> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developer.sandbox.co.in/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Generate Form 16A Certificates

> Generate and download Form 16A TDS certificates after filing Form 26Q or 27Q returns.

Form 16A is the TDS certificate for non-salary deductions. This recipe shows how to:

* Confirm the Form 26Q or Form 27Q return is filed for the quarter
* Submit a Form 16A generation job on TRACES
* Poll the job and download certificates when ready

<Info>
  Before you begin:

  * Generate a Sandbox `authorization` token using the Authenticate endpoint.
  * File the relevant Form 26Q or Form 27Q return for the TAN, financial year, and quarter. See the [File Form 26Q TDS Returns](/recipes/tds/form-26q/file_form_26q) recipe if needed.
  * Keep TRACES credentials (username and password) and challan details for the selected quarter.
  * Prepare at least three PAN-amount pairs for the challan you will use in the security captcha.
</Info>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Confirm the return is filed" stepNumber={1} titleSize="