ITR Filing: Step-by-step guide to file your income tax returns without Form 16

All employed people must file income tax returns every year and Form 16 is required to do that. You should not worry if you have not received Form 16 due to any reason. You can still file your return. Form 16 is essentially a certificate that employers issue to their employees. It gives a validation that TDS has been deducted and deposited with the government authorities on behalf of the employee.

It is the record of your tax which your company has deducted from your salary. It is also called a salary certificate or salary slip. Every company must give salary slips to its employees. Form 16 contains every important detail which is useful in filing an income tax return. 

But, you can file a tax return even if you don’t have Form 16. For this, you will require some documents including a salary slip, Form 26AS, or tax credit statement which you will get from the TRACES website. Also, you will need a rent agreement along with other documents, through which you can specify your investments.

Steps to file your ITR without Form 16:

Step 1: Calculate your income

Put together all your payslips for the financial year. If you have switched your company in between, then make sure you include salary slips from all the employers you have worked with. While calculating the salary, keep in mind that the salary you get is given after deducting your PF, TDS, professional tax.

Step 2: Calculate the tax deduction

You can refer to Form 26AS for tax deduction details. It contains the total tax details deducted by your company from your salary.

Step 3: Claim allowances

If you are employed and you get allowances then by claiming it you can save tax, such as HRA, LTA, education allowance. While filling the ITR, the documents related to all these must be used.

Step 4: Provide information regarding other income sources

You must show the income coming from other sources. Like the rent received by renting the house or interest given on housing loans, money received from small businesses, etc. Do not forget to show all these things under total taxable income.

Step 5: Net Taxable Income

To calculate your net taxable income, you have to subtract your total earning from your total deducted money. Now, whatever figure is left is your total taxable income.

Step 6: Calculate tax

Now you have your taxable salary in front of you and you can find out how much tax you have to pay in this financial year according to the income tax slab rate.

Step 7: Pay extra tax if necessary

If the calculation shows that the tax paid by you is less than your tax liability (as per Form 26AS) then you should pay the remaining tax amount to the Income Tax Department.

Step 8: File ITR without Form 16

After completing the process, wait till it is shown in Form 26AS. If your tax liability matches with the tax paid by you, then you can e-file your ITR even without Form 16.