Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Tenants Paying Over ₹50,000 Rent Face TDS Compliance Rules
If someone pays more than ₹50,000 in rent each month, they may have to hold back a small part of the rent as tax.
This rule applies to certain individuals and Hindu Undivided Families, including salaried people.
The tenant deducts 2% from the rent owed to a resident landlord.
The rate has applied since October 1, 2024.
Usually, the deduction is made once a year rather than every month.
The tenant sends this money to the government using the required form.
The landlord can usually count the deducted amount as tax credit when filing an income tax return.
If the tenant misses the rules, interest and other consequences may apply.
Tenants paying more than ₹50,000 monthly rent to a resident landlord must deduct 2% TDS under Section 194-IB.
The 2% rate replaced the earlier 5% rate from October 1, 2024.
TDS is generally deducted once yearly, in the final month of the financial year or tenancy, whichever comes first.
Tenants must deposit the tax within 30 days after the end of the deduction month and submit Form 26QC.
Failure to deduct or deposit TDS can trigger interest of 1% or 1.5% per month, respectively.
- Who
- Individuals and Hindu Undivided Families who are not required to have their accounts audited, including some salaried taxpayers, paying rent to resident landlords.
- What
- Tenants paying more than ₹50,000 per month must deduct 2% TDS from rent under Section 194-IB and deposit it with the government.
- When
- The deduction is made in the last month of the financial year or the last month of the tenancy if the property is vacated earlier. The tax is due within 30 days after the end of the deduction month.
- Where
- The rule applies to rent paid for properties and specified assets in India; the example concerns a flat in Mumbai.
- Why
- The TDS system helps the government track high-value rental transactions and collect tax at the source.
- Applicable threshold
- Monthly rent exceeding ₹50,000
- TDS rate
- 2% for rent paid to a resident landlord, effective October 1, 2024
- Relevant provision
- Section 194-IB of the Income-tax Act
- Deduction timing
- Once a year, in the last month of the financial year or tenancy, whichever is earlier
- Deposit deadline
- Within 30 days from the end of the month in which TDS was deducted
- Required forms
- Form 26QC for depositing and reporting TDS, and Form 16C for the landlord
- Interest for non-deduction
- 1% per month or part of a month until TDS is deducted
- Interest for late deposit
- 1.5% per month or part of a month after deduction until payment