Form 139 Income Tax Rules 2026 pdf download and Key points

FORM NO. 139
[See rule 219(6)]
Form to be filed by the deductor, if he claims refund of sum paid under Chapter XIX of the Act

Under the new Income-tax Rules, 2026, Form No. 139 replaces the old Form 26B. It is governed by Section 399(1)(f) of the Income-tax Act, 2025, and Rule 219(6) of the Income-tax Rules, 2026.

Here are all the key points regarding Form No. 139:

1. Purpose of the Form Form 139 is an application filed by a deductor or collector to claim a refund of the excess amount of TDS or TCS paid to the Central Government under Chapter XIX-B of the Act. Excess payments usually occur due to duplicate deductions, deductions at a higher rate than applicable, overpayments, incorrect challan details, or rectified demand adjustments.

2. Applicability (Who Should File)

Who files: Any Deductor (TDS), Collector (TCS), or Taxpayer (for specific transactions like rent, property transfer, professional fees, or virtual digital assets) who has deposited tax in excess of their actual liability.
Is it mandatory? No, it is only required to be filed if the deductor/collector wishes to seek a refund of the excess tax deposited.

3. Pre-requisites and Exclusions

Processed Statements: The refund claim can only be made if the corresponding TDS/TCS statement has already been processed by CPC-TDS (TRACES) and the excess payment is available as an unmatched/unconsumed challan credit in the system.
Deductee Claims: If the deductee has already claimed the credit for this TDS/TCS in their Income Tax Return (ITR) and it has been allowed, the deductor/collector cannot claim a refund for it.
Appeals/Rectifications: If a refund is determined as payable to a deductor/collector as a result of an appeal or rectification order, the refund will be issued automatically without the need to file Form 139.
Registration: Only registered TAN/PAN holders on the TRACES portal are eligible to file the form.

4. Frequency and Timelines

When to file: Form 139 can be filed at any time after the corresponding TDS/TCS statement has been processed and the excess amount becomes available for refund.

5. Mode of Filing and Revisions

Online Only: The form must be filed electronically on the TRACES portal of the Income-tax Department, directed to the Director General of Income-tax (Systems). It cannot be filed offline.
No Editing: Once Form 139 is successfully submitted and an acknowledgment number is generated, it cannot be edited.

6. Structure of the Form The form captures detailed information to process the refund:

Part A (Particulars of the Deductor/Collector): Captures Name, Address, PAN, TAN (if applicable), Contact details, and comprehensive Bank Account Details (including Account Number, IFSC Code, Type of account, and Legal Entity Identification Number).
Part B (Refund Details): Details the sum paid for which the refund is claimed, including Challan Identification Number (CIN), BSR Code, Date of Deposit, and the specific statements in which the challan has been utilized.
Declaration: A mandatory verification signed digitally by the authorized signatory, affirming that the excess amount has not been claimed elsewhere.

7. Required Documents When filing online, the following supporting details/documents are generally required:

Copies of the challan through which the excess TDS/TCS was paid.
PAN/TAN details.
Details of statements where the tax credit was claimed.
Justification for the refund.
Bank details with supporting proof.

8. Outcome of Filing

Once approved, the refund (along with any applicable interest) is credited directly to the pre-validated bank account of the deductor.
The system automatically updates the challan balance, marks it as “Refunded,” and ensures accurate credit reconciliation.
The refund may be adjusted against any outstanding tax demand before issuance.

9. Key Updates in the 2026 Rules

Multiple Challans: The revised smart form provides the facility to claim multiple challans in a single form, eliminating the need to file separate forms for each quarter or section.
Smart Form Features: Form 139 now includes auto-population from the TRACES profile, real-time validations, drop-downs, date pickers, and checkbox-based smart verification.
Terminology: The term “Assessment / Financial / Previous year” has been replaced with “Tax year“, and the currency symbol “Rs.” has been replaced with “₹”.

Form 139 Income Tax Rules 2026 pdf download and Key points

Form 139 Income Tax Rules 2026 pdf download and Key points

Form 139 Income Tax Rules 2026 pdf download

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Form No.139– Frequently Asked Questions

Guidance Note on Form 139