file needs attention. The TDS Notice Reply mistakes we see most in Royapettah are avoidable with disciplined intake, which our checklist enforces. Common patterns in the Mylapore Division give Royapettah businesses an early-warning map we use to pre-empt TDS Notice Reply issues.

A startup setting up near Royapettah Government Hospital in Royapettah gets a TDS Notice Reply foundation built for the Mylapore Division from day one. When a Triplicane business expands into Royapettah, we extend its TDS Notice Reply setup to PIN 600014 without disruption. Incorporating in Royapettah comes with jurisdiction, registration and TDS Notice Reply steps that we sequence so nothing stalls the launch. New hospitality ventures in Royapettah lean on us to stand up TDS Notice Reply correctly before the first deadline rather than after a notice.

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Expert Guide

TDS Notice Reply in Royapettah — Complete Guide

Section 234E ₹200/day late filing fee for TDS quarters before 01-Jun-2015 is challenged on Fatehraj Singhvi & Ors v. UoI [2016] 73 taxmann.com 252 (Kar HC) — Section 200A(1)(c) authorising 234E adjustment was inserted only w.e.f. 01-Jun-2015 by Finance Act 2015. Pre-amendment intimations are ultra vires. For Royapettah deductors with legacy 234E demands going back to FY 2012-13 / 2013-14 / 2014-15, the entire fee head is reduced to NIL through grievance / DRR routed through CPC-TDS Ghaziabad citing the binding ratio.

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Key Facts — TDS Notice Reply in Royapettah
Section 200A intimation reply with line-by-line Justification Report mapping — short payment, short deduction, 201(1A) interest and 234E fee defended on facts
Online Correction filed on TRACES across all categories C-1 through C-9 — challan tagging, PAN correction, deductee row movement, salary detail correction in 24Q Annexure II
Section 234E ₹200 per day late fee challenged on Fatehraj Singhvi (Karnataka HC 2016) for pre-01-Jun-2015 quarters; period-wise computation audited for post-01-Jun-2015 levies
Section 201(1) deemed-default order defended through Form 26A Annexure-A under first proviso — Hindustan Coca-Cola SC 2007 codified relief; default head reduced to NIL on TRACES
Section 201(1A) interest recomputed manually with Form 26A truncation up to deductee return-filing date — saves 1% per month for the post-return period
Section 40(a)(ia) 30% expense disallowance in Section 143(3) assessment defended through second proviso — Form 26A relief extends to business-income computation
Section 195 / 206AA / 90(2) defence for non-resident TDS — DTAA Article 12 "make available" test, Engineering Analysis (SC 2021) for software, TRC + Form 10F + No-PE declaration
Section 271H ₹10K-₹1L penalty for late / incorrect TDS return defended under Section 271H(3) immunity and Section 273B reasonable cause — Eli Lilly SC 2009 doctrine
Section 276B prosecution for non-deposit of TDS — compounding application under CBDT Guidelines dated 17-Oct-2024 with full payment of TDS + 1.5% interest
CIT(A) Section 250 appeal in Form 35 against Section 201 / 271C orders, Section 220(6) stay of demand, ITAT Section 253 representation — Vivad se Vishwas 2024 evaluated
People Also Ask — TDS Notice Reply in Royapettah
What is the time limit to reply to a Section 200A intimation?
No separate reply window — but the demand becomes recoverable under Section 220(1) after 30 days of service. Online Correction or Default Rectification Request must be filed within 30 days to avoid recovery, interest under Section 220(2) at 1% per month and penalty under Section 221.
How do I download the TRACES Justification Report?
Login to www.tdscpc.gov.in as Deductor > Defaults > Justification Report Download > select FY, Quarter and Form Type > submit request > download from Requested Downloads after 24 hours. Both PDF (summary) and CSV (deductee-wise) versions are available — both are required for a complete defence.
Does Form 26A wipe out the entire TDS demand?
Form 26A wipes out the principal short-deduction default under Section 201(1) but interest under Section 201(1A)(i) at 1% per month from the date the tax was deductible up to the date the deductee filed his return is still payable by the deductor. The 1.5% interest under 201(1A)(ii) is irrelevant since no deduction occurred.
Can Section 234E fee be challenged for periods before 01-Jun-2015?
Yes — the Karnataka High Court in Fatehraj Singhvi & Ors v. UoI [2016] 73 taxmann.com 252 held that Section 200A(1)(c) authorising 234E adjustment was inserted only w.e.f. 01-Jun-2015 by Finance Act 2015; pre-amendment 234E levies through Section 200A intimation are ultra vires. Multiple ITAT benches (Mumbai, Pune, Chennai) follow this ratio.
What is the difference between Online Correction and Default Rectification Request?
Online Correction (TRACES > Defaults > Request for Correction) is filed by the deductor to amend the TDS statement — challan tagging, PAN correction, deductee row movement, etc. — across categories C-1 to C-9. Default Rectification Request (DRR) is raised against an erroneous default flagged by CPC-TDS where the underlying statement is correct (e.g. challan paid but not visible due to BIN / OLTAS issue).
What is the limitation period for a Section 201 order?
Section 201(3) (substituted by Finance (No. 2) Act 2014) prescribes 7 years from the end of the FY in which payment is made / credit is given for resident payees. For non-resident payees there is no statutory time-limit; courts have read in a reasonable period (Vodafone Idea / Mahindra Holidays line). Time-barred 201 orders are quashable in writ.
Can I rectify a Section 200A intimation?

