How do I apply for TAN online in India? Visit the Protean e-Gov TAN portal, select "Apply Online" for Form 49B, choose your deductor category, fill in the required details (name, address, PAN, responsible person), pay Rs 77 online, and submit. Print and sign the acknowledgment and send it to the Protean office within 15 days. TAN is allotted within 7 to 15 working days.

Every entity that deducts or collects tax at source in India must hold a TAN before making the first deduction. This is not optional: Section 203A of the Income Tax Act makes it a legal requirement, and Section 272BB backs it with a Rs 10,000 penalty for non-compliance.

TAN is the identifier that links every TDS challan, every quarterly return, every Form 16 and Form 16A, and every entry in your deductees' Form 26AS. Without it, you cannot deposit TDS with the government, you cannot file returns on TRACES, and the entire TDS compliance chain breaks.

This guide covers the complete TAN application process using Form 49B, including who must apply, the online application steps on the Protean portal, the fee structure, processing timelines, and what to do after allotment.

What Is TAN?

TAN stands for Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number. It is a 10-digit alphanumeric identifier issued by the Income Tax Department to persons who are liable to deduct or collect tax at source under the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

TAN Structure

TAN follows a fixed format: four letters, five digits, one letter (e.g., HYDS12345F).

For example, a TAN starting with "HYD" was allotted by the Hyderabad jurisdiction. The fourth character is the initial of the entity name (S for "Sunrise Pvt Ltd," for instance).

Who Must Apply for TAN

Section 203A requires every person who is liable to deduct tax at source (TDS) or collect tax at source (TCS) to obtain a TAN. "Person" here includes:

Companies: any company deducting TDS on salary, contractor payments, rent, interest, or professional fees
LLPs and partnership firms: if they make payments subject to TDS
Proprietorships: sole proprietors subject to tax audit (Section 44AB) or making payments requiring TDS deduction
Individuals and HUFs: if their accounts are subject to tax audit under Section 44AB
Government bodies: central and state government departments, autonomous bodies
Trusts and associations: if making payments subject to TDS

When TAN Is Required

You need TAN before making the first payment from which TDS must be deducted. Common triggers:

If your business makes any of these payments above the applicable threshold, you must hold a TAN before the first deduction.

How to Apply for TAN Online (Form 49B): Step-by-Step

Step 1: Visit the Protean Portal

Go to the Protean (formerly NSDL e-Gov) TIN portal. Navigate to "Services" and select "TAN" followed by "Apply Online (Form 49B)."

Step 2: Select Deductor Category

Choose the category that matches your entity type:

Selecting the correct category is important because TAN records are maintained category-wise by the department. A wrong category requires a correction application later.

Step 3: Fill in Deductor Details

Enter:

Full name of the deductor: exactly as it appears in incorporation/registration documents
Date of incorporation/formation: for companies and LLPs
PAN of the deductor: if already allotted (linking PAN to TAN is required for e-filing)
Address: the registered office or principal place of business
Contact details: email and phone number (TAN allotment notification is sent to the email provided)

Step 4: Enter Responsible Person Details

The "responsible person" is the individual who will sign TDS returns and is personally liable for compliance under Section 204. Enter:

Full name
PAN of the responsible person
Designation (director, partner, proprietor, authorized signatory)
Contact details

Step 5: Pay the Processing Fee

The fee is Rs 65.50 + 18% GST = Rs 77. Payment modes:

Net banking
Debit card
Credit card
Demand draft (payable to "Protean e-Gov Technologies Limited")

Step 6: Submit and Print Acknowledgment

After successful payment, the portal generates a 14-digit acknowledgment number. Print the acknowledgment slip, sign it, and send it by post or courier to:

Protean e-Gov Technologies Limited (Address printed on the acknowledgment slip)

The signed acknowledgment must reach Protean within 15 days of the online application.

Step 7: Track Application Status

Use the 14-digit acknowledgment number to track your application status on the Protean portal under "TAN Application Status." The portal shows whether the application is received, under processing, or allotted.

Processing Time and TAN Allotment

In practice, most TANs are allotted within 10 working days of the acknowledgment reaching Protean. The TAN number is communicated via email first, so you can start using it immediately for challan deposits and return filing.

After TAN Allotment: Registration on TRACES and e-Filing Portal

Getting the TAN is step one. To actually file TDS returns and comply with your obligations, you must register the TAN on two platforms:

TRACES Registration

TRACES (TDS Reconciliation Analysis and Correction Enabling System) is where you:

Download Form 16 and Form 16A for employees and vendors
View challan status and TDS/TCS credit
File correction statements for previously filed returns
Download justification reports and consolidated files

To register: visit the TRACES portal, select "Register as Deductor," enter your TAN, and complete the verification process using challan details from a return you have already filed.

Income Tax e-Filing Portal Registration

The Income Tax e-filing portal is where you:

File quarterly TDS returns (Form 24Q, 26Q, 27Q, 27EQ)
View and download filed returns
Respond to communications from the department

To register: visit the e-filing portal, select "Register" and choose "TAN" as the entity type, enter the TAN, and verify using the TAN registration details.

TAN Correction: How to Update TAN Details

If any details in your TAN record need correction (name change due to restructuring, address change, PAN linkage update), file a TAN Change Request online through the Protean portal.

The process mirrors the original application:

Visit the Protean portal and select "TAN Change Request"
Enter your existing TAN
Select the fields to be corrected
Pay the processing fee (Rs 77)
Print, sign, and send the acknowledgment to Protean

Corrections are processed within 7-10 working days.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Section 272BB: Penalty for Not Obtaining TAN

If a person required to obtain TAN under Section 203A fails to do so, or quotes a false TAN in challans, certificates, statements, or returns, the Assessing Officer may levy a penalty of Rs 10,000 for each such failure.

Cascading Consequences

The penalty chain extends beyond the initial Rs 10,000. Without TAN, the entire TDS compliance infrastructure is blocked, and the deductor becomes an "assessee in default" under Section 201, liable for the TDS amount plus interest at 1% to 1.5% per month.

Multiple TANs: When You Need More Than One

A single entity can hold only one TAN. However, branches or divisions of the same company that operate as separate deductors (maintaining separate books, separate challans, separate returns) may apply for a separate TAN for each branch.

This is common for:

Companies with branch offices in multiple cities filing separate TDS returns
Government departments with multiple Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs)

If you have been allotted duplicate TANs by mistake, surrender the duplicate by writing to the jurisdictional Assessing Officer. Operating with two TANs for the same deductions creates reconciliation problems with TRACES and Form 26AS.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applying after the first deduction: TAN must be obtained before the first TDS deduction. Depositing TDS without a TAN is not possible through the challan system.
Wrong deductor category: Selecting "Individual" instead of "Company" creates a permanent mismatch in TAN records. Correcting the category later requires a change request and delays.
Not linking PAN to TAN: Without PAN-TAN linkage, you cannot register on the e-filing portal or file returns electronically.
Not registering on TRACES: Many first-time deductors apply for TAN but skip TRACES registration, then discover they cannot download Form 16 or correction files when needed.
Forgetting to send the acknowledgment: The online application is not complete until the signed acknowledgment reaches Protean. Missing the 15-day window can delay allotment.

TAN vs PAN: Key Differences

Both are mandatory for different purposes. An employer needs a PAN for its own income tax returns and a TAN for its role as a TDS deductor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Source: Income Tax Act, 1961, Sections 203A, 204, 272BB; Protean (NSDL) e-Gov TAN Application Portal; TRACES official documentation.

How to Apply for TAN Online Using Form 49B (Step-by-Step)