12 key income tax form changes every taxpayer should know: From Form 16 to Form 168

May 8, 2026

Synopsis
A new Income-tax Act arrives on April 1, 2026. It brings fresh income tax forms and replaces many old ones. Taxpayers will use these new forms for various reporting needs. Key changes include updated PAN application forms and new TDS certificates. This marks a significant shift in tax compliance procedures for individuals and businesses.

With the new Income-tax Act, 2025, kicking in on April 1, 2026, it has replaced several income tax reporting forms that were previously used under the Income Tax Act, 1961. Not only did it do away with many old forms, but the Income Tax Act also rolled out some fresh income tax forms that taxpayers can use for various purposes. These new forms are effective starting April 1, 2026.

Here are some of the key income tax forms that have either replaced old ones or have been newly introduced:

1. Form 49A --> New Form 93
For allotment of Permanent Account Number
Under the new Income tax framework, PAN application forms have also been renamed. Earlier known as Form 49A and Form 49AA, these forms have been replaced by Form Nos. 93, 94, 95, and 96 based on the applicant category. Form 93 is meant for individual Indian citizens, while Form 94 is for an Indian company, an entity incorporated in India and an unincorporated entity formed in India.

Similarly, Form 95 applies to individuals who are not Indian citizens. Form 96 is meant for an entity incorporated outside India and an unincorporated entity formed outside India .

2. Form 16 --> New Form 130
New Form 130: Salary TDS certificate for employees & pensioners
Form No. 130 is a certificate for Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) that is issued annually by an employer to a salaried employee or a pensioner. It provides a detailed summary of the salary earned, tax deducted and deposited and applicable deductions. It also applies to interest income earned by specified senior citizens as per provisions of Section 402(39) of the Income-tax Act, 2025.

3. Form 16A --> Form 131
New Form 131: TDS certificate for non-salary income
Form No. 131 is a certificate prescribed under Section 395(4)(a) of the Income-tax Act, 2025, for TDS. Such a certificate is issued by the deductor to the deductee on whose behalf, tax has been deducted at source. The form is meant to enable deductees to claim TDS credit at the time of filing the ITR.

4. Form 24Q --> Form 138
New Form 138: Quarterly TDS return for salary payments
Form No. 138 is a quarterly statement filed by employers responsible for the deduction of tax at source from salaries paid to employees under Section 392 or by the specified bank for the income paid to specified senior citizens under Section 393(1).

5. Form 26Q --> Form 140
New Form 140: Quarterly TDS return for resident non-salary payments
Form No. 140 is a quarterly statement filed by deductors responsible for the deduction of tax at source on non-salary payments such as commission, brokerage, professional fees, rent, etc. made to residents.

6 . Form 27Q --> Form 144
New Form 144: Quarterly TDS return for non-resident payments
Form No. 144 is a quarterly statement filed by deductors responsible for the deduction of tax at source on payments, other than salary, to non-residents.

7. Form 15G / 15H --> Form 121
New Form 121: Declaration for Nil TDS deduction
Form No. 121 is a statutory declaration prescribed under the Income-tax Rules, 2026, through which a taxpayer declares that tax liability on its estimated total income for the relevant tax year is nil. Based on this declaration, the payer (deductor) is permitted to not deduct tax at source on a specified payment.

8. Form 15CA --> Form 145
New Form 145: Declaration for foreign remittance payments
Form No. 145 is a mandatory declaration filed by any person or entity responsible for making a payment to a non-resident (not being a company) or a foreign company, before remitting funds outside India.

9. Form 15CB --> Form 146
New Form 146: Accountant certificate for taxable foreign remittances
Form No.146 is an accountant's certificate required for filing part C of Form No.145, if remittance is chargeable to tax and exceeds Rs 5 lakh during the tax year.

10. Form 26AS --> Form 168
New Form 168: Annual Tax Information Statement
Form 168, notified under Rule 245 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026, is a comprehensive annual tax information statement reflecting all tax-related and specified financial transactions linked to a taxpayer's PAN. It enables taxpayers and the Income Tax Department to verify taxes paid, income sources, and compliance history. Form 168 consolidates information for transparency, data accuracy, and the ease of compliance, including:

• Tax Deducted at Source (TDS)
• Tax Collected at Source (TCS)
• Payment of advance, self-assessment, and regular taxes
• Specified Financial Transactions (SFTs)
• Demand and refund details
• Status of pending and completed proceedings
• Any other information as prescribed under Income Tax Rule 245.

11. Form 13 --> Form 128
New Form 128: Application for lower or nil TDS/TCS deduction
Form No. 128 is used by a taxpayer to apply for a certificate authorising the payer to deduct/collect tax at a lower or nil rate under Section 395(1)/395(3) of the Income-tax Act, 2025.

12. Form 26QB / QC / QD / QE --> Form 141
New Unified Form 141: TDS reporting for specified transactions
The Form No. 141 is a single unified form introduced to enable reporting and the payment of tax deducted at source for specified transactions through multiple dedicated schedules instead of separate forms.
The consolidated Form 141 replaces: · Form 26QB · Form 26QC · Form 26QD · Form 26QE

[The Economic Times]