BSR Code Lookup — Find Any Bank Branch BSR Code

What is a BSR Code?

A BSR Code (Basic Statistical Return Code) is a unique 7-digit numeric identifier assigned by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to every bank branch authorised to collect direct taxes in India. Unlike the IFSC code (used for electronic fund transfers) or the MICR code (used for cheque processing), the BSR code exists exclusively within the income tax ecosystem — it is the key identifier used when filing TDS challans, recording advance tax payments, and generating annual tax credit documents like Form 16 and Form 26AS.

Every time a business or individual deposits Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) at a bank branch, the challan receipt carries the branch's BSR code. This 7-digit number flows into the Tax Information Network (TIN) managed by NSDL, matched against TDS returns (24Q, 26Q, 27Q, 27EQ) to credit tax in the taxpayer's Form 26AS. Without the correct BSR code, this matching fails — triggering demand notices during ITR filing season.

BSR Code Format: 7-Digit Breakdown

The BSR code is always exactly 7 digits and follows a structured format:

• Digits 1–3 (Bank Code): Identify the bank. SBI uses 002, HDFC Bank uses 011, ICICI Bank uses 031.
• Digits 4–7 (Branch Code): Identify the specific branch. Each branch gets a unique 4-digit sequence, making the full 7-digit combination globally unique.

Always enter all 7 digits on the Income Tax e-Filing portal — leading zeros must never be dropped. Entering 20299 instead of 0020299 is the most common error causing challan mismatches.

Why You Need a BSR Code: TDS Challan Filing

The three most commonly used tax challans — all requiring a BSR code:

• Challan 280 — Advance Tax / Self-Assessment Tax / Regular Assessment Tax
• Challan 281 — TDS / TCS payments (most commonly used by employers and businesses)
• Challan 282 — Securities Transaction Tax, Hotel Receipts Tax, Wealth Tax

After payment, the bank issues a counterfoil with: (1) the BSR code, (2) date of deposit, and (3) challan serial number. These three form the Challan Identification Number (CIN) — mandatory in every TDS return filed on incometax.gov.in.

BSR Code in Form 16 and Form 26AS

Form 16 — the annual TDS certificate issued by employers — contains TDS challan details for every quarter, including the BSR code of the branch where TDS was deposited. If this code is wrong, TRACES cannot validate the challan.

Form 26AS — the taxpayer's consolidated annual tax statement — matches every TDS entry using BSR code + date of deposit + serial number. A wrong BSR code means the credit never appears in your 26AS, causing refund delays and demand notices even though the tax was paid.

BSR Code vs IFSC Code vs MICR Code

How to Find the BSR Code of Any Branch

1. BankZop BSR Lookup (recommended): Use the Browse tab above — select your bank, drill down by state, city, and branch to get the verified 7-digit code instantly.
2. TDS Challan Counterfoil: The BSR code is printed on every challan receipt issued by the bank after a TDS deposit.
3. Net Banking Portal: Most banks display the BSR code on the TDS payment confirmation page and downloadable challan PDFs.
4. Bank Branch: Contact the branch directly and ask for their RBI-assigned BSR code.
5. TRACES Portal: The TRACES portal (tdscpc.gov.in) lists BSR codes for deductors during TDS return filing.

Common BSR Code Errors and How to Avoid Them

The most common mistakes: (1) dropping leading zeros — always use all 7 digits, e.g. 0020299 not 20299, (2) confusing BSR with the IFSC or branch code, (3) using an outdated BSR code after a branch merger, (4) using the head office BSR for a payment made at a sub-branch. All cause unmatched challans and ITR processing delays. Always verify on BankZop before filing.

Data sourced from RBI's Basic Statistical Return database. Also see: IFSC Code Lookup · MICR Code Lookup · EMI Calculator