Everything You Need to Know About Downloading 281 Challan for TDS/TCS
How to Download 281 Challan Online
If you are a tax deductor or collector, you might have heard of 281 Challan. It is a form that you need to fill and pay online to deposit tax deducted at source (TDS) or tax collected at source (TCS) to the government. In this article, we will explain what is 281 Challan, who needs to pay it, what are the benefits of paying it online, and how to download it online step by step. We will also show you how to verify the status of your challan online and answer some frequently asked questions.
What is 281 Challan?
281 Challan is a form that is used to deposit TDS or TCS to the government. TDS is a tax that is deducted by the payer from the income of the payee before making the payment. For example, if an employer pays salary to an employee, he has to deduct a certain percentage of tax from the salary and deposit it to the government on behalf of the employee. Similarly, TCS is a tax that is collected by the seller from the buyer at the time of sale of certain goods or services. For example, if a jeweler sells gold to a customer, he has to collect a certain percentage of tax from the customer and deposit it to the government on behalf of the customer.
download 281 challan
Both TDS and TCS are ways of collecting tax at source, i.e., at the point of income generation or transaction. This ensures that tax evasion is minimized and tax compliance is increased. The tax deductors or collectors have to file periodic returns with the Income Tax Department, showing the details of TDS or TCS deducted or collected and deposited. They also have to issue certificates to the deductees or collectees, showing the amount of tax deducted or collected and deposited on their behalf.
Who needs to pay 281 Challan?
Any person or entity who is liable to deduct or collect tax at source under any provision of the Income Tax Act, 1961, has to pay 281 Challan. Some examples of such persons or entities are:
Employers who pay salary or wages to their employees
Banks or financial institutions who pay interest or dividends to their customers
Contractors or sub-contractors who make payments to their workers
Professionals or consultants who make payments to their associates
Landlords who receive rent from their tenants
Sellers of certain goods or services who collect tax from their buyers
The list is not exhaustive and there may be other cases where TDS or TCS is applicable. You can check the rates and thresholds of TDS or TCS for different types of payments on [5]( You can also consult your chartered accountant or tax advisor for more guidance.
What are the benefits of paying 281 Challan online?
Paying 281 Challan online has many benefits over paying it offline. Some of them are:
It is convenient and time-saving as you can pay it from anywhere and anytime using your computer or mobile device.
It is secure and reliable as It is secure and reliable as you get an instant confirmation and receipt of your payment.
It is accurate and error-free as you can verify the details of your challan before making the payment.
It is eco-friendly and paperless as you can download and print your challan counterfoil online.
Therefore, paying 281 Challan online is a smart and hassle-free way of complying with your tax obligations.
How to download 281 Challan online step by step?
To download 281 Challan online, you need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Visit the e-Pay Tax portal of Income Tax Department
The first step is to visit the e-Pay Tax portal of Income Tax Department at [4]( This is the official website where you can pay your taxes online using net-banking or debit card. You can also access this portal from the homepage of [3]( by clicking on the "Pay Taxes Online" option.
Step 2: Select the relevant challan i.e. ITNS 281
The next step is to select the relevant challan for your payment. In this case, you need to select ITNS 281, which is the challan for TDS/TCS. You can find this challan under the "Non-TDS/TCS" section on the left side of the portal. Click on the challan number to proceed.
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How to submit download 281 challan online to bank
How to make download 281 challan online payment through net banking or debit card or credit card or UPI or NEFT or RTGS or IMPS or QR code or e-wallet or cash or cheque or demand draft or money order or postal order or pay order or bank draft or traveller's cheque or bill of exchange or promissory note or bearer bond or treasury bill or commercial paper or certificate of deposit or banker's acceptance or letter of credit or bank guarantee or standby letter of credit or documentary collection or direct debit or standing order or bank giro credit or CHAPS or BACS or FPS or SWIFT or SEPA or ACH or EFTPOS or Fedwire or CHIPS.
How to file download 281 challan online with TDS return online
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Step 3: Enter PAN/TAN and other mandatory challan details
The third step is to enter your PAN (Permanent Account Number) or TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number) and other mandatory challan details. These details include:
Type of payment: Whether you are paying TDS or TCS
Nature of payment: The specific category of payment for which you are deducting or collecting tax
Mode of payment: Whether you are paying through net-banking or debit card
Name and address of taxpayer: Your name and address as per PAN/TAN records
Assessment year: The financial year for which you are making the payment
Amount of tax: The amount of tax that you are depositing
Bank name: The name of the bank through which you are making the payment
Captcha code: The security code that you need to enter to verify that you are not a robot
After entering all these details, click on "Proceed" to continue.
Step 4: Confirm the data entered and proceed to payment
The fourth step is to confirm the data that you have entered in the previous step. You will see a summary of your challan details on the screen. Check if everything is correct and click on "Submit to the bank" to proceed to payment. If you want to make any changes, click on "Edit" to go back to the previous step.
Step 5: Login to the net-banking site of the bank and enter payment details
The fifth step is to login to the net-banking site of the bank that you have selected in the previous step. You will be redirected to the bank's website where you need to enter your user ID and password. After logging in, you will see your challan details again. Enter your payment details such as account number, debit card number, CVV, OTP, etc. and confirm your payment.
Step 6: Download the challan counterfoil as proof of payment
The final step is to download the challan counterfoil as proof of payment. After making the payment, you will see a confirmation message on the screen along with a Challan Identification Number (CIN). This CIN consists of seven digits of BSR code of the bank branch, date of deposit, and five d