Income Tax Forms & Rules 2026: Compare Old & New

GOI released draft IT rules and forms 2026 for public comment on February 7, 2026. Compare old and new IT forms, rules and a brief description of the change.

This document covers

Background
Income Tax Forms 2026
Draft Income Tax Rules 2026

1. Background

On February 7, 2026, the Government of India released proposed IT rules and forms 2026 for public comment. The draft intends to simplify and rationalize tax reporting by redesigning numerous existing forms and establishing new form numbers that are consistent with the improved compliance framework. The wording used in the rules and forms has been drastically reduced to increase clarity, transparency, and ease of compliance for taxpayers.

As part of this transition, some old forms applicable until March 31, 2026 have been replaced or renumbered with new forms effective April 1, 2026.

In the below table, EZTax compares important forms, their replacements, and main modifications introduced under the proposed rules.

2. Income Tax Forms 2026

S.No	Description	Old Form Name / No (Applicable till 31^st March 2026)	New Form No (Applicable from 01^st April 2026)	Remarks	Refer @ EZTax
1	Annual Information Statement	Form 26AS	168	The proposed form contains information related to TDS/TCS Specified financial transactions Payment of taxes Demands and refunds Pending proceedings Completed proceedings Any other information	How to download AIS statement from Income Tax Portal ? How to View / Download Form 26AS ?
2	Tax Audit Forms	Form 3CB-3CD/ Form 3CA-3CD	26	The new audit report contains 55 clauses whereas old audit reports contains 44 clauses	Guide on Tax Audit — Explained Income Tax Audit Criteria, Applicability Calculator
3	Claim of Foreign Tax Credit	Form 67	44	As per rule 76, Accountant verification is required in new form if foreign tax credit is More than 1 lakh or Taxpayer is company	Getting Foreign Tax Credit & How to submit Form 67 Online?
4	Claim of tax relief when salary is paid in arrears	Form 10E	39	This form is filed by a taxpayer who has received arrears of salary family pension, gratuity, commuted value of pension etc There are no major changes in new form when compared to old form	Arrears of Salary (Relief u/s 89)
5	Foreign Remittances	Form 15CA/15CB	145, 146	It is required to be filed when the taxpayer is transferring the amount to foreign countries from Indian accounts There are no major changes in new form when compared to old form	Foreign remittances? Form 15CA and 15CB Explained
6	Application for lower deduction of TDS/TCS	Form 13	128	The taxpayer is required to provide the details of acknowledgement number, date of filing, taxable income and tax liability for last 4 years in new form The category of applicants is given as follows Registered non-profit organization Specified Entity referred to in section 263(9) Person carrying on business or profession Persons other than the above	How to Submit Form 13 ?
7	Deduction for dependant or self-disability (Old Tax Regime)	Form 10-IA	30	Any taxpayer who is claiming deduction for dependant disability or self-disability is required to file this form before due date of filing Income tax return There are no major changes in new form when compared to old form	Tax Deductions on Disability
8	Deduction for rent paid by taxpayers not in receipt of HRA (Old Tax Regime)	Form 10BA	31	The form is simplified but there are no major changes in form	Deduction in respect of Rent Paid (80GG)
9	TDS return for Salaries	Form 24Q	138	This is a quarterly return for all the TDS deductions made on Salary There are major changes in new form when compared to old form	TDS on Salaries \| Form 24Q
10	TDS returns for payments other than Salaries	Form 26Q	140	This is a quarterly return for all the TDS deductions made on payments other than Salary There are major changes in new form when compared to old form	TDS on Payments Other than Salaries \| Form 26Q
11	TDS returns for payments to Non-Residents	Form 27Q	144	This is a quarterly return for all the TDS deductions made on payments to Non-Residents There are major changes in new form when compared to old form	TDS On Payments to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
12	TCS return on receipts	Form 27EQ	143	This is a quarterly return for all the TCS collections on payments received There are major changes in new form when compared to old form	TCS On Receipts \| Form 27EQ
13	TDS return for purchase immovable property, Rent, JDA, Professional fee and VDA	Form 26QB/26QC/ 26QD/26QE	141	This is a return for TDS deduction on various transactions like purchase of immovable property, payment of rent, JDA, professional fee and VDA There are major changes in new form when compared to old form. Instead of multiple forms, it is consolidated under 1 form	TDS On Sale of Immovable Property, Form 26QB TDS On Rent u/s 194-IB, Form 26QC TDS on Payments to Resident Contractors and Professionals
14	Certificate for TDS on Salary	Form 16	130	This is an annual form generated for TDS deduction on Salary No major changes in new form when compared to old form	TDS Certificates Form 16 /16A /16B /16C /16D /16E /27D
15	Certificate for TDS on payments other than Salary and TDS on payments to NRI	Form 16A	131	This is a quarterly form generated for TDS deduction on payments other than salary and TDS payments to NRI No major changes in new form when compared to old form	TDS Certificates Form 16 /16A /16B /16C /16D /16E /27D
16	Certificate for TDS return or purchase immovable property, Rent, JDA, Professional fee and VDA	Form 16B,16C,16D, 16E	132	This is a transactional form generated for TDS deduction on purchase of property, payment of rent, JDA, professional fee and VDA No major changes in new form when compared to old form	TDS Certificates Form 16 /16A /16B /16C /16D /16E /27D
17	Certificate for TCS on receipts	Form 27D	133	This is a quarterly form generated for TCS collection of receipts No major changes in new form when compared to old form	TDS Certificates Form 16 /16A /16B /16C /16D /16E /27D
18	TAN Application	Form 49B (1) and 49B(2)	134, 135	No major changes in application format	TAN \| Tax Deduction & Collection Account Number
19	PAN Application by various persons	Form 49A and 49AA	93, 94, 95, and 96	Passport Number mandatory in case of NRI or RNOR Birth Certificate is mandatory for the persons born on or after 01st Oct 2023 For the foreign citizens, they need to select the correct category from below Foreigner Person of Indian Origin Overseas Citizen of India	Permanent Account Number (PAN)
20	Self Declaration forms for Non-deduction of TDS	Form 15G, 15H	121	This is submitted to banks or financial institutions for non-deduction of TDS. No major changes	How to submit Form 15G/15H?
21	Statements showing particulars of perquisites, amenities etc	Form 12BA	123	It shows the value of benefits given by employer to employee and there are no major changes	Guide on Employee Investment Declaration
22	Statement showing particulars of deductions claimed by employee	Form 12BB	124	It contains the deductions claimed by employee and there are no major changes	Guide on Employee Investment Declaration