Yes. File a rectification application under Section 154 before CPC-TDS within four years from the end of the financial year in which the intimation is issued. Common rectifiable errors include challan mismatches, deductee-PAN errors, and interest computation discrepancies.

What is the time limit for Section 200A intimation?

The proviso to Section 200A(1) requires the intimation to be issued within one year from the end of the financial year in which the TDS statement is filed. Intimations beyond this period are without statutory authority and may be challenged.

Is Section 206AA 20 per cent rate automatic where deductee has no PAN?

Yes, but with carve-outs. Section 206AA mandates 20 per cent TDS where deductee has no PAN. However Rule 37BC (inserted 24 June 2016) provides relief for non-residents with TRC, Form 10F and alternative identification details; DTAA rate then applies despite no PAN.

What is the Section 273B reasonable-cause defence?

Section 273B is a complete defence against most penalty provisions including Sections 271C, 271CA and 271H. Bona fide reliance on opinion, vendor's Form 26A, prolonged illness of finance officer, software lockouts, vendor disputes — all may constitute reasonable cause.

How do I respond to a TRACES default notice in Chennai?

Log in to TRACES, view the default summary, file correction statement for system-level defects, file Section 154 rectification before CPC-TDS for processing errors, file Form 26A for deductee-side relief, and engage a Chennai tax lawyer for Section 201 show-cause replies.

Can the AO recover Section 201 demand from the deductee?

No. The Supreme Court in Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages held that once the deductor's failure has triggered Section 201, the department cannot recover the same amount again from the deductee. Section 201(1A) interest may be recovered from the deductor for the delay.

What Royapettah clients want to know before signing: For Royapettah engagements specifically — around the Royapettah Government Hospital catchment of Royapettah.

Expert Guide

A complete walkthrough — Tds Notice Reply

Reading this guide locally — Royapettah businesses operate where in the healthcare hospitality residential micro-market of Royapettah.

What is a TDS notice and the architecture of TDS enforcement

Conceptual origin of TDS as pay-as-you-earn

The Tax Deduction at Source mechanism in India under Chapter XVII-B of the Income Tax Act 1961 implements what the OECD framework calls a pay-as-you-earn collection design. It is to be noted that the policy goal traces to the Direct Taxes Enquiry Committee 1971 (Wanchoo Committee) recommendation that revenue collection be advanced to the point of accrual rather than the point of assessment, reducing tax arrears and broadening the information base. The Comptroller and Auditor General's 2017 performance audit on TDS administration observed that approximately 36% of direct-tax revenue is now collected at source, against an OECD-area average of roughly 60% for income subject to withholding. A TDS notice therefore performs a dual function — it is both a revenue-recovery instrument addressed to the deductor as the assessee-in-default under Section 201, and an information-correction instrument under Section 200A reconciling the deductor return with deductee credit claims in Form 26AS.

Five categories of TDS communications

TDS communications received by Chennai deductors broadly fall into five categories distinguishable by their statutory anchor. First, Section 200A(1) intimations are issued by the Centralised Processing Cell-TDS at Vaishali Ghaziabad on prima-facie defaults identified during return-processing. Second, Section 201(1) default orders are issued by jurisdictional Assessing Officer (TDS) on substantive non-deduction or short-deduction post-enquiry. Third, Section 234E demand notices arise from late-filing fee at ₹200 per day of delay. Fourth, Section 271H penalty notices follow non-filing exceeding one year or false-particulars. Fifth, Section 220 recovery and Section 221 penalty notices follow non-payment beyond 30 days. Each category invokes a distinct response framework, distinct limitation period and distinct appellate route — conflating them is the single most common defence error observed in the Madras ITAT TDS-Bench rulings since 2018.

