When several deadlines collide, the practical question is which to protect first. That is a pricing question, and the prices differ by an order of magnitude. Here they are in one place.
The map
| Failure | What it costs |
|---|---|
| GSTR-1 / GSTR-3B filed late | A daily late fee, at a reduced daily rate for nil returns, subject to a cap |
| GST paid late | Interest on the outstanding tax, running from the due date |
| ITC wrongly availed and utilised | Interest at the higher rate |
| TDS not deducted | Interest per month from when it was deductible |
| TDS deducted but not deposited | Interest at the higher monthly rate — deliberately worse |
| TDS return filed late | A daily fee, capped at the TDS amount, plus possible penalty |
| ITR filed late | A fixed fee by income level, plus 234A interest |
| Advance tax short or deferred | 234B and 234C interest |
| ROC annual filings late | ₹100 per day, per form, with no upper limit |
That last row is the one to protect. Every other charge here is capped or self-limiting. ROC penalties are not — they accrue daily and indefinitely, which is why a dormant company left unfiled for three years produces a bill larger than the company ever earned.
Why TDS carries two different rates
Failing to deduct is treated as an error. Deducting and then not depositing is treated as holding money that was never yours — someone else’s tax, collected and kept. The higher rate reflects that, and it runs from the date of deduction rather than the date of payment.
This is also why TDS should be paid before almost anything else when cash is tight. The TDS return guide covers the cycle.
Two deadlines that are not about money
- The three-year bar on GST returns — after which you cannot file at all, at any price.
- The two-year limit on GST refunds — after which the money is simply gone.
- Director disqualification for persistent ROC default, which blocks you from other companies entirely.
These are the ones worth setting a reminder for, because no amount of later willingness fixes them. Our compliance calendar tracks the dates against today.
Where we come in
Retainer clients do not meet this table, because the calendar is ours to hold rather than theirs to remember. See the compliance calendar or bookkeeping and MIS.
This article is general information, not professional advice. Limits, rates and dates change by notification — confirm the position for your own year before acting on it.