Understanding Form 16: Your Salary TDS Certificate
In this guide
Step-by-step Process
What is Form 16?
Form 16 is a certificate issued by your employer under Section 203 of the Income Tax Act. It details the salary paid to you and the TDS deducted on it during the financial year. Employers must issue it by June 15th.
Part A — TDS Details
Part A contains: Employer's TAN and PAN, Employee's PAN, total TDS deducted quarter-wise, and TDS deposited with the government. Verify this matches your Form 26AS.
Part B — Salary Breakup and Deductions
Part B contains: Gross salary breakup (basic, HRA, allowances), exempt allowances, standard deduction, deductions under Chapter VIA (80C, 80D), and net taxable income.
Use Form 16 to File ITR
When filing ITR, use Part B figures for salary income and deductions. Use Part A to ensure TDS credits match Form 26AS. The Income Tax portal pre-fills most data from Form 16.
Official Government Portals
Common Questions
What if my employer doesn't give Form 16?
Employers who deduct TDS are legally required to issue Form 16 by June 15th. If they don't, you can still file ITR using your salary slips and Form 26AS. You can also report the employer to the Income Tax Department.
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