Digital Form 16: Step-by-step guide to download and use it for easy ITR filing
As the income tax filing season approaches, salaried individuals in India prepare to submit their returns, with Form 16 playing an essential role in the process. Issued by employers, Form 16 certifies the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), providing a detailed summary of an employee's salary and the taxes deducted throughout the financial year.With the advent of digital platforms, accessing and using Form 16 has become more straightforward, making it a vital document for accurate and hassle-free income tax return (ITR) filing.advertisementHOW TO ACCESS DIGITAL FORM 16To obtain Form 16 digitally, employees or employers can visit the official TRACES portal. Users need to log in with their TAN (Tax Deduction Account Number), password, and captcha code.
Once logged in, navigate to the 'Downloads' tab and select 'Form 16' under the available options. It is necessary to select the relevant financial year and form type, usually Part A and Part B, ensuring that the employee's PAN and other details are correctly entered.After processing, Form 16 is available for download from the 'Downloads' section. Employers usually issue Form 16 to employees by June 15 of each assessment year, allowing enough time for tax filing.STRUCTURE OF FORM 16Form 16 is divided into two parts. Part A contains the employer and employee details, along with a summary of the tax deducted and deposited with the government.advertisementPart B provides a detailed breakdown of salary components, exemptions, deductions, and the overall tax payable or refundable. This comprehensive structure aids taxpayers in cross-verifying their salary details and taxes paid, ensuring that all necessary deductions and exemptions are accurately accounted for when filing their returns.SIMPLIFYING THE E-FILING PROCESSFor salaried taxpayers, uploading the digital Form 16 on tax filing platforms can considerably simplify the return filing process.These platforms automatically import salary details, TDS, exemptions, and deductions, ensuring real-time validation against Income Tax department requirements. Any discrepancies can be corrected before submission, minimising errors and reducing the risk of notices.Upon filing, taxpayers complete the e-verification process using Aadhaar (OTP), net banking, or by sending a signed ITR-V to the Centralised Processing Centre. The shift to digital has revolutionised how salaried taxpayers manage their tax documentation, making timely and accurate tax filing more achievable.Must Watch
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Business Standard
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Got multiple source of income? Here's how to tax returns, use correct forms
Filing Income Tax returns (ITR) is complicated if have income from multiple sources like salary, rent, stock trading or as a social media influencer. Mistakes in disclosure or selecting forms can lead to information not matching tax records and scrutiny by the authorities. Experts explain how to avoid tax notices while filing ITR this year. Common ITR filing mistakes with multiple income sources Salaried individuals often overlook non-salary income such as interest from fixed deposits, rental income, or capital gains, says S R Patnaik, partner (head - taxation) at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. "Even when such income is reported, misclassification or failure to claim applicable deductions is a frequent issue, which can lead to mismatches with Form 26AS or AIS," he notes. Aarti Raote, partner at Deloitte India, says choosing the wrong ITR form is a common mistake. 'For example, someone with consultancy income in addition to salary cannot file ITR-1. They may need to file ITR-3. Filing taxes at the last minute leaves little time to reconcile income details across documents.' 'Even failing to verify your return after e-filing renders it invalid,' says Siddharth Nigotia, senior associate at SKV Law Offices. How to report multiple incomes correctly while filing ITR Maintaining records meticulously helps in the task, experts say. 'Verify income receipts from digital platforms like YouTube, stock brokers, or clients against Form 26AS and AIS before filing,' says Patnaik. He advises maintaining bank statements, invoices, and Form 16A for TDS credits to prevent mismatches. 'Include all receipts, YouTube payments, UPI credits, consulting invoices, under the appropriate head, whether it's 'income from other sources' or 'profits and gains of business or profession'. Examine every entry in your AIS for high-value transactions, TDS, dividends, and rent to avoid omissions,' says Nigotia. Raote also recommends frequent reconciliation. 'Most brokers and consultants issue annual income and TDS summaries. But it is the taxpayer's duty to verify them with the AIS and 26AS periodically.' What if you misreported an income in ITR? Missing out on disclosing income doesn't automatically mean trouble if corrected early. 'You can file a revised return under Section 139(5) by December 31, 2025,' says Patnaik. 'Doing so voluntarily, without a notice, helps you avoid penalties.' Raote notes that if you miss this deadline, 'you can still file an updated return within four years, but additional taxes and penalties would apply.' Nigotia underscores the importance of proactive revision. 'Revising before due dates generally invites no penalty; Only the interest on underpaid tax may be due.' Managing multiple bank accounts Receiving income in multiple bank accounts i.e salary account, business account, or payment apps does not impact tax liability directly, but can complicate tracking. 'All income is taxable regardless of which account it comes into,' says Nigotia. 'Even UPI receipts over Rs 50,000 per year must be reported under appropriate heads.' Patnaik advises consolidating financial data before filing to ensure no source is forgotten. 'New ITR forms also require disclosure of all bank accounts held in the year, so tracking across accounts is vital,' says Raote. If you have multiple sources of income, diligently track, classify and reconcile them for taxes. Choose the correct ITR form, check with AIS/Form 26AS, and file revisions early if needed. A little attention to detail can go a long way in keeping the taxman at bay.
