Last reviewed: 25 September 2026. The Income-tax Act, 2025 applies from 1 April 2026 (tax year 2026-27) and reorganises the familiar TDS provisions of the 1961 Act into a more consolidated, structured format. For most businesses the substance - who deducts, at what rate, above what threshold - is broadly retained, but the section references and layout change, which matters for challans, returns and certificates. This guide gives the old-to-new mapping for the common TDS sections, the transition rule for payments that straddle 1 April 2026, and the new form numbers.
At a glance
What is actually changing
The new Act presents TDS in a more consolidated, table-based structure rather than as scattered sections. The economic substance of the common deductions - contractor payments, professional fees, rent, commission, purchase of goods - continues, so you are not relearning the rules, but you are relearning where to find them and how to reference them.
Old-to-new TDS section mapping
| Payment | 1961 Act | Income-tax Act, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Salary | 192 | 392 |
| EPF / superannuation withdrawal | 192A | 392(7) |
| Interest on securities | 193 | 393(1) Table S.No. 5(i) |
| Dividend | 194 | 393(1) Table S.No. 7 |
| Other interest (banks, others) | 194A | 393(1) Table S.No. 5(ii)/(iii) |
| Insurance commission | 194D | 393(1) Table S.No. 1(i) |
| Commission or brokerage | 194H | 393(1) Table S.No. 1(ii) |
| Rent paid by individual/HUF | 194-IB | 393(1) Table S.No. 2(i) |
| Rent (other payers) | 194-I | 393(1) Table S.No. 2(ii) |
| Purchase of immovable property | 194-IA | 393(1) Table S.No. 3(i) |
| Contractor payments | 194C | 393(1) Table S.No. 6(i) |
| Transporter with 10 or fewer goods carriages (no TDS on PAN declaration) | 194C(6) | 393(4) Table S.No. 8(a) |
| Contractor/professional paid by individual/HUF | 194M | 393(1) Table S.No. 6(ii) |
| Professional or technical fees | 194J | 393(1) Table S.No. 6(iii) |
| Director remuneration (non-salary) | 194J(1)(ba) | 393(1) Table S.No. 6(iii)(c) |
| Purchase of goods | 194Q | 393(1) Table S.No. 8(ii) |
| Business perquisites | 194R | 393(1) Table S.No. 8(iv) |
| E-commerce operator | 194-O | 393(1) Table S.No. 8(v) |
| Virtual digital assets | 194S | 393(1) Table S.No. 8(vi) |
| Lottery / puzzle winnings | 194B | 393(3) Table S.No. 1 |
| Online games | 194BA | 393(3) Table S.No. 2 |
| Payments by a firm to partners | 194T | 393(3) Table S.No. 7 |
| Payments to non-residents | 195 | 393(2) |
| Lower / nil deduction certificate | 197 | 395(1)(a) |
| TDS certificate (Form 16/16A) | 203 | 395(4) |
| Higher TDS where no PAN | 206AA | 397(2) |
| Assessee in default | 201 / 201(1) | 398 / 398(1) |
| Interest on TDS default | 201(1A) | 398(3)(a) |
| Late fee on TDS statement | 234E | 427 |
Table serial numbers are taken from the Act as enacted. Amendments can insert rows or renumber sub-sections, so verify the S.No. against the current text of the Act (as amended by the Finance Act 2026) on incometaxindia.gov.in before quoting it on a certificate, challan or reply. For rates and thresholds by payment type, see our TDS Rate Finder for FY 2026-27.
The transition rule: which Act applies to a payment
TDS follows the Act in force in the financial year in which the amount is paid or credited, whichever is earlier. Amounts paid or credited on or before 31 March 2026 stay under the 1961 sections (194C, 194J and so on) and are reported on the old forms. Amounts paid or credited from 1 April 2026 fall under sections 392-394 and the new forms.
