1. TDS Refund Policy – Popbrain (India)

This policy applies to advertisers/brands in India who make payments to Popbrain via bank transfer.

As per the Indian Income Tax Act, payments made towards advertising services are subject to Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) at 2%, in accordance with Section 194C of the Act. Additionally, applicable Goods and Services Tax (GST) is charged on all invoices.

Popbrain is an Indian entity, and all invoices are raised in Indian Rupees (INR), in compliance with Indian tax laws.

Important Tax Guidelines

• TDS Deduction: A TDS of 2% must be deducted on the total invoice value by the advertiser before making the payment.
• TDS Deposit: The deducted TDS amount must be deposited with the Indian Income Tax Department by the advertiser.
• TAN Requirement: Advertisers must have a valid TAN (Tax Deduction Account Number) and must ensure it is registered with their Popbrain account.
• GST Compliance: All Popbrain services are subject to 18% GST, which is clearly mentioned on the invoice.

TDS Refund as Ad Credits

Once TDS is deposited and Form 16A (TDS Certificate) is issued by the Income Tax Department, Popbrain will issue equivalent ad credits upon successful verification.

To claim your TDS credit:

• Submit your Form 16A via TDS Refund Form
• Upload a scanned copy of Form 16A in the form
• Ensure submission is completed on or before 31 October, following the end of the relevant financial year

Example: For invoices between 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025, submit your TDS certificate by 31 October 2025.

Please Note

• Ad credits are non-refundable and can only be used for future campaigns.
• Refund processing time is up to 60 working days post verification.
• Incomplete, incorrect, or excess deposit claims may be rejected or delayed.
• TDS refunds are not applicable for any payments made through platforms like Razorpay, Paytm, or international cards.
• Popbrain is not responsible for delayed or missing tax certificates.
• For any tax or legal clarification, please consult your CA or tax advisor.

2. Important Tax Update for Popbrain Advertisers in India

As of 2018, all advertising services offered by Popbrain in India are billed and paid in Indian Rupees (INR) and are subject to the applicable GST and TDS under Indian tax law. This update applies to all advertisers whose business country is set to India.

To continue advertising on Popbrain, please ensure:

• A valid bank transfer payment method is added to your account.
• Your business name, billing address, and GST Identification Number (GSTIN) (if applicable) are correctly updated in your Popbrain business profile.
• To claim your refund from Popbrain, Click here to submit a copy of your TDS certificate.

GSTIN (Goods and Services Tax Identification Number)

Providing a GSTIN is optional.

However, if you are registered under GST and wish to claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) (subject to fulfillment of legal requirements), please enter the GSTIN corresponding to your main place of business or registered head office.

Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Advertisers

If your business is registered under a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and qualifies for GST exemption, you may submit your valid SEZ certificate to:

[email protected]

Or contact your account manager/client services for processing.

GST and TDS on Ad Charges

• GST and TDS are included whenever you are invoiced for advertising services.
• Even though TDS is part of the total invoice amount, you are still required to deposit TDS with the Income Tax Department as per Indian law.
• After successful TDS payment, you may submit a TDS certificate (Form 16A) to Popbrain to receive a refund in the form of ad credits.

Need Tax Help?

Please note that Popbrain does not offer tax advice. For questions regarding TDS, GST, SEZ exemption, or tax filing, consult your chartered accountant or tax advisor, or visit the Income Tax Department of India.

3. How Popbrain Charges for Advertising

When you advertise through Popbrain, you maintain full control over your spending by setting budgets, spending limits, and bid strategies for each campaign. These parameters help determine how your ads are delivered and how charges are incurred.

Ad Budgets vs. Actual Spend

Understanding the difference between what you budget and what you spend is essential:

• Budget: This is the maximum amount you allocate for your campaign or ad set. It acts as a cost-control mechanism to ensure you don’t exceed your planned expenditure.
• Amount Spent: This is the actual cost incurred based on valid user interactions (clicks) with your ads, in line with our cost-per-click (CPC) model.

Popbrain aims to deliver your campaigns evenly over the duration set, unless an accelerated delivery mode is selected.

Note: The actual spend may differ slightly from your set budget due to auction dynamics, click volume, or optimizations. However, we do not charge beyond your budget unless explicitly configured.

How and When You’re Charged

Popbrain operates on a CPC (Cost-Per-Click) billing model. You are only charged when a valid click occurs on your ad, as verified by our proprietary fraud-detection systems.

Key Billing Highlights:

• TDS(Tax Deducted at Source) is applied per valid click, at the time the amount is spent.
• GST (Goods and Services Tax) is also charged at the time of actual spend, ensuring compliance with Indian tax regulations.

We do not charge upfront. Your budget is deducted only when real engagement (clicks) occurs.

Viewing Your Ad Charges

To monitor your ad performance and billing:

• Go to your Popbrain Dashboard
• Check the Amount Spent and Click Details section for a complete breakdown
• Download invoices, GST summaries, and TDS deductions from the Payment or Reports tab

Note: Due to varying click volume and auction outcomes, your final billing within a cycle may be slightly higher or lower than your daily budget. However, the actual deduction will reflect only the validated spend.

Need Help with Billing?

For billing-related inquiries, GST/TDS documentation, or account adjustments, contact our support team at:

[email protected]
or raise a ticket via your dashboard's Chat Support section.