TRACES portal and the Justification Report

The TDS Reconciliation Analysis and Correction Enabling System (TRACES) is the operational interface through which CPC-TDS communicates with deductors. Sub-rule (2) of Rule 31A of the Income Tax Rules 1962 provides that every default identified during processing is recorded on TRACES with a downloadable Justification Report — a PDF and CSV deliverable that lists row-wise the challan, deductee PAN, section, deduction-amount, default-head and amount-in-default. The Justification Report carries indicative computations only; the binding figures are those in the Section 200A intimation and the consequential demand on the TRACES dashboard. The TRACES architecture follows the OECD Forum on Tax Administration's 2014 design template on digital-by-default tax-payer-services, mirrored in similar withholding-platforms in the United Kingdom (HMRC RTI) and Australia (ATO Single Touch Payroll).

Section 201 default order — deemed-default mechanics

Short-deduction versus non-deduction taxonomy

Section 201 distinguishes — though not always explicitly — between non-deduction (no TDS deducted at all), short-deduction (TDS deducted at a rate or amount lower than what was required), late-deduction (TDS deducted after the prescribed time), and non-deposit (TDS deducted but not deposited with the exchequer). The interest-rate under Section 201(1A) is 1% per month for non-deduction and short-deduction, and 1.5% per month for the deduction-not-deposited category. The disallowance under Section 40(a)(ia) attaches only to non-deduction and non-deposit categories — short-deduction by rate does not invite disallowance per the Calcutta High Court ruling in S.K. Tekriwal, since-followed by multiple benches.

Conceptual basis of assessee-in-default

Sub-section (1) of Section 201 provides that where any person, including the principal officer of a company, who is required to deduct tax at source does not deduct, or after such deduction fails to pay, the whole or any part of the tax, such person shall be deemed to be an assessee in default in respect of the tax. The Supreme Court in CIT v Eli Lilly & Co India observed that the deeming fiction operates only when there is a primary failure on the part of the deductor — a benign deductor who has acted on a reasonable interpretation of the law cannot be visited with the deemed-default tag. The proviso to Section 201(1) inserted by Finance Act 2012 carves out a relief where the deductee has filed return and paid tax — operationalised through Form 26A.

Form 26A Annexure A and the practitioner-CA route

Form 26A is the operational vehicle for the first proviso to Section 201(1). It requires a chartered accountant in practice to certify that the deductee has — first, included the relevant payment in computing taxable income in the return filed under Section 139, second, paid the tax on the income, and third, furnished the deductor a declaration to this effect. The Form is filed by the deductor through the TRACES portal with the chartered accountant signing Annexure A on Digital Signature Certificate. On acceptance, the Section 201(1) principal-default head is reduced to NIL but the Section 201(1A) interest survives. The Mumbai ITAT in JDS Apparels held that Form 26A is a complete remedy on the principal head.

Section 234E late-filing fee — challenge points

Cap on fee and computational disputes

Sub-section (3) of Section 234E provides that the fee shall not exceed the amount of tax deductible or collectible. The cap operates at the statement-level, not at the deductee-level — Mumbai ITAT in Sonal Vyas v ITO held that where the quarterly TDS deductible is ₹1.2 lakh and the delay-days × ₹200 computes to ₹1.8 lakh, the fee is capped at ₹1.2 lakh. Computational disputes commonly arise on the day-count — whether the delay is counted from the original due-date or from any extended date notified by CBDT under press-release. The conservative position is to count from the original due-date and seek reduction citing the extension order on merits.

Procedural challenge through Section 154

Since Section 234E fee is levied via Section 200A intimation, the rectification remedy under Section 154 is available where the levy contains a mistake apparent from the record. Such mistakes include — fee levied for the period prior to 01-Jun-2015 (post Fatehraj Singhvi where applicable bench), fee exceeding the tax-deductible cap, fee levied where the statement was filed within the due-date but acknowledged late on TRACES owing to portal failure, and fee continued despite a notified CBDT extension. The Section 154 application must be filed within four years from the end of the financial year in which the order was passed. Where 154 is rejected, the appeal route under Section 246A is available.

Statutory architecture

Section 234E was inserted by Finance Act 2012 with effect from 01-Jul-2012 levying a fee of ₹200 per day of delay in filing the quarterly TDS statement, capped at the amount of tax deductible. Sub-section (4) of Section 234E declares the fee non-leviable in the cases prescribed — but no such prescription has been issued by CBDT to date. The fee is a fee in the technical sense (a charge for services rendered by the department's processing-system) rather than a penalty, as held by the Karnataka HC in Lakshminirman Bangalore. This technical classification is significant — fee does not require mens rea, is not appealable under Section 246A on merits, and is not subject to Section 273B reasonable-cause relief.

