If you deduct TDS on any non-salary payment — rent, professional fees, interest, commission or contractor bills — you now issue a certificate called Form 131 instead of the old Form 16A. The name is new, but the good news is that the download process on TRACES is almost the same. This guide walks you through the Form 131 download step by step, in plain language, so you can hand your deductees the correct certificate for the 2026-27 tax year without confusion.
What Changed: Form 16A Is Now Form 131
From 1 April 2026, the Income Tax Act, 2025 replaced the six-decade-old Income Tax Act, 1961. Along with a brand-new “Tax Year” concept, the government renumbered almost every form. For TDS certificates, two changes matter most:
- Form 16 (salary TDS certificate) is now Form 130
- Form 16A (non-salary TDS certificate) is now Form 131
So if you were used to issuing Form 16A for rent, interest or professional fees, that same certificate is now generated as Form 131. The purpose has not changed — it still certifies how much tax you deducted and deposited with the government. Only the form number and legal reference are new.
Form 131 is issued for each quarter. If you deducted TDS on a deductee's non-salary income in all four quarters, that deductee should receive four separate Form 131 certificates.
Before You Download: One Important Prerequisite
You can only download Form 131 after your TDS return for that quarter has been filed and processed. Under the new Act, the quarterly non-salary TDS statement (earlier Form 26Q) is now filed in the renumbered return form. Once your statement is filed and reflecting on TRACES, the certificate becomes available.
If you haven’t filed the return yet, the certificate simply won’t be there to download — so file first, then follow the steps below.
Step-by-Step: How to Download Form 131 from TRACES
Step 1: Log in to the TRACES Portal
Go to the TRACES website (the official portal for deductors). If you are a new deductor, register first. Existing users can log in directly.
To log in:
- Select the Deductor login option.
- Enter your TAN as the User ID.
- Type your password and the verification code shown on screen.
- Click login.
You’ll land on your deductor dashboard.
Step 2: Confirm Your Statement Is Filed
Before requesting the certificate, check that your return is actually reflecting on the portal.
- Go to the E-File tab.
- Click View Filed Forms and Statements.
- Confirm the return you filed for the relevant quarter and tax year is showing as Filed.
You can click View All to see full details or download the acknowledgement here. If a count (like “1”) starts showing against your statement, it means the data is processed and you’re ready to generate the certificate.
Step 3: Go to Downloads → Download TDS and TCS Certificate
- Open the Downloads tab.
- Click Download TDS and TCS Certificate.
- While you are here, also download the PDF Generation Utility from the same menu — you’ll need this software to convert the file into readable certificates. Save it in a separate folder so it’s easy to find later.
Step 4: Raise the Certificate Request
On the download screen:
- From the Form Type dropdown, select Form 131 (this is the non-salary certificate; Form 130 is for salary).
- Choose the Tax Year — for example, 2026-27.
- Select the Quarter you want (Q1, Q2, Q3 or Q4). The process is identical for every quarter.
- Select All PAN so certificates are generated for every deductee in that statement.
- Click Initiate Request.
You’ll now see the status as Request Initiated. The certificate is not ready instantly — TRACES needs a little time to prepare it.
Step 5: Wait for the File to Become "Available"
The certificate cannot be downloaded until its status changes to Available. You can refresh the page yourself or wait a short while. Once it shows Available, click Download — the file will save to your system as a ZIP file. Do not unzip or rename this file; it needs to stay exactly as downloaded for the next step.
Converting the ZIP into Printable Form 131 Certificates
The downloaded ZIP is not directly readable. You convert it into proper PDF certificates using the PDF Generation Utility you downloaded earlier.
Step 1: Extract and Open the Utility
- Right-click the downloaded utility file and select Extract.
- Open the extracted folder and double-click the blue utility icon.
- If your system shows a security warning, click Run Anyway — this is a normal safeguard, the utility is safe.
Step 2: Feed in Your ZIP File
- Click Get Started.
- Under Form Type, select Form 131.
- Click Browse and attach the ZIP file you downloaded from TRACES (attach it as-is — do not extract it first).
- In the Password field, enter your TAN number (in capital letters). This is the password for the certificate ZIP.
- Browse and choose an output folder where you want the finished certificates saved.
Step 3: Generate the Certificates
- Choose with digital signature if you want to attach your DSC (you’ll need the digital signature ready), or without digital signature for a plain copy.
- Re-enter your password if prompted and click Proceed.
The utility generates a separate PDF for each PAN. If you have only a few deductees, it finishes in seconds; a large number of deductees may take a bit longer.
Step 4: Open and Verify
Go to your output folder. You’ll see individual Form 131 PDFs named against each PAN. Open one to confirm:
- Top section shows the deductor’s details.
- Below that are the deductee’s details — nature of payment, amount paid, TDS deducted, rate, and tax deposited.
That’s it — your Form 131 certificates are ready to be issued.
Form 130 vs Form 131: Which One Do You Download?
Many deductors get confused between the two new forms. Here’s the simple rule:
| Old Form | New Form | Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Form 16 | Form 130 | Salary TDS certificate |
| Form 16A | Form 131 | Non-salary TDS (rent, interest, professional fees, commission, contractor payments) |
The download process on TRACES is exactly the same for both — you just pick the right form type in the dropdown.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Extracting the ZIP before uploading it to the utility — always attach the ZIP as-is.
- Wrong password — the password is your TAN, and it should be entered in capital letters.
- Downloading before the return is processed — the certificate won’t be available until your statement is filed and reflecting.
- Choosing the wrong form type — Form 131 is only for non-salary payments; for salary use Form 130.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Form 131 is the TDS certificate for non-salary payments (like rent, interest, professional fees and commission) under the Income Tax Act, 2025. It replaces the earlier Form 16A from the 2026-27 tax year.
Yes. Form 131 serves the exact same purpose as the old Form 16A — certifying TDS deducted and deposited on non-salary income. Only the form number and legal reference have changed under the new Act.
The password is your TAN number, entered in capital letters, inside the PDF Generation Utility.
No. You must first file and process your quarterly non-salary TDS statement. Only then does the Form 131 certificate become available on TRACES.
One per quarter for each deductor. If TDS was deducted in all four quarters, the deductee receives four separate Form 131 certificates.
No. You can generate the certificate with or without a digital signature. A DSC is optional and only required if you want the certificate digitally signed.
Need Help with TDS Compliance?
TDS return filing, certificate issuance and staying updated with the new Income Tax Act, 2025 can get overwhelming — especially in the first year of the new forms. At CharteredHelp, our team handles end-to-end TDS compliance, return filing and certificate generation for businesses across India.
📍 Visit www.CharteredHelp.com or reach our office at UGF-5, Ocean Complex, Sector-18, Noida, Uttar Pradesh-201301 for expert assistance with your TDS, GST and income tax needs.
CharteredHelp is a team of experienced professionals providing tax, accounting, auditing, and compliance services for businesses and individuals. With over 10+ years of experience, we assist clients with GST registration and filings, income tax returns, company registration, trademark services, accounting, auditing, and handling tax notices. Our focus is on providing practical, reliable, and timely support to help clients stay compliant and grow their businesses with confidence.
