Is income tax return and form 16 same

No, an Income Tax Return (ITR) and Form 16 are not the same. Form 16 is a TDS certificate issued by an employer to a salaried employee, detailing the tax deducted at source and deposited with the government. In contrast, an ITR is the actual form an individual files with the Income Tax Department to report their total annual income, taxes paid, and any refunds due. Form 16 serves as a key reference document that provides the necessary financial data required to accurately file your ITR.