If you earn rent, professional fees, interest, or contractor income, tax is often deducted at source before you are paid. Form 16A is the certificate that records this deduction. This guide explains what it is, who issues it, the Form 16A due date for each quarter, how to download it from TRACES, how to open the zip file (the password is the deductor's TAN), and how to turn it into a PDF with the TRACES PDF converter utility.
Quick answers: The Form 16A zip file password on TRACES is the deductor's TAN in capital letters (for example, ABCD12345E). Do not extract the zip; open it with the TRACES PDF Generation Utility (the Form 16A PDF converter utility), which creates one PDF per PAN. Form 16A is due within 15 days of the quarterly TDS return due date: 15 August, 15 November, 15 February and 15 June.
What Is Form 16A?
Form 16A is a TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) certificate issued for income other than salary. It certifies that the deductor has deducted tax from a payment made to you and deposited it with the government against your PAN.
It is issued quarterly and shows, for each quarter:
- Deductor's name and TAN
- Deductee's name and PAN
- Nature and amount of payment
- TDS deducted and deposited
- Challan identification and date of deposit
- The relevant section under which TDS was deducted
Form 16 vs Form 16A
| Particulars | Form 16 | Form 16A |
|---|---|---|
| Income covered | Salary | Non-salary payments (interest, rent, fees, commission, contracts) |
| Issued by | Employer | Any deductor (bank, client, tenant, company) |
| Frequency | Once a year | Every quarter |
| Due date | 15 June after the year | 15 days from the quarterly TDS return due date |
| Name from tax year 2026-27 | Form 130 | Form 131 |
The simple distinction: if the income is salary, you get Form 16; for everything else with TDS, you get Form 16A. For the full difference between Form 16 and Form 16A, and how both match Form 26AS, see our Form 16 vs Form 16A vs Form 26AS guide.
Which Payments Are Covered
Form 16A is issued for TDS deducted under several sections. The common ones for businesses and professionals include:
- Section 194C: TDS on contractor payments
- Section 194A: TDS on interest other than interest on securities (for example, bank FD interest)
- Section 194H: TDS on commission
- Section 194I: TDS on rent
- Section 194J: TDS on professional fees
Rates can change through Finance Acts. Confirm the applicable rate for your section and year before relying on it.
Form 16A Due Date for Each Quarter
Form 16A must be issued within 15 days of the due date for filing the quarterly TDS return (Rule 31(3) read with Rule 31A of the Income-tax Rules, 1962). The quarterly return due dates are 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May, which gives these Form 16A due dates:
| Quarter | TDS return due date | Form 16A due date |
|---|---|---|
| April to June | 31 July | 15 August |
| July to September | 31 October | 15 November |
| October to December | 31 January | 15 February |
| January to March | 31 May | 15 June |
For tax deducted from 1 April 2026 (tax year 2026-27), the same certificate is numbered Form 131 under Rule 215 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026, with the same 15-day timeline, and the quarterly statement is Form 140 (old Form 26Q) with the same 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May due dates under Rule 219(4). So the Form 131 dates for tax year 2026-27 are 15 August 2026, 15 November 2026, 15 February 2027 and 15 June 2027.
How to Download Form 16A from TRACES (Deductor)
Form 16A is generated by the deductor from the TRACES portal and then handed to the deductee. The deductee cannot download it directly; they receive it from the deductor. Only Form 16A downloaded from TRACES is a valid TDS certificate (CBDT Circular 04/2013), and it is generated only for valid PANs reported in the TDS statement.
- Log in to TRACES with the deductor's user ID, password and TAN.
- Check the statement status under the Statements / Payments tab. You can request Form 16A only when the quarterly return (Form 26Q, or Form 140 for quarters from April 2026) shows "Statement Processed with Default" or "Statement Processed without Default".
- Go to Downloads and select Form 16A. Choose Search PAN for one deductee or Bulk PAN for all.
- Confirm the authorised person's details to be printed on the certificate and submit.
- Complete KYC: enter the token number of the regular (original) statement for that year, quarter and form type, plus the CIN or PAN details from your latest statement.
- Note the request number. If the status shows "Submitted", wait 24 to 48 hours until it changes to "Available".
- Open Downloads > Requested Downloads and download the file with HTTP Download. It comes as a zip file. Do not extract it.
- Convert the zip into PDF certificates with the TRACES PDF converter utility (steps below).
Form 16A Zip File Password on TRACES
The password for the Form 16A zip file downloaded from TRACES is the deductor's TAN in capital letters, for example ABCD12345E. You enter this password inside the TRACES PDF converter utility, not in a normal unzip program, because the utility reads the zip directly.
Common reasons the Form 16A password fails:
- The TAN is typed in lower case. It must be in capitals.
- The PAN of the deductee or another ID was used instead of the deductor's TAN.
- The zip was extracted or renamed first. Feed the original zip to the utility.
- An old utility version was used. TRACES asks deductors to use the latest version of the converter.
If you are the deductee and your deductor emailed you a password-protected Form 16A PDF, that password is set by the deductor, so ask them for it.
How to Use the Form 16A PDF Converter Utility
The TRACES PDF Generation Utility (also called the TRACES PDF converter utility for Form 16A) turns the downloaded zip into signed or unsigned PDF certificates, one for each PAN.
- In TRACES, go to Downloads > Requested Downloads and click TRACES PDF Generation Utility to download the latest version.
- Extract the utility zip into a folder. You will get a Run.bat file and the converter .jar file in the same folder.
- Install Java (JRE) on your computer if it is not already there. The utility needs it to run.
