TDS Certificates Safe? Act Before March 31, 2026
CBDT confirmed all existing nil or lower TDS certificates and tax approvals stay valid under the new Income Tax Act 2025. But if you need to apply fresh, do it before March 31, 2026 — after that, new rules apply.
A nil TDS certificate can save a freelancer ₹30,000+ in upfront tax cuts on a ₹3L contract.
Miss this deadline and your TDS application moves to stricter new rules
Key Takeaways
Check if your nil or lower TDS certificate is expiring soon — renew it before March 31, 2026 to stay under the current, familiar rules.
If you are a freelancer, NRI, or business owner expecting large payments, file your lower TDS application immediately to avoid higher tax deductions after the deadline.
Confirm with your CA or employer that existing Form 13 approvals or 80G/12A registrations are on record — no reapplication needed unless they are due for renewal.
CBDT confirmed all existing nil or lower TDS certificates and tax approvals stay valid under the new Income Tax Act 2025. But if you need to apply fresh, do it before March 31, 2026 — after that, new rules apply.
Here's what happened: CBDT clarified that all nil or lower TDS certificates and tax exemptions already granted remain fully valid under the Income Tax Act, 2025.. Any pending applications submitted before March 31, 2026 will still be processed under the existing Income Tax Act, 1961 rules.. From April 1, 2026 onwards, all new TDS-related applications must comply with the Income Tax Act, 2025 framework..
What you should do: Check if your nil or lower TDS certificate is expiring soon — renew it before March 31, 2026 to stay under the current, familiar rules.. If you are a freelancer, NRI, or business owner expecting large payments, file your lower TDS application immediately to avoid higher tax deductions after the deadline.. Confirm with your CA or employer that existing Form 13 approvals or 80G/12A registrations are on record — no reapplication needed unless they are due for renewal..
If your lower TDS certificate expires between now and March 2026, renewing early locks in current conditions — post-April renewals face new Act scrutiny and possible processing delays.
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- [1]“CBDT clarification: All approvals like Nil or lower TDS certificate and existing tax benefits will continue under Income Tax Act, 2025; Here’s what it means for you” Wealth-Economic Times · 7 Jul 2026
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