Major Changes in Form 16 for Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26

Part A – Employer and Employee Details

Basic information regarding you (the employee) and your employer is contained in Part A of Form 16. Such key details are PAN (Permanent Account Number), TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number), and the overall tax deducted from your salary.

This page serves as evidence that your employer has deducted TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) from your salary and deposited it in the Income Tax Department. You can cross-check this information with your salary slips and Form 26AS to verify everything is accurate before you file your Income Tax Return (ITR).

TDS Information Includes:

• A summary of your total salary paid during the financial year
• Details of the tax deducted and paid to the government every quarter
• Challan Identification Number (CIN) for each tax deposit, as proof of payment

Part B – Detailed Salary Breakdown

Part B of Form 16 gives a detailed view of your salary and deductions. The financial year 2024-25 (AY 2025-26) has been updated to make things clearer and reflect recent tax changes.

Salary Details:

It breaks down your gross salary into different parts, like:

• Basic salary
• Allowances (e.g., House Rent Allowance, Leave Travel Allowance, Transport Allowance)
• Bonuses and arrears
• Tax-free components under Section 10, like HRA, LTA, gratuity
• Taxable perks like rent-free accommodation or company car (covered under Section 17(2))

Deductions Under Chapter VI-A:

These deductions help reduce your taxable income. They include:

• Section 80C: Contributions to EPF, PPF, life insurance premiums, and home loan principal payments
• Section 80D: Health insurance premiums
• Section 80E: Education loan interest
• Section 80G: Donations to eligible charities
• Section 80TTA: Interest from savings accounts (up to Rs. 10,000)

Tax Calculation:

This is where your tax calculation is illustrated:

• Rs. 50,000 standard deduction is applied. Exemptions and deductions are deducted from the total taxable income.
• Tax is calculated together with any surcharge that may be applicable, and a 4% health & education cess.
• Any relief under Section 89 (for salary earned in advance or arrears) is also added.

AY 2025-26 Changes:

There are some new additions made to the 2025 version of Form 16:

• Section 80CCH: Contributions to Agniveer Corpus Fund are reflected separately and are tax-free.
• Better Classification: Salary components are now classified better:

1. Exempt allowances, such as HRA, are clearly indicated
2. Taxable prerequisites, such as rent-free accommodation, are indicated
3. All deductions (under 80C, 80D, 80E, etc.) are clearly listed.

These changes aim to make Form 16 easier to read and help both employers and employees understand salary and tax details more clearly.