News18
11 hours ago
- News18
Is It Necessary To File ITR Of A Deceased Person? Here's What Legal Heirs Need to Know For AY 2025-26
Filing is mandatory for deceased persons if income exceeds exemption limits till the date of death. Legal heirs must register on the tax portal to file. The ITR filing season 2025 is going on, and over 14.5 lakh income tax returns have already been filed in around a week. As it is a legal obligation to report your income to the income tax department, does it also apply to deceased persons? Experts say 'yes". Filing is legally required if income thresholds are met till the date of death. Here's what legal heirs need to know about the ITR filing for a person who has passed away: 'As per the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961, filing of income tax return (ITR) is mandatory even for a deceased person in respect of the income earned up to the date of death, provided the total income exceeds the basic exemption limit or otherwise attracts the requirement to file a return u/s 139 of the IT Act. The responsibility of filing such return vests with the legal heir or representative of the deceased," said Suresh Surana, a Mumbai-based chartered accountant. If the deceased earned income above the basic exemption limit in the financial year 2024-25 (April 1, 2024-March 31, 2025), their ITR must be filed for AY 2025-26. The exemption limit is: Sources of income may include: Tax experts said that even if the person passed away mid-year, the income earned up to the date of death is taxable. Who Can File ITR on Behalf of the Deceased? Experts said only a legal heir or representative can file the return. This is typically: To do this, the heir must first register as a legal heir on the income tax e-filing portal at 'For the purposes of filing the return, the legal heir needs to be registered on the income tax website. Registration as a legal heir is mandatory for the e-filing of returns on behalf of the deceased person. The PAN of both the deceased person and legal heir needs to be registered in the e-filing portal. However, if the deceased person's PAN is not registered, then the legal heir can register on behalf of the deceased," Anita Basrur, partner at Sudit K Parekh & Co. LLP, said. How to Register as Legal Heir Online? Log on to the income tax e-filing portal — On the 'Authorised Partners' tab, select 'Register as Representative Assessee' Create a New request by clicking on 'Let's get Started' A new dialogue box would appear – 'Category of Assessee who you want to represent' wherein the 'Deceased (Legal Heir)' option needs to be selected from the drop-down menu. Other details such as Name, PAN, Date of Death, Bank account details of Legal heir, Reason for Registration etc. needs to be entered. The necessary required documents (as indicated below) needs to be attached. It is pertinent to note that the maximum file size allowed is 5 MB. After filing in the necessary details, Click on 'Proceed' and 'Verify the Request'. To verify the request, enter the OTP received on your mobile no. and email ID of the legal heir registered on e-filing portal. Click 'Submit Request'. Request has been submitted successfully will be processed by Income Tax Department within 7 days. After approval of request by the income tax department representative assessee, legal heir will be notified on e-mail and SMS. The legal heir can login to e-filing portal with its own credentials and after login, in profile section switch to representative assessee (as legal heir). The request will also require submission of the following documents as attachments: Copy of the PAN card of Deceased Copy of the PAN card of the legal heir Copy of Death Certificate Copy of Legal Heir Proof etc. Post-Death Income If the deceased's assets (like rental property or fixed deposits) continue to generate income after the date of death, that income must be included in the ITR of the legal heir or inheritor for that period. 'It is to be kept in mind that only income up to the date of death is to be captured in the return of the deceased. All income earned thereafter is taxable in the hands of the beneficiaries, legal heirs, or the estate, as applicable," Parekh said. Which ITR Form to Use? Surana said the ITR form applicable to the deceased shall be determined based on the nature and composition of income earned during the relevant period, similar to any other assessee. ITR-1 (Sahaj): For income from salary, one house property, and interest income ITR-2: For capital gains or multiple house properties ITR-3 / ITR-4: If deceased had income from business or profession The ITR should be filed in the name of the deceased, but verified by the legal heir. Deadline for Filing The ITR deadline for AY 2025-26 for individuals (including legal heirs) is September 15, 2025. However, if the deceased had business income and audit is applicable, the deadline is October 31, 2025. Consequences of Non-Filing Failing to file the ITR of a deceased person, when required, may: * Attract notices or penalties * Delay the processing of refunds top videos View all * Create problems in property or asset transfer If a refund is due, it can only be claimed by filing the ITR properly. About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously More Stay updated with all the latest business news, including market trends, stock updates, tax, IPO, banking finance, real estate, savings and investments. Get in-depth analysis, expert opinions, and real-time updates—only on News18. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : income tax income tax return ITR filing Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 12, 2025, 14:23 IST News business » tax Is It Necessary To File ITR Of A Deceased Person? Here's What Legal Heirs Need to Know For AY 2025-26