- Double-click Run.bat to open the converter.
- Select the Form 16/16A zip file, enter the password (your TAN in capitals) and choose a destination folder.
- Optionally select your digital signature certificate (DSC) to sign the PDFs. This is not mandatory; you can also print and sign them manually.
- Click Proceed. A separate Form 16A PDF is saved for each PAN in the folder you chose.
Each certificate carries a unique certificate number. Share it with the deductee within the due date above.
How to Verify Form 16A
Before you rely on a Form 16A, check that the TDS it shows actually reached the government against your PAN.
- Cross-check the amount and section against your Form 26AS and AIS on the income tax portal (incometax.gov.in).
- Confirm the certificate number and the deductor's TAN.
- Make sure the TDS deposited (not just deducted) matches, sometimes a deductor deducts but delays depositing, in which case the credit will not appear in Form 26AS.
If the figures do not match, the deductor must correct the TDS return and reissue the certificate.
Using Form 16A When Filing Your ITR
Form 16A supports the TDS credit you claim in your income tax return. The credit must match Form 26AS, which the ITR utility pre-fills.
- Report the underlying income (rent, interest, professional fees) under the correct head.
- Claim the TDS credit shown in Form 26AS, cross-verified with Form 16A.
- If TDS exceeds your tax liability, the excess is refunded after processing.
What to Do If Form 16A Is Missing or Incorrect
- Missing: ask the deductor to generate and issue it from TRACES. If they delay, you can still claim the credit based on Form 26AS, but keep your own records (invoices, bank statements) as backup.
- Incorrect PAN or amount: the deductor must file a correction statement on TRACES and reissue the certificate; otherwise your Form 26AS will not reflect the credit correctly.
- Wrong section or quarter: flag it to the deductor before you file, since a mismatch with Form 26AS can trigger a processing query.
A note on the new law: for tax deducted from 1 April 2026, Form 16A is replaced by Form 131 under Rule 215 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026 (and Form 16 by Form 130). The substance, a quarterly certificate for non-salary TDS reconciled against your annual statement, remains the same. See our Form 130 transition guide for the salary side.
How Tax Garden Helps
For businesses that deduct TDS on rent, contractor, or professional payments, Tax Garden files your quarterly TDS returns and generates Form 16A for your deductees from TRACES on time. For recipients of professional or rental income, we reconcile your Form 16A against Form 26AS and AIS so your ITR claims the correct credit. See our TDS filing service or compliance plans.
Form 16A TDS Certificate: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Form 16A and who issues it?
Form 16A is a TDS certificate issued for income other than salary, such as rent, interest, professional fees, or contractor payments. The person deducting tax (the deductor) issues Form 16A to the person receiving payment (the deductee).
When should I receive Form 16A for each quarter?
Form 16A is issued every quarter, within 15 days of the due date of the quarterly TDS return in Form 26Q. For FY 2025-26 that means by 15 August for April to June, 15 November for July to September, 15 February for October to December, and 15 June for January to March. Each certificate covers only that one quarter.
How do I verify if Form 16A is correct?
Cross-check the amount and section in Form 16A against your Form 26AS and AIS on the income tax portal. The TDS deposited by the deductor must match the government records.
What if Form 16A is not received?
Ask the deductor to generate and issue it from the TRACES portal. If they delay, you can still claim the TDS credit based on Form 26AS, but keep your own records as backup.
Can I download Form 16A myself?
No. Form 16A is generated by the deductor from TRACES and issued to you. You receive it from the deductor, not directly from TRACES.
What should I do if Form 16A shows the wrong PAN or amount?
Inform the deductor immediately. They must file a correction statement on TRACES and reissue the certificate to ensure your Form 26AS reflects the correct TDS.
How do I use Form 16A in my ITR?
Report the underlying income under the correct head (rent, interest, professional fees). Claim the TDS credit shown in Form 26AS, cross-verified with Form 16A.
What is the difference between Form 16 and Form 16A?
Form 16 is issued for salary income; Form 16A is issued for non-salary income (rent, professional fees, contractor payments, etc.) on which TDS is deducted.
What is the password for the Form 16A zip file from TRACES?
The password is the deductor's TAN in capital letters, for example ABCD12345E. Enter it in the TRACES PDF converter utility along with the downloaded zip file. Do not extract the zip first.
Where do I get the TRACES PDF converter utility for Form 16A?
Log in to TRACES as the deductor, go to Downloads, then Requested Downloads, and click TRACES PDF Generation Utility. Extract it, install Java if needed, run Run.bat, select the Form 16A zip, enter your TAN in capitals as the password and choose a folder. One PDF is created for each PAN.
What is the Form 16A due date?
Within 15 days of the quarterly TDS return due date: 15 August (April to June), 15 November (July to September), 15 February (October to December) and 15 June (January to March). The same dates apply to Form 131, which replaces Form 16A for tax deducted from 1 April 2026.
Sources: Section 203 of the Income Tax Act 1961 and Rule 31 of the Income Tax Rules (issue of TDS certificates and timelines); the relevant TDS sections (194A, 194C, 194H, 194I, 194J, 194Q); Rule 215 and Rule 219 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026 (Form 131, Form 140 and due dates); the TRACES e-tutorials "Download Form 16A" and "TRACES PDF Generation Utility" (tdscpc.gov.in) for certificate generation, the zip file password and the converter steps; and Form 26AS and AIS on the income tax portal (incometax.gov.in) for reconciliation. TDS rates and form numbering can change through Finance Acts and the Income Tax Act 2025; confirm current details on incometax.gov.in before filing.
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