Section 271H penalty for non-filing or false particulars

Safe-harbour under sub-section (3)

Sub-section (3) of Section 271H provides a safe-harbour — penalty shall not be levied where the deductor proves that — clause (a) the tax deducted along with interest has been paid to the credit of Central Government, and clause (b) the statement has been delivered before the expiry of one year from the time prescribed for delivery. The safe-harbour operates on a cumulative basis — both conditions must be satisfied. The Mumbai ITAT in Saroj Singh ruled that even one-day delay beyond the one-year limit takes the deductor outside the safe-harbour and the penalty becomes leviable, subject only to Section 273B reasonable-cause defence.

Section 273B reasonable-cause relief

Section 273B operates as an overlay on Section 271H — even where the safe-harbour under 271H(3) is unavailable, the penalty cannot be imposed if the deductor shows reasonable cause for the failure. Reasonable cause has been judicially construed to include — system-level TRACES outage substantiated by TIN-NSDL acknowledgement, statutory auditor's strike preventing finalisation, key-person illness or demise with hospital records, and tax-credit-pending-reconciliation with the deductee that legitimately delayed filing. The defence is fact-intensive and the documentary trail must be contemporaneous. The Supreme Court in Hindustan Steel underpins the principle that technical or venial breach should not attract penalty.

Distinction from Section 271C and Section 276B

Section 271H is distinct from two adjacent penalty / prosecution provisions. Section 271C imposes a penalty equal to the amount of tax that ought to have been deducted on failure to deduct — operating on non-deduction itself, whereas 271H operates on non-filing-of-statement or false-particulars. Section 276B is the prosecution provision for failure to pay TDS deducted to the credit of Central Government, attracting rigorous imprisonment of three months to seven years. Section 278AA provides a defence to 276B where reasonable cause is shown. The Madras HC in Madhumilan Syntex Ltd applied a strict reading on 276B prosecution where deduction-and-non-deposit was established.

What Royapettah clients usually ask next: For Royapettah engagements specifically — for the professional and salaried population of Royapettah navigating personal-tax and home-office GST.

Glossary

Plain-English glossary for this service

Section 271H Penalty

Section 271H Penalty is the discretionary penalty leviable on a person who fails to file the quarterly statement under Section 200(3) within the prescribed time, or who furnishes incorrect information in the statement. The penalty ranges from ten thousand rupees to one lakh rupees. Sub-section (3) furnishes a one-year immunity window.

Section 271C Penalty

Section 271C Penalty is the penalty equal to the amount of tax not deducted, leviable on a person who fails to deduct the whole or any part of the tax as required by Chapter XVII-B. The Supreme Court has held in US Technologies (2023) that the provision does not extend to delayed payment of tax already deducted.

Section 234E Fee

Section 234E Fee is the fee of two hundred rupees per day, capped at the amount of tax deductible, leviable for delay in furnishing a quarterly statement under Section 200(3). The fee is automatically computed in the Section 200A intimation by virtue of clause (c) of sub-section (1), inserted with effect from the first day of June 2015.

Section 273B Reasonable Cause

Section 273B Reasonable Cause is the general defence available to a deductor against penalties under Sections 271C, 271CA, 271H and other listed provisions, where the person proves that there was reasonable cause for the failure. Reasonable cause is a question of fact and includes bona fide misinterpretation, illness, system failures and force majeure.

Section 220 Recovery Window

Section 220 Recovery Window is the thirty-day period prescribed under sub-section (1) of Section 220 for payment of a sum specified in a notice of demand under Section 156. Expiry of the window triggers interest at one per cent per month under sub-section (2) and renders the assessee in default for the purpose of recovery proceedings.

Section 220(2) Interest

Section 220(2) Interest is the simple interest of one per cent for every month or part of a month from the day immediately following the end of the thirty-day Section 220(1) window. The interest runs independently of, and in addition to, Section 201(1A) interest already computed up to the date of the underlying intimation or order.

Section 220(6) Stay

Section 220(6) Stay is the discretionary administrative stay grantable by the Assessing Officer to treat an assessee as not in default during the pendency of a first appeal under Section 246A. The Central Board of Direct Taxes ordinarily requires twenty per cent of the disputed demand as pre-deposit under Instruction 1914 and the 2017 Office Memorandum.

Section 201(1) First Proviso

Section 201(1) First Proviso is the relief provision inserted with effect from the first day of July 2012, under which a deductor shall not be deemed to be an assessee in default if the deductee has filed return, included the receipt in computation of total income and paid the tax due. Relief is invoked through Form 26A under Rule 31ACB.

Section 40(a)(ia) Disallowance

Section 40(a)(ia) Disallowance is the disallowance of thirty per cent of any sum paid or payable to a resident on which tax was deductible under Chapter XVII-B and has not been deducted, or deducted but not deposited within the Section 139(1) due date. Allowed in the year of subsequent payment under the first proviso.

