Form 16 is an official certificate that your employer is required to issue to you each year, summarising the total salary paid to you and the total tax (TDS) deducted from that salary and deposited with the government on your behalf during the financial year. It's typically issued after the financial year ends, usually by mid-June.
Form 16 is one of the most important documents when filing your income tax return, since it consolidates your salary breakup, tax already deducted, and often other declared deductions into one place, making it much easier to file an accurate return. It has two parts — Part A, which summarises TDS deducted quarter by quarter, and Part B, which details your salary structure and deductions claimed. Most salaried employees receive it automatically without needing to request it.