Listen to this article in summarized format
Starting April 1, 2026, several income tax forms like Form 26AS, Form 16, Form 13 and others will be renamed as the new Income Tax Act, 2025 will be effective from this date.
Income Tax Guide
Income Tax Union Budget FY 2026-27 LiveIncome Tax Slabs FY 2025-26Income Tax Calculator 2025
Over time, names like Form 26AS, Form 16, and others became quite familiar to salaried employees, pensioners, senior citizens and others. So, switching to the new form numbers under the Income-tax Act, 2025 might cause some initial hiccups, especially in the early days of the rollout.
Some new names of tax forms
The Income-tax Act, 2025 read with the Draft Income Tax Rules 2026 has updated the numbering of several statutory forms, with the corresponding changes notified under the Draft Income-tax Rules, 2026. Based on the notified form matrix, the references mentioned above are corrected and summarised below:
| Form No. (draft tax rules 2026) | Form No.Masterclasses by Technical Analysis MasterclassLearn How Traders Convert Charts Into ProfitsGet Certified by The Economic Times14th March 2026Enroll NowThe Psychology of MoneyYour perspective about money will change foreverMasterclass By Morgan Housel21st March 2026Enroll NowAvail Early Bird Offer!Valuation MasterclassLearn to earn in the stock market.Get Certified by The Economic TimesStarts 14th March 2026 | 4 DaysEnrol NowAvail Early Bird Offer!AI BootCamp For StudentsMake your child future-ready with AI Get Certified by The Times of India8 Days | Live OnlineEnroll NowOnly 7% Seats Left (old tax rules 1962) | Description |
| 26 | 3CA, 3CB, 3CD | Audit report and Statement of particulars required to be furnished under section 63 of the Act |
| 130 | 16 | Certificate under sSection 395 of the Act for tax deducted at source on salary paid to an employee under sSection 392 or pension or interest income of specified senior citizen under sSection 393(1) [Table: Sl. No. 8(iii)] |
| 131 | 16A | Certificate under sSection 395(4) of the Act for tax deducted at source |
| 138 | 24Q | Quarterly statement of deduction of tax under sSection 397(3)(b) of the Act in respect of salary paid to employees under sSection 392, or income of specified senior citizens under section 393(1) [Table: Sl. No. 8(iii)], for the quarter ended ……….. (June/September/December/March) ……. (Tax Year)] |
| 140 | 26Q | Quarterly statement of deduction of tax under sSection 397(3)(b) of the Act in respect of payments made other than salary for the quarter ended…… (June/September/December/March) …. (Tax Year)] |
| 144 | 27Q | Quarterly statement of deduction of tax under sSection 397(3)(b) of the Act in respect of payments other than salary made to non residents for quarter ended…… (June/September/December/March) …. (Tax Year)] |
| 168 | 26AS | Annual information statement |
Source: CA Suresh Surana
Also read: Get up to Rs 1.05 lakh income tax exemption on meal cards: Draft tax rules 2026 boost salaried savings
From April 1, 2026, all tax notices and employer side communication like Form 16 can happen with the new numbers
According to Chartered Accountant Suresh Surana, compliances and all communications relating to Tax Year 2026-27 onwards, including employer-side obligations such as issuance of TDS certificates, may be expected to move to the renumbered forms under the Income-tax Act, 2025, subject to notified rules and system implementation.
Surana says: “However, the operational rollout will remain subject to notifications, utilities and system readiness of the income-tax portal.”
Thus, from April 1, 2026, both regimes may operate in parallel, with the applicable form number and procedure depending on the relevant tax year to which the proceeding or compliance relates, rather than the date of issuance alone.
According to Surana, from April 1, 2026, with the coming into force of the Income-tax Act, 2025 and the Income-tax Rules, 2026, all statutory forms, notices, certificates and employer-side communications prescribed under the new law including TDS certificates such as Form 130 (currently Form 16) are intended to be issued using the renumbered forms and references.
At present, the tax rules are shared for public feedback, but the parliament is required to pass them before April 1, 2026 else the new tax act can’t function.
Surana says that rule 2(2) of the Draft Income-tax Rules, 2026 clarifies that all references to “Forms” in the Rules shall be construed as references to the forms set out in Appendix III to the Rules, which contains the renumbered forms corresponding to compliances under the Income-tax Act, 2025.
However, Appendix III has not been issued yet in the Draft Income Tax Rules, 2026. At a post-budget event, the CBDT Chairman Ravi Agrawal has stated that the Income-tax Rules, revised forms and detailed FAQs under the Income-tax Act, 2025 will be rolled out shortly.
Chartered Accountant Suresh Surana says: “Such FAQs may provide more clarity on the applicability of the statutory forms.”
Also read: Higher income tax for salaried people for using company car: Taxable perquisite value to increase under the draft Income Tax Rule, 2026
What about income tax proceedings and notice?
Surana says that Section 536(2)(c) of the Income Tax Act, 2025 provides that any proceedings relating to tax years beginning before April 1, 2026, including issuance of notices, assessments, reassessments, rectifications, penalties and appeals, shall continue to be governed by the provisions and procedures of the repealed Income-tax Act, 1961, notwithstanding that such proceedings may be initiated on or after April 1, 2026.
Accordingly, proceedings relating to pre-1 April 2026 tax years are expected to continue using the forms, nomenclature and procedural framework under the Income-tax Act, 1961, including references such as Form 16 or Form 26AS, as applicable.
Surana says: “It would be helpful if the CBDT clarifies the applicability of existing Forms with respect to Financial Year 2025-26.”
There might be a transitional phase
According to Surana, the renumbering of forms is part of a broader legislative exercise aimed at structural simplification, rationalisation, and alignment with the redesigned framework of the new Act.
Surana says: “The change intends to create a more future-ready statutory framework, even though it may require stakeholders to adapt in the short term.”
According to Surana, such transition-related concerns may be addressed through administrative guidance, system-based prompts, and transitional references (for instance, Income Tax Forms Navigator released by the Income Tax Department).
Over time, as usage stabilises and the new nomenclature becomes incorporated in digital utilities and compliance workflows, familiarity is expected to develop.
Surana says: “Accordingly, while some short-term confusion cannot be ruled out, the impact is likely to be transitory, provided adequate communication and handholding measures accompany the transition.”
aniltikotekar4sme.com 