What Is Form 24Q?
Why Form 24Q Matters
- It's the source data from which Form 16 (the annual salary TDS certificate) and Form 26AS (an individual's consolidated tax credit statement) are populated.
- Ensures the government has an accurate, quarterly record of TDS deducted and deposited by every employer, supporting overall tax administration.
- Filing accuracy directly affects whether employees' TDS credits correctly reflect in their Form 26AS, which is essential for smooth income tax return processing.
Structure of Form 24Q
- Annexure I — details of TDS deducted and deposited for the quarter across all employees
- Annexure II — submitted only with the fourth quarter filing, providing a detailed annual salary breakup for each employee, forming the basis for Form 16 Part B generation
Filing Deadlines for Form 24Q
Form 24Q must be filed quarterly, with due dates typically falling at the end of the month following each quarter's close (with the fourth quarter's deadline extended to accommodate the annual Annexure II compilation) — employers should always verify current deadlines against official Income Tax Department notifications.
How HR/Payroll Software Helps
Payroll systems integrated with TDS compliance modules can auto-generate the Form 24Q file directly from processed payroll and TDS deduction data each quarter, significantly reducing manual compilation effort and filing errors.
See how Trilliant Software automates this →Form 24Q: Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if Form 24Q is filed late?
Does every employer need to file Form 24Q?
This glossary entry is for general information and reflects common HR practice in India at the time of writing. Statutory thresholds, rates and deadlines change — verify against the latest official notifications or consult a qualified legal or tax advisor before acting.