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Section 194K—Tax Deduction on Income from Mutual Fund Units

By Shefali Mundra

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Updated on: May 8th, 2025

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2 min read

Section 194K prescribes TDS deduction at the rate 10% on dividend paid on mutual funds to residents. This resulted in the elimination of double taxation, which happened due to previous tax laws. 

Under the previous laws, tax on mutual fund payout was levied when the company distributed to the AMC(Asset Management Company) and when the AMC distributed the same to the unit holders. 

Let’s discuss Section 194K in detail. 

Types of Income from Mutual Fund Units

In general, an individual can earn two types of income by investing in mutual fund units. They are:

Sl.No.

Income Type

Chargeability to Tax

1.Dividend
  • DDT has been abolished as per the Budget 2020. 
  • From FY 2020-21, dividend income will be taxable in the hands of the receiver/investor.
  • However, Section 194K requires the mutual fund to deduct TDS while distributing dividends exceeding Rs 10,000 to unitholders. 
2.Capital Gains
  • Capital gains are taxable in the hands of the taxpayer. Any long-term capital gains earned from equity-oriented mutual funds will be taxed at the rate of 12.5% if the gains exceed Rs 1.25 lakh in a year from FY 2024-25
  • Similarly, any short-term capital gains earned from the equity-oriented mutual funds, subject to STT, will be taxed at the rate of 20% for all the sale made on or after 23rd July 2024. 
  • However, Section 194K does not require a mutual fund to deduct TDS on capital gains arising on redemption of units by unitholders.

Section 194K

As per Section 194K, any person responsible for paying a resident with respect to:

  • Units of a mutual fund as per Section 10(23D)
  • Units from the administrator
  • Units from a specified company

Shall deduct TDS at the time of credit of such income to the payee’s account or at the time of making payment, whichever is earlier.

Purpose of Section 194K

Under the previous income tax laws, dividends were taxed twice. Initially, a tax was imposed when a company would pay a dividend to an Asset Management Company (AMC). The second imposition of the tax was when the AMC would distribute its profits to the unitholders.

An investor can either choose to invest the profits back into the fund or earn dividend income. If the investor chooses to earn dividend income, the AMC will again be required to pay DDT on the distribution of dividends.

In Budget 2020, DDT is abolished. Now, AMC is only required to deduct TDS at 10% on the distribution of dividends, provided that the dividend paid per recipient exceeds Rs 10,000 in an FY.

Please note-

  • TDS should be deducted at 20% if the investor does not provide PAN.
  • In the case of NRI investors, TDS should be deducted as per Section 195

What is the rate of TDS?

  • The rate of TDS is 10%. 
  • The rate of TDS will be 20% in all cases if PAN is not quoted by the deductee.

Exceptions to the section if any

TDS under Section 194K is not required to be deducted in the following cases:

  • Tax under section 194K is not required to be deducted at source if the dividend income is up to Rs 10,000 in a financial year.
  • Capital gain income is also exempted from the applicability of Section 194K.

Income Tax Provision Before Section 194K

  • Under the current regime, the onus of reporting dividend income and capital gains was on individual investors. Dividend income from mutual funds was exempt under Section 10(35).
  • On the other hand, there was no provision regarding TDS deduction on any income earned from mutual funds. Only NRIs were subject to TDS. 
  • DDT was charged on the company distributing dividends, but the same was tax-free in the taxpayer’s hands.

Interest on non-compliance of TDS provisions

TDS deducted under section 194K shall be deposited to the IT department on or before 7th of the succeeding month. Non deposit of the deducted amount will attract interest at the rate of 1.5% p.m.

Non deduction of TDS shall attract interest at the rate of 1% p.m. Further, disallowance of expense under section 40(a) at 30% on the amount on which TDS had to be deducted, will be made. 

Conclusion

To sum up, this section has shifted the burden of tax payment on dividend income from the company  to the recipient of such dividend income.

Related Articles

TDS rate chart
Dividends – Meaning, Advantages & Tax Implications
Taxation of Capital Gains of Equity Funds

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who Deducts TDS Under Section 194K of the Income Tax?

The AMC or fund houses now have to deduct TDS while transferring the income to the payee’s account. Income from the following units is subject to deduction under the Section 194K of the Income Tax:

  • Mutual Fund units as per section 10(23D).
  • Units from a specified company.
  • Units from the administrator of specified undertakings.
When is Section 194K levied?

For the purpose of TDS, Section 194K is applicable when such income as specified in this section in a financial year exceeds ₹10,000.

Can TDS on dividend be refunded?

It is important to note that even if TDS is deducted on your dividend income, you can claim a refund by filing your income tax return. Therefore, it is advisable to declare your dividend income in your income tax return and claim the refund if applicable.

What is the threshold limit under section 194K?

The threshold limit under section 194K is Rs. 10,000.

Who is responsible to deduct TDS under section 194K?

The Asset Management Company is responsible to deduct tax before making the payment to the investor.

About the Author

As a creative finance content writer and a Chartered Accountant by profession, I am deeply passionate about educating the masses about finance and taxation. To date, I have authored numerous blog posts covering a diverse range of topics on finance, taxation, trading, and investment for esteemed financial platforms. Driven by the commitment to enhance financial literacy, my ultimate goal is to demystify complex financial concepts into relatable insights and support educational initiatives in India.. Read more

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