What Latest Form 16 Changes Mean For You

Form 16 will seek additional details from May 12, 2019. The Income Tax Department has revised the format of Form 16, which is used by employers to report TDS (tax deducted at source) details of the employees, to demand details such as any investment in and related deductions on the basis of income tax-saving schemes as well as income from other sources. The amended Form 16 will come into effect from May 12, 2019. The Income Tax Department has brought about the changes in the Form 16 requirements days after notifying the income tax return (ITR) forms applicable for Assessment Year 2019-20.

Here are the details of the key changes in the new Form 16:

Why is Form 16 used?

Form 16 is a certificate issued by an employer detailing the TDS deducted with respect to payment to its employees. According to current income tax rules, every employer is required to issue the Form 16 with details of the salary paid and tax deducted at source of each of its employee. The Form 16 is usually issued by mid-June.

(Also read: All you need to know about linking PAN with Aadhaar)

Which details are now required in the new Form 16?

The new Form 16 is more comprehensive which is expected to help the taxman check tax avoidance, say experts.

In the revised Form 16, the Income Tax Department seeks details such as any income from house property, and any remuneration from other employers.

(Also read: Form 16 income tax: Last date for issuing TDS certificate)

The Form 16 - which will come into effect on May 12 - will include information on any deductions with respect to income tax-saving schemes, any allowances received by the employee, and any income from other sources.

The revised Form 16 will also require details of deductions with respect to any interest received on deposits in savings accounts, and any applicable rebate and surcharge.

What tax experts say

Amit Maheshwari, partner, Ashok Maheshwary & Associates LLP:

“The amended Form 16 and Form 24Q seek more details especially about exempt allowances under Section 10 of the Income Tax Act."

Ashok Shah, partner, NA Shah Associates LLP:

"Several changes have been incorporated to bring Form 16 and TDS return in sync with newly-released ITR forms for AY 2019-20... This will help employees in filing their income tax returns more accurately, which will in turn reduce the scope of mismatch in the return filed and the data available with the tax department."

"New forms require separate disclosures of income/loss from house property and income from other sources reported by employee, which are offered for TDS."

"If an employee has received salary from previous/other employer during the year and same has been informed to current employer for TDS purpose, then separate reporting of such salary income in new Form 16 and Form 24Q is required... If an employee is claiming deduction in respect of interest paid on housing loan taken from a person other than financial institution or employer, now he is mandatorily required to quote PAN of lender."

Sanjoli Maheshwari, director, Nangia Advisors:

"Earlier, where the disclosure of various deductions was mentioned in a consolidated manner, ranging from 80C, 80CCD, 80E, 80G would now be required to be disclosed separately."

"These specific disclosures would provide ease to the tax authorities in understanding the various components of income of the taxpayer and thereby, facilitating the conduct of scrutiny more precisely," she added.

New income tax return forms

Meanwhile, the Income Tax Department earlier this month notified new ITR forms. These income tax return forms - ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3, ITR-4, ITR-5, ITR-6 and ITR-7 - are applicable for reporting income earned during financial year 2018-19, which ended on March 31, 2019. Income tax assessees, such as salaried individuals, not required to get their account audited are required to file the income tax return (ITR) by July 31 each year.