The due date for filing the Income Tax Return (ITR) is fast approaching and many salaried taxpayers are fretting over not receiving Form 16 from their employers.
Though employees expect to receive the form in their official email by June 15, some companies may take a day or two more considering how this form contains information about the tax deducted at source (TDS) by an employer on behalf of an employee.
In addition to TDS details, this form also includes a comprehensive summary of the salary paid to the employee by the employer.
Form 16 is indeed crucial for salaried individuals when filing their ITRs. It serves as a significant document as it provides detailed information about the salary paid to the employee, deductions claimed by the employee, and the tax deducted from the salary. This information is essential for accurately reporting income and claiming applicable tax benefits while filing the ITRs.
For the assessment year 2023-24, the due date for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) is July 31. Before submitting your ITR, it is important to review the following key points in your Form 16:
Personal Details
Ensure that your personal information, such as your name, Permanent Account Number (PAN), and address, is correctly mentioned in Form 16.
This means that you must check if your name is correctly spelt and matches the name on your PAN card and other official documents. Apart, your PAN – a unique 10-digit alphanumeric identifier, is correctly mentioned in Form 16.
Any discrepancies could lead to issues during the filing process. Verify that your residential address is accurately stated in Form 16. This includes the correct house number, street name, locality, city, state, and PIN code.
Salary Details
Verify the salary details provided in Form 16, including the gross salary, allowances, perquisites, and any other income components. Cross-check these figures with your own records to ensure accuracy.
Confirm that the gross salary mentioned in Form 16 matches the salary credited to your bank account or as per your employment records. This includes your basic salary, allowances, and any other components. Also, the form must reflect details of the allowances you are entitled to such as House Rent Allowance (HRA), Travel Allowance, Medical Allowance, and others.
If you receive any perquisites or fringe benefits from your employer, ensure that these are accurately mentioned in Form 16. Common examples include rent-free accommodation, company car usage, or club memberships. Check if any other income components, such as bonuses, incentives, commissions, or any additional income sources, are properly accounted for in the form.
Deductions and Exemptions
Check if the deductions claimed by you, such as under Section 80C, Section 80D, and any other applicable sections, are correctly reflected in Form 16. Also, confirm if any exemptions, such as House Rent Allowance (HRA), are appropriately mentioned.
Section 80C deductions
Ensure that the deductions claimed under Section 80C for investments such as Employee Provident Fund (EPF), Public Provident Fund (PPF), life insurance premiums, etc., are correctly mentioned in Form 16. Confirm that the total deduction amount claimed aligns with your actual investments.
Section 80D deductions
Check if the deductions claimed under Section 80D for health insurance premiums are accurately reflected. Verify that the premium amounts paid for individual, family, or parents’ health insurance policies are correctly reported.
Other deductions
Review any other deductions claimed under applicable sections such as Section 80G (for donations), Section 80E (for education loan interest), or Section 80TTA (for interest on savings account). Ensure that the deductions claimed match your actual eligible expenses and investments.
Exemptions
If you are eligible for any exemptions, such as House Rent Allowance (HRA), confirm that the exempted amount is correctly mentioned in Form 16. Verify that the exemption has been calculated as per the applicable rules and based on the supporting documents provided.
Supporting documents
Keep in mind that while Form 16 provides a summary of your income and deductions, it is advisable to maintain supporting documents and proofs for the deductions claimed. These documents may be required for verification during the assessment by the tax authorities.
TDS details
Review the TDS details in Form 16, including the TDS amount deducted by your employer and the corresponding TDS certificates. Access your Form 26AS, which is the consolidated statement of TDS available on the Income Tax Department’s website.
Compare the TDS amount mentioned in Form 16 with the TDS details reflected in your Form 26AS. Ensure that the amounts match, indicating that the TDS has been correctly reported and deposited by your employer.
If you notice any discrepancies or mismatches between the TDS amount mentioned in Form 16 and the TDS details in Form 26AS, it is important to address them. Contact your employer or the concerned authority to rectify any errors and ensure that the TDS details are accurately reflected.
Verification and Certification
Check that Form 16 is properly signed and certified by your employer. A valid signature and certification indicate that the form is authenticated by your employer.
The certificate should bear the employer’s Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN) and other necessary details. Also, confirm that the form pertains to the relevant financial year for which you are filing your ITR. The relevant financial year should be clearly mentioned on the form, and it should align with the period for which you are filing your ITR.
The validity period of the form should align with the corresponding financial year. The form should cover the entire duration of your employment during that financial year, including any job changes or transfers within the same financial year.
Ensure that the format of Form 16 follows the guidelines specified by the Income Tax Department. It should include the required sections and information as per the prescribed format. This includes details of the employer, employee, salary components, deductions, exemptions, and TDS.
Additional Income
If you have any additional sources of income apart from your salary, ensure that these are properly declared in your ITR and reflected in your Form 16, if applicable.
Identify additional income sources: Determine if you have any other sources of income, such as income from house property, capital gains from the sale of assets, income from investments, rental income, or income from freelance or consulting work. It is important to include all such income sources while filing your ITR.
Declare the additional income: Make sure to declare these additional sources of income in the appropriate sections of your ITR form. Provide the necessary details, such as the nature of the income, the amount earned, and any applicable deductions or exemptions.
Cross-check with Form 16: If the additional income is reflected in your Form 16, verify that it accurately represents the income you have earned from those sources. Check if the deductions or exemptions related to the additional income are correctly accounted for in Form 16.
Maintain supporting documents: Keep all relevant documents, such as rental agreements, investment statements, capital gains calculations, or any other proofs of income, to substantiate the additional income declared in your ITR.
Taxable Income and Tax Liability
Calculate your taxable income based on the details provided in Form 16. Then, determine the applicable income tax slabs and rates based on your taxable income. Calculate the tax liability using the respective rates for each slab. Check if the tax liability computed matches your own calculations and the tax deducted by your employer.
Compare the tax liability calculated with your own calculations to verify if they match. Take into account the TDS by your employer, as mentioned in Form 16. Ensure that the TDS amount is appropriately accounted for and reflected in your tax liability calculations.
These are some key points to review in your Form 16 before filing your ITR to ensure accuracy and compliance with tax regulations. It is always advisable to consult a tax professional or chartered accountant for specific guidance tailored to your individual circumstances.
Accurate personal information in Form 16 is crucial to avoid any potential mismatches or errors in your ITR filing. If you notice any discrepancies, it is recommended to contact your employer or the relevant authority to rectify the information before submitting your ITR.
By calculating your taxable income based on the details provided in Form 16 and cross-checking the tax liability with your calculations, you can ensure accuracy in your ITR filing. If you identify any discrepancies, it is advisable to consult a tax professional or chartered accountant for assistance in resolving the issue.
Why should you file ITR even with no taxable income: