TDS Declaration · FY 2025-26

Form 15G & 15H —
Stop TDS When Your Tax Is Nil

Q: What is Form 15G and who should submit it?

Form 15G is a self-declaration under Section 197A submitted to a bank, the EPFO, a post office or other deductor asking it not to deduct TDS on your interest or income. It is for a resident individual below 60 years of age (or a HUF) whose estimated total income for the year is below the basic exemption limit and whose total tax for the year is nil. Submit it at the start of each financial year to each deductor separately.

Q: What is the difference between Form 15G and Form 15H?

Form 15G is for individuals below 60 (and HUFs) and requires that your estimated total income is below the basic exemption limit. Form 15H is only for senior citizens aged 60 or above and has a lighter test — you just need your estimated tax for the year to be nil, with no cap on the interest amount. So a senior with large FD interest can still use 15H if deductions like 80TTB and the 87A rebate bring the tax to nil.

Q: Can NRIs or companies submit Form 15G or 15H?

No. Form 15G and Form 15H can be submitted only by resident individuals (15H only if 60+) and, for 15G, HUFs. Non-residents, companies, firms and LLPs cannot use these forms. NRIs must instead apply for a lower/nil TDS certificate under Section 197 if their tax is genuinely low.

Q: What is the TDS threshold on bank FD interest for FY 2025-26?

From 1 April 2025, banks and co-operative banks deduct TDS under Section 194A only when your FD/RD interest exceeds Rs 50,000 in a year (Rs 1,00,000 for senior citizens). Budget 2025 raised these limits from the earlier Rs 40,000 / Rs 50,000. Below the threshold no TDS is cut; above it, submit Form 15G/15H to stop the 10% TDS if your tax is nil.

Q: When should Form 15G be submitted to the bank?

Submit Form 15G/15H at the beginning of each financial year, in April, before interest is credited. It is valid only for that financial year, so it must be filed fresh every year. If you have FDs in more than one bank or branch, submit a separate form to each, because each deductor tracks your interest independently.

Q: What TDS rate applies if I do not submit Form 15G?

If your interest crosses the threshold and you do not submit Form 15G/15H, the bank deducts TDS at 10% when your PAN is on record, or 20% if PAN is not furnished. You can still claim the TDS back as a refund when you file your ITR, provided your final tax is nil — but the money is locked up until then.

Q: How do I submit Form 15G for EPF withdrawal?

Log in to the EPFO member portal with your UAN, start the online claim (Form 19/31/10C), and on the claim screen declare/upload Form 15G. TDS under Section 192A applies when service is under 5 years and the withdrawal is Rs 50,000 or more; Form 15G stops it if your whole-year income is below the basic exemption limit. Your PAN must be registered with the EPFO.

Q: Is TDS deducted on EPF withdrawal after 5 years?

No. If you have completed five years of continuous service, EPF withdrawal is fully exempt and no TDS is deducted, so Form 15G is not required. TDS under Section 192A applies only when service is under 5 years and the taxable withdrawal is Rs 50,000 or more; there it is 10% with PAN and the maximum marginal rate without PAN.

Q: What if my PAN is not linked to the EPFO?

If your PAN is not registered/valid with the EPFO, TDS on a pre-5-year EPF withdrawal is deducted at the maximum marginal rate instead of 10%, and Form 15G may not be accepted. Update and validate your PAN in your UAN profile before filing the claim so the lower rate applies and the 15G declaration is honoured.

Q: Can I submit Form 15G for dividend income?

Yes. TDS on dividends from companies and mutual funds is deducted under Section 194/194K when the dividend exceeds Rs 10,000 a year from that payer. If your total income is below the exemption limit and your tax is nil, you can submit Form 15G (or 15H if 60+) to the company or registrar to avoid the 10% TDS on dividends.

Who can file Form 15G vs Form 15H, the FY 2025-26 TDS thresholds on FD interest and EPF withdrawal, how to fill Part I & II, where to submit, and the penalty for a false declaration.

Updated for FY 2025-26 CA Reviewed Banks, EPFO & Post Office

Get ITR Filing Help See 15G vs 15H

Rs 50,000FD TDS limit (below 60)

Rs 1,00,000FD TDS limit (senior)

10%TDS rate with PAN

Once a yearSubmit every April

Quick Answer

Form 15G and Form 15H are self-declarations (under Section 197A) that tell a bank, the EPFO or a post office not to deduct TDS on your interest or withdrawal, because your estimated tax for the year is nil. Form 15G is for a resident individual below 60 (or a HUF); Form 15H is for a senior citizen aged 60+. For FY 2025-26 the bank/post-office FD TDS threshold is Rs 50,000 (Rs 1,00,000 for seniors). Submit once at the start of each financial year to every deductor separately.

Form 15G Below 60

Form 15H 60 & above

FD limit (below 60) Rs 50k

FD limit (senior) Rs 1 lakh

Form 121 replaces 15G/15H from FY 2026-27

Under the Income-tax Act, 2025 a single combined declaration — Form 121 — will replace both Form 15G and Form 15H from FY 2026-27. For the current year (FY 2025-26 / AY 2026-27) you continue to use Form 15G and Form 15H exactly as before.

