« Top Headlines » Open DEMAT Account in 24 hrs  Delhi HC Rules GST Registration Cannot Be Cancelled Retrospectively Without a Clear Show Cause Notice (SCN)  Belated income tax return AY 2026-27: How to file, late filing charges and what you may lose  Major Financial Changes from August 1, 2026: ITR Deadline, RBI MPC Meeting, Tatkal Ticket Rules & More  Government proposes to ease tax relief conditions for offshore funds  TallyPrime Connected Banking: Automating Banking and Accounting  ITR Filing Deadline 2026: Is July 31 the Last Date to File Your Income Tax Return? Latest Official Update  ITR filing deadline nears: How to file income tax return online on e-filing portal - quick 15-step guide  Will the ITR Filing Deadline Be Extended Beyond July 31 for FY 2025-26? Here's the Latest Update for Taxpayers  Income Tax Refund Delayed for AY 2026-27? 5 Common Reasons Your Refund May Be Stuck and How to Fix It  ITR Filing 2026: FM Nirmala Sitharaman Asks Tax Officials to Let Honest Taxpayers Correct Genuine Mistakes  Will Your FCNR Deposit Stay Tax-Free After Returning to India? Tax Rules Explained for NRIs «  Accounting by infrastructure companies... Budget may see big-ticket tax relief for oil explorers,... » Pros may get a breather with higher TDS threshold December, 31st 2007 The Budget 2008-09 could bring some cheer to a host of self-employed professionals, like engineers and architects, with the likely increase in the threshold for tax deducted at source (TDS) for these professionals. The existing ceiling for deduction of tax at source is Rs 20,000. As per section 194J of the Income Tax Act, 1961, if the fee for professional or technical service contract undertaken by any of these professionals is more than Rs 20,000, the contract awardee has to deduct tax at the rate of 10%. The government had hiked the rate of TDS from 5% to 10%. With this hike in rate of TDS, these professionals have to get substantially higher amount of tax deducted when they receive their fees. Though this amount can be claimed as a refund if they do not have a tax liability, it could create working capital problems for them, especially smaller ones. The limit was last revised in 1994. There has been a demand for raising the ceiling for some time now. Several industry bodies have sought indexation of the limits, thresholds fixed under the Income Tax Act. The limit is particularly low, especially after the introduction of service tax which is now levied at the rate of 12% (plus cess). However, there could be some bad news in store for contractors. The government may revise upwards the TDS rates in some other categories. Contractors or subcontractors including broadcasting, telecasting, those offering plane chartering services under section 195(C) of the Income Tax Act may be hiked from 2% at present. The threshold for deduction of TDS under this category is also Rs 20,000.