Free TDS Calculator: Deduction Rates and Thresholds
Work out TDS free for salary, rent, contractor and professional payments. Thresholds that decide whether it applies.
TDS trips up small businesses and freelancers in both directions. Businesses fail to deduct where they should and face interest and penalty; freelancers see deductions they did not expect and assume the money is lost. Neither situation requires an accountant to understand — it requires knowing which section applies and what the threshold is.
Why a free TDS calculator matters more in India
The structure is section-based, and the rate and threshold differ by payment type: salary, contractor payments, professional fees, rent and commission each have their own provisions. The threshold matters as much as the rate, because below it no deduction is required at all. A further detail catches many small businesses — the recipient's PAN status affects the applicable rate, and deducting at the wrong rate creates a shortfall the deductor is liable for, not the recipient.
The best free options compared
At a glance
Of the 4 options below, 4 are fully free with no paid tier to upgrade to, and 0 offer a free tier alongside paid plans. That distinction matters more than it first appears: a fully free tool cannot restrict you later, whereas a free tier is a commercial decision that can be revised.
| Tool | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Income Tax Department resources | Fully free | authoritative source for current sections, rates and thresholds |
| ClearTax TDS calculator | Fully free | Covers common sections with reasonable explanations of which applies |
| TRACES portal | Fully free | official system for TDS reconciliation, where deductors file and recipients can see… |
| Form 26AS and AIS | Fully free | Your annual tax statement showing TDS credited against your PAN |
Each option in detail
Income Tax Department resources
✓ FREEThe authoritative source for current sections, rates and thresholds. These are revised in most budgets, so a calculator with hard-coded rates may quietly be wrong.
ClearTax TDS calculator
✓ FREECovers common sections with reasonable explanations of which applies. Useful for orienting yourself before confirming against the official position.
TRACES portal
✓ FREEThe official system for TDS reconciliation, where deductors file and recipients can see what has been deducted against their PAN. Essential if you are on either side of a deduction.
Form 26AS and AIS
✓ FREEYour annual tax statement showing TDS credited against your PAN. Check this before filing — deducted tax that does not appear here is money you will not get credit for, and it needs chasing with the deductor.
Note on free tiers: limits and features change often. Everything here was checked in July 2026, but confirm current terms on the provider's own site before committing to a workflow. Official guidance: Income Tax Department GST Portal.
How to choose the right one
Identify the correct section for the payment type first, since everything else follows from it. Check the threshold before the rate, because below the threshold no deduction arises. If you are receiving payments, reconcile against Form 26AS or AIS annually rather than assuming deductions were correctly reported — a deduction that was never filed leaves you without credit for tax already taken from you.
If you are assembling a wider free toolkit, these related guides cover adjacent problems: Free SIP Calculator: Project Mutual Fund Returns, Free Income Tax Calculator India (Old vs New), Free GST Calculator: CGST, SGST and IGST.
Verdict
Use a calculator to orient yourself, then confirm the section, rate and threshold against the Income Tax Department directly, because these change and the deductor carries the liability for getting it wrong. If you are a freelancer, checking Form 26AS before filing is the habit that recovers money most reliably.
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See all Finance & Tax Calculators →Frequently asked questions
What is the TDS rate for professional fees?
Professional and technical services fall under a specific section with its own rate and annual threshold, and the rate differs if the recipient has not furnished PAN. Verify current rates on the Income Tax Department site.
Can I claim a refund of TDS deducted?
Yes. TDS is tax paid in advance on your behalf. If your total liability is lower than what was deducted, the excess is refunded when you file your return, provided the deduction appears against your PAN.
What happens if I don't deduct TDS as a business?
The deductor is liable for the tax, plus interest for late deduction or payment, and the expense may be disallowed. Liability sits with the deductor, not the recipient.
Where can I see TDS deducted against my PAN?
Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement on the income tax portal. Check these before filing — deductions missing from them will not be credited to you.