ITR 2026: Changed Jobs During the Year? You May Receive Two Form 16s Before Filing Your Tax Return

As the Income Tax Return (ITR) filing season for Assessment Year 2026-27 gains momentum, millions of salaried taxpayers are waiting for one of the most important tax documents—Form 16. While the Income Tax Department has already enabled filing for several return forms, many employees are still awaiting this certificate from their employers before completing their tax returns.

For taxpayers who switched jobs during the financial year, the process can become slightly more complicated. Instead of receiving a single Form 16, they may receive two separate certificates from different employers. Understanding how Form 16 works and why it is important can help taxpayers avoid mistakes while filing their returns.

What Is Form 16?

Form 16 is a Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) certificate issued by an employer to its employees. It serves as proof that tax has been deducted from the employee's salary and deposited with the government.

The document provides a complete summary of an employee's salary income, tax deductions, exemptions, and TDS details for a particular financial year. Because of the detailed information it contains, Form 16 is considered one of the most important documents for salaried taxpayers while filing their income tax returns.

Although it is not mandatory in every situation, it significantly simplifies the return filing process and helps taxpayers verify the accuracy of their income and tax records.

What Information Does Form 16 Contain?

Form 16 is divided into two sections—Part A and Part B.

Part A

Part A contains basic details related to both the employer and employee, including:

• Employee's name and PAN

• Employer's name and TAN

• TDS deducted during the financial year

• Details of tax deposited with the government

• Period of employment

This section primarily focuses on tax deduction and deposit information.

Part B

Part B provides a detailed salary breakup and tax computation, including:

• Gross salary received during the year

• Allowances and exemptions claimed

• Deductions under various sections such as 80C and 80D

• Taxable income calculation

• Total tax liability

• TDS deducted by the employer

Together, both parts provide a comprehensive overview of an employee's income tax position for the year.

By When Will Employees Receive Form 16?

According to income tax rules, employers are required to issue Form 16 by June 15 every year.

For Financial Year 2025-26, employees should receive their Form 16 on or before June 15, 2026. Once the document is available, taxpayers can begin reconciling salary income, deductions, and TDS information before filing their returns.

Experts often advise waiting for Form 16 before submitting an ITR, especially for salaried individuals, to reduce the chances of reporting errors.

What If You Changed Jobs During the Financial Year?

Employees who switched jobs during FY 2025-26 should pay special attention to their tax documents.

If an individual worked for more than one employer during the same financial year, each employer is responsible for issuing Form 16 for the period during which the employee worked with them.

As a result, such employees will generally receive:

• One Form 16 from their previous employer

• Another Form 16 from their current employer

Both documents must be reviewed carefully while filing the income tax return because they collectively represent the taxpayer's total salary income for the year.

Failure to include income from either employer could result in incorrect tax calculations and potential notices from the tax department.

Can Employees Download Form 16 Themselves?

Unlike documents such as Form 26AS or the Annual Information Statement (AIS), Form 16 cannot be downloaded directly by employees from the Income Tax Department's portal.

The certificate is generated and issued exclusively by the employer.

Employees who have not yet received Form 16 should contact:

• Their Human Resources (HR) department

• Payroll team

• Employer's finance department

These departments can provide the certificate once it has been generated.

Why Is Form 16 Important Before Filing ITR?

Form 16 helps taxpayers cross-check salary income and tax deductions before filing returns.

Some of the key benefits include:

• Accurate reporting of salary income

• Verification of TDS deductions

• Easier calculation of taxable income

• Reduced chances of filing errors

• Faster processing of tax refunds

• Better reconciliation with Form 26AS and AIS

Using Form 16 as a reference can significantly reduce the likelihood of receiving tax notices due to mismatches in reported income.

Important ITR Filing Deadlines for AY 2026-27

Taxpayers should also keep the filing deadlines in mind:

Category Last Date

Salaried individuals and most non-audit taxpayers	July 31, 2026
Non-audit taxpayers filing ITR-4	August 31, 2026
Audit cases	October 31, 2026

Missing these deadlines may result in late filing fees and interest charges under applicable tax provisions.

The Bottom Line

Form 16 remains one of the most crucial documents for salaried taxpayers during the ITR filing season. Employees who changed jobs during FY 2025-26 should be prepared to receive two separate Form 16 certificates and must ensure that income from both employers is correctly reported in their return.

Once Form 16 is received, taxpayers should carefully compare it with Form 26AS and AIS before filing their ITR. Filing early and accurately can help avoid penalties, reduce errors, and ensure a smoother refund process.