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The amount of income tax~ that you pay in advance instead of making a lump-sum payment at the end of the year is known as advance tax. One of the main distinctions between income tax and advance tax is that there are due dates decided by the income tax department for the payment of advance tax in the form of instalments, which is not the case with income tax payments.
Advance tax is also known as pay-as-you-earn tax and is calculated on the income one earns during a given year. Advance tax collection helps the government collect taxes from individuals whose TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) is lesser than their total tax liability or those who do not come under any tax bracket. And since the tax will have to be deposited in such a scenario, advance tax payment streamlines the tax collection process.
While advance tax payment can be made through the offline mode, an online procedure for quick and hassle-free tax payment is also available for taxpayers.
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Advance tax, also known as the pay as you earn tax, is to be paid by individuals who earn through sources of income other than their salary, such as investments, lotteries, rent, etc. To pay advance tax, the taxpayer needs to estimate their income and then compute the estimated tax on the same to understand how much tax they need to pay. These are the reasons why advance tax is important:
Table of Content
In these few steps, you can find out whether you need to pay advance tax and how much advance tax you need to pay:
If your tax liability after TDS is above ₹10,000, you will have to pay advance tax.
Example of Advance Tax Calculation
Here is an example that better explains advance tax calculation:
Ramona, a businessperson, estimates her annual gross income for FY 2019-20 at ₹20,00,000. Her expenses are estimated to be ₹12,00,000. She has also ₹40,000 in her PPF account and pays a ₹25,000 premium towards her life insurance policy.
Moreover, Ramona is also paying a health insurance premium of ₹12,000. All of these professional receipts are subject to Tax Deduction at Source (TDS), and as per her self-assessment, there is a TDS of ₹30,000 on some of the professional receipts for FY 2019-20. Besides that, she also estimates an interest of ₹10,000 on her fixed deposit savings. Given below is Ramona’s advance tax liability:
Advance Tax Estimated Income |
Amount in Rupees |
Amount in Rupees |
Income from the profession: |
|
|
Gross receipts |
₹20,00,000 |
|
Less: Expenses |
₹12,00,000 |
₹8,00,000 |
Income from other sources: |
|
|
Interest from fixed deposit |
|
₹10,000 |
GROSS TOTAL INCOME |
|
₹8,10,000 |
Less: Deduction under section 80C |
|
|
Contribution to PPF |
₹40,000 |
|
LIC premium |
₹25,000 |
|
|
₹65,000 |
|
Deduction under section 80D |
₹12,000 |
₹77,000 |
TOTAL INCOME |
|
₹7,33,000 |
|
|
|
Tax Payable |
|
₹59,100 |
Add: Education cess @ 4% |
|
₹2,364 |
|
|
₹61,464 |
Less: TDS |
|
₹30,000 |
Tax Payable In Advance |
|
₹31,464 |
Who Should Pay Advance Income Tax?
You should be paying advance income tax if you:
Salaried, freelancers and businesses:
As a salaried employee, a freelancer or a businessperson, your total tax liability should be at least ₹10,000 or above for a financial year if you are liable to pay advance tax.
Presumptive income for Businesses:
If you select the presumptive taxation scheme under section 44AD, you will have to pay the entire advance tax amount in a single instalment on or before 15th March. Alternatively, you can pay all of your taxes by 31st March.
Presumptive income for Professionals:
If you are an independent professional such as an architect, doctor, lawyer, and so on, and have opted for the presumptive scheme under section 44ADA, you can pay the entire advance tax amount in a single instalment on or before 15th March or all of your tax dues by 31st March.
As per Section 207 of the Income Tax Act, a resident senior citizen above the age of 60 years or more need not pay advance tax if they do not have any income from their profession or business. Furthermore, they will also have to fulfil the following conditions to be exempt from advance tax payment:
How to Pay Advance Tax Online?
To pay advance tax online, you will have to make the payment through Challan 280, also known as ITNS 280, which has to be submitted on the official website of the Tax Information Network of the Income Tax Department (TIN NSDL).
