How to Get TDS Refund on Salary in India 2025

Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) is a standard deduction on your salary by your employer to pay your income tax in advance. However, occasionally, there is an additional deduction of tax than what was really paid on you and then you are left to ponder, how do you claim your overpaid TDS on your pay? This is your reference book that will simplify the procedure and provide tips you can use in the process to secure the refund successfully.

What is TDS Refund on Salary?

TDS refund is a refund of the additional tax that was deducted on your salary which you were not required to pay after taking into account your total income and deductions. This happens when:

Your boss overded your tax cash outlay.

you failed to deposit investment evidences/HRA statements in good time.

There was a change of either job or salary that resulted into excess deduction.

Your gross income is less than basic exemption but TDS was deducted.

Step 1: Get Your Necessary Papers.

These are the most important papers you will need to work with before you begin:

Form 16: Certificate of your employer of the income of your salary and TDS paid.

Form 26AS: Statement of tax credit issued by the Income Tax Department displaying all the TDS.

Investment Proofs: Exemptions of life insurance, PF, home loan, rent receipts etc.

oleness: Form 12BB (where applicable): Form that you submit to your employer to claim deductions.

Step 2: Check TDS Subtracted on your tax liability.

Compute your gross taxable income including exemptions and deductions.

Compare with the amount of TDS deducted (as per Form 16 and Form 26AS).

In case you have paid more in TDS than you are liable to paying, you receive a refund.

Step 3: Register Your Income Tax Return (ITR).

To claim the refund of TDS you need to complete your ITR online before the due date (generally after July 31 of the assessment year).

Official Income Tax e-filing portals.

Complete all income information, deductions and TDS.

Verify the TDS numbers with Form 26AS.

** Hand in your ITR form and do e-verification.

Step 4: Monitor Your Refund status.

After filing:

Refunds are initiated with acceptance of ITR.

He or she can verify the status of refunds in the portal of the Income Tax Department.

The refunded amount with interest on the delay is directly reflected in the bank account connected with PAN.

Common Scenarios Explained

Salary Below Taxable Limit: When your yearly earnings are lower than the exemption limit, submission of Form 13 to your employer can end up avoiding the deduction of TDS.

Job Change Within the Year: There are several Form 16s with Multiple mean that may be computed wrongly, thus, ITR has to be lodged to correct and claim refunds.

No Investment Proof Submission: The employers will deduct larger TDS when you fail to submit the proofs; filing of ITR is accompanied with claiming of deductions in order to receive refunds directly.

Advice to prevent future over deduction of TDS.

Provide all the investment evidences and statements to your employer in time.

Get a nil or less TDS certificate where possible using Form 13.

Monitor your Form 26AS regularly to ensure your credit on TDS is correct.

Figure out tax exemptions and tax slabs to be used.

Conclusion
It is simple to get a refund on the surplus or excess TDS on your salary provided you maintain a record of your tax records and make your returns within any specified limit. This is not only a way of recovering your own money, but keeping your tax records in order.