The time to file your tax returns is coming soon
The time to file your tax returns is coming soon
Keep calm and sign up for early access to our super filing platform

How to check if your Form 16 carries a valid digital signature

Updated on: Jan 13th, 2022

|

4 min read

social iconssocial iconssocial iconssocial icons

Employees receive a salary statement in Form 16 on an annual basis. Form 16 provides the break-up of your yearly salary and income tax calculations. We provide you with steps to check the authenticity of Form 16 by validating the digital signature.

Why should you validate the digital signature on Form 16?

Your Form 16 is digitally signed by or on behalf of your employer. Employees should check the details of their salary, tax deductions and tax calculations. You should also check the form to make sure that the digital signature is validated and the form is authentic. The validation of a digital signature ensures that there is no tampering with the Form 16 after signing.

How to check the validity of your Form 16?

Step 1:Open your Form 16 in Adobe reader. The digital signature is visible on the last page of Form 16.

Step 2:Right-click on the ‘Signature’ and choose ‘Validate Signature’. The document will display that the signature is valid and not modified after signing.

How to validate the digital signature on your Form 16?

Step 1: Check the validity of the digital signature. In a case, the validation fails, the ‘Signature Validation Status’ will display that the validity is unknown. You will see the below information:

Step 2: You should perform further validations by clicking on ‘Signature Properties’, and then click on ‘Show Signer’s Certificate’. When you click on ‘Show Signer’s Certificate’, a certificate viewer window appears. In the ‘Summary’ tab, you can see the details of the digital signature. Further, in the ‘Details’ tab, you can view the details of the signer such as name and email address of the signer. You can also see the digital signature certifying authority. CCA India is the official certifying body for digital signatures in India.

Step 3: The CCA is not part of the list of digital certificates. You can add CCA India to your trusted list of digital certificates. You click on the tab ‘Trust’, and click on ‘Add to Trusted Certificates’. A security message will pop-up. Click ‘OK’, and next, it will open ‘Import Contact Settings’. Select ‘Use this certificate as a trusted root’. Please note that when you add the certificate to your trusted list, you should make sure that the ‘Certified Documents’ option is selected. Click on ‘OK’ and return to the ‘Certificate Viewer’ window. Now CCA India is part of your trusted certificates.

Step 4: Hence, you can re-validate the digital signature by returning to the ‘Signature Properties’ window. You can re-validate by clicking on the ‘Verify Certificate’ or ‘Validate Signature’ button. The digital signature is now valid. Click on ‘Close’ and your Form 16 validation is complete.

inline CTA
File your returns in just 3 minutes
100% pre-fill. No manual data entry
CONTENTS
;

Clear offers taxation & financial solutions to individuals, businesses, organizations & chartered accountants in India. Clear serves 1.5+ Million happy customers, 20000+ CAs & tax experts & 10000+ businesses across India.

Efiling Income Tax Returns(ITR) is made easy with Clear platform. Just upload your form 16, claim your deductions and get your acknowledgment number online. You can efile income tax return on your income from salary, house property, capital gains, business & profession and income from other sources. Further you can also file TDS returns, generate Form-16, use our Tax Calculator software, claim HRA, check refund status and generate rent receipts for Income Tax Filing.

CAs, experts and businesses can get GST ready with Clear GST software & certification course. Our GST Software helps CAs, tax experts & business to manage returns & invoices in an easy manner. Our Goods & Services Tax course includes tutorial videos, guides and expert assistance to help you in mastering Goods and Services Tax. Clear can also help you in getting your business registered for Goods & Services Tax Law.

Save taxes with Clear by investing in tax saving mutual funds (ELSS) online. Our experts suggest the best funds and you can get high returns by investing directly or through SIP. Download Black by ClearTax App to file returns from your mobile phone.

Cleartax is a product by Defmacro Software Pvt. Ltd.

Company PolicyTerms of use

ISO

ISO 27001

Data Center

SSL

SSL Certified Site

128-bit encryption