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Income Tax Forms & Sections: Old (1961 Act) vs New (2025 Act) Effective from FY 2026–27)
With the introduction of the Income Tax Act, 2025, effective from 1 April 2026, India’s tax compliance framework is undergoing a major transformation. One of the most important changes for professionals, businesses, and taxpayers is the complete restructuring of form numbers and section references.
If you are a CA, tax professional, investor, or business owner, understanding this transition is critical to avoid:
- Filing errors
- Compliance mismatches
- Automated notices under the new system
This blog provides a single consolidated summary table comparing old forms (1961 Act) with new forms (2025 Act) along with relevant sections.
Income Tax Forms Mapping – Old vs New (Ready Reckoner) – Applicable from FY 2026–27 onwards | Old forms valid till FY 2025–26)
| Purpose | Old Form No. | Old Section (1961 Act) | New Form No. | New Section (2025 Act) | Key Change / Practical Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAN – Indian Individual | 49A | Sec 139A | Form 93 | Registration Chapter | Aadhaar-based instant allotment |
| PAN – Indian Entity | 49A | Sec 139A | Form 94 | Registration Chapter | Separate classification |
| PAN – Foreign Individual | 49AA | Sec 139A | Form 95 | Registration Chapter | Global KYC integration |
| PAN – Foreign Entity | 49AA | Sec 139A | Form 96 | Registration Chapter | Enhanced compliance |
| TAN – Government Deductor | 49B | Sec 203A | Form 134 | TDS Chapter | Segregated process |
| TAN – Others | 49B | Sec 203A | Form 135 | TDS Chapter | Simplified onboarding |
| No PAN Declaration | Form 60 | Rule 114B | Form 97 | Registration | Wider transaction tracking |
| Declaration Statement Filing | Form 61 | Rule 114C | Form 98 | Registration | Continued half-yearly reporting |
TDS / TCS Compliance (Major Changes) -01/04/2026 in forms and applicable sections
| Purpose | Old Form | Old Section | New Form | New Section | Key Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TDS – Salary Return | 24Q | Sec 192 | Form 138 | Sec 392, 397 | Real-time validation |
| TDS – Non Salary | 26Q | Sec 193–194 | Form 140 | Sec 393 | Consolidated reporting |
| TDS – Non Resident | 27Q | Sec 195 | Form 144 | Sec 393 | Cross-border tracking |
| TCS Return | 27EQ | Sec 206C | Form 143 | Sec 393, 397 | Expanded scope |
| TDS Certificate – Salary | Form 16 | Sec 203 | Form 130 | Sec 395 | Auto-generated |
| TDS Certificate – Others | 16A | Sec 203 | Form 131 | Sec 395 | Fully digital |
| Lower/Nil TDS Certificate | 13 | Sec 197 | Form 128 | Sec 395 | Simplified approval |
| Self Declaration (15G/15H) | 15G/15H | Sec 197A | Form 121 | Sec 393, 397 | Single unified form |
Audit, Reporting & Compliance Forms
| Purpose | Old Form | Old Section | New Form | New Section | Key Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Audit | 3CA/3CB/3CD | Sec 44AB | Form 26 | Sec 63 | Single unified audit form |
| Transfer Pricing | 3CEB | Sec 92E | Form 48 | TP Chapter | Integrated reporting |
| Foreign Remittance | 15CA | Sec 195 | Form 145 | Sec 397 | Stronger tracking |
| CA Certificate (Remittance) | 15CB | Sec 195 | Form 146 | Sec 397 | Risk-based validation |
| Salary Relief | 10E | Sec 89(1) | Form 39 | Sec 156 | Auto computation |
| Tax Regime Option | 10-IEA | Sec 115BAC | Updated | Sec 202 | Default new regime |
Data Reporting & Transparency Framework
| Purpose | Old Form | Old Section | New Form | New Section | Key Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Credit Statement | 26AS | Sec 203AA | Form 168 (AIS) | Reporting System | Single integrated view |
| High Value Transactions | SFT | Sec 285BA | Expanded | Reporting Chapter | Broader coverage |
Key Structural Changes Under Income Tax Act, 2025
TDS provisions consolidated into:
- Sec 392 – Salary
- Sec 393 – Other payments & TCS
- Sec 395 – Certificates
- Sec 397 – Statements
✔ Tax Audit shifted to Sec 63 (simplified framework)
✔ Return filing covered under Sec 263
✔ Increased reliance on AIS (Form 168) for compliance tracking
As the ca desk value and care of their associates and clients we focus on Why This Change is Critical for You
Under the new regime:
- All filings are system-driven so be cautious in filing
- Form mismatch = instant notice trigger immediately
- AIS reconciliation is mandatory – No longer Ignorable
👉 Even a small error in form selection or section reference can lead to:
- Defective returns
- Compliance notices
- Penalties which will demand professional fees to solve and tackle so prefer to file your income tax return with some proven professionals, To know more you may visit and connect with us. https://thecadesk.com/itr-filing/
Practical Tips for Entrepreneurs
If you are:
- A business owner → Update ERP & TDS systems and re-train your Accountant with the help of your CA/Consultant , FOR IT Consultancy and ERP service – https://thecadesk.com/it-consultancy/
- A CA / consultant → Update compliance workflows, team mates and create awareness campaign for the help of others towards social cause.
- An investor → Ensure correct reporting of MF, bonds, AIF, NCD and tax implication of the same on your overall portfolio if you are planning to learn how to create tax efficient portfolio with the ca desk. FOR MF https://thecadesk.com/mutual-fund-advisory/ , FOR NCD/Bond Investment- https://thecadesk.com/ncd-bond-g-sec-advisory/, FOR Insurance https://thecadesk.com/insurance-advisory/
The shift from the Income Tax Act, 1961 to 2025 is not just about renumbering—it’s about moving to a fully digital, AI-driven compliance ecosystem.
Professionals who adapt early will:
✔ Avoid penalties
✔ Improve efficiency
✔ Deliver better advisory value
Professional Disclaimer
The above mapping is based on notified Income Tax Rules, 2026 and CBDT guidance under the Income Tax Act, 2025 (effective 1 April 2026).
Taxpayers should always verify the latest updates on the official portal before filing returns.
At www.thecadesk.com, we help clients with:
✔ Tax compliance & structuring
✔ Investment advisory (MF, Bonds, AIFs)
✔ End-to-end financial planning
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