TDS is a percentage of various payments like salary, rent, interest, dividends that is deducted at source and deposited with the government. It is meant to implement the "pay as you earn" principle of taxation. The deductee is the person from whom tax is deducted, while the deductor is responsible for withholding the appropriate amount at source. TDS rates vary for different types of payments under different sections of the Income Tax Act, and deductors must obtain a Tax Deduction Number to file quarterly TDS returns and issue TDS certificates to deductees. The goal of TDS is to facilitate tax collection, ensure a regular inflow of funds, and prevent tax evasion.