Simpler TDS refund route those below tax limit on anvil: Officials

Taxpayers whose incomes fall below the taxable threshold may be able to claim a refund by filling up a simple form

- Saubhadra Chatterjee and Rajeev Jayaswal

Taxpayers whose income falls below the taxable threshold, but who end up having tax deducted at source for a variety of reasons and then file income tax returns solely for the purpose of a refund, may no longer have to do so.

Instead, they may be able to claim a refund by filling up a simple form.

A recommendation to this effect was made by the Select Committee on the Income-Tax Bill 2025, according to government functionaries directly familiar with the legislation.

“The panel felt that the current mandatory requirement to file a return solely for the purpose of claiming a refund can inadvertently leads to prosecution, particularly for small taxpayers whose income falls below the taxable threshold but from whom TDS has been deducted. In such cases, the law should not compel a return merely to avoid penalty,” one of the functionaries said, asking not to be named.

This person added that the government has accepted the suggestion and it will come as an amendment to the new bill.

According to two other members of the panel, the idea is that instead of an IT return, the CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) can devise a new plan involving a simple form for those who are under the tax threshold. “We discussed it in the meeting. The idea is instead of filing an ITR, one can file a simple form for claims. The process will be linked with Form 26AS.”

Form 26AS is a consolidated statement on tax deducted and collected at source.

“Under the current laws, it is mandatory for a person -- whose total income is below the taxable threshold -- to file an income-tax return to claim refund of any tax deducted at source, for example on bank interest. Delays in filing ITR by the person attract penalties or prosecution despite having no tax liabilities. The committee has suggested simplifying the system,” said a tax expert.