Lesson 2 of 3 · 6 min
Form 16, decoded
The certificate your employer owes you by 15 June, in two parts: Part A proves the tax reached the government, Part B shows how the figure was arrived at.
Form 16 is the certificate of the TDS your employer deducted from salary, due to you by 15 June after the tax year ends. It comes in two parts, and they answer different questions: Part A proves the money reached the government; Part B shows the arithmetic behind the deductions from your payslip.
| Aspect | Part A | Part B |
|---|---|---|
| What it shows | TDS deposited against your PAN, quarter by quarter, with the employer's TAN | Salary breakup, exemptions, deductions and the tax computation |
| Where it comes from | Downloaded from the TRACES system — it reflects government records | Prepared by your employer's payroll |
| What to check | Your PAN is correct and the quarterly amounts match your payslips | The regime used, and that every deduction shown is one you actually made |
Put these in order
Form 16 just landed in your inbox. Put the checks in a sensible order.
- File the form away — the ITR asks for these figures
- Check every deduction in Part B is real, not just declared
- Check which regime Part B assumed
- Match Part A's quarterly TDS against your payslips
- Confirm the PAN on it is actually yours
Quick check
Part A of Form 16 shows ₹48,000 deposited, but your payslips add up to ₹52,000 deducted. What does that mean?
Check yourself
1 / 3
Kabir asks
Which part of Form 16 proves the money actually reached the government?
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