India Today
12 hours ago
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Got an income tax notice? Don't panic, here's how to deal with it
Filing your income tax return might feel like ticking off the last task on your to-do list, but it's not always the end of your tax journey. For many honest taxpayers, the unexpected arrival of an income tax notice in their inbox can trigger before panic sets in, here's the good news! Most of these notices are routine and manageable, provided you respond appropriately and on Today spoke to CA (Dr) Suresh Surana to decode what these notices really mean, why they're sent, and what you should do if one lands your DO TAX NOTICES ARRIVE? In today's data-driven tax system, the chances of receiving a notice have increased, not because you're doing something wrong, but because the tax department now has greater access to your financial footprint. CA Surana explained, 'With enhanced data analytics, information integration (via AIS, TIS, 26AS), and increased reporting obligations, the issuance of notices has become both structured and data-driven.'The tax system tracks your financial transactions, like your salary, bank interest, stock trades, and mutual fund investments. If something doesn't match or seems off, a notice might be sent to you for this isn't necessarily a sign of wrongdoing. Often, the notice is just a formal nudge asking for more information, missing documents, or explaining a MOST COMMON NOTICES – AND WHAT THEY MEANadvertisementSection 143(1): Intimation After Return ProcessingThis is one of the most frequently issued notices and is sent after your return has been processed. It compares your declared income and deductions with the department's own data. If everything matches, no action is needed. But if there's a mismatch, like incorrect TDS or deductions, you may be asked to pay more tax or may receive a to CA (Dr) Suresh Surana, 'This is a preliminary assessment, not a final order. You still have time to revise your return under Section 139(5) if needed.'Section 142(1): Inquiry Before AssessmentThis is more of an information request. You may receive it if you haven't filed your return, or if the tax officer needs further documents to complete your assessment. This can include income details, bank records, or rent receipts.'Non-compliance can lead to Best Judgement Assessment under Section 144 and may attract penalties or prosecution,' Surana 139(9): Defective ReturnThis notice appears when your return is found to have issues, like using the wrong ITR form, leaving out income details, or missing tax payment information. You're usually given 15 days to fix it.'If not corrected in time, the return is treated as invalid, with consequences as if no return was filed at all,' Surana explained. This could mean losing out on exemptions or carry-forward 245: Adjustment Against Tax DuesIf you're due for a refund but still owe tax from previous years, the department can adjust the two. A notice under Section 245 is issued to inform you about this, giving you a chance to accept or dispute the adjustment.'This adjustment can only be made after a written intimation, and the taxpayer usually has 21 days to respond,' Surana noted. Common reasons for defective returns include incorrect ITR form used, incomplete information, and non-disclosure of tax payment details, he 148: Income Escaping AssessmentThis notice is more serious. It's sent when the department believes that you've failed to disclose certain income in past returns. The Assessing Officer must have credible evidence for reopening your case. You'll be asked to file a fresh return for the year in question, and possibly explain the source of the income in noted that reassessments are governed by Sections 147 to 153 and can involve recalculations of losses or SHOULD YOU RESPOND TO A TAX NOTICE?The first rule is simple: do not ignore it. Every notice carries a response deadline. Missing it can lead to penalties, disallowance of claims, or even reopening of your by logging into the income tax portal and reading the notice carefully. Check under which section it has been issued and verify its authenticity using the Document Identification Number (DIN). If it's a valid notice, gather all supporting documents, like ITR copies, Form 16, salary slips, bank statements, investment proofs, and submit a clear and complete response through the e-filing advised, "Taxpayers need to submit a comprehensive and fact-based response via the income tax e-filing portal in accordance with the requirements set out in the notice."Further, he added, 'Once the response is submitted, retain copies of your reply and acknowledgement receipts. Track the status on the portal and be alert to further updates from the department.'If you're not satisfied with the outcome, don't hesitate to explore remedies. These include seeking a rectification under Section 154, filing an appeal with the Commissioner (Appeals), or requesting a revision under Section 264, depending on your other words, receiving a tax notice isn't the end of the world. In most cases, it's just the department doing its job, cross-checking information and ensuring everything adds up. Staying calm, reading the notice carefully, and responding with the right documents on time can help you resolve it if you're ever in doubt, don't try to guess your way through it. Reach out to a qualified tax professional who can guide you through the Watch
