e-TDS RPU and FVU version: 1.2 for TY 2026-27, 6.0/9.5 up to FY 2025-26, Java needed, and FVU errors

The big change for tax year 2026-27

From tax year 2026-27, quarterly TDS and TCS statements use new form numbers and a new pair of utilities. Protean's *Key features of RPU and FVU version 1.2* spells out the mapping:

• Form No. 138 — earlier Form 24Q (salary TDS);
• Form No. 140 — earlier Form 26Q;
• Form No. 144 — earlier Form 27Q;
• Form No. 143 — earlier Form 27EQ (TCS).

The same document lists what changed in the utilities. "Financial Year" is replaced by "Tax Year"; a new field, contact number with country code, is added for the deductor and the responsible person; surcharge, education cess and penalty/others fields are removed from challan details; new Interest Allocation and Others Allocation columns are added under challan details; the date of payment under DD details must fall within the applicable quarter and tax year; and references to Form 24G become Form No. 137. Protean says these apply to statements from FY 2026-27 onwards.

Step 1: Pick the matching RPU and FVU

Protean's downloads page (tinpan.proteantech.in → Downloads → e-TDS/e-TCS → Quarterly Returns → Regular) lists:

• RPU 1.2 — statements for TY 2026-27 onward; validate with FVU 1.2;
• RPU 6.0 — statements up to FY 2025-26; validate with FVU 9.5 (FY 2010-11 to FY 2025-26);
• FVU 2.191 — statements up to FY 2009-10.

So a correction or late statement for FY 2025-26 still goes through RPU 6.0 and FVU 9.5, even though you're preparing it in late 2026. Protean's FAQ page still mentioned FVU version 1.1 for TY 2026-27 when we checked; the downloads page listed 1.2, so follow the downloads page.

Step 2: Install Java first

Protean describes both the RPU and the FVU as Java-based utilities and says a Java Runtime Environment, version 1.6 onwards, must be installed on the computer. If double-clicking the .jar file opens nothing or opens it as an archive, Java is missing or not associated with .jar files. To check, open Command Prompt and run java -version.

Step 3: Use complete, fresh folders

Protean puts this warning on its downloads page: "Please download and replace the existing folders with the latest version of FVU and RPU folders… Replacing only the FVU Jar file in the old folder may lead to the rejection of statement at the time of submission of the file."

• Extract each new version into a new folder. Don't copy a new jar into an old folder.
• The FVU download is a self-extracting file. Protean's extraction note says it unpacks three files — TDS FVU Readme.rtf, e-TDS FVU Setup.exe and TDS_FVU_STANDALONE.jar — to C:\e-TDS FVU by default, or a folder you choose with Browse, then Unzip. Follow the readme for setup.
• The RPU package includes a readme that lists its supporting jar files; the program file is TDS_RPU.jar.

Step 4: Prepare in the RPU, validate in the FVU

1. Run TDS_RPU.jar, choose the form and prepare the statement. Use the file format and sample files for your form, which Protean publishes on the same page.
2. Save the text file the RPU creates.
3. Run the FVU, select that text file and the challan input file (CSI), and validate.

Reading what the FVU gives back

Protean's verification FAQ explains the two outcomes:

• Errors found: the FVU creates an error file that shows the error location, the error code and the error code description. Correct the statement in the RPU and run the FVU again until you get an error-free file.
• No errors: the FVU creates the upload file — same name as the input file but with the extension .fvu (for example, an input named "Form No. 143 Gov.txt" gives "Form No. 143 Gov.fvu") — plus a Statement Statistic Report with control totals.

The control totals are the number of deductee or party records, the amount paid, the tax deducted and the tax deposited. Protean's FAQ says these must match the totals on Form 27A; if they don't, the TIN Facilitation Centre won't accept the statement.

Common causes of rejection

• RPU and FVU versions that don't match the statement period, or an old form (24Q) used for a TY 2026-27 statement where Form 138 applies.
• A new jar copied into an old folder instead of a fresh, complete folder.
• Control totals on Form 27A that differ from the FVU's statistic report.
• Challan details that don't fit the new rules — for example, a DD payment date outside the quarter.

Download the utilities only from Protean's TIN site, linked from our RPU and FVU pages.