Key Takeaways

Section 194Q applies only to large buyers, requiring TDS deduction when annual purchases from one resident seller exceed ₹50,00,000.
The buyer deducts TDS at 0.1% only on the excess amount, and the deduction starts from payments made on or after 1 July.
From 1 April 2025, Section 194Q overrides Section 206C(1H), making the buyer solely responsible for TDS on goods purchases.

Large business purchases sometimes attract an unexpected TDS deduction due to Section 194Q. This rule applies after purchases cross a set limit, ensuring high-value transactions are reported while keeping compliance simple and light for buyers.

Section 194Q works like a speed breaker meant only for heavy traffic. Small buyers pass without impact, but as a buyer grows and purchase values increase, a small 0.1% TDS applies only on the excess amount, keeping compliance simple and practical.

Let’s say Rahul runs a trading business with a turnover of ₹15 crore last year. During the current year, he buys goods worth ₹70,00,000 from one resident seller. Since the purchase crosses ₹50,00,000, Rahul deducts 0.1% TDS only on ₹20 lakh, not on the entire ₹70,00,000.

What Is Section 194Q TDS?

Section 194Q comes into play when business purchases become large. If a buyer purchases goods from a resident seller and the total value in a year goes beyond ₹50,00,000, the buyer must deduct tax. The TDS rate is only 0.1%, and it applies only to the amount above ₹50,00,000, not on the full purchase value. It is a simple rule meant to keep high-value transactions under tax reporting without causing much burden.

194Q TDS Applicability: Who Has to Deduct TDS?

Under Section 194Q, not every buyer is required to deduct TDS. The obligation applies only when certain business and turnover conditions are met.

Conditions:

The buyer must be carrying on a business
Payment must be made to a resident seller for the purchase of goods
The buyer’s total sales, gross receipts, or turnover exceed ₹10 crore in the financial year immediately preceding the year of purchase
The value of goods purchased from a seller exceeds ₹50 lakh in a financial year

Only when all these conditions are fulfilled does the buyer become responsible for deducting TDS under Section 194Q.

94Q TDS Turnover Limit

First, it looks at the buyer’s size. If a buyer’s business turnover crossed ₹10 crore in the previous financial year, the buyer enters the 194Q zone.
Second, it looks at the purchase value. When purchases from a resident seller cross ₹50 lakh in the current year, TDS becomes applicable.

Here’s how the rule works in practice:

Criteria	What it Means
Who deducts TDS	The buyer
Buyer turnover limit	More than ₹10 crore in the previous year
Purchase limit	More than ₹50 lakh from one seller in a year
TDS rate	0.1% on the amount above ₹50 lakh
If PAN is not given	TDS jumps to 5%
When to deduct	At the time of credit or payment, whichever is earlier

So, big buyers + big purchases = small TDS under Section 194Q, designed to track large transactions without overcomplicating compliance.

Purchase Threshold under Section 194Q: When Does TDS Actually Start?

When Section 194Q was introduced from 1 July 2021, many buyers had one big doubt: from when should the ₹50,00,000 purchase limit be counted, and what about payments made before July? The tax department cleared this confusion with a simple explanation.

The basic idea

Even though TDS applies only from 1 July 2021, the ₹50,00,000 threshold is calculated from 1 April 2021 (the start of the financial year). However, no TDS is required on any amount paid or credited before 1 July 2021, even if it crosses ₹50,00,000.

How the rule works

Section 194Q applies only when payment or credit happens on or after 1 July 2021
Any payment or credit before 1 July 2021 is fully ignored for TDS
The ₹50,00,000 limit is checked for the full financial year, starting 1 April

Let’s understand it with the help of an example

Let’s say a buyer paid ₹55,00,000 to a seller between April and June 2021.

No TDS is required on this amount
But since the ₹50,00,000 limit is already crossed, every payment made on or after 1 July 2021 will attract 0.1% TDS under Section 194Q

The table below gives a quick, no-confusion snapshot of how the purchase threshold and TDS timing under Section 194Q work.

Particulars	Treatment
Payments before 1 July 2021	No TDS
Threshold calculation	From 1 April 2021
Payments after threshold & after 1 July	TDS applicable

This table makes it clear that while purchases are counted from April, the actual TDS obligation starts only on payments or credits made on or after 1 July 2021.

Count purchases from April, deduct tax only from July.

Section 194Q vs Section 206C(1H): Who Deducts Tax and When?

When goods are sold, tax can appear in two ways: TDS under Section 194Q or TCS under Section 206C(1H). This often creates confusion about who should deduct or collect tax. The rule, however, is quite simple.

The golden rule

If a transaction falls under both sections, the buyer gets the first right to deduct tax under Section 194Q. Once the buyer deducts TDS, the seller does nothing; no TCS is required under Section 206C(1H).

What if the seller collects tax first?

Sometimes, the seller may collect TCS under Section 206C(1H) before the buyer deducts TDS. In such cases:

The buyer does not deduct TDS again
The same transaction is not taxed twice

Example

Suppose a buyer purchases goods worth ₹80,00,000 from a seller.

The buyer is eligible under Section 194Q and deducts 0.1% TDS
Since TDS is already deducted, the seller will not collect TCS

But if the seller collects TCS first, the buyer skips TDS on that transaction.

Quick comparison

Sections 194Q and 206C(1H) often create confusion because both deal with high-value transactions, but their application depends on who is responsible for tax deduction or collection.

Particulars	Section 194Q	Section 206C(1H)
Who applies the tax	Buyer	Seller
Nature of tax	TDS	TCS
Priority	First	Second
Applicability from 1 April 2025	Applicable	Not applicable

Section 194Q takes precedence over Section 206C(1H), meaning once 194Q applies, the seller is not required to collect TCS under 206C(1H).

Important note: From 1 April 2025, Section 206C(1H) no longer applies. This means that Section 194Q alone governs TDS on the sale of goods, making compliance much simpler for businesses.

Conclusion

Section 194Q is a simple but important rule for large business purchases. It places the TDS responsibility on big buyers while keeping the tax rate very low. By clearly defining turnover limits, purchase thresholds, and priority over TCS, it removes confusion and helps businesses stay compliant. Understanding when to deduct and how much to deduct makes day-to-day purchase transactions smoother and stress-free.

FAQs

Q: What happens if I deducted TDS under Section 194Q even though my firm’s turnover was below ₹10 crore?

There is no penalty for excess deduction; the TDS remains valid and the seller can claim credit or refund while filing their return.

Q: Is TDS under Section 194Q applicable on electricity charges?

No, Section 194Q does not apply to electricity charges since electricity is not treated as “goods” for this provision.

Q: Is TDS applicable on purchase of a video editing software license—under Section 194J, 194Q, or not at all?

TDS is generally applicable under Section 194J as royalty or fee for technical services for software licenses (especially subscriptions/floating licenses), while Section 194Q does not apply since it is not a purchase of goods.

Q: Did I make a mistake by not charging GST or TDS on my LLP invoice, and should I deduct TDS for my supplier?

A: You haven’t made a mistake, TDS is deducted by the payer (your customer), not you; you deduct TDS for suppliers only if applicable sections and thresholds apply, and GST can’t be charged until your registration is approved.

Q: Who is responsible for deducting tax on large purchase transactions after 1 April 2025, buyer or seller?

After 1 April 2025, only the buyer deducts TDS under Section 194Q, as Section 206C(1H) no longer applies to sales of goods.