What is Tax Account Number and How to Obtain the Same?

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What is the TAN (Tax Account Number)?

TAN or Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number is a 10 – digit alphanumeric number that is issued by Income Tax Department (ITD) of India to all individuals who are liable to deduct or collect tax at a source. The Tax Account Number starts with four alphabets that are followed by five numbers that end with an alphabet. The first three alphabets represent the jurisdiction code and the fourth alphabet is the initial of the Tax Account Number (TAN) holder. The remaining numbers are system-generated numbers between 00001 and 99999, and the last digit is an alphabet check digit (For example KOLY 11019A).
What is the TAN (Tax Account Number)?

Why is a Tax Account Number required?

Tax Account Number needs to be mentioned in TDS/ TCS return, challan and certificates (including e-TDS/ TCS). TDS or Tax Deducted at Source is an amount that the payers (someone who is paying) deduct from the sum of money when they are paying it to the payee (someone who is receiving money). On the other hand TCS or Tax Collected at Source refers to the amount that is collected by the payer from the payee when the latter makes any purchase. For example, TDS is deduction made by sellers from the salaries paid to their employees but TCS is an amount that they charge from their customers when the latter makes any purchase from their shop. Both these taxes are deposited to the Government of India. These taxes cannot be filed without a Tax Account Number.

Who needs to apply for a Tax Account Number?

According to Section 203(A) of the Income Tax Act, any individual who is responsible for deducting or collecting tax at source needs to have a Tax Account Number. This can include:
Who needs to apply for a Tax Account Number?
A penalty of Rs. 10,000 is charged in case of failure of TAN application or not complying with the provisions of the section 203(a).

Where can you apply for a Tax Account Number online and offline?

You can easily apply for a Tax Account Number in two different ways. If you wish to make a TAN application online, you can visit the website of NSDL TIN. You can also change or correct TAN data, inquire about transaction status and track your application status on the same website.
In case you wish to make an offline application, you would have to print your TAN application form (form 49 B) and submit the same after filling it at any one of the Tax Information Network Facilitation Centers (TIN-FCs). You can find the addresses of nearby TIN-FCs on the NSDL website.

How to apply for TAN?

The TAN application process is quite simple and as mentioned above it can be done online as well as offline. You can find the details of the application procedure here:
  • Visit NSDL TIN website. You would then see four different options. Choose the option that says ‘Online Application for TAN (Form 49 B)’. The remaining options can be availed to update, track, and inquire about your application.
  • After clicking on the above option, look for ‘Apply for New Tan‘. Under this option, select your category from the list of Category of Deductors.
  • Fill in all the details asked for in the form and then click on ‘submit’.
  • Complete your payment transaction by paying Rs.60.00 (Rs. 55.00 application charge + 10.3% Service Tax) via demand draft/cheque/credit or debit card/net banking. If the mode of payment is a demand draft or cheque you will need to issue it in the name of ‘NSDL-TIN’ to any HDFC branch (except Dahej) along with your name and acknowledgement number (on the reverse side). Please note that Government/Statutory bodies cannot make payment using credit card, debit card and net banking.
  • Check and confirm the details on the confirmation screen. You can also edit the same.
  • After confirmation, an acknowledgement window will pop up which will include all the details filled in the form along with a unique 14-digit acknowledgement number, status of application, contact and payment details. Save and print this form. This form has to be submitted with a demand draft (if any) within 15 days to NSDL at their official address.
  • An additional charge would be incurred if the payment is done using credit card/debit card (Rs. 5.00 + Goods and Services Tax as applicable) or net banking (Rs. 4.00 + Goods and Services Tax as applicable).
  • In the space for signature in the form, you can use your signature / left hand thumb impression / appropriate seal or stamp.
  • You can track the status of your application using the 14-digit unique application number.
  • Please note that it is illegal to hold more than one Tax Account Number, so once you have been allotted a number do not make a new request. In case you forget your Tax Account Number, you can find it online using the ‘Know Your TAN ‘facility provided by the Income Tax Department of India.
How to apply for TAN?

Documents required for TAN application

Though there is no need to attach any documents while filling the TAN application form, the printed acknowledgement form and demand draft (if any) needs to be submitted at NSDL’s office in Pune (for address refer to point 6 of previous section).
If you wish to change/correct the details provided in your TAN application form after submitting it, you would be required to submit necessary documentary proof to support the request being made.

Conclusion

With a few simple and easy steps, you can obtain your TAN and continue to develop and expand your business. For more information on this, you can visit http:\\www.tin-nsdl.com.
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