Entity · EOR · Payroll · Compliance

IRPR
Income Tax and TDS|Glossary entry|2 min read

TAN

Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number

Unique 10-character alphanumeric identifier required by every person responsible for deducting or collecting tax at source.

Filing window

Apply before the first TDS deduction; obtained via Form 49B

Regulator

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)

Regulator

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)

Deadline

Apply before the first TDS deduction; obtained via Form 49B

Penalty

Section 272BB: penalty of INR 10,000 for non-quoting of TAN ...

Legal basis

Income Tax Act, 1961

§ 01
Definition

What is TAN?

Unique 10-character alphanumeric identifier required by every person responsible for deducting or collecting tax at source.

Applies to
  • +All Indian employers and payers subject to TDS
  • +Foreign-owned Indian subsidiaries
  • +EOR providers processing client-funded payroll
§ 02
Citation

Statutory basis

Income Tax Act, 1961

Section 203A

Enforced by

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), through NSDL/UTI Infrastructure

Citations are editorially curated. Always verify current applicability with qualified Indian counsel before acting on a specific matter.

§ 03
Why it matters

The stake

Apply before the first TDS deduction; obtained via Form 49B

Filing window for TAN. Skipping or mishandling this compliance carries direct financial and operational consequences.

Why TAN matters for your GCC

TAN is a income tax and withholding requirement for foreign-owned Indian entities and GCCs. Missing the apply before the first tds deduction; obtained via form 49b obligation triggers section 272bb: penalty of inr 10,000 for non-quoting of tan on tds challans and returns, and downstream filings or transactions may be blocked until rectification. Most foreign parents discover TAN issues only when a downstream transaction surfaces the prior gap, by which point rectification costs and operational delays have grown materially. Proactive handling avoids these cascading consequences.

§ 04
Pitfalls

The 4 ways TAN goes wrong

Real scenarios from real GCC compliance audits. Each one preventable.

01

Trap 01

Computing TAN on incorrect wage base or taxable transaction value

02

Trap 02

Missing the statutory remittance deadline and incurring interest under Section 201(1A)

03

Trap 03

Submitting incorrect deductee PAN, resulting in TDS credit not reflecting in employee Form 26AS

04

Trap 04

Failing to file the quarterly statement on time, attracting Section 234E late fee

§ 05
IRPR Network handles this

Done for you

Payroll Management

IRPR Network handles TAN as part of our Payroll Management service, with timely filings, supporting-document validation, citation tracking, and a zero-penalty compliance calendar.

Our workflow

  1. 01Identify the trigger event in your GCC operations
  2. 02Prepare and validate the TAN filing or compliance step
  3. 03Submit to the regulator and obtain acknowledgement
  4. 04Track in your compliance calendar for ongoing or recurring obligations
§ 07
Questions

Asked about TAN

5 specific questions that GCC operators ask most often, answered with citations to the relevant regulations.

Need help with TAN?

IRPR Network manages TAN as part of Payroll Management, with a zero-penalty guarantee.

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Q01

What is TAN and who does it apply to?

+

Unique 10-character alphanumeric identifier required by every person responsible for deducting or collecting tax at source. For foreign-owned GCCs, TAN applies to all indian employers and payers subject to tds. IRPR Network handles TAN as part of our Payroll Management service.

Q02

When is TAN due?

+

TAN is due apply before the first tds deduction; obtained via form 49b. Late filing triggers section 272bb: penalty of inr 10,000 for non-quoting of tan on tds challans and returns.

Q03

What law governs TAN?

+

TAN is governed by Income Tax Act, 1961, specifically Section 203A. The compliance is enforced by Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), through NSDL/UTI Infrastructure.

Q04

What is the penalty for non-compliance with TAN?

+

Non-compliance attracts: Section 272BB: penalty of INR 10,000 for non-quoting of TAN on TDS challans and returns IRPR Network's compliance retainer is designed to prevent these exposures through proactive filing, citation tracking, and a defined compliance calendar.

Q05

Who handles TAN for foreign-owned GCCs in India?

+

IRPR Network handles TAN end-to-end as part of our Payroll Management service. Our team prepares filings, coordinates with regulators, validates supporting documents, and tracks all related deadlines on a defined compliance calendar.

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Book a 30-minute consultation. We will map your TAN obligations alongside every other India compliance for your GCC, on one calendar, one retainer.

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