Example: a professional's bill of ₹80,000 is credited to the expense account on 25 March 2026 and paid on 15 April 2026. The credit came first, so TDS was deductible under section 194J of the 1961 Act and is reported in the Q4 FY 2025-26 statement on the old Form 26Q. A similar bill credited on 5 April 2026 falls under section 393(1) Table S.No. 6(iii) and is reported on Form 140.
TDS forms: old and new
| Purpose | Old form | New form (from 1 April 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly statement - salary | 24Q | 138 |
| Quarterly statement - resident non-salary | 26Q | 140 |
| Quarterly statement - non-residents | 27Q | 144 |
| Salary TDS certificate | 16 | 130 |
| Non-salary TDS certificate | 16A | 131 |
Why mapping old to new matters
During the transition you must quote the correct provision on TDS challans, returns and certificates. Mapping your existing sections to their place in the new framework - and updating your accounting software's TDS masters accordingly - prevents wrong codes, mismatches and notices. Reconcile a few live transactions to confirm the mapping before relying on it.
How to prepare
- Update TDS masters and the code mapping in your accounting system using the table above.
- Train the accounts team on the new references for your common payments.
- Apply the transition rule - use the provisions in force on the date of payment or credit, whichever is earlier.
- Verify table serial numbers against the current text of the Act before quoting them on certificates or in replies.
Frequently asked questions
What is changing for TDS under the Income-tax Act, 2025?
The new Act reorganises and consolidates the TDS provisions of the 1961 Act, presenting them in a more structured, table-based format. Salary TDS moves to section 392; most other TDS moves into the tables in section 393; certificates, lower-deduction certificates and statements move to sections 395-397. The underlying substance - who deducts, at what rate and threshold - is largely carried forward, but the section references and layout change.
Do TDS rates and thresholds change?
The rates and thresholds were largely carried over from the 1961 Act as it stood for FY 2025-26, including the threshold increases made by the Finance Act 2025 from 1 April 2025. Check the current rate and threshold for each payment against the Act as amended by the Finance Act 2026 before deducting.
Why does mapping old to new sections matter?
During the transition, you need to quote the correct provision on challans, returns and certificates. Mapping your existing sections (like 194C, 194J, 194Q) to their place in the new structure avoids errors and mismatches.
Will the common sections like 194C and 194J still exist?
The deductions continue in substance under new references: 194C is section 393(1) Table S.No. 6(i), 194J is section 393(1) Table S.No. 6(iii), 194-I is S.No. 2(ii), 194H is S.No. 1(ii) and 194Q is S.No. 8(ii). Payments to non-residents (old 195) fall under section 393(2).
When does the new Act apply?
The new Act applies from 1 April 2026 (tax year 2026-27). TDS follows the Act in force when the amount is paid or credited, whichever is earlier: amounts paid or credited on or before 31 March 2026 stay under the 1961 sections and old forms, and amounts paid or credited from 1 April 2026 fall under sections 392-394 and the new forms.
What should businesses do to prepare?
Update your TDS masters and accounting software mapping, train the team on the new references, and reconcile a few live transactions to confirm the correct code is being quoted.
Does the reorganisation affect TDS returns?
Yes. Periods from 1 April 2026 are reported on the new forms - Form 138 (old 24Q) for salary, Form 140 (old 26Q) for resident non-salary payments and Form 144 (old 27Q) for non-residents - while FY 2025-26 periods stay on the old forms. Ensure the software and the codes used match the provisions in force for that period.
Where can I get the exact new mapping?
The table on this page gives the section and table row for the common deductions. Table serial numbers can shift when the Act is amended, so confirm the row against the current text of the Act on incometaxindia.gov.in, as amended by the Finance Act 2026, before quoting it on a certificate or reply.
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WhatsAppLinkedInSchedule a callDisclaimer: This article is for general guidance only. The new Act's detailed provisions evolve as rules and forms are notified; please confirm the current position before relying on it.