ITR Filing: Form 16 or Form 130? Why does it matter and when you may get it

As the Income Tax Return (ITR) filing season has started, there are different types of forms that are required to file a return. There are seven types of ITR forms. Apart from these, there is Form 16, which is a mandatory Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) certificate. It is issued to salaried employees by their employers.

What is Form 16?

This is called a Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) certificate. It is proof that an employer has deducted the tax from the employee's salary and deposited it with the Central Government.

Form 16 has two parts- A and B.

Form 16 Part A
Details of the TDS that is collected and deposited every quarter, as well as the employer's PAN and TAN, are provided in Part A of Form 16.

Form 16 Part B
Part B of Form 16 is an annexure to Part A. Employers are required to provide Part B for their employees, which includes information on the wage breakdown and authorised deductions under Chapter VI-A.

Under the new Income Tax rules in FY27, Form 16 has been renamed as Form 130. It also has a revised structure and aligns with the Income Tax Act, 2025.

The new form has three parts- Part A, Part B, and Part C. This separates the basic TDS deductions from comprehensive income computations.

What is the deadline to receive Form 16?

The Form 16 must be issued before 15th June of every assessment year.

What is the ITR filing deadline?

For the taxpayers who don't need to undergo a tax audit, the last date to file their ITR is July 31, 2026.

Is Form 16 mandatory to file an ITR?

No, taxpayers can file their return without Form 16 as well. But using Form 16, makes things easier.

Where to get Form 16?

Employers usually upload the Form 16 to the TRACES portal. However, employees can not download the form directly from that portal. Therefore, employers share the document via email or upload it to the HR portal.

Why Form 16 is important

The document provides all the details in one place. It has a consolidated record of salary income and tax deducted during the financial year for which you are filing a return.

What if your employer has not uploaded the Form 16?

You can still file your ITR without using the form. You just need to collect all your information from salary slips, AIS, Form 26AS, or bank statements.