ITR filing 2025: Why salaried taxpayers need Form 16, and when will they get it this year?

Form 16 is the certificate of tax deduction at source (TDS), which is issued on tax deducted by the employer on behalf of employees. Generally, salaried taxpayers file their Income Tax Returns (ITRs) based on Form 16 received from their employers.

Employers usually issue Form 16 in the first half of June every year, as the deadline for TDS filing for the quarter ending March 31 is May 31, and employers are mandated to issue the form within 15 days of the return filing.

When should you file ITR this year?

What to do before filing ITR?

Until you receive Form 16, you should start collecting your income details like capital gains statements, details of interest earned from fixed deposits, rental income, and any other investment that can be used to claim deductions. Employees are required to calculate their final tax liability and pay the same to avoid any notice from the IT department or penalties.

Difference between Form 16 and Form 16A

Form 16 is received by salaried employees and it is issued by employers. It is used to show how much salary one earned and how much tax was deducted at source by the employer.

Form 16A, on the other hand, is issued for any non-salary income like interest earned from fixed deposits, rental income, freelancing income, etc. It shows how much tax was deducted by banks or other people who paid you. This form is issued by financial institutions, banks, etc.