What is Form 16?
Reviewed by Ranga & Company
Form 16: Form 16 is the certificate an employer gives each employee showing salary paid and income tax deducted at source during the financial year. It is the main document for filing a salaried ITR.
At a glance
- Issued by
- Employer (the deductor)
- Due by
- 15 June after the financial year
- Part A
- TDS deducted and deposited, generated from the TRACES portal
- Part B
- Salary breakup, exemptions, deductions and tax computation
- Related
- Form 16A for non-salary TDS; Form 16B for TDS on property
What to check in your Form 16
- Your PAN and the employer's TAN are correct
- TDS in Part A matches Form 26AS
- The regime used (old or new) is the one you intend to file under
- Deductions you declared appear in Part B
Changed jobs during the year?
You'll get a Form 16 from each employer. Add the salaries together in your return and claim the standard deduction only once. Tax often falls short because each employer applied the lower slabs, so check whether you owe extra.
Common mistakes
- Filing only from Form 16 and missing interest income in AIS
- Claiming the standard deduction twice with two Form 16s
Frequently asked questions
When do I get Form 16?
Employers must issue it by 15 June following the end of the financial year.
Can I file ITR without Form 16?
Yes. Use salary slips and the TDS shown in Form 26AS or AIS to fill in your return.
What is the difference between Form 16 and Form 16A?
Form 16 covers TDS on salary. Form 16A covers TDS on other payments such as interest, professional fees or rent.
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