India’s TDS System Gets Its Biggest Overhaul in 65 Years as 9.19 Crore Taxpayers Enter a New Compliance Era
NEW DELHI, India – India has quietly crossed one of the most significant milestones in its tax history. From April 1, 2026, the Income Tax Act, 2025 replaced the Income Tax Act of 1961, bringing with it a complete restructuring of how Tax Deducted at Source works for every salaried employee, landlord, fixed deposit holder, freelancer, and business owner in the country.
To help India’s 9.19 crore income tax return filers understand what changed and prepare for the new compliance requirements, TaxGST.in, a New Delhi-based free tax and finance platform founded by M.Com-qualified tax practitioner C.K. Gupta, has published a detailed old vs. new TDS sections comparison chart along with plain-language guidance for FY 2026-27.
The complete comparison guide is available at: https://taxgst.in/tds-chart-as-per-new-section-old-vs-new-april-2026/
A 65-Year-Old Law, Finally Replaced
The Income Tax Act of 1961 governed India’s direct tax framework for more than six decades. Its TDS provisions evolved into a complex network of section numbers covering salary, interest, contractor payments, rent, professional fees, and business transactions.
From April 1, 2026, that structure has been reorganized under the Income Tax Act, 2025. Salary and provident fund related TDS provisions formerly covered under Sections 192 and 192A are now consolidated under Section 392. Likewise, more than 20 non-salary TDS provisions, including Sections 194, 194A, 194C, 194I, 194J, and 194Q, are now grouped under a single master Section 393.
“This is the most consequential structural change to TDS compliance since the original Act was drafted. Businesses running payroll on Tally, ERPs, or manual systems mapped to the old 194-series must update their references immediately. Using the wrong section code under the new law can trigger a 30 percent disallowance on the payment,” said C.K. Gupta, Founder of TaxGST.in.
The Numbers Behind the Change
According to provisional figures released by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, India’s net direct tax collections reached Rs. 23.40 lakh crore in FY 2025-26. The government had also set an ambitious direct tax collection target of Rs. 25.20 lakh crore, highlighting the growing importance of accurate TDS compliance.
India now has more than 9.19 crore income tax return filers, reflecting rapid growth in the country’s taxpayer base and increasing compliance responsibilities for individuals and businesses alike.
Key Changes Taxpayers Should Know
TaxGST.in’s comparison guide highlights several important updates under the new Section 393, including:
- Bank interest for senior citizens exceeding Rs. 1,00,000 attracts 10% TDS.
- Bank interest for other taxpayers exceeding Rs. 50,000 attracts 10% TDS.
- Rent payments above Rs. 50,000 per month are subject to 10% TDS.
Budget 2026 also introduced additional relief measures, including replacing the TAN requirement for NRI property transactions with a simpler PAN-based process and removing TDS on interest awarded by Motor Accident Claims Tribunals.
Why Businesses Need to Prepare
Although the new provisions became effective on April 1, 2026, many payroll systems, accounting software, and ERP platforms are still configured with the previous TDS section numbers.
“The problem is not awareness at the CA level. The problem is implementation at the business level. The accountant may know that Section 194J is now Section 393, but if the company’s ERP still uses the old section codes in its TDS returns, the compliance gap can attract notices, interest, and disallowance. We created this comparison guide so business owners, HR teams, and finance managers have a practical reference they can use immediately,” added Gupta.
About TaxGST.in
TaxGST.in is a New Delhi-based tax and finance platform founded by C.K. Gupta, M.Com, a taxation practitioner with more than 18 years of professional experience. The platform provides more than 35 free financial and tax calculators, over 500 expert-written articles, and professional services covering income tax filing, GST consultancy, accounting, and financial compliance. All resources are regularly updated to reflect the latest provisions under the Income Tax Act, 2025 and are available free of charge to taxpayers across India.
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