India's income tax system has introduced a new set of forms from April 1, 2026, after the Income Tax Act, 2025 replaced the 1961 law. The changes include new names, merged declarations and consolidated reporting formats for taxpayers and businesses.
Several familiar forms such as Form 16, Form 26AS, Form 15G, Form 15H and audit filings have now been replaced or merged. The move aims to simplify compliance, cut duplication and align filings with the new law.
The revised forms apply for financial year 2025-26 and assessment year 2026-27. Salaried taxpayers, senior citizens, businesses, deductors and those making foreign remittances may see changes in the forms they use.
What Changed
Form 121: Forms 15G and 15H have been merged into Form 121. It is a single self-declaration form under Section 393(6) for eligible residents seeking lower or nil TDS on interest or dividend income if income is below taxable limits.
Eligibility: Eligible resident individuals whose tax liability is nil and whose income falls within prescribed limits.
Documents Required: PAN, income details, bank or dividend payer details and declaration of eligibility.
Form 26: Earlier tax audit filings under Forms 3CA, 3CB and 3CD are now consolidated into Form 26. The form uses simpler language and standardised formats.
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Eligibility: Businesses or taxpayers required to undergo tax audit.
Documents Required: Books of accounts, financial statements, audit details and tax disclosures.
Form 130: Form 16 has been renamed Form 130. Employers will continue issuing it for tax deducted at source on salary. It now aligns with revised provisions covering salary, pension and specified senior citizen income under Section 393(1).
Eligibility: Salaried employees, pension recipients and eligible senior citizens covered under the provisions.
Documents Required: PAN, salary details, TDS details and employer records.
New Forms
Form 168: Form 26AS has been replaced by Form 168. It combines broader annual tax information with AIS and TIS data in one statement.
This means taxpayers may get a wider view of taxes deducted, reported transactions and other information in a single place while filing returns.
Form 145: Form 15CA has been replaced by Form 145 for reporting payments made to non-residents or foreign companies.
Eligibility: Persons making such payments.
Documents Required: Remittance details, recipient details, PAN if available and supporting tax information.
Form 39: Earlier Form 10E is now Form 39 for relief claims under Section 157(1) in cases such as retrenchment compensation, commuted pension or gratuity.
Form 104: Used for application for provisional registration or provisional approval.
Form 134 and Form 135: These forms replace Form 49B for allotment of Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number under Section 397.
Taxpayers may need to check the revised form numbers before making declarations, claiming relief, receiving salary certificates or meeting compliance requirements in FY26.
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