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There may be several situations such as employer negligence or even a sudden change in employment that may result in not getting Form 16. In such cases, taxpayers can still file their ITR using alternative documents including salary slips and Form 26AS.
For filing an ITR without Form 16, the first step is to navigate to the official Income Tax Department website, and then log in to the account. This is followed by selecting the appropriate ITR form for filing, typically ITR-1 or ITR2.
Step 2 is to gather all salary slips which provide the necessary details of the salary structure, including taxable income. Subsequently, using such information one can estimate the taxable income. Relevant deductions, such as House Rent Allowance (HRA) and other deductions should be accounted as applicable to the tax regime one chooses.
The next step is to review the bank statements to identify any additional sources of income beyond one's salary, such as interest income or dividends. These additional income streams must be incorporated into the taxable income calculation.
Using Form 26AS, one should get additional details to compute taxable income and deductions. It's important to ensure that the TDS details in Form 26AS match the calculated income details. In case of any differences, one should rectify by contacting the deductor.
Once income details are compiled, claim relevant deductions by providing the necessary supporting documents. For this, one must keep records of all tax-saving investments such as PPF, NSC, etc., ready.
Step 6 is to submit the ITR in the Income Tax Department portal and make sure to e-verify the return within 30 days.
Compiled by Syed Muskan