Section 40(a)(ia) Second Proviso

Section 40(a)(ia) Second Proviso, inserted by the Finance Act 2012, extends the Form 26A mechanism of the first proviso to Section 201(1) into the disallowance arena — where the deductor is not deemed in default for the deductee's substantive compliance, the corresponding thirty per cent expense disallowance also stands negatived.

Section 40(a)(i) Disallowance

Section 40(a)(i) Disallowance is the full disallowance of interest, royalty, fees for technical services or other sums payable to a non-resident on which tax under Chapter XVII-B has not been deducted or deposited. Unlike clause (ia), the disallowance is one hundred per cent of the expense, although deduction is permitted in the year of subsequent payment.

Section 195 Liability

Section 195 Liability is the obligation cast on any person responsible for paying to a non-resident, not being a company, or to a foreign company, any interest or other sum chargeable to tax under the Act, to deduct income-tax thereon at the rates in force at the time of credit or payment. Section 195(2) furnishes the application route for nil or lower deduction.

Cost of Non-Compliance

Real-world penalty exposure

Numerical examples showing tax + interest + penalty across common default scenarios.

ScenarioBase taxInterestPenaltyTotal
Form 27Q late filing — 90 days delay, foreign-remittance TDS ₹8 lakh — Section 234E + Section 271H₹0₹0₹18,000 (90 days × ₹200) + ₹50,000 Section 271H₹68,000
Section 195 non-deduction on royalty of ₹15 lakh to non-resident — Section 271C₹1,50,000 (10 per cent DTAA rate)₹27,000 (18 months)₹1,50,000 (Section 271C)₹3,27,000
Section 192 short-deduction on salary perquisite of ₹6 lakh — Section 271C₹1,86,000 (peak slab + cess)₹22,320 (12 months)₹1,86,000 (Section 271C)₹3,94,320
Section 194Q non-deduction on goods purchase of ₹2 crore — Section 271C₹20,000 (0.1 per cent)₹3,600 (18 months)₹20,000 (Section 271C)₹43,600
Section 194H non-deduction on commission of ₹8 lakh — Section 271C₹40,000 (5 per cent)₹7,200 (18 months)₹40,000 (Section 271C)₹87,200
Section 194D non-deduction on insurance commission ₹6 lakh — Section 271C₹30,000 (5 per cent)₹5,400 (18 months)₹30,000 (Section 271C)₹65,400

How Royapettah businesses typically avoid these: For Royapettah engagements specifically — the business activity radiating outward from Royapettah Government Hospital and nearby commercial pockets; for the professional and salaried population of Royapettah navigating personal-tax and home-office GST.

By Industry

Industry-specific patterns in Royapettah

How the local trade mix shapes this — Royapettah businesses operate where the business activity radiating outward from Royapettah Government Hospital and nearby commercial pockets.

Hospitality
Common issue: Hotels and serviced-apartment operators paying online travel aggregator commissions under Section 194H at 5% receive default notices when CPC-TDS reclassifies the commission as Section 194-O e-commerce participant payment at 1%, creating a notional short-deduction of 4% even though excess was deducted.
How we handle it: The defence is a procedural one — the deductor cannot be in default for over-deduction; the issue is one of refund mechanism for the excess. File reply citing the Section 194-O Explanation and CBDT Circular 17/2020 along with deductee invoice-level reconciliation. Seek default-NIL on the 4% gap and migrate prospective deductions to 194-O.
Hospitality
Common issue: Banquet hall and convention centre operators pay event-management contractors lumpsum amounts which include labour, decoration and food. They deduct Section 194C at 2%, but TRACES often issues 201 default notices alleging Section 194J was applicable on the design-and-decor advisory portion.
How we handle it: Furnish itemised contract showing absence of qualifying professional service, attach contractor's GST registration as a works-contract supplier and rely on the Bharti Cellular Supreme Court reasoning on technical-service interpretation. Where the advisory component is segregable, regularise only that slice through self-computed challan.
Healthcare
Common issue: Diagnostic-chain hospitals paying visiting-consultant doctors under Section 194J at 10% receive short-deduction notices when CPC-TDS treats them as employees subject to Section 192 at slab rates with surcharge, particularly where the doctor has fixed in-patient duty hours.
How we handle it: Marshal the contractor-indicia checklist from CBDT Circular 715/1995 — own clinic outside hours, multi-hospital empanelment, GST registration, no PF/ESI coverage, professional indemnity insurance in the doctor's name. Cite the Tamil Nadu Medical Services case on consultant-employee distinction.
Healthcare
Common issue: Hospitals procuring equipment-leased imaging machines from foreign manufacturers attract Section 195 on the equipment-hire component as royalty, but the bundled-AMC portion is sometimes mis-categorised. Section 201 default orders compute short-deduction on the whole at 10% plus surcharge plus cess.
How we handle it: Split the contract into royalty for equipment use, FTS for engineer-visit AMC and reimbursement for spare parts. Apply the DTAA Article 12 royalty rate (commonly 10%) and benchmark FTS against the make-available test. Furnish Tax Residency Certificate, Form 10F and Form 15CB chartered-accountant certificate.
Retail
Common issue: Multi-store retail chains running franchise-fee outflows under Section 194J at 10% receive default notices when CPC-TDS reclassifies the trade-name licence as royalty under Section 9(1)(vi), attracting different TDS rate and DTAA implications where the franchisor is foreign.
How we handle it: Argue that domestic franchisor royalties are caught by Section 194J Explanation (b) on royalty within India and that 10% is the right rate. For cross-border franchisors invoke the relevant DTAA Article 12 royalty cap with TRC, Form 10F and beneficial-ownership declaration. Cite Sheraton International Inc Delhi HC.
Case Studies

