Download CSI File - How To Download CSI File From Income Tax Portal?

In India, income tax payment has undergone various reforms to ensure quick management of transactions by the government and individual taxpayers. Till now, one needed to pay TDS on the NSDL portal and download the Challan Status Inquiry (CSI) file from the OLTAS portal. 

But now, the new way to download the CSI file or view the challan details is through the Income Tax portal. If you are wondering how to download the CSI file through the Income Tax portal, this article will provide the necessary information.

What is the CSI File?

The CSI file contains all necessary information related to the challan deposited by the TDS Deductor. These details include the payment amount, payment type, date, section, etc. It is one of the most important parts of the TDS return filing process, as this file lets you verify whether your tax payments have been accounted for in the specified way or not. As a result, the CSI file acts as a payment and date management agent in the TDS return filing process. 

How To Download the CSI File From Income Tax Portal

Step 1: Visit the official website of the Income Tax Portal. 

Step 2: Enter your Login ID or TAN number and password in the required section.

Step 3: Under the "e-file" tab, click the "e-pay tax" option.

Step 4: After that, click on "payment history" and then click on the filter button.

Step 5: After that, select your quarter's payment date, and you will see an option to download your required challan file. Click on the "Download" button.

Note: There are 4 options that you can select under the filter tab (i.e., Type of Tax Payment, Assessment Year, Period To, Period From). Please note that if you select all 4 options, you wouldn't be able to download the CSI file. 

How To Download the CSI File Through TIN NSDL

While preparing the TDS return, it is imperative to validate the data of the CSI file. You can also download the CSI file through the TIN NSDL website. Here is your step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Visit the Tax Information Network Page of the income tax department.

Step 2: Click on the "TAN-based view" tab.

Step 3: A new page highlighting "OLTAS - Challan Status Query for Taxpayer" will appear on your screen.

Step 4: In the required field, enter your TAN number and select the relevant dates in the "Challan tender date/date of deposit" field.

Step 5: Enter the valid captcha code in the required box.

Step 6: After this captcha code is accepted, you can download your challan file in the required format.

Steps for Challan Inquiry for Taxpayers

If you are a TDS depositor, it is crucial for you to know that you can track the status of your challan deposit in two ways. This includes the CIN-based view and the TAN-based view. Take a look at the information below to know the steps for each:

CIN Based View

CIN or Challan Identification Number acts as proof of tax payment and therefore is crucial information that can be used for making status enquiries. If you enter the CIN details on the Tax Information Network page, you can view different details related to the challan. This includes the date of deposit, BSR code, major head code with description, TAN/PAN, challan serial number, taxpayer name, confirmation of the correct amount entered, and date of receipt of TIN.

Take a look at the below process to understand how to use the CIN-based view: 

• Go to the website of TIN NSDL and click on CIN-Based View.
• Enter all details, including the date of deposit, challan serial number, BSR code, etc. The challan status will be updated only after a week of the deposit. 

• On your screen, you will see the challan status. If you find a message "no records found" and it has been over a week, then connect with the bank through which you have deposited the TDS challan.

TAN Based View

Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN) is a 10-digit number given to individuals who are responsible for collecting or deducting taxes at source. Therefore, every TDS depositor must register with the Income Tax Department and get a unique TAN number. 

If you provide the TAN number and challan tender date range for a specific year, you can view different details related to the challan. This includes the nature of payment, CIN, minor head code, and major head code with description.

Take a look at the procedure for checking challan status by using the TAN-based view application: 

• Go to the website of TIN NSDL and click on TAN-Based View.
• On the TAN-based challan query page, enter your TAN, challan tender date and provide the deposit date. 

• The screen will display the status of the challan generated against your payment made during the specified time. If you find the message "no records found", connect with the bank through which the challan was deposited.

Final Word

From what has been discussed so far, it is evident that taxpayers can easily download CSI files and track the status of their challan deposits conveniently. The steps are easy to understand and follow for every taxpayer.