Tax payment in itself can be a lengthy process that involves quite a bit of paperwork and may take up some time. To ease the process of advance tax payment, the e-tax system by the Income Tax Department enables taxpayers to pay their taxes online faster and in a more convenient manner.
Here is how you can make an advance tax payment online:
What are the Advance Tax Payment Due Dates?
Advance Tax Payment for self-employed individuals and business owners
Due Date of Advance Tax Instalment |
Tax Payable |
By 15th September |
At least 30% of the advance tax amount |
By 15th December |
At least 60% of the advance tax amount |
By 15th March |
100% of the advance tax amount |
Advance Tax Payment for Companies
Advance Tax Instalment |
Due Date |
Advance Tax to be Paid |
1st instalment |
By 15th June |
15% of the advance tax |
2nd instalment |
By 15th September |
45% of the advance tax |
3rd instalment |
By 15th December |
75% of the advance tax |
4th instalment |
By 15th March |
100% of the advance tax |
Challan No. ITNS 280 should be duly filled on the prescribed due dates when the advance tax payment will be made. The details needed are:
PAN Details: Mention the correct PAN information to avoid depositing the tax in someone else’s name.
Assessment Year: Choose the assessment year correctly for the advance tax payment since it is to be updated for the next financial year.
Choose the type of payment: Select the payment type carefully. For instance, for advance tax, the tax will be paid for the same financial year as per the estimated income, and if it is paid after the end of the financial year, it is known as self-assessment tax.
Once the payment has been made, the Challan Identification Number (CIN), which is proof of the payment, will be provided so that you can use it while filing your income tax returns. And just to be cautious, check again if the Income Tax Department has received the payment through ITNS 280.
How to Check Advance Income Tax Payment Status?
This is how you can check your advance income tax payment status through Form 26AS:
You can also visit the TIN NSDL website to check your advance income tax payment status:
The tax collecting branch can view the total amount and the total number of challans for each major head code after you provide the branch scroll date and the major head code. They can also check the following information:
At the nodal bank branch, the nodal branch can view these details:
Moreover, for every Nodal Branch Scroll Number, the following details can be viewed:
It is possible to pay your advance tax online on the official income tax website with the help of Challan 280. The simple process does not require the assistance of a Chartered Accountant or any other official. Since you will need to pay the advance tax, this online facility ensures that you do not have to pay any additional taxes. All you need to do is fill out the online form correctly and then use it online to make the tax payment or get a printout to pay the advance tax offline at the bank.
If the advance tax payment is delayed, then you will have to pay the penalty as per Section 234B of the Income Tax Act. The interest will be charged at 1% per month on the pending amount if 90% of the advance tax payment is not complete by the end of the financial year.
Under Section 234B of the Income Tax Act, an interest at the rate of 1% will be levied per month on the pending amount if the tax is not paid as per the instalment schedule for deferment in instalments of advance tax.
These are the following benefits of paying your advance tax in a timely manner:
When paying advance tax, the amount of tax and the timelines for the tax payment are clearly outlined. While there is a penalty on the non-payment or delay of advance tax, there is also a provision for recovering any extra payments that you may have made towards your advance tax.
At the end of the financial year, the Income Tax Department calculates the total amount of advance tax paid by the taxpayer, and in case there is an excess amount that has been paid, the same can be refunded. For this, the taxpayer will have to fill out Form 30 and make a claim for this additional amount within a year from the assessment year’s previous year.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Advance Tax
When should I pay my advance tax?
Since advance tax payment is made in instalments throughout the financial year, it is necessary to pay 15% of the tax by 15th June, 45% of the advance tax by 15th September, while 75% of the tax should be paid by 15th December and 100% of the advance tax payment should be made by 15th March.
If you opt for the presumptive taxation scheme, be sure to pay 100% of advance tax on or before 15th March during the financial year.
Is an NRI required to pay advance tax?
