TAX Deduction and Collection Account Number is a 10 digit number issued to persons who are required to deduct or collect tax on payments made by them under the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961The abbreviation of TAN is Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number. Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number or Tax Collection Account Number (TAN) is a ten-digit alphanumeric number provided by the Income-tax Department, to a person who is required to execute Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) and Tax Collection at Source (TCS). All entities which deduct tax at source should hold a TAN number to execute the deduction process, on behalf of the government and deposit to the same. Section 203A of Income Tax Act, 1961, mandates that all entities quote TAN in all communications related to TDS. In every TDS/TCS returns, TDS/TCS certificates, TDS/TCS payment challans, the TAN number should be mentioned.