Form No. 139 is the official mechanism under Rule 219(6) of the Income-tax Rules, 2026, used by deductors or collectors to claim a refund of excess TDS or TCS deposited with the government.
This form replaces the earlier Form 26B and is aligned with Section 399(1)(f) of the Income-tax Act, 2025. It is specifically designed for situations where tax has been overpaid due to errors like duplicate payments or incorrect challans, provided the excess credit remains unutilized in the system.
Documents and Details Required for Filing form 139
To successfully file Form No. 139 electronically on the TRACES portal, the following documents and information are mandatory based on the sources:
- Proof of Payment: Copies of the challan(s) through which the excess TDS/TCS was originally paid.
- Identification Details: Valid PAN and TAN details of the deductor/collector registered on the TRACES portal.
- Challan Identification Number (CIN): Including the BSR Code, date of deposit, and challan serial number.
- Statement Details: Information regarding the original TDS/TCS statements where the tax credit was initially claimed, including Receipt/Acknowledgment numbers.
- Bank Account Proof: Details of a pre-validated bank account (Account number, IFSC, and account type) where the refund will be credited.
- Justification: A clear reason or justification for the refund request (e.g., duplicate deduction or calculation error).
- Digital Signature: An authorized signatory must have a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) to sign and submit the form online.
- Legal Entity Identifier (LEI): This is required only if the refund amount claimed is ₹50 crore or above.
Filing Process of Form 139
The filing of Form No. 139 is a purely electronic process conducted through the TRACES portal.
- Eligibility: Only registered TAN/PAN holders can apply after their corresponding TDS/TCS statements have been processed and the excess payment is marked as an unconsumed challan credit.
- Submission: Users must navigate to the ‘Refund’ section on TRACES to request a refund, select the appropriate challans, and review the pre-filled Form 139 generated by the system.
- Validation: The system uses smart features such as auto-population from the user’s profile and real-time error handling to ensure accuracy.
- Approval: Once submitted, the request is reviewed by the TDS Assessing Officer or Range head. Upon approval, the refund and applicable interest are credited directly to the deductor’s bank account.
It is critical to note that Form No. 139 cannot be edited once the acknowledgment is generated; therefore, all details must be verified carefully before final submission. Additionally, a refund claim is not maintainable if the deductee has already claimed and been allowed credit for that specific TDS/TCS in their own tax return. Deductors do not need to file this form if a refund is determined automatically through an appeal or rectification order.
You may also need, Form 122 PDF: Replacement Form 12B and Form 12BA