3. Draft Income Tax Rules 2026

Income Tax Department has released draft income tax rules 2026 on 07th February 2026 and these are going to be effective from 01st April 2026. The draft income tax rules 2026 has been simplified in comparison to Income Tax Rules 1962

Particulars	Income Tax Rules, 1962	Income Tax Rules, 2026 ^NEW
Rules	511	333
Forms	399	190

Below are some of the major changes in draft income tax rules 2026 and applicable from 01st April 2026

HRA Exemption: As per the Draft Income-tax Rules, 2026, the list of cities eligible for 50% HRA exemption under the old tax regime is proposed to be expanded. Along with Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata, cities such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, and Ahmedabad are also proposed to be included.

Children Education Allowance: Children Education Allowance is proposed to be increased to ₹3,000 per month per child (for a maximum of two children) under the Draft Income-tax Rules, 2026. Earlier it was ₹100 per month per child (for a maximum of two children)

Hostel Expenditure Allowance: As per the Draft Income-tax Rules, 2026, the Hostel Expenditure Allowance is proposed to be increased to ₹9,000 per month per child (for a maximum of two children). Earlier it was ₹300 per month per child (for a maximum of two children)

Perquisite Valuation of Motor Car: The perquisite value of motor car provided by employer which is used for both office and personal purpose is as follows as per draft income tax rules 2026

	Old	New (Income Tax rules 2026)	Old	New (Income Tax rules 2026)
Reimbursement of Expenses	Cubic Capacity of engine does not exceed 1.6 litres		Cubic Capacity of engine exceeds 1.6 litres
If reimbursed by employer	1800p.m (plus Rs 900 if chauffeur is also provided)	5000p.m (plus Rs 3000 if chauffeur is also provided)	2400 p.m (plus Rs 900 if chauffeur is also provided)	7000 p.m (plus Rs 3000 if chauffeur is also provided)
If not reimbursed by employer	600 p.m (plus Rs 900 if chauffeur is also provided)	2000 p.m (plus Rs 3000 if chauffeur is also provided)	900 p.m (plus Rs 900 if chauffeur is also provided)	3000 p.m (plus Rs 3000 if chauffeur is also provided)

Meal Perquisite Limit: The exemption limit for free food and non-alcoholic beverages provided by employers during working hours is proposed to be increased from ₹50 per meal to ₹200 per meal as per draft Income tax rules 2026

Gift Perquisite Limit: The tax-free limit for gifts, vouchers, or tokens received from an employer is proposed to be increased from ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 per financial year. If the aggregate value of such gifts remains within ₹15,000, the perquisite value will be treated as Nil and no tax will be payable by the employee.

Interest-free or concessional loans provided by employers: As per the Draft Income-tax Rules, 2026, relief on interest-free or concessional loans provided by employers is proposed to be enhanced. No perquisite value will be charged if the aggregate loan amount does not exceed ₹2,00,000 or if the loan is taken for specified medical treatment. Earlier, this exemption was available only for loans up to ₹20,000.

Additional document for PAN: As per Draft Income Tax Rules 2026, Birth Certificate is mandatory for application of PAN for individuals born on or after 1 October 2023 as proof of date of birth. Birth Certificate issued by registrar or Indian consulate can issue birth certificates. Earlier Birth certificate is not mandatory

Transactions requiring PAN: The Draft Income-tax Rules, 2026 have revised the monetary threshold for certain cash transactions that require quoting of PAN. The scope of specified transactions has also been expanded.

S.No	Description	Old (Income Tax Rules 1962)	New (Draft Income Tax Rules 2026) ^NEW
1	Payment to a hotel or restaurant at any one time in cash NOTE: Draft Income Tax rules have expanded the scope to include payments made to convention Center, banquet hall, event management service providers	Rs 50,000	Rs 1,00,000
2	Sale or purchase of a motor vehicle	No Limit	Rs 5,00,000
3	Sale or purchase of any immovable property. NOTE: Draft Income Tax rules have expanded the scope to include gift or joint development agreement	Rs 10,00,000	Rs 20,00,000
4	Cash Deposits or Cash withdrawals in bank, post office or co-operative bank	Rs 20,00,000 or more	Rs 10,00,000 or more