Learn how India's TDS works on Upwork, including rates, PAN–Aadhaar linking, Form 16A (Form 131 as per Income Tax Act 2025) reports, amendments, and common issues freelancers may face.
In this article
- What is Indian Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), and why is Upwork collecting it?
- How much will I be charged for TDS?
- Do I have to link my PAN and Aadhaar numbers on Upwork?
- How do I enter my PAN and link it to my Aadhaar number on Upwork?
- How do TDS reports and amendment requests work?
- What does Upwork do with the money you withhold?
- What should I do if I don't have a PAN?
- I tried entering my PAN but got an error message. How do I correct this?
- How is this different from the Goods and Service Tax (GST)?
- Why was my PAN rejected?
- I don’t think I'm required to pay the TDS. What should I do?
- Why do I have to link my PAN number to my Aadhaar?
- When will I receive my original Form 16A (Form 131 as per Income Tax Act 2025)?
- How do I request an amendment to my Form 16A (Form 131 as per Income Tax Act 2025)?
- Why is the amount on my Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) report different from the amount I withdrew this quarter?
What is Indian Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), and why is Upwork collecting it?
TDS is a tax on income you earn from charging clients for your services on Upwork. If you're based in India, we're required to withhold this tax from your earnings and remit it to the Indian government.
Indian law requires e-commerce operators outside of India (such as Upwork) to collect TDS on payments made to service providers (such as the freelancers and talent agencies that use Upwork) based in India.
How much will I be charged for TDS?
The amount collected is a percentage of your earning. That percentage depends on whether you've provided a Permanent Account Number (PAN) to Upwork and linked it to your Aadhaar number — either 0.1% or 5%.
The withholding tax is calculated based on the gross amount that you invoice your client, so it's calculated before any freelancer service fees are deducted from your earnings.
We withhold a 0.1% tax from your earnings if all the following apply:
- You have provided a valid PAN to Upwork
- We've verified your PAN (Once you’ve submitted or updated your PAN details, it can take up to seven business days for the changes to reflect in your account. We’ll notify you as soon as your status has been updated.)
- You have linked your PAN to your Aadhaar number by the Indian government’s deadline or are exempt from this requirement
We withhold a 5% tax if you have not provided a valid PAN or have not linked it to your Aadhaar number by the Indian government’s deadline.
Do I have to link my PAN and Aadhaar numbers on Upwork?
Yes. Indian tax law requires everyone who had a PAN as of July 2017 to link it to their Aadhaar number on Upwork. If you don't, your PAN will become invalid and we'll withhold 5% for TDS. You'll need to add a PAN and link it to your Aadhaar number to keep the withholding tax at 0.1% of your earnings.
If you're exempt from this requirement, you do not need to take any action. For information on how to link your PAN and Aadhaar and any exemptions from this requirement, please visit www.incometax.gov.in or consult with your local tax advisor.
Linking to claiming a credit or refund:
You'll need to add a PAN and link your PAN to your Aadhaar number on Upwork to be able to claim any credits or refunds on your taxes.
You may be able to claim a credit for the tax withheld against your tax liability for the financial year, or seek a refund if tax withheld exceeds your tax liability for the year by filing your income tax return. You may wish to consult with a trusted tax expert or advisor for specific advice.
How do I enter my PAN and link it to my Aadhaar number on Upwork?
To enter your PAN and link it to your Aadhaar number on Upwork, go to Manage finances > Tax information.
How do TDS reports and amendment requests work?
TDS reporting:
We're required to file quarterly Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) reports within one month after the end of each quarter. Once we do, we'll email the Form 16A (Certificate of Tax Deduction —Form 131 as per Income Tax Act 2025)) to you within two weeks.
Example: For the second quarter of the Indian financial year, which begins in July and ends in September, we must file the TDS report by the end of October. We’ll send you the Form 16A (Form 131 as per Income Tax Act 2025) within 2 weeks of filing that report, no later than November 15.
The dates for remittance and reports are the dates on your invoices to clients, not the dates that funds are available to you. You can see your invoices in your transactions.
TDS amendment request timelines:
There are limits on when you can request corrections to your Form 16A (Form 131 as per Income Tax Act 2025) from Upwork. You have:
- Two and a half months from the distribution date of the original Form 16A (Form 131 as per Income Tax Act 2025) for Q1, Q2, and Q3
- One and a half months from the distribution date of the original Form 16A (Form 131 as per Income Tax Act 2025) for Q4
| Quarter | Distribution of Form 16A (Form 131 as per Income Tax Act 2025) on/before: | Send your Correction Request By: |
|---|---|---|
| Q1: April – June | August 15 | October 31 |
| Q2: July – September | November 15 | January 31 |
| Q3: October – December | February 15 | April 30 |
| Q4: January – March | June 15 | July 31 |
Sending an amendment request
Please send your correction request to taxinfo@upwork.com by the deadline. We will respond acknowledging your request within 24-48 hours. Be sure to include the following items:
- The e-mail address you have registered for access to Upwork
- The reason for your request
- The new PAN for your correction
You may also contact us if you have not received your original Form 16A (Form 131 as per Income Tax Act 2025) by the designated time.
What does Upwork do with the money you withhold?
No, we are required to forward any tax we collect from our users to the Indian government.
What should I do if I don't have a PAN?
If you do not currently have a PAN, you may wish to talk with your trusted tax expert or advisor. Upwork cannot provide specific tax advice.
I tried entering my PAN but got an error message. How do I correct this?
Double-check the format you used. As defined by the Indian government, the proper format is:
10-digit alphanumeric entry, i.e., A A A A A # # # # A
# = Numeric A = Alphabetic
How is this different from the Goods and Service Tax (GST)?
The GST only applies when both you and your client live in India. The Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) applies to all your earnings, including those from clients in India and around the world.
Why was my PAN rejected?
We verify your PAN against government records to make sure it's accurate and valid. Make sure that the name on your PAN matches your legal name on your Upwork account. If you’ve made a mistake, you can always resubmit. You can check your PAN records here.
I don’t think I'm required to pay the TDS. What should I do?
Since we cannot offer specific tax advice, we suggest you reach out to a trusted tax expert or advisor to learn more about Indian TDS and your tax obligations.
Why do I have to link my PAN number to my Aadhaar?
Indian tax law requires you to link your Aadhaar to your PAN. If you do not link to Aadhaar, your PAN will no longer be valid. This means we will have to charge you 5% tax for TDS instead of 0.1%.
When will I receive my original Form 16A (Form 131 as per Income Tax Act 2025)?
We’ll send you your Form 16A (Form 131 as per Income Tax Act 2025) quarterly on or before these dates:
- Q1: April – June, by August 15
- Q2: July – September, by November 15
- Q3: October – December, by February 15
- Q4: January – March, by June 15
How do I request an amendment to my Form 16A (Form 131 as per Income Tax Act 2025)?
Please send your correction request to taxinfo@upwork.com by the deadline. We will respond acknowledging your request within 24-48 hours. Be sure to include the following items:
- The e-mail address you have registered for access to Upwork
- The reason for your request
- The new PAN for your correction
Why is the amount on my Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) report different from the amount I withdrew this quarter?
The dates for remittance and reports are the dates on your invoices to clients, not the dates that funds are available to you. You can see your invoices in your transactions.