Why job switchers need to be extra careful at tax time If you’ve changed jobs between April 2024 and March 2025, your Income Tax Return (ITR) must reflect income earned from both employers. Many salaried individuals make the mistake of filing their return using only the latest Form 16, unaware that the Income Tax Department already has access to your full salary details via Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS). Omitting income from your previous employer can lead to a mismatch, delaying refunds or even attracting scrutiny.
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Which ITR form to use when you’ve had more than one job If you are a salaried assesse who has changed jobs in the year and had solely salary and interest incomes, you can file under ITR-1 (subject to your total income being ₹50 lakh or less and fulfilling other requirements). In case you have capital gains, cryptocurrency incomes, or foreign assets, you will need to file ITR-2. Make sure you report salary income from both employers in the "Income from Salary" column of your return—even if one of them hasn't issued you a Form 16.
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How to report salary from both employers Your previous and current employers can provide you with a different Form 16 each. Manually fill in both the gross salary and TDS details from them into the ITR portal or pre-filled data after verification. Do not file on a single Form 16 in isolation—it is necessary to tally them up and reflect total salary, regular deduction, HRA, and other exemptions accordingly. Verify your pre-filled return against your documents to eliminate errors.
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Handling excess or short TDS deduction Typically, when you switch jobs, both employers do not know your whole annual income, and thus there is TDS mismatch—either excessive or short deduction of tax. If lesser TDS was deducted overall, you will be required to pay the shortfall as self-assessment tax before submission. If excessive tax was deducted, the Income Tax Department will refund it to you—only if you have reported all incomes accurately and cross-checked your return within time.
What if the old employer did not provide you with Form 16? Even if the old employer has not provided you with a Form 16, your salary and TDS should be reflected in Form 26AS and AIS. Fill salary figures manually from your last payslip or salary certificate. Match what appears in your payslips with what appears in the AIS always to ensure there are no gaps or discrepancies.
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Truthfulness and dependability avoid tax notices Career changes are to be expected, but failing to report dual incomes appropriately can bring scrutiny to your return. For FY 2024–25, gather both your Form 16s, align with your Form 26AS and AIS, and ensure that all employer earnings are accurately reflected in your ITR. Submitting a full and truthful return not only keeps you compliant but also speeds up refunds and builds credibility for future credit and visa applications.