The key difference

Form 15G vs Form 15H

Both stop TDS, but the eligibility test is different. Form 15G needs your total income below the basic exemption limit; Form 15H (seniors) only needs your final tax liability to be nil.

15G

Form 15G — below 60

Resident individual under 60, or a HUF
Estimated total income below the basic exemption limit
Total interest income also below that limit
Cannot be used by companies or firms

15H

Form 15H — senior citizen

Resident individual aged 60 or above
Only condition: estimated tax for the year is Nil
No cap on the interest amount if final tax is nil
Works even with high FD interest after 80TTB & rebate

A senior with large FDs can still use 15H

A senior citizen can submit Form 15H even on FD interest of several lakh, provided that after the Section 80TTB deduction (up to Rs 50,000), Chapter VI-A deductions and the Section 87A rebate the estimated tax works out to nil. Under 15G, the income itself must be below the exemption limit — so it is stricter.

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FY 2025-26

Where TDS Applies & the Thresholds

Budget 2025 raised the FD interest TDS threshold under Section 194A from 1 April 2025. Below each threshold no TDS is cut and no form is needed; above it, submit Form 15G/15H to stop the 10% TDS if your tax is nil.

Deductor / income	TDS trigger (FY 2025-26)	Section	Form
Bank / co-op FD & RD interest	Rs 50,000 (Rs 1,00,000 senior)	194A	15G / 15H
Post office FD / NSC / KVP interest	Rs 50,000 (Rs 1,00,000 senior)	194A	15G / 15H
EPF withdrawal (< 5 yrs service)	Rs 50,000 & TDS due	192A	15G / 15H
Company / MF dividend	Rs 10,000 a year	194 / 194K	15G / 15H
Rent (individual/HUF payer)	Rs 50,000 a month	194-IB	15G / 15H
Life-insurance maturity (taxable)	Rs 1,00,000 a year	194DA	15G / 15H

TDS is 10% where PAN is furnished; without PAN it rises to 20% (up to the maximum marginal rate on EPF). Thresholds are the Budget 2025 / Income-tax Act 2025 figures for FY 2025-26.

You are a resident (15G/15H is not for non-residents)
Your PAN is correct and linked to Aadhaar
Estimated total tax for the year is nil
Submit to each bank branch / deductor separately
File afresh every financial year in April
15H only if you are 60 or above on the declaration date

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Provident fund

Form 15G for EPF Withdrawal

On an EPF withdrawal of Rs 50,000 or more before five years of continuous service, the EPFO deducts TDS under Section 192A — 10% if your PAN is registered, or the maximum marginal rate if it is not. Submitting Form 15G at the claim stage stops this TDS when your total taxable income for the year is below the basic exemption limit.

Log in to EPFOUAN member portal, Online Services

→

Start the claimForm 19 / 31 / 10C withdrawal request

→

Upload Form 15GDeclare PAN & nil-tax on the claim screen

→

TDS avoidedFull amount credited if eligible

15G on EPF has conditions

Form 15G stops EPF TDS only when service is under 5 years, the amount is Rs 50,000 or more, PAN is registered with the EPFO, and your whole-year income (not just the PF) is below the exemption limit. If you have salary or other income during the year, 15G may be invalid and TDS still applies.

Step by step

How to Fill & Submit Form 15G / 15H

Part I — your name, PAN, status (individual/HUF), residential status, previous year, estimated total income and total number of 15G/15H filed this year.
Part II — filled by the deductor (bank/EPFO) with its details; you leave it blank.
Download from incometax.gov.in or your bank / EPFO portal, or fill it online where offered.
Sign and submit to each bank branch or deductor separately at the start of the financial year (April).

A false 15G/15H is a criminal offence

Filing Form 15G/15H when tax is actually payable is an offence under Section 277 of the Income-tax Act — rigorous imprisonment (3 months to 2 years, and up to 7 years where the tax evaded exceeds Rs 25 lakh) plus a fine. Assess your full-year income honestly; if your income crosses the limit mid-year, inform the deductor and pay self-assessment tax.

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Government sourcesForms 15G/15H & Section 197A: incometax.gov.in · FD TDS threshold u/s 194A (Rs 50,000 / Rs 1,00,000): Finance Act 2025 · EPF withdrawal TDS: Section 192A, Income-tax Act 1961 · Form 121 replacement from FY 2026-27: Income-tax Act, 2025 · False declaration: Section 277, Income-tax Act 1961

Form 15G & 15H — Frequently Asked Questions

Basics

What is Form 15G and who should submit it?

Form 15G is a self-declaration under Section 197A submitted to a bank, the EPFO, a post office or other deductor asking it not to deduct TDS on your interest or income. It is for a resident individual below 60 years of age (or a HUF) whose estimated total income for the year is below the basic exemption limit and whose total tax for the year is nil. Submit it at the start of each financial year to each deductor separately.

