If you are used to hearing names like Form 16 and Form 26AS every tax season, a change is on the way. From April 1, 2026, several well-known income tax forms will be renamed as India rolls out the Income-tax Act, 2025. While the paperwork itself is not being reinvented, the new numbering system may take some time for taxpayers to get used to.
For salaried employees, pensioners and senior citizens who deal with these forms every year, the switch could feel unfamiliar at first.
WHAT CHANGES FROM APRIL 2026?
Under the draft new law, statutory forms such as Form 26AS, Form 16 and Form 13 will be issued with new numbers, reported The Economic Times. All tax communications and compliance for Tax Year 2026–27 onwards, including TDS certificates issued by employers, are expected to shift to the renumbered forms under the new law, according to CA Suresh Surana.
However, he points out that the rollout depends on official notifications and the technical readiness of the income-tax portal. In short, the system must be fully prepared before the new forms are implemented smoothly.
Surana explains that once the Income-tax Rules, 2026 are in place, statutory notices, certificates and employer communications, including TDS certificates such as the proposed Form 130 (which replaces the current Form 16), are intended to follow the new numbering.
Meanwhile, both the old and new frameworks may operate in parallel, during the transition. The form you use will depend on the relevant tax year rather than simply the date when a document is issued. This approach is meant to reduce disruption and help taxpayers adjust gradually.
Also, tax experts describe the change as structural and administrative. For salaried taxpayers and employers, the content, purpose and timelines are expected to stay broadly unchanged.
WHAT TAXPAYERS SHOULD WATCH FOR
For now, there is no immediate action required from taxpayers. The key is awareness and preparation.
As the implementation date approaches, employers and tax professionals are likely to issue clearer guidance. This should help salaried employees, pensioners and other taxpayers understand the transition better and adjust smoothly to the new system without unnecessary confusion or disruption.