Anonymised engagements we have handled

Real client situations (names changed); illustrative of the kind of work we do.

TRACES OLTAS mismatchRetail

Section 200A intimation — TRACES challan mismatch reconciled

Issue: A retail electronics chain received a Section 200A intimation for Q2 FY 2023-24 reflecting an unmatched challan of ₹2,84,000 — the OLTAS challan was tagged under the wrong TAN by the bank. CPC-TDS treated the amount as unpaid and raised a demand including Section 201(1A) interest of ₹47,300.
Approach: Obtained the OLTAS challan correction by writing to the depositing branch with Form A correction request. Once the OLTAS database was corrected and the challan re-tagged to the correct TAN, filed a correction statement under Rule 31A re-flagging the challan. Filed Section 154 rectification before CPC-TDS with the corrected challan-tagging evidence. Cited the principle that the deductor cannot be penalised for a banking misallocation where deposit timing is proven.
Outcome: Section 154 rectification accepted; demand of ₹2,84,000 along with Section 201(1A) interest fully reversed; refund-adjustment processed against subsequent quarter; total relief ₹3.31 lakh.
Section 271H second provisoEducation

Section 271H penalty — second proviso exemption

Issue: A coaching institute received a Section 271H penalty notice of ₹1.4 lakh for delay of 7 months in filing Form 24Q. The TDS had been deposited within the original due date and the Section 234E late-filing fee had been paid on filing the delayed statement.
Approach: Replied to the show-cause invoking the second proviso to Section 271H which exempts penalty where (i) TDS is deposited within the prescribed time, (ii) Section 234E late-filing fee is paid, and (iii) the statement is filed before one year from the due date. All three conditions were satisfied. Filed the reply with TDS deposit challans, Section 234E fee payment evidence, and the dated statement-filing acknowledgement.
Outcome: AO accepted the second-proviso exemption; Section 271H penalty dropped entirely; the institute paid only the Section 234E fee that had already been discharged; total saving ₹1.4 lakh.
Section 194-ORetail

Section 201 — payment to e-commerce operator under 194-O

Issue: A Chennai retail seller using a major e-commerce platform received Section 201 show-cause for short-deduction under Section 194-O contending that the e-commerce operator had under-deducted at 0.1 per cent against the prescribed 1 per cent for the period before the Finance Act 2024 rate reduction to 0.1 per cent took effect on 1 Oct 2024.
Approach: Filed written submissions identifying that the seller was not the deductor under Section 194-O — the obligation rests on the e-commerce operator (the platform). Argued that the seller had no deduction obligation under Section 194-O and could not be treated as an assessee-in-default. Filed the platform's TDS certificate showing the deduction at the rate determined by the platform. Cited the legislative framework that Section 194-O is operator-side, not seller-side.
Outcome: AO dropped the Section 201 proceedings against the seller; the show-cause was wrongly directed; client clarified its position; SOP for platform-mediated sales documented.
OLTAS correctionHealthcare

Section 200A intimation — challan correction post-statement filing

Issue: A hospital chain received Section 200A intimation showing two challans of ₹4.2 lakh each tagged with incorrect Assessment Year — entered as AY 2024-25 instead of AY 2023-24. CPC-TDS treated them as available for AY 2024-25 only and raised a demand for AY 2023-24.
Approach: Filed OLTAS challan correction request via the depositing bank under Form A — within 7 days for major-head correction and within 90 days for assessment-year correction. Once corrected, filed Section 154 rectification before CPC-TDS evidencing the corrected challan particulars. Relied on the principle that the deductor's substantive compliance (timely deposit) cannot be defeated by a curable tagging error.
Outcome: Section 154 accepted; ₹8.4 lakh demand for AY 2023-24 fully vacated; the AY 2024-25 records adjusted; client's treasury established a pre-deposit AY-validation checklist.