Yes, an NRI will have to pay advance tax if their tax liability is above Exemption to Senior Citizens from Advance Tax Income Payment 10,000 during the financial year. If advance tax is not paid then under Section 234B (delay in advance tax payment) and Section 234C (deferred instalments in advance tax payment), applicable interest may be charged.
I'm an elderly person with pension and interest income. Should I pay tax in advance?
Since senior citizens do not have a business income, they do not need to pay advance tax during the financial year. However, there is a self-assessment tax that needs to be paid after the final tax liability has been calculated for the financial year.
Can I use an 80C deduction while calculating my income to calculate my advance tax?
Yes, you can consider the deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act while calculating your advance tax payment, like in the case of income tax payments.
What will happen if I don't pay the fourth instalment of my advance tax by the due date, which is March 15th?
The advance tax payment as per the schedule is 15th June, 15th September, 15th December and 15th March. However, if you are unable to pay the last instalment of your advance tax by the due date, you will be charged simple interest at the rate of 1% on the taxes due under Section 234B of the Income Tax Act.
Under this Section, you should have paid 90% of the tax payable by the end of the fiscal year. Since the third instalment to be paid on 15th December is 75% of the advance tax, be sure not to skip your 4th instalment on 15th March.
What occurs if I pay more or less advance tax than is required for a financial year?
Under Section 234B of the Income Tax Act, the payment of less than 90% of the advance assessed tax before the due date will attract an interest penalty of 1% per month. If the advance tax paid exceeds your total tax liability, you will receive a refund on the additional sum, and the Income Tax Department pays 6% every year on the additional amount if it is over 10 percent of your tax liability.
Can I make a Section 80C deduction when estimating my income to determine my advance tax?
Yes, you can claim a tax deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act only after you pay the self-assessment tax and not before you do so.
Will any tax payable till 31 March be treated as advance tax?
Yes, any tax paid until 31st March will be considered as advance tax. In case the bank is closed on the day that you want to make your advance tax payment, you can make the tax payment soon on the next working day.
How can I write a check for a tax advance?
You can write a check for the advance tax payment by downloading the challan at- https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/Forms/107010000000345598.pdf. Once you fill in the details, keep the following things in mind:
How do I download a receipt for an advance income tax payment?
You can download the advance income tax payment receipt by visiting https://tin.tin.nsdl.com/oltas/index.html, selecting the CIN (Challan Identification Number) Based View and downloading or taking a screenshot of the CIN after clicking on view.
Is a taxpayer who chooses Presumptive Taxation under Sections 44AD or 44ADA required to pay advance tax?
Yes, if a taxpayer chooses presumptive taxation as a business or as a professional under Sections 44AD or 44ADA, they will pay advance tax. They have to pay the whole advance tax amount in a single instalment on or before 15th March or all their tax dues by 31st March.
When must the Assessing Officer calculate the Advance Tax Liability?
The Assessing Officer should calculate the advance tax liability through a written order or amended order anytime during the financial year but not after the last day of February.
Which tax rates are to be applied when determining the amount of advance tax due?
Under Section 234B of the Income Tax Act, simple interest at the rate of 1% per month will be charged if you pay less than 90% of the advance assessed tax. The interest rate will be calculated for each defaulted month’s amount until the advance tax payment is complete. And under Section 234C of the Income Tax Act, an interest penalty of 1% is charged if the advance tax instalments are not paid on time by their respective deadlines.
What tax amount must be paid in each advance tax instalment?
Here is the table that shows the schedule of the advance tax payment:
Advance Tax Instalment |
Due Date |
Advance Tax to be Paid |
1st instalment |
By 15th June |
15% of the advance tax (excluding the amount paid) |
2nd instalment |
By 15th September |
45% of the advance tax (excluding the amount paid) |
3rd instalment |
By 15th December |
75% of the advance tax (excluding the amount paid) |
4th instalment |
By 15th March |
100% of the advance tax (excluding the amount paid) |
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