Should I Be Concerned About TDS on My FD Interest?

Ans: Hello there,

I understand your concern about the double taxation on your Fixed Deposit (FD) interest. Let me clarify this for you.

The Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) is a means of collecting income tax in India and is governed under the Indian Income Tax Act of 1961. When it comes to FDs, banks deduct TDS when your interest income exceeds a certain threshold in a financial year. As of now, this limit is Rs. 40,000 for non-senior citizens and Rs. 50,000 for senior citizens.

Now, coming to your question, the TDS deducted by the bank is not the final tax. It's just a part of the total income tax you're liable to pay for the year. The bank deducts TDS at 10% (if PAN is provided) on the interest earned, but your final tax liability could be at 5%, 20%, or 30% depending on your total income for the year.

So, when you file your Income Tax Return (ITR), you need to add the interest income from the FD to your total income for the year. The tax on this total income is then calculated based on the income tax slabs. If the total tax calculated is more than the TDS already deducted, you'll have to pay the difference. Conversely, if the total tax is less than the TDS, you can claim a refund.

For example, in your case, if your total income including the FD interest falls under the 30% tax bracket, you'll need to pay an additional 20% tax on the FD interest (30% total tax minus 10% TDS already deducted).

I hope this clarifies your doubt. Please consult with a tax advisor or chartered accountant for personalized advice based on your total income and tax slab.

Best regards.

Ans: Hello Amit,

I understand your concern and it's great to see your proactive approach towards tax compliance.

As per the Income Tax Act, banks are required to deduct TDS on interest income when it exceeds Rs. 40,000 in a financial year (Rs. 50,000 for senior citizens). This is an automated process and banks follow this rule strictly.

However, if you wish to have TDS deducted even when your interest income is below Rs. 40,000, you may not be able to do so through the bank directly as their systems are designed to comply with the existing tax laws and automatically deduct TDS only when the interest income crosses the specified threshold.

That being said, you can still manage your tax liability effectively. You can calculate the tax on your interest income and pay it as Self Assessment Tax or Advance Tax, as applicable, through the Income Tax Department's e-payment facility. This way, you can ensure that your tax payment obligations are met in a timely manner.

Please consult with a tax advisor or chartered accountant for personalized advice based on your specific circumstances.

I hope this information is helpful.

Ans: No, the bank is likely not right in this case. Here's why:

• Form 15G validity: A valid Form 15G submitted before April 1, 2023 is applicable for the entire financial year 2023-24 (assessment year 2024-25). This means if your income falls under the non-taxable category, the bank shouldn't deduct TDS on your FD interest for the entire year.
• TDS exemption limit: The current exemption limit for TDS on FD interest is Rs 40,000 for individuals below 60 years old, and Rs 50,000 for senior citizens (above 60 years old). There's no limit of Rs 5 lakh for TDS deduction on FD interest.

Here's what you can do:

• Reach out to your bank: Inform them that you submitted a valid Form 15G and your income falls under the non-taxable category. You can clarify the exemption limit and point out the mistake.
• Request rectification: Ask the bank to rectify the error and reverse the TDS deducted on your FD interest from October 2023 onwards.
• Seek professional help: If the bank doesn't resolve the issue, consider seeking help from a tax consultant or financial advisor. They can guide you further on how to claim a refund for the deducted TDS.

Additional points to consider:

• Ensure you have a copy of the Form 15G submission acknowledgement for your records.
• Keep a record of any communication with the bank regarding the TDS deduction.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue with the bank and avoid unnecessary TDS deduction on your FD interest.

Ans: You're right. Based on IT rules, TDS on FD interest might not have been applicable in your case. Here's a breakdown:

• TDS on FD Interest: There's no TDS deduction if the total interest earned from all your FDs with a bank is less than Rs 40,000 in a financial year. This limit is Rs 50,000 for senior citizens (aged 60 years and above).
• Form 15G/15H: By submitting Form 15G (for individuals below 60) or 15H (for senior citizens) in April 2023, you declared your income to be below the taxable limit. This should have exempted TDS on FD interest for the entire financial year (April 2023 - March 2024).

Possible Reasons for TDS Deduction:

• Crossed Interest Limit Misunderstanding: The bank might have mistakenly considered the total interest earned across all your FDs for the entire financial year (April 2023 - March 2024) and deducted TDS once it exceeded Rs 40,000 (or Rs 50,000 for senior citizens) from October 2023 onwards.
• Form 15 Not Processed: There's a chance your Form 15G/15H wasn't processed correctly by the bank.

Resolving the Issue:

• Contact the Bank: Reach out to your bank's customer care or branch manager and explain the situation. Mention you submitted Form 15G/15H and your income is below the taxable limit.
• Provide Documents: If needed, share a copy of your Form 15G/15H submission proof.

The bank should investigate and potentially reverse the deducted TDS.

Additional Notes:

• It's good practice to keep a copy of any forms submitted for future reference.
• If you still face issues, consider seeking guidance from a tax consultant.