Why these Royapettah engagements look the way they do: For Royapettah engagements specifically — the business activity radiating outward from Royapettah Government Hospital and nearby commercial pockets; for the professional and salaried population of Royapettah navigating personal-tax and home-office GST.

Client Reviews

What Royapettah Clients Say

Section 234E fee of ₹3.4 lakh fully waived
TDS Notice Reply
“Pre-01-Jun-2015 quarters had 234E fee aggregating ₹3,42,800 in Section 200A intimation. Filed grievance citing Fatehraj Singhvi (Kar HC 2016) and ITAT Chennai bench rulings. CPC-TDS Ghaziabad accepted; entire fee demand reduced to NIL on TRACES within 7 weeks.”
Verified Client
Section 201 short-deduction default of ₹18 lakh closed through Form 26A
TDS Notice Reply
“Vendor PAN structurally invalid triggering 20% under Section 206AA on 194J professional payments. Filed Form 26A Annexure-A through our partner C.A. with vendor's ITR-V and tax payment proof; principal default of ₹18.4 lakh dropped on TRACES; only Section 201(1A) interest of ₹76,000 survived.”
Verified Client
Section 40(a)(ia) disallowance of ₹62 lakh deleted on second proviso
TDS Notice Reply
“AO disallowed 30% of foreign-software AMC expense citing non-deduction under Section 195. Argued Engineering Analysis (SC 2021) — payment not royalty under India-Singapore DTAA Article 12. Faceless Assessment Unit accepted; ₹62 lakh disallowance deleted in Section 143(3) order.”
Verified Client
Section 201(1A) interest recomputed — ₹2.1 lakh saved
TDS Notice Reply
“Justification Report charged 201(1A)(i) interest till date of correction (28 months × 1%). Refiled Form 26A with deductee return date; interest period truncated to 9 months. Default reduced from ₹3.1 lakh to ₹98,000 — ₹2.1 lakh saved.”
Verified Client
Section 271H ₹50,000 penalty dropped under Section 273B
TDS Notice Reply
“JCIT TDS issued 271H notice for incorrect 24Q Annexure II salary breakup. Filed reply citing reasonable cause under Section 273B — Eli Lilly (SC 2009) doctrine, payroll system migration, voluntary correction filed before notice. Penalty dropped in entirety.”
Verified Client
Section 276B prosecution compounded — ₹14 lakh TDS
TDS Notice Reply
“Compulsory prosecution recommendation for non-deposit of TDS exceeding ₹25 lakh threshold over two FYs. Coordinated full deposit of TDS + 1.5% interest + 234E fee, filed compounding application under CBDT Guidelines 17-Oct-2024 with compounding fee at 2% per month. Pr. CCIT compounded; criminal proceedings closed.”
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Common Questions

TDS Notice Reply FAQ — Royapettah

Common questions from Royapettah clients. Call 9566-068-468 for specific queries.

