TAN stands for Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number. A company or individual that needs to deduct taxes at source (TDS) at the time of making specific pay-outs such as rent, salaries, payments to contractors, sub-contractors, etc. requires a TAN number. The income tax department has asked all deductors to register their TAN on TRACES web site. TAN i.e. Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number is a 10 digit alphanumeric number, e.g. DELM12345L, required to be obtained by all persons who are responsible for deducting tax at source or collecting tax at source.

It is compulsory to quote TAN in TDS/TCS return (including any e-TDS/TCS return), any TDS/TCS payment challan, TDS/TCS certificates, Annual Information Return and other documents as may be prescribed. Once registered, the deductors will be provided User ID and password for authenticated access. The form 49B is the application form which is to be filled for allotment of TAN.  

One should apply for a TAN card, which is issued by the NSDL on behalf of the Income Tax Department. This TAN card can be authenticated and verified easily on the official Indian government portal for TAN registration.

Mandatory for deduction & collection of tax: The government has specified certain transactions including salary where the assessee needs to collect or deduct the tax from the source itself. While entering into such transactions, Tax Account Number is mandatory to be mentioned.

TDS Certificate and Filing: Every person deducting TDS at source must issue a certificate to the effect that the tax has been deducted with other required particulars. The certificate of TDS must quote the TAN of the deductors. Also, while filing TDS returns online, providing TAN is mandatory.

1. TAN is utilized for deductions like salary, intrigue, profit, and so on.
2.  It can be utilized for returns, challans and certificates.
3.  It auto-catches finish address of the individual who deducts tax in the interest of the IT office. It additionally catches the Postal Index Number recorded with Income Tax Department.
4. On the off chance that a man has more than one TAN, it is unlawful. Be that as it may, diverse branches or divisions of a collector can apply for separate TAN for each branch or division.

Applying for a TAN can be done either by contacting one of the many facilitation centres or directly online by self. The steps to follow when applying for a new TAN are:

1. Firstly, visit – https://www.tin-nsdl.com/services/tan/tan-introduction.html

2. Click on ‘TAN’ under the ‘services’ button

3. Click ‘Apply Online’ tab – https://tin.tin.nsdl.com/tan/form49B.html

4. Then select ‘New TAN’

5. A new page will pop up from which you can select ‘category of deductors’

6. After this, you will be directed to Form 49B

7. The form that will pop up will need to be fully filled and then click on ‘submit’

8. Once you confirm details, a screen of acknowledgement will have a drop down list that will have the following options:

• Acknowledgement number (this will be a 14 digit code)
• Applicant’s status
• Applicant’s name
• Payment details
• Contact details
• Specified space for signature

9. Save this acknowledgement form and take a print out of the same

10. The printout along with the required documents will then need to be sent to NSDL.

After successfully activation of account within 48 hrs of registration, user will be able to Login on TRACES website by entering the User id, Password, TAN of the Deductor and the verification code.

There are no specific documents required but these following details should be provided:

• Address proof – Any card that has applicant’s current address.
• Applicant information - Name, address, contact, signature, etc.
• Certificate of incorporation for a company, LLP, etc.
• Agreement made about for a partnership firm, LLP, etc.
• After incorporating the above details, the acknowledgment slip is generated.
• Save and print the acknowledgment receipt for further reference.
• If the payment is to be done online, then a credit card/debit card/net banking mode can be availed.
• In case, if the mode of payment is done offline, then the Demand Draft (DD)/ challan is the name of NSDL-TIN should be sent to NSDL office.