Advance tax last installment deadline ends today

March 15 marks the deadline for the payment of advance tax, a crucial obligation for taxpayers, who must ensure accurate calculation of their advance tax liability.

Advance tax is the portion of income tax that individuals and businesses are required to pay in installments, rather than in a single lump sum. These installments are spread across specified due dates throughout the financial year.

The deadlines for advance tax payments are as follows:

• June 15: 15% of the advance tax is to be paid.
• September 15: 45% of the advance tax, minus any amount already paid, should be paid.
• December 15: 75% of the advance tax, minus any amount already paid, is due.
• March 15: The remaining balance of the advance tax, minus any amount already paid, must be paid.

According to Balwant Jain, a tax and investment expert from Mumbai, “Any taxpayer whose tax liability, after reducing TDS and TCS, exceeds ₹10,000, is required to pay advance tax in four installments.”

Failure to pay advance tax on time results in interest charges as per sections 234B and 234C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. To avoid penalties, prompt payments are essential.

To facilitate the payment of advance tax, taxpayers can follow these steps for online payment:

• Visit the income tax website.
• Select ‘e-pay tax.’
• Enter PAN and password.
• Click on “Advance Tax” and choose the preferred payment method.
• Complete the payment by clicking “Pay Now.”

Upon successful processing, taxpayers will receive a receipt confirming the payment.

Furthermore, the income tax department identified errors in securities market data during the advance tax e-campaign, prompted by feedback from taxpayers. Reporting entities were requested to submit revised statements based on updated information to rectify inconsistencies in the data.

Disclaimer: It’s important to note that the views expressed above are those of individual analysts, and investors are advised to consult certified experts before making investment decisions.