July 07, 2025
4 mins read
Section 194A is the part of the tax law that deals with TDS on your interest income from things like fixed deposits. It mainly applies to the interest you get from banks and other financial institutions.
Getting to know Section 194A helps you understand why tax is cut from your interest. Learning the rules of Section 194A also makes filing your income tax return much easier.
This rule requires payers like banks and post offices to cut tax (TDS) on interest they pay to residents. It doesn't apply to interest earned on securities.
It covers the interest you earn from:
Fixed Deposits (FDs)
Recurring Deposits (RDs)
Loans and advances you've given
There are exceptions, though. For instance, interest a partnership pays to its partners is not covered. If your interest crosses the limit, the payer cuts 10% TDS (with PAN) or 20% (without PAN).
Want to stop or reduce TDS on your interest? You can, by submitting the right form if your total income doesn't hit the taxable slab.
Form 15G is for individuals under 60.
Form 15H is for senior citizens (60 and older).
If your income is taxable but you qualify for a lower rate, you can also ask the tax department for a lower-deduction certificate by filing Form 13.
Here are the TDS limits that apply from April 1, 2025:
Interest Paid By | TDS Applies If Interest Exceeds | For Senior Citizens |
Banks, Co-op Banks, Post Offices | ₹50,000 per year | ₹1,00,000 per year |
Any Other Payer (e.g., companies) | ₹10,000 per year | ₹10,000 per year |
Under Section 194A, your bank or post office will deduct TDS if the interest they pay you goes over ₹50,000 in a year. For senior citizens, this higher limit is ₹1,00,000. For all other types of payers, the limit remains ₹10,000. Remember, these new limits start from April 1, 2025.
The TDS rate depends on whether your PAN is on record with the payer. Here are the rates starting from the 2025-26 financial year:
Payer & Your PAN Status | TDS Rate | Annual Limit |
Bank/Post Office (with PAN) | 10% | ₹50,000 (₹1,00,000 for seniors) |
Bank/Post Office (without PAN) | 20% | ₹50,000 (₹1,00,000 for seniors) |
Other Payers (with PAN) | 10% | ₹10,000 |
Other Payers (without PAN) | 20% | ₹10,000 |
The rule is simple: TDS is cut when the interest is credited to your account or when it's paid, whichever happens first. The payment method—cash, cheque, or online transfer—doesn't change this.
As soon as your total interest for the year goes over a certain amount, you have to lower your taxes, even if you haven't actually gotten the money yet.
The person or company that takes your tax money must quickly send it to the government. For deductions between April and February, the deadline is the 7th of the next month. For March it is on the 30th of April. They have to stick to these dates to avoid getting in trouble.
Not all interest income has TDS cut from it. For example, the interest you earn from your regular savings account is exempt. The same goes for any interest you get on an income tax refund. The rule also doesn't apply to interest that a partnership firm pays to its partners. Payments to big financial players like banks are also excluded. Knowing these exceptions can help you keep more of your money and makes tax filing simpler.
Additional Read: Depreciation under the Income Tax Act
You can use these smart tips to avoid TDS:
File Form 15G or 15H if your total annual income is below the tax-free limit.
To keep the interest from each FD below the TDS limit, spread them out over several banks.
Put money into tax-free options like some government bonds or plans like PPF.
Plan your FD withdrawals carefully so that the interest doesn't go over the limit in one year.
Banks pay residents interest under this rule. It’s important to remember that it doesn't cover interest from securities like bonds.
Starting April 1, 2025, banks will cut TDS if your yearly interest tops ₹50,000. For senior citizens, that limit is ₹1,00,000. For other payers, the limit is ₹10,000.
If tax isn't due on your total income, submit Form 15G/15H to stop TDS. You can also get a certificate with a lower TDS rate by filling out Form 13.
In short, Section 194A is an important rule for people who get interest on loans or deposits. Knowing how it works will help you stay on the right side of the law and pay your taxes better.
Always remember the payment limits, especially if you're older. This makes sure you file your taxes correctly and get any refunds you're owed without any problems.
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It includes interest on fixed deposits, recurring deposits, loans, and similar non-security-based sources. It excludes interest from bonds, debentures, or government securities.
Banks, financial institutions, co-operative societies, and post offices are responsible for deducting TDS if they pay interest exceeding the specified thresholds to resident individuals or HUFs.
The TDS deduction limit is ₹50,000 for general taxpayers, ₹1,00,000 for senior citizens, and ₹10,000 for other financial institutions. The payer deducts TDS only if interest exceeds these thresholds.
They can submit Form 15H to declare that their total income is below the exemption limit. If accepted, no TDS will be deducted from interest earnings up to ₹1,00,000.
Use Form 13 to apply for a certificate from the Income Tax Officer under Section 197. This certificate allows the payer to deduct tax at a lower or nil rate.
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