What is the difference between Form 15G and Form 15H?

Form 15G is for individuals below 60 (and HUFs) and requires that your estimated total income is below the basic exemption limit. Form 15H is only for senior citizens aged 60 or above and has a lighter test — you just need your estimated tax for the year to be nil, with no cap on the interest amount. So a senior with large FD interest can still use 15H if deductions like 80TTB and the 87A rebate bring the tax to nil.

Can NRIs or companies submit Form 15G or 15H?

No. Form 15G and Form 15H can be submitted only by resident individuals (15H only if 60+) and, for 15G, HUFs. Non-residents, companies, firms and LLPs cannot use these forms. NRIs must instead apply for a lower/nil TDS certificate under Section 197 if their tax is genuinely low.

Bank & FD

What is the TDS threshold on bank FD interest for FY 2025-26?

From 1 April 2025, banks and co-operative banks deduct TDS under Section 194A only when your FD/RD interest exceeds Rs 50,000 in a year (Rs 1,00,000 for senior citizens). Budget 2025 raised these limits from the earlier Rs 40,000 / Rs 50,000. Below the threshold no TDS is cut; above it, submit Form 15G/15H to stop the 10% TDS if your tax is nil.

When should Form 15G be submitted to the bank?

Submit Form 15G/15H at the beginning of each financial year, in April, before interest is credited. It is valid only for that financial year, so it must be filed fresh every year. If you have FDs in more than one bank or branch, submit a separate form to each, because each deductor tracks your interest independently.

What TDS rate applies if I do not submit Form 15G?

If your interest crosses the threshold and you do not submit Form 15G/15H, the bank deducts TDS at 10% when your PAN is on record, or 20% if PAN is not furnished. You can still claim the TDS back as a refund when you file your ITR, provided your final tax is nil — but the money is locked up until then.

EPF

How do I submit Form 15G for EPF withdrawal?

Log in to the EPFO member portal with your UAN, start the online claim (Form 19/31/10C), and on the claim screen declare/upload Form 15G. TDS under Section 192A applies when service is under 5 years and the withdrawal is Rs 50,000 or more; Form 15G stops it if your whole-year income is below the basic exemption limit. Your PAN must be registered with the EPFO.

Is TDS deducted on EPF withdrawal after 5 years?

No. If you have completed five years of continuous service, EPF withdrawal is fully exempt and no TDS is deducted, so Form 15G is not required. TDS under Section 192A applies only when service is under 5 years and the taxable withdrawal is Rs 50,000 or more; there it is 10% with PAN and the maximum marginal rate without PAN.

What if my PAN is not linked to the EPFO?

If your PAN is not registered/valid with the EPFO, TDS on a pre-5-year EPF withdrawal is deducted at the maximum marginal rate instead of 10%, and Form 15G may not be accepted. Update and validate your PAN in your UAN profile before filing the claim so the lower rate applies and the 15G declaration is honoured.

Other income

Can I submit Form 15G for dividend income?

Yes. TDS on dividends from companies and mutual funds is deducted under Section 194/194K when the dividend exceeds Rs 10,000 a year from that payer. If your total income is below the exemption limit and your tax is nil, you can submit Form 15G (or 15H if 60+) to the company or registrar to avoid the 10% TDS on dividends.

Does Form 15G apply to post office deposits?

Yes. Post office time deposits, NSC and KVP interest are covered by Section 194A, with the same Rs 50,000 (Rs 1,00,000 senior) threshold from FY 2025-26. If your tax is nil you can submit Form 15G/15H at the post office to prevent TDS on the interest.

Compliance

What is the penalty for submitting a false Form 15G?

A false Form 15G/15H — filed when tax was actually payable — is an offence under Section 277 of the Income-tax Act. It attracts rigorous imprisonment (3 months to 2 years, extendable up to 7 years where the tax evaded exceeds Rs 25 lakh) along with a fine. Always assess your full-year income honestly; if it crosses the limit mid-year, tell the deductor and pay self-assessment tax.

Is Form 15G being replaced?

Yes, from FY 2026-27. Under the Income-tax Act, 2025 a single combined declaration, Form 121, will replace both Form 15G and Form 15H. For the current year (FY 2025-26 / AY 2026-27) you continue to use Form 15G and Form 15H in the usual way; the switch to Form 121 applies from the next financial year.

How many times can I submit Form 15G in a year?

You submit Form 15G once per deductor per financial year, but you may file it with several deductors (each bank branch, the EPFO, a post office). You must total up all 15G/15H forms filed and the aggregate income declared in Part I. If your combined income later exceeds the exemption limit, the declarations become invalid and TDS/tax applies.

I forgot to submit Form 15G and TDS was deducted — can I get it back?

Yes. TDS that was deducted despite your income being below the taxable limit is refundable. File your income-tax return for the year, report the interest and the TDS (it appears in Form 26AS / AIS), and claim the excess as a refund. Submitting Form 15G on time simply avoids the wait for that refund.

Done-for-you

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