Section 271C levies a penalty equal to the amount of tax not deducted, leviable by a JCIT-rank officer under Section 274. Section 273B insulates the deductor where reasonable cause is shown — bona fide belief on non-applicability, characterisation issue, retrospective amendment, payee's TRC / DTAA claim. The Supreme Court in CIT v. Eli Lilly (2009) 312 ITR 225 held that Section 271C penalty is not automatic; reasonable-cause defence is read into Section 273B for all TDS penalty provisions.
The first proviso to Section 201(1) (inserted by Finance Act 2012, w.e.f. 01-Jul-2012) — codifying CIT v. Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd [2007] 293 ITR 226 (SC) — provides that the deductor shall NOT be deemed to be in default if the resident payee (i) has furnished his return of income under Section 139, (ii) has taken into account such sum for computing income in such return, (iii) has paid the tax due on the income declared, and (iv) the deductor furnishes a certificate to this effect from a Chartered Accountant in Form 26A (Annexure A). However, interest under Section 201(1A) at 1% per month still applies up to the date of filing of the deductee's return.
Yes. We do not disappear after filing — Royapettah clients can come back to us for follow-up questions, notices or renewals tied to their TDS Notice Reply. Ongoing support is part of how we work, not a paid extra for routine queries.
Section 201(1) treats a deductor as "assessee in default" if he (a) fails to deduct tax at source, or (b) after deducting fails to pay the same to the credit of the Central Government. Once declared in default, the entire tax not deducted / not paid becomes recoverable from the deductor along with interest under Section 201(1A) and penalty under Section 221. The first proviso (inserted by Finance Act 2012) carves out the Hindustan Coca-Cola relief — see separate FAQ.
Where a TDS challan was paid with a wrong TAN, AY, Section code or major head (200/400), the deductor approaches the assessing bank within 7 days (minor head) or the jurisdictional AO TDS within 90 days (TAN / AY / Section). The AO passes a correction order under OLTAS rules (CBDT Circular 11/2011). Corrected challan reflects in Form 26AS within 5-10 working days; the Online Correction C-1 / C-2 is then filed on TRACES to consume the corrected challan into the deductee statement.
Our main office is at Plot No. 6, Alapakkam Main Road (opposite KVB Bank), Maduravoyal – 600095, with a branch at No. 22 Reddy Street, Nerkundram – 600107. Both are an easy reach from Royapettah, and a third office at Nolambur is opening shortly. Most clients, though, never need to visit.
The second proviso to Section 40(a)(ia) (inserted by Finance Act 2012, w.e.f. AY 2013-14) provides that if the deductor is not deemed to be in default under the first proviso to Section 201(1) (i.e. payee has filed return and paid tax and Form 26A is filed), then the deductor is deemed to have deducted and paid the tax on the date of filing of return by the payee — and consequently no Section 40(a)(ia) disallowance arises. This is a powerful defence: Form 26A killing not just the 201 default but also the 30% expense disallowance.
Section 40(a)(ia) — applicable in computing business income — disallows 30% of any sum payable to a resident on which tax is deductible at source under Chapter XVII-B and either (i) tax is not deducted or (ii) deducted but not paid on or before the due date for filing return under Section 139(1). The disallowance was reduced from 100% to 30% by Finance Act 2014 w.e.f. AY 2015-16. The disallowance is restored as deduction in the year tax is actually deducted and paid (proviso to Section 40(a)(ia)).
Very likely yes — Royapettah has a healthcare hospitality residential profile where education and allied activity creates exactly the compliance needs TDS Notice Reply addresses. We see these requirements here often and handle them efficiently. If it does not apply to you, we will say so.
Most TRACES short-deduction defaults at 20% under Section 206AA arise from invalid / structurally-wrong PAN of the deductee. Remedy: file Online Correction on TRACES — Category C-9 (PAN Correction). Up to 4 PAN corrections per challan are permitted in case of structural error; deductor's affidavit + Form 16 / payee declaration retained as evidence. Once correction is processed, Justification Report is regenerated and the 20% short-deduction default drops to NIL.
Section 206AB (inserted by Finance Act 2021, w.e.f. 01-Jul-2021) prescribes higher TDS rate (twice the rate in force or 5%, whichever higher) for "specified persons" who have not filed return for the immediately preceding AY where TDS in their case is ₹50,000 or more. The deductor checks status on the "Compliance Check for Section 206AB & 206CCA" utility on the Reporting Portal. Short-deduction default under 206AB is defended by producing the Compliance Check screenshot proving deductee was not specified person at the time of payment.
Yes. Royapettah has an active base of education and allied businesses, and we regularly handle TDS Notice Reply for exactly these kinds of clients. We tailor the approach to your line of work rather than applying a one-size template.
Compounding is governed by CBDT Guidelines for Compounding of Offences dated 17-Oct-2024 (latest revision). Application is filed in the prescribed compounding form to the jurisdictional Pr. CCIT with: (a) full payment of TDS + interest under Section 201(1A) + 234E fee; (b) compounding fee at 1.5% to 3% of the TDS amount per month of delay; (c) declaration of no other prosecution. Compounding closes the prosecution; non-compounding leads to trial in Magistrate Court.
Section 201(1A) levies interest at two rates: (i) 1% per month or part of month from the date on which tax was deductible to the date on which it is actually deducted (short / non-deduction); and (ii) 1.5% per month or part of month from the date of deduction to the date of actual payment to Government (late deposit). Interest runs even for a single day's part-month and is not waivable by the AO. Computation is automatic in TRACES Justification Report.
No. Form 26A only relieves the deductor from being treated as "assessee in default" for the principal tax. Interest under Section 201(1A)(i) at 1% per month from the date the tax was deductible up to the date the deductee filed his return of income is still payable by the deductor. The interest cannot be recovered from the deductee. This was confirmed in Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (SC) and reaffirmed by ITAT in numerous benches.
Step 1: Deductor logs into TRACES > Statements > Request for 26A/27BA > Add Default Rows. Step 2: Add deductee PAN, FY, amount paid, amount on which tax not deducted. Step 3: System generates an alphanumeric token + assigns rows to a C.A. nominated by the deductor. Step 4: C.A. logs into TRACES C.A. login, downloads Annexure A in Form 26A, verifies payee return / tax payment, signs digitally with DSC. Step 5: System forwards to deductor for final submission. Step 6: On NSDL acceptance, default heads under 201(1) drop to NIL; only 201(1A) interest survives.
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