Generate your Form 12BB (now Form 124) online in minutes. Fill in your HRA, LTA, home loan interest, and Section 80C/80D/80CCD investment details, preview the form live, and download a print-ready PDF to sign and submit to your employer. No registration, no login, completely free.

Important: From Tax Year 2026-27 (FY 2026-27, income from 1 April 2026 onwards), Form 12BB has been officially replaced by Form 124 under the Income Tax Rules, 2026. This generator produces both formats — select the year, and the correct form is generated. The deduction heads and evidence requirements are unchanged; only the form number and legal references have been updated.

Form 12BB / Form 124 is submitted to your employer — not to the Income Tax Department. It tells your employer what tax-saving claims you intend to make so they can compute the correct TDS on your monthly salary. Filing it correctly and on time is the difference between getting deductions reflected in your TDS throughout the year versus paying excess tax and waiting for a refund.

What Is Form 12BB?

Form 12BB is a standardised investment declaration form prescribed under Rule 26C of the Income Tax Rules, 1962, introduced by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) effective from 1 June 2016. Every salaried employee who wants to claim tax deductions or exemptions from their salary income must submit this form to their employer.

The form captures four categories of claims that directly affect your TDS calculation — HRA exemption, LTA exemption, home loan interest deduction, and deductions under Chapter VI-A (Sections 80C, 80D, 80CCD, 80E, 80G, and others).

Your employer uses the information in Form 12BB to calculate how much TDS to deduct from your monthly salary under Section 192 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Without this form, your employer cannot factor in your deductions and will deduct TDS at the higher amount — as if you have no deductions at all.

To understand how TDS is computed on your salary, read our comprehensive guide to TDS on salaries.

Form 12BB Is Now Form 124 – What Changed from April 2026

The Income Tax Act, 2025 replaced the Income Tax Act, 1961 from 1 April 2026. Along with it, the Income Tax Rules, 2026 (notified as G.S.R. 198(E) on 20 March 2026) replaced the Income Tax Rules, 1962. In this transition, Form 12BB was renumbered to Form 124.

Old vs New Legal References

Governing Act: Income Tax Act, 1961 → Income Tax Act, 2025.
Governing Section: Section 192 → Section 392(5)(b).
Governing Rule: Rule 26C → Rule 205.
Form Number: Form 12BB → Form 124.
Deduction Chapter: Chapter VI-A → Chapter VIII-A and Chapter VIII-B.
Period Terminology: Assessment Year → Tax Year.

What Stayed the Same

The four heads of claim (HRA, LTA, home loan interest, Chapter VI-A deductions) are unchanged. The evidence requirements are largely the same. The form is still submitted to the employer, not to the IT Department. It still serves the same purpose — enabling correct TDS computation.

What Is New in Form 124

For HRA claims, Form 124 now requires the landlord’s Aadhaar number (in addition to PAN for rent above Rs 1 lakh per year) and the employee’s relationship with the landlord. This is a new disclosure requirement not present in the old Form 12BB — aimed at reducing fraudulent HRA claims to related parties.

Which Form to Use When

For FY 2025-26 declarations (the return filed during 2026): Form 12BB under Rule 26C. For FY 2026-27 declarations (Tax Year 2026-27, income from 1 April 2026): Form 124 under Rule 205. Our generator produces the correct form based on the year you select.

How to Use the SalaryBox Form 12BB / Form 124 Generator

Step 1 – Enter Personal Details

Input your name, PAN, the financial year, and your employer’s name and TAN. These appear in the header of the form.

Step 2 – Enter HRA Details (Section 1)

If you receive HRA as part of your salary and pay rent, enter the rent paid per month, the landlord’s name, landlord’s PAN (mandatory if total annual rent exceeds Rs 1 lakh), and landlord’s address. For FY 2026-27 (Form 124), you will also need to enter the landlord’s Aadhaar and your relationship with the landlord. Leave this section blank if you do not claim HRA.

Calculate your exact HRA exemption amount with our HRA calculator.

Step 3 – Enter LTA Details (Section 2)

If you claim Leave Travel Allowance exemption, enter the travel expenditure amount and the details of travel (journey dates, mode of travel). LTA is exempt only for actual travel within India for yourself and your family — it does not cover hotel stays or other expenses. Leave this section blank if you do not claim LTA.

Step 4 – Enter Home Loan Interest Details (Section 3)

If you have a home loan, enter the interest payable or paid during the financial year (up to Rs 2,00,000 for a self-occupied property), the name of the lender, the lender’s PAN or TAN, and the lender’s address. If the loan is from a bank, the bank’s TAN is typically sufficient. Leave this section blank if you do not have a home loan.

Step 5 – Enter Tax-Saving Deductions (Section 4)

This section captures all Chapter VI-A deductions. Enter the amounts for each applicable section:

Section 80C (now Section 123): PPF, EPF, ELSS, LIC premium, NSC, tax-saving FD, tuition fees, home loan principal — combined limit Rs 1,50,000.
Section 80CCD(1B) (now Section 124(3)): Additional NPS contribution — limit Rs 50,000.
Section 80D (now Section 126): Health insurance premium for self, family, and parents — up to Rs 25,000 or Rs 50,000 for senior citizens per category.
Section 80E: Education loan interest — no limit, full interest is deductible.
Section 80G: Donations to approved charities — subject to specific limits.
Any other applicable deductions.

Plan your deductions section by section using our tax saving planner — it shows you remaining headroom in every section.

Step 6 – Preview, Download, and Submit

The generator shows a live preview of the completed form as you fill each section. Once you have reviewed all details, download the form as a print-ready PDF. Print it, sign it, and submit it to your employer along with the required supporting documents (proofs).

The Four Sections of Form 12BB Explained

Section 1 – House Rent Allowance (HRA)

This section is for employees who receive HRA as part of their salary and live in rented accommodation. The HRA exemption under Section 10(13A) reduces your taxable salary income. To claim it, you must provide rent receipts or a rental agreement, the landlord’s name and address, the landlord’s PAN if annual rent exceeds Rs 1 lakh, and for Form 124 (FY 2026-27 onwards) the landlord’s Aadhaar and your relationship with the landlord.

The HRA exemption is the minimum of three amounts: actual HRA received from your employer, 50% of basic salary plus DA for metro cities (40% for non-metro), and actual rent paid minus 10% of basic salary plus DA. Our HRA calculator computes this automatically.

Note: HRA exemption is available only under the old tax regime. If you have opted for the new tax regime, do not fill this section. Check which regime saves you more with our old vs new tax regime comparison tool on the free tools page.

Section 2 – Leave Travel Allowance (LTA)

LTA exemption covers the cost of travel for leave with your family within India. Only the travel fare is exempt — not hotel, food, or other expenses. The exemption is available for two journeys in a block of four calendar years. The current block is 2026-2029.

Evidence required: tickets (air, rail, or bus) showing actual travel. If travelling by air: economy class fare for the shortest route. If by rail: AC first class fare. If by road: AC first class rail fare for the distance.

LTA is also available only under the old tax regime.

Section 3 – Home Loan Interest Under Section 24(b)

If you are paying interest on a home loan for a self-occupied property, you can deduct up to Rs 2,00,000 per year from your total income. This is one of the largest single deductions available under the old regime.

Evidence required: a certificate from the lender (bank or housing finance company) showing the interest paid or payable during the financial year, broken down between pre-construction interest and current year interest. The certificate must show the lender’s name, PAN/TAN, and address.

The principal repayment on the home loan is claimable separately under Section 80C (within the Rs 1.5 lakh limit) and should be entered in Section 4 of the form.

Section 4 – Chapter VI-A Deductions (80C, 80D, 80CCD, etc.)

This is the catch-all section for all investment-based and expenditure-based deductions under the old tax regime. The major deductions to declare here include:

Section 80C (Rs 1,50,000 limit): EPF, PPF, ELSS, LIC, NSC, tax-saving FD, SCSS, SSY, tuition fees, stamp duty and registration charges on property purchase, home loan principal.
Section 80CCC: Pension fund contributions (within the 80C aggregate limit).
Section 80CCD(1): Employee’s NPS contribution (within the 80C aggregate limit).
Section 80CCD(1B): Additional NPS contribution (Rs 50,000, over and above 80C).
Section 80CCD(2): Employer’s NPS contribution (separate from 80C limit, available in both regimes).
Section 80D: Health insurance premiums — self, family, and parents.
Section 80E: Interest on education loan (no limit).
Section 80G: Donations to charitable organisations.
Section 80TTA: Savings account interest up to Rs 10,000 (non-senior citizens).
Section 80TTB: Deposit interest up to Rs 1,00,000 (senior citizens — raised from Rs 50,000 in Budget 2026).

Calculate your EPF contribution using our PF calculator and project your PPF returns with our PPF calculator.

When to Submit Form 12BB

Form 12BB is submitted to your employer at two points during the financial year.

Provisional Declaration – April/May (Start of FY)

At the beginning of the financial year, your employer asks you to submit a provisional investment declaration. This is your intended or planned investments for the year. Your employer uses this to calculate estimated TDS and spread it evenly across 12 months. At this stage, you declare what you plan to invest — you do not need proofs yet.

Submitting this early is important because without it, your employer will calculate TDS assuming zero deductions, resulting in higher monthly TDS from April onwards. If you submit late (say in September), the excess TDS from April to August must be adjusted in the remaining months, causing fluctuations in take-home pay.

Final Declaration with Proofs – January/February (End of FY)

Towards the end of the financial year (typically January or February), your employer asks for the actual proofs of investments and expenses declared earlier. This is the final Form 12BB submission. You must now provide documentary evidence for every claim — rent receipts, insurance premium receipts, PPF passbook, ELSS statements, home loan interest certificate, NPS contribution proof, and so on.

If your actual investments differ from the provisional declaration (you invested less or more than planned), the final declaration corrects the numbers. Your employer then adjusts the TDS for the last few months of the year based on the actual figures.

Proofs Required for Each Section

Here is the complete list of evidence you need to attach with your final Form 12BB submission.

For HRA

Rent receipts for each month (with landlord’s signature and revenue stamp for rent above Rs 5,000). Rental agreement (if available). Landlord’s PAN (mandatory if annual rent exceeds Rs 1 lakh). For Form 124: landlord’s Aadhaar and declaration of relationship.

For LTA

Original or copies of travel tickets (boarding passes for air travel, e-tickets for rail). Only domestic travel qualifies. Travel must have been undertaken during the leave period.

For Home Loan Interest

Home loan interest certificate from the bank or housing finance company (provisional certificate is accepted for the declaration; final certificate needed for proof submission). Certificate must show interest and principal breakup for the financial year.

For Section 80C Investments

EPF: automatically reflected in salary slip (no separate proof needed in most companies). PPF: passbook or deposit receipt. ELSS: mutual fund statement or folio statement. LIC: premium paid receipt or policy statement. Tax-saving FD: FD receipt with lock-in period. NSC: post office certificate. Tuition fees: school fee receipt. Home loan principal: included in the home loan certificate from the bank.

For Section 80D

Health insurance premium receipt from the insurer (for self, family, and parents). Preventive health check-up receipt (up to Rs 5,000, within the 80D limit).

For Section 80CCD(1B)

NPS contribution receipt or NPS statement showing contributions during the year.

For Section 80E

Education loan interest certificate from the bank.

For Section 80G

Donation receipt from the charitable organisation with their 80G registration number.

Form 12BB vs Form 16 – What Is the Difference?

This is a common confusion. They serve opposite purposes in the tax cycle.

Form 12BB (Form 124) is submitted by the employee to the employer at the beginning and during the financial year. It is a forward-looking declaration of planned and actual deductions. It helps the employer compute TDS correctly. It is not filed with the Income Tax Department.

Form 16 (now Form 130 under IT Act 2025) is issued by the employer to the employee after the financial year ends. It is a backward-looking certificate of TDS actually deducted and deposited. It summarises total salary, deductions claimed, and tax deducted. It is used by the employee to file their ITR.

In simple terms: you give Form 12BB to your employer, and your employer gives Form 16 back to you. Our salary slip generator produces pay slips that align with both Form 12BB declarations and Form 16 reporting.

Form 12BB and the New Tax Regime

If you have opted for the new tax regime (the default from FY 2024-25), most of the deductions claimed through Form 12BB are not applicable to you. Specifically, HRA exemption, LTA exemption, home loan interest under Section 24(b), and Chapter VI-A deductions under Sections 80C, 80D, 80CCD(1B), 80TTA, 80TTB, and 80E are all unavailable under the new regime.

The only deduction that works under both regimes and may still be relevant to Form 12BB is the employer NPS contribution under Section 80CCD(2). The standard deduction (Rs 75,000 under the new regime) is automatically applied by the employer and does not require a Form 12BB declaration.

If you are on the new regime, you may not need to submit Form 12BB at all (unless claiming employer NPS). However, it is good practice to confirm with your HR department. And if you are unsure which regime is better for you, use our old vs new tax regime calculator on the free tools page.

Common Mistakes When Filling Form 12BB

Mistake 1 – Inflating Planned Investments

Some employees declare high investment amounts at the start of the year to reduce TDS but never actually invest the full amount. At the time of proof submission, the shortfall results in a large TDS adjustment in March — a sudden drop in take-home pay. Declare only what you realistically plan to invest.

Mistake 2 – Missing the Proof Submission Deadline

If you do not submit proofs by your employer’s deadline (typically mid-January to mid-February), your employer will reverse the TDS benefit for the entire year and deduct the shortfall from your February or March salary. This can result in a very low or even negative net pay for that month.

Mistake 3 – Not Declaring EPF Under 80C

Your EPF contribution is automatically eligible under Section 80C. Some employees forget to declare it and separately invest Rs 1.5 lakh in other instruments — effectively wasting money on investments beyond the 80C cap that give no additional tax benefit.

Mistake 4 – Missing Landlord PAN for Rent Above Rs 1 Lakh

If your annual rent exceeds Rs 1 lakh and you do not provide the landlord’s PAN, the HRA exemption can be disallowed. From FY 2026-27, the landlord’s Aadhaar is also required under Form 124. Collect these details from your landlord before the proof submission window.

Mistake 5 – Claiming Deductions Under the Wrong Regime

If you selected the new tax regime but still submitted Form 12BB with 80C and 80D deductions, your employer may apply those deductions and under-deduct TDS. When you file your ITR under the new regime, those deductions are not allowed, and you end up with a tax liability plus interest. Always ensure your Form 12BB aligns with your chosen tax regime.

Read more about avoiding payroll and tax filing errors in our beginner’s guide to TDS.

Who Needs to Submit Form 12BB?

Every salaried employee whose total income exceeds the basic exemption limit and who wants to claim deductions for TDS computation purposes must submit Form 12BB to their employer. This includes permanent employees, fixed-term employees, contractual employees on payroll, and employees of central government, state government, PSUs, and private companies.

You do not need to submit Form 12BB if you are a freelancer or consultant (you handle your own advance tax), a business owner (TDS on salary does not apply), or a salaried employee who does not wish to claim any deductions (your employer will deduct TDS at the default rate).

Impact of Form 12BB on Your Monthly Take-Home Pay

The relationship between Form 12BB and your take-home salary is direct and immediate. Here is a worked example.

Employee with annual gross salary Rs 12,00,000 under the old tax regime. Without Form 12BB: employer assumes zero deductions. Taxable income = Rs 12,00,000 minus Rs 50,000 standard deduction = Rs 11,50,000. Tax = approximately Rs 1,72,500. Monthly TDS = approximately Rs 14,375.

With Form 12BB declaring: Rs 1,50,000 (80C), Rs 50,000 (80CCD(1B)), Rs 25,000 (80D), Rs 1,80,000 (24(b) home loan interest), Rs 1,80,000 (HRA exemption). Total deductions: Rs 5,85,000. Taxable income = Rs 12,00,000 minus Rs 50,000 minus Rs 5,85,000 = Rs 5,65,000. Tax = approximately Rs 28,600. Monthly TDS = approximately Rs 2,383.

Difference in monthly take-home: Rs 14,375 minus Rs 2,383 = Rs 11,992 more per month. Over the year, that is Rs 1,43,900 more in your pocket every month instead of being parked with the government as excess TDS.

This is why submitting Form 12BB early — in April or May — gives you the maximum benefit throughout the year. Use our TDS calculator to see the exact monthly impact.

Other Free Tax and Salary Tools from SalaryBox

Salary Calculator – Calculate in-hand salary from CTC or gross.
TDS Calculator – Estimate monthly and annual TDS deductions.
HRA Calculator – Compute your HRA exemption amount.
PF Calculator – Calculate Provident Fund contributions.
PPF Calculator – Project your PPF maturity amount.
Gratuity Calculator – Estimate gratuity amount.
Tax Saving Planner – Plan 80C/80D/80CCD/24(b) deductions with headroom view.
Professional Tax Calculator – State-wise professional tax.
Salary Slip Generator – Generate professional salary slips.
FnF Calculator – Full and final settlement estimation.

Explore all tools on our free tools page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Form 12BB and who needs to file it?

Form 12BB is a standardised investment declaration form that salaried employees submit to their employer to claim tax deductions and exemptions. It helps the employer compute the correct TDS on salary. Every salaried employee who wants to reduce their TDS by claiming deductions under 80C, 80D, HRA, LTA, or home loan interest must submit this form. It is submitted to the employer — not to the Income Tax Department.

Has Form 12BB been replaced by Form 124?

Yes. From Tax Year 2026-27 (FY 2026-27, income from 1 April 2026 onwards), Form 12BB has been officially replaced by Form 124 under Rule 205 of the Income Tax Rules, 2026, read with Section 392(5)(b) of the Income Tax Act, 2025. The substance is the same — only the form number and legal references changed. For FY 2025-26 declarations, Form 12BB under Rule 26C still applies. Our generator produces the correct form based on the year you select.

What is new in Form 124 compared to Form 12BB?

Form 124 introduces a new requirement for HRA claims — you must now provide the landlord’s Aadhaar number and declare your relationship with the landlord, in addition to the landlord’s PAN (for rent above Rs 1 lakh per year). The deduction heads, evidence requirements, and overall structure remain unchanged.

When should I submit Form 12BB to my employer?

Submit the provisional declaration (planned investments) at the start of the financial year — ideally in April or May. This ensures your employer adjusts TDS from the first month itself. Submit the final declaration with actual proofs by your employer’s deadline — typically mid-January to mid-February. Missing the proof deadline can result in a large TDS adjustment in your March salary.

What deductions can I claim in Form 12BB?

Form 12BB covers four categories: HRA exemption (rent paid for accommodation under Section 10(13A)), LTA exemption (domestic travel expenses), home loan interest deduction under Section 24(b) (up to Rs 2,00,000 for self-occupied property), and Chapter VI-A deductions including 80C (Rs 1,50,000), 80CCD(1B) NPS (Rs 50,000), 80D health insurance, 80E education loan interest, and 80G donations. Most of these are available only under the old tax regime.

Do I need to submit Form 12BB if I am on the new tax regime?

Generally no. Under the new tax regime, most deductions claimed through Form 12BB (80C, 80D, 80CCD(1B), HRA, LTA, 24(b)) are not available. The only relevant deduction is the employer NPS contribution under 80CCD(2), which is available in both regimes. The standard deduction is applied automatically. However, confirm with your HR department — some employers still require the form for record-keeping.

What happens if I do not submit Form 12BB?

If you do not submit Form 12BB, your employer cannot factor in any deductions while computing TDS. They will deduct TDS on your full salary income (minus only the standard deduction) at the applicable slab rates. This results in higher monthly TDS and lower take-home pay. You can still claim the deductions when filing your ITR and get a refund, but your money remains with the government for months unnecessarily.

Is Form 12BB the same as Form 16?

No. Form 12BB is submitted by the employee to the employer during the financial year — it is a declaration of intended and actual deductions. Form 16 (now Form 130 under IT Act 2025) is issued by the employer to the employee after the year ends — it is a certificate of TDS actually deducted. You give Form 12BB; you receive Form 16.

What proofs do I need for Form 12BB?

For HRA: rent receipts and landlord PAN (if rent above Rs 1 lakh per year). For LTA: travel tickets. For home loan: interest certificate from the bank. For 80C: EPF salary slip, PPF passbook, ELSS statement, LIC receipt, FD receipt, tuition fee receipt. For 80D: health insurance premium receipt. For 80CCD(1B): NPS contribution statement. For 80E: education loan interest certificate from bank. For 80G: donation receipt with 80G registration number.

Can I generate Form 12BB online?

Yes. The SalaryBox Form 12BB Generator lets you fill in all four sections online, preview the form live, and download a print-ready PDF. It supports both Form 12BB (for FY 2025-26 and earlier) and Form 124 (for FY 2026-27 onwards). No registration or login required — it is completely free.

Conclusion

Form 12BB (now Form 124) is the most important tax document you submit during the year — it directly controls how much TDS is deducted from your monthly salary. Filing it correctly and on time can put thousands of rupees back in your pocket every single month instead of waiting for a tax refund after filing your ITR.

The SalaryBox Form 12BB Generator makes this process effortless. Enter your HRA, LTA, home loan, and investment details, preview the form live, and download a print-ready PDF — all in under 5 minutes. It covers both Form 12BB (for FY 2025-26) and Form 124 (for FY 2026-27 onwards), and automatically applies the correct legal references for the year you select.

Combine it with our tax saving planner to maximise deductions, our TDS calculator to estimate the monthly impact, and our HRA calculator to compute the exact HRA exemption.

Generate your Form 12BB now — it is free, takes 5 minutes, and could save you over Rs 10,000 per month in unnecessary TDS.