By MOFSL
2025-09-04T12:51:00.000Z
6 mins read
Form 27Q - TDS Return in Case of Payments to NRI
motilal-oswal:tags/nri-investment-in-india,motilal-oswal:tags/nri-demat-account
2025-09-09T12:51:00.000Z

Form 27Q

In order to ensure the prompt collection of taxes on income earned in India, Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) is critical. The compliance necessities are a bit extraordinary for Indian residents who are Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). Form 27Q, which reports TDS deductions on payments made to foreign agencies and non-resident Indians (NRIs), is one of the maximum crucial forms in these situations. A thorough rationalization of Form 27Q, together with its applicability, deadlines, filing method, fines, and other essential facts for companies and taxpayers, is given in this article.

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What is Form 27Q?

The TDS withheld on specific payments made to foreign companies and non-resident Indians (NRIs) is suggested on Form 27Q, a quarterly TDS return form. When TDS is relevant, it consists of hobby, dividends, bonuses, and other payments paid to NRIs (apart from salary). All deductors—whether they be individuals, banks, or companies—that ensure payments are required to submit Form 27Q to the Income Tax department.

Applicability of Form 27Q

Form 27Q applies to payments made to:

Common Payments Covered Under Form 27Q

Type of Payment
Examples
TDS Rate*
Interest
Bank deposits, bonds
20% (plus surcharge & cess)
Dividends
Dividend income from Indian companies
20%
Royalty
Fees for technical services, IP rights
10%
Other Income
Any non-salary payment to NRIs
Varies as per Income Tax Act/DTAA

*The rate depends on the Income Tax Act provisions or the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and the NRI’s country of residence.

Key Features of Form 27Q

Feature
Details
Purpose
Reporting TDS on payments made to NRIs/foreign companies (excluding salary)
Filing Frequency
Quarterly
Form Type
Electronic filing (mandatory)
Applicable Sections
Section 195 of the Income Tax Act, 1961
Information Required
PAN of deductor & deductee, payment details, TDS deducted, DTAA details if applicable

Due Dates for Filing Form 27Q

The Income Tax Department requires filing of Form 27Q on a quarterly basis. Below are the due dates:

Quarter
Period Covered
Due Date
Q1
April – June
31st July
Q2
July – September
31st October
Q3
October – December
31st January
Q4
January – March
31st May

Information Required in Form 27Q

While filing Form 27Q, the deductor needs to provide:

Information Required
Description
PAN and TAN of Deductor
The Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN) of the person making the payment must be provided for identification and compliance.
PAN of Deductee (NRI)
The PAN of the NRI or foreign company receiving payment must be mentioned. If not provided, TDS will be deducted at a higher rate (20% or more).
Name and Address of Deductor & Deductee
Complete legal name and residential/official address details of both parties need to be furnished for proper record-keeping.
Nature of Payment
The type of payment being made, such as interest, dividend, royalty, technical fees, or any other income (excluding salary), must be specified.
Amount Paid & TDS Deducted
The exact amount paid to the NRI and the corresponding TDS deducted should be clearly mentioned in the return.
Applicable TDS Rate
The TDS rate applied must be disclosed. It could be as per the Income Tax Act or as per the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), whichever is beneficial to the assessee.
Bank Challan Details
Details of the challan through which TDS was deposited with the government (like BSR code, challan serial number, and date of deposit) must be included.

Filing Procedure of Form 27Q

The filing of Form 27Q is done electronically through the TIN-NSDL portal. The steps include:

Step
Process
Description
1. Deduction of TDS
TDS Deduction
The payer must deduct TDS at the applicable rate before making payment to the NRI or foreign company.
2. Deposit of TDS
Government Deposit
The deducted TDS should be deposited with the government within the prescribed due dates using challan ITNS 281.
3. Preparation of Return
Using RPU
The deductor prepares the Form 27Q using the Return Preparation Utility (RPU) available on the NSDL website.
4. Validation
Using FVU
The prepared return file is validated through the File Validation Utility (FVU) to check for errors or discrepancies.
5. Submission
Upload on NSDL Portal
The validated file is uploaded electronically on the TIN-NSDL portal using the deductor’s TAN credentials.
6. Acknowledgement
Receipt Generation
Once successfully uploaded, an acknowledgement number/receipt is generated as proof of submission.

Penalties for Late Filing of Form 27Q

Type of Penalty
Applicable Section
Details
Late Filing Fee
Section 234E
₹200 per day until the return is filed
Penalty for Incorrect/Delayed Filing
Section 271H
Minimum ₹10,000 and maximum ₹1,00,000
Interest on Late Deduction/Deposit
Section 201
Interest may be applicable on late deduction or deposit of TDS

Importance of Form 27Q

Compliance with TDS provisions under Section 195

Form 27Q should be filed by all resident entities that pay NRIs under section 195 of the Income Tax Act. This segment outlines the method for withholding taxes on the source of earnings acquired through a non-resident of India. Deductors show they have complied with the regulation and deducted TDS at the specified price by submitting Form 27Q. Penalties, interest, and late expenses may result from noncompliance, which may also harm the payer's reputation. As a result, timely filing guarantees compliance with tax legal guidelines and fosters self-belief among tax authorities.

Transparency in reporting income paid to NRIs

Each foreign corporation and non-resident Indian has to officially declare their revenue on Form 27Q. It presents distinctive records to the Earnings Tax branch about the form of price, the quantity paid, and the amount of TDS deducted. This transparency reduces the opportunity of tax evasion and ensures suitable tax collection from cross-border transactions. NRIs gain from it as properly because to the fact Form 26AS accurately reflects their income and TDS statistics. All things considered, this openness makes the tax government, NRI beneficiaries, and payers greater accountable.

Avoidance of penalties and prosecution

Filling out form 27Q late or improperly can result in critical penalties, interest costs, and likely punishment beneath the profits Tax Act. as an example, whereas section 234E prices a late fee of ₹200 according to day, section 271H permits fines of up to ₹1,00,000. by filing on time, both human beings and companies can store needless economic stress and legal troubles. Additionally, a payer is visible as an accountable taxpayer if they constantly comply. Consequently, submitting Form 27Q is required by way of law and a way to avoid consequences.

Smooth processing of NRIs’ income tax returns in India

The proper recording of NRIs' tax credits in the Indian tax system is ensured by the well-timed filing of Form 27Q. When deductors well publish the return, the deducted TDS appears on the NRI's form 26AS, or Annual Information Statement (AIS). This could make it less complicated and greater accurate for them to complete their profits tax return in India. If Form 27Q is neglected or not filed effectively, the NRI may additionally encounter delays in reimbursements or inconsistencies in tax credit score claims. As a result, accurate submission helps non-residents' adherence to tax policies.

Conclusion

Form 27Q is an essential compliance requirement for deductors who pay non-resident individuals and foreign agencies. By ensuring that taxes are appropriately accumulated and documented, it assists the authorities in maintaining a watch on overseas remittances and income obtained through non-citizens of India. The well-timed and accurate filing of 27Q TDS reports now not only allows for avoiding consequences but also makes cross-border transactions easier. groups and people accomplishing business with NRIs have to keep compliance with shape 27Q requirements for his or her economic and prison protection.

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