TDS on payment of rent by certain individuals or Hindu undivided family [Section194-IB] | AY 2019-20 onwards

Applicability and Rate of TDS

Section 194-IB requires any person, being an individual or a HUF, other than those individual or HUF whose total sales, gross receipts or turnover from the business or profession carried on by him exceed the monetary limits of  Rs 1 crore and  Rs 50 lakhs, respectively, specified under section 44AB in the immediately preceding financial year, responsible for paying to a resident any income by way of rent, to deduct income tax at the rate of 5% .

Threshold limit

Under this section, tax has to be deducted at source only if the amount of such rent exceeds  Rs 50,000 for a month or part of a month during the previous year.

Time of deduction

This deduction is to be made at the time of credit of such rent, for the last month of the previous year or the last month of tenancy, if the property is vacated during the year, as the case may be, to the account of the payee or at the time of payment thereof in cash or by issue of cheque or draft or by any other mode, whichever is earlier.

No requirement to obtain TAN

The provisions of section 203A containing the requirement of obtaining Tax deduction account number (TAN) shall not apply to the person required to deduct tax in accordance with the provisions of section 194-IB.

Meaning of “Rent”

“Rent” means any payment, by whatever name called, under any lease, sub-lease, tenancy or any other agreement or arrangement for the use of any land or building or both.

Deduction not to exceed rent for last month

Section 206AA requires providing of Permanent Account Number (PAN) of the deductee to the deductor, failing which tax shall be deducted at a higher rate (i.e., higher of the rate provided in the relevant section, rates in force and 20%). Where the tax is required to be deducted as per the provisions of section 206AA, such deduction shall not exceed the amount of rent payable for the last month of the previous year or the last month of the tenancy, as the case may be.