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TRACES Password Guide 2026: Form 16, 16A, Conso & Justification Report Formats

TRACES password guide for Conso File, Justification Report and TDS certificate downloads
Illustration for TRACES Password Guide 2025: Form 16, 16A, Conso File & More | Complete Format
Contents
  1. Introduction: Understanding TRACES Password Formats
  2. Quick Password Reference
  3. Form 16 and Form 16A Password Format
  4. Conso File Password Format
  5. Justification Report Password Format
  6. Form 27D and Transaction Based Report Password
  7. Password Format Comparison Table
  8. Who Needs These Passwords?
  9. Common Password Errors and Troubleshooting
  10. Frequently Asked Questions
  11. Conclusion

Introduction: Understanding TRACES Password Formats

Files downloaded from the TRACES portal use document-specific password formats. The correct password depends on the type of download and, in some cases, the deductor's TAN, the TRACES request number, the statement form type, quarter and financial year.

For TRACES downloads, first identify the exact document type. Do not assume that one password formula works for every TDS certificate or report.

This guide focuses on the password formats used for common TRACES deductor downloads such as Form 16, Form 16A, Conso files, Justification Reports, Form 27D and Transaction Based Reports.

Important distinction: A Form 16 or Form 16A file downloaded by a deductor from TRACES uses the deductor TAN as the password for the downloaded ZIP/text file. An employer, bank or other issuer may separately password-protect a PDF sent to an employee or deductee using its own convention. That separately issued PDF password should not be confused with the TRACES download password.

Quick TRACES Password Reference

Document TypePassword FormatExampleKey Point
Form 16 / Form 16A downloaded by deductorTAN in capital lettersABCD12345EUse the deductor TAN
Conso FileTAN_Request NumberABCD12345E_67890Underscore is required
Justification ReportJR_TAN_FormType_Quarter_FYJR_AAAAA1235A_24Q_Q3_2010-11Use underscores between components
Form 27D / Transaction Based ReportTAN in capital lettersABCD12345ENo extra separator

Form 16 and Form 16A Password Format

TRACES provides Form 16 and Form 16A downloads to deductors. For the downloaded TRACES file, the official password instruction is straightforward:

Password Format: Deductor TAN in CAPITAL LETTERS.

Example: If the deductor TAN is ABCD12345E, use ABCD12345E as the password for the relevant TRACES Form 16/Form 16A download.

Do not confuse two different files: The password for a TRACES download is not necessarily the same as the password for a PDF later emailed by an employer, bank or other deductor. If a separately received PDF does not open with TAN, check the issuer's email or instructions for its own password convention.

Form 16 downloaded from TRACES

Form 16 is the TDS certificate for salary. When an employer/deductor downloads the Form 16 file from TRACES, the downloaded file password is the deductor's TAN in capital letters.

Form 16A downloaded from TRACES

Form 16A is the TDS certificate for non-salary payments. When a deductor downloads Form 16A from TRACES, the downloaded file password is likewise the deductor's TAN in capital letters.

Conso File Password Format

The Conso (Consolidated) File is used by deductors as the base file for correction work and related TDS statement activities.

Password format

Password Format: TAN in UPPERCASE + underscore (_) + Request Number.

Critical: The underscore between TAN and the Request Number is mandatory.

  1. Step 1: Note the complete TAN.
  2. Step 2: Note the TRACES Request Number for that Conso request.
  3. Step 3: Join the TAN and Request Number with one underscore.

Example: TAN ABCD12345E and Request Number 67890 gives ABCD12345E_67890.

Justification Report Password Format

A Justification Report contains details of defaults identified during TDS/TCS statement processing.

Password structure

Password Format: JR_TAN_FormType_Quarter_FY

  1. JR — fixed prefix.
  2. TAN — deductor TAN in capital letters.
  3. Form Type — for example 24Q, 26Q, 27Q or 27EQ.
  4. Quarter — Q1, Q2, Q3 or Q4.
  5. Financial Year — in the format used for the statement.

Example: JR_AAAAA1235A_24Q_Q3_2010-11.

Form 27D and Transaction Based Report Password

For the relevant TRACES download, the password is the TAN in UPPERCASE.

Example: If the TAN is ABCD12345E, use ABCD12345E.

Password Format Comparison Table

DocumentPassword FormatExample
Form 16 downloaded by deductorTANABCD12345E
Form 16A downloaded by deductorTANABCD12345E
Conso FileTAN_Request NumberABCD12345E_67890
Justification ReportJR_TAN_FormType_Quarter_FYJR_AAAAA1235A_24Q_Q3_2010-11
Form 27DTANABCD12345E
Transaction Based ReportTANABCD12345E

Who Needs These Passwords?

TDS Deductors and Employers

Common passwords: Form 16/Form 16A TRACES download (TAN), Conso File (TAN_Request Number), and Justification Report (JR format).

TCS Collectors

Common passwords: Form 27D and related TRACES downloads using TAN where specified.

Employees, deductees and taxpayers

If you receive a PDF directly from an employer, bank or other deductor, the issuer may use a separate PDF password convention. Follow the issuer's instructions rather than assuming that the TRACES download formula applies to the distributed PDF.

Tax Professionals and Chartered Accountants

Professionals handling TDS/TCS compliance should identify whether they are opening the original TRACES download or a subsequently distributed PDF before selecting a password formula.

Common Password Errors and Troubleshooting

TRACES Form 16/Form 16A download does not open

  • Confirm that you are opening the file downloaded from TRACES as deductor.
  • Use the deductor TAN in capital letters.
  • Check for accidental spaces before or after the TAN.
  • If the file was received separately by email from an employer/bank, check the sender's password instructions because it may not be the original TRACES ZIP.

Conso file password fails

  • Check that the TAN is in capital letters.
  • Use the Request Number belonging to that specific request.
  • Ensure one underscore separates TAN and Request Number.

Justification Report password fails

  • Check the TAN, form type, quarter and financial year.
  • Keep the required underscores between components.
  • Use the exact statement details for the downloaded report.

Good practice: Copy the password into a plain-text editor first so you can spot accidental spaces, missing underscores or wrong capitalization.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on TRACES Passwords

What is the password for Form 16 downloaded from TRACES?

For a Form 16 file downloaded by the deductor from TRACES, use the deductor's TAN in capital letters. A PDF subsequently emailed by an employer may use a different issuer-defined password, so check the sender's instructions if you are not opening the original TRACES download.

What is the password for Form 16A downloaded from TRACES?

For a Form 16A file downloaded by the deductor from TRACES, use the deductor's TAN in capital letters.

What is the Conso file password?

The Conso file password is TAN_Request Number, for example ABCD12345E_67890.

What is the Justification Report password?

The format is JR_TAN_FormType_Quarter_FY, for example JR_AAAAA1235A_24Q_Q3_2010-11.

Why does a Form 16 PDF sent by my employer use a different password?

The employer may separately password-protect the final PDF distributed to employees. That issuer-defined PDF password is distinct from the password used for the original file downloaded by the deductor from TRACES.

Is capitalization important?

Yes. Where TRACES specifies TAN in capital letters, enter the TAN in uppercase and avoid leading or trailing spaces.

Conclusion: Use the Password for the Exact TRACES Download

The most important rule is to identify the file you are actually opening. For Form 16 and Form 16A downloaded by a deductor from TRACES, the password is the deductor TAN in capital letters. Conso files use TAN_Request Number, while Justification Reports use JR_TAN_FormType_Quarter_FY.

  • Form 16/16A TRACES download: TAN in capital letters.
  • Conso File: TAN_Request Number.
  • Justification Report: JR_TAN_FormType_Quarter_FY.
  • Form 27D/TBR: TAN where specified by TRACES.

If you are opening a PDF sent separately by an employer, bank or other deductor, follow that issuer's password instructions because the distributed PDF may use a different convention from the original TRACES download.