By now, the majority of salaried taxpayers across the country should have received Form 16 and begun filing their income tax returns (ITR) for the assessment year 2024-25 (FY24).

Form 16 holds significant importance for Indian salaried employees as it is provided by employers and includes details regarding tax deducted at source (TDS) along with a breakdown of salary components.

Under income tax regulations, employers are mandated to issue Form 16 to employees whose income is subjected to TDS.

However, there may be instances where Form 16 is not issued. So the question that then looms is, can ITR be filed without Form 16?

Yes, individuals can file their Income Tax Return (ITR) even if Form 16 has not been issued by their employer. Form 16 is indeed crucial as it provides details of TDS and salary components, which simplify the process of filing taxes. However, if Form 16 is not available, taxpayers can still file their ITR using alternative sources of income information, such as salary slips, bank statements showing salary credits, and their own records of TDS deductions from salary.

Taxpayers can also access Form 26AS, which is a consolidated statement showing TDS details from all sources (including salary) as per the records available with the Income Tax Department. This can serve as a reference to ensure accurate reporting of income and taxes paid.

In summary, while Form 16 facilitates the filing process, its absence does not prevent taxpayers from fulfilling their tax obligations.

How to file ITR without Form 16

One method is to obtain Form 26AS from the Income Tax Department’s website. This form offers a comprehensive tax statement that includes all TDS deducted and credited against your PAN. Check to ensure that the TDS entries align with the deductions listed on your salary slips.

“While Form 16 streamlines the process by consolidating your salary income and tax deductions, it’s not mandatory for filing. You can leverage alternative documents like salary slips for income details and Form 26AS, Annual Information Statement(AIS), Taxpayer Information Summary(TIS), and your Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) certificate, for verifying TDS deductions claimed by your employer,” said Dahiya.

Gather Comprehensive Income Details: Meticulously review your salary slips or bank statements to determine your total salary income. To ensure complete reporting, access and examine your Taxpayer Information Statement (TIS) for any additional income sources you might have.

Steps to file ITR without Form 16

Filing Income Tax Return (ITR) without Form 16 is possible by following these steps:

1. Collect Salary Slips: Gather all monthly or quarterly salary slips issued by your employer. These should detail your gross salary, deductions, allowances, and net salary received.
2. Calculate Total Income: Sum up all your salary income from the salary slips received during the financial year.
3. Check Form 26AS: Access your Form 26AS from the income tax department’s website or your e-filing account. This form provides a consolidated view of all tax deducted at source (TDS) on your income from various sources, including salary.
4. Verify TDS Details: Verify that the TDS deducted by your employer is accurately reflected in Form 26AS. This ensures that you are not paying excess taxes or facing discrepancies.
5. Declare Income and TDS in ITR Form: Use the information from your salary slips and Form 26AS to fill out the appropriate sections of your ITR form. Declare your total income from salary and ensure to accurately report the TDS details in the relevant sections.
6. File ITR Online: Log in to the income tax department’s e-filing portal or use any authorized online tax filing platforms. Fill out the ITR form as per the information collected and verified.
7. Upload Documents: Upload supporting documents such as salary slips, bank statements showing salary credits, and any other relevant documents as required by the ITR form.
8. Review and Submit: Double-check all information entered in the ITR form for accuracy and completeness. Once verified, submit the form electronically.
9. Receive Acknowledgment: After successful submission, you will receive an acknowledgment (ITR-V) that confirms the receipt of your ITR.
10. Verification: Verify your ITR-V either electronically (through Aadhaar OTP, Net Banking, etc.) or by sending a signed physical copy to the Centralized Processing Centre (CPC) within 120 days of e-filing.

By following these steps diligently and ensuring all income and TDS details are accurately reported, you can successfully file your Income Tax Return without Form 16.