Income Tax Act 2025 Update
- The Income Tax Act, 2025 have replaced the terms Previous Year & Assessment Year with the term Tax Year. For example, if the income was earned in the year 2025-26, it will be called Tax Year 2025-26. However, since many taxpayers are still familiar with the terms Financial Year (FY) and Assessment Year (AY), this guide continues to use them for easier understanding.
- The new Income Tax Act has renumbered most of the sections and simplified them by reducing the number of sections, schedules, etc.
You can refer to the complete section mapping of Income Tax Act 1961 vs Income Tax Act 2025 here.
Key Changes in the New TRACES Portal
The portal now has a new and updated interface with sections like announcements, services, “things to know”, and “learn with us”.
The login process is slightly changed:
- You need to enter a 10-digit User ID
- You are asked whether you are a main user or a sub-user
- Your old password will continue to work
After login, you will see a new dashboard showing:
- Your details (ID, last login, contact info)
- Quick links
- Basic stats like lower/no deduction certificates
Currently, only limited features are available, such as:
- Viewing filed forms (only Form 129)
- PAN verification
- Lower/no deduction certificate verification
- Worklist and download options
TDS certificates (like Form 16, 16A, etc.) are not fully available yet and will be added later.
A new profile section is available where you can:
- Update details
- Manage sub-users
- Update DSC
- Change password
There is an option called “Compliances under Income Tax Act, 1961”:
- This helps you access the old TRACES portal
- Useful for completing previous year compliances
How can Deductor Log in on TRACES?
A deductor needs to log in to his TDS TRACES account to perform several activities like -
- Downloading Form 16 of the taxpayer,
- Generating Conso file and justification report
- Manage account on TDS TRACES
- View PAN master
- Validate certificates
- Check TDS refund
- Check Challan status
- Online and offline corrections etc
For knowing the seamless step-by-step login process and queries relating to locked-in accounts, forgetting passwords, and other related issues read our blog.
You can login to the TRACES portal in three ways -
- As a deductor
- As a Taxpayer
- As a PAO
Here are the steps to login to the TRACES portal -
Step 1. Visit the TRACES website - https://traces.tdscpc.gov.in/
On the right-hand side of the screen, click on Login (if you are registered), or register as a new user.
Step 2. Login as a deductor -
- Enter your TAN number under the user ID tab.
- If you want to log in as a sub-user, click on ‘Yes’. If not, click on ‘No’.
- Enter your password
- Enter the verification code
Step 3. Login as a Taxpayer -
- Enter your PAN number under the user ID tab.
- Enter your password
- Enter the verification code
- Click on login.
Note: You can also use other login methods like netbanking or e-filing.
Step 4. Login as PAO -
- Enter your AIN under the User ID tab.
- Enter your password.
- Enter the verification code
- Click on login
What are the Possible Reasons a Sub-user Cannot Log in to a TRACES Account?
Possible reasons restricting a sub-user from logging in to his TDS TRACES account can be -
- The account has been Disabled or Deleted by TDS TRACES.
If you have not logged in to your account for two consecutive quarters in a financial year it gets automatically disabled or deleted by TDS TRACES. In this case, you must contact your admin user to recreate your account.
- The account has been locked out.
When you make 5 consecutive wrong login attempts within 24 hours, the account is locked for one hour. You can try to log in again after waiting for an hour.
How to Reset Forgotten TRACES Login Password?
In the New TRACES portal, you can reset your forgotten TRACES login password using the following steps -
Step 1. Click on ‘Forgot password?’ right above the enter your password tab.
Step 2. Enter your user ID and the verification code. And click on proceed.
Step 3. Enter user details such as date of birth/incorporation, name (first, middle, surname), and other required details.
Step 4. Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number and email.
Step 5. Enter your new password and confirm it.
Is it Possible to Reset Your User ID on TRACES?
In case you have forgotten your User ID, follow these steps to reset the same.
Step 1: Go to the TRACES home page: https://contents.tdscpc.gov.in/. Click on Continue on the pop-up screen. Now, on the left-hand side panel, find the fourth option under the login of “ Forgot User ID.” Now select the “Deductor.”
Step 2: Next, a screen, as shown below, will open up. Enter the details in steps 1 and 2
On Screen 3, you will see your registered mobile number. Edit the same if required. On proceeding, an OTP will be sent to this mobile number.
After entering the OTP, validation will be completed and your existing user ID and registered mail ID will be displayed on the screen. Edit the details if required, or enter the new password to continue.
On successful submission of details, an activation link and codes will be sent to your registered email ID and mobile number.
You can log in to your TRACES account after successful activation.
Why Should a Taxpayer or Pay and Account Office (PAO) Log In to TRACES?
A taxpayer, i.e., the person whose tax has been deducted or Pay and account (PAO) can log in to TRACES for several reasons, including the following:
- Registering itself
- Downloading Form 16B
- TDS certificate verification
- Downloading or viewing Form 26AS
- Managing user profiles and passwords
- Downloading the aggregated TDS Compliance Report etc
How can a Taxpayer log in to their TRACES Account?
Follow these steps to successfully log in to TRACES.
Step 1. Click on https://contents.tdscpc.gov.in/en/home.html to open the TRACES home page.
Step 2. Click on Continue to proceed further. Select login on the left-hand side of the screen.
Step 3. On the next screen, choose the user as taxpayer / PAO.
What is the Meaning of “Invalid Details”?
A registered taxpayer at the time of resetting the password might find an error in Step 1 as “ Invalid Details.” It may be due to the incorrect submission of the following details -
- User ID
- Date of Birth / Incorporation
- Name as per PAN
Now that you know how to access TDS login through the TRACES portal, you can go ahead and start using the TRACES portal to make your TDS journey easier. And if you still find all this complicated, don’t worry! You can reach out to our tax experts who can help you find a solution to your TDS-related queries. Get Tax Consultancy Now!
