Mr Ravi Aggarwal, Directorate-General of Income-tax (Systems), said here on Saturday that from next week, the assesses can access their TDS returns online on the NSDL Web site.

Companies will have to register with NSDL to access their returns.

The users will be asked two or three random questions, based on the TDS returns, to confirm their identity.

After this, they will be able to download the most recent TDS return, Mr Aggarwal said.

If there are any corrections, the company can make the changes, he added. Mr Aggarwal was speaking on the sidelines of a workshop on TDS organised by the Indian Merchants’ Chamber.

Welcome move

For employees too, it is a welcome step as they can now approach their employers if they find any mistake in the detailed tax credits or the PAN number; changes can then be made.

Employees are sometimes denied the credit for taxes paid on the pretext that the Form 16A has not been properly filled up or the date of payment of taxes has not been mentioned.

The employees also face problems getting tax credits if the employer enters the wrong PAN number in the TDS certificate.

And since employers file the TDS returns with banks, tax payers also lose out on tax credit if banks make a mistake while quoting the PAN number or entering any transaction details.

Mr S.S.N Moorthy, Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), said that almost 37 per cent of the direct tax collections in India comes from the TDS route.

‘Sensitise employees’

He emphasised the need to sensitise company employees dealing with TDS, to avoid mistakes and confusion.