Topic

professional fees vs salary

1 articleLatest June 2026
Section 194J vs Section 192 | Hourly Coaching Faculty Are Independent Professionals, Not Employees: ITAT Cochin
Case Law Analysis
|Income Tax Appellate Tribunal

Section 194J vs Section 192 | Hourly Coaching Faculty Are Independent Professionals, Not Employees: ITAT Cochin

The ITAT Cochin ruled that teachers paid hourly by coaching institutes without statutory benefits like PF, ESI, or appointment letters are independent professionals, not employees. This means TDS must be deducted under Section 194J for professional fees, not Section 192 for salary - a critical clarification for edtech firms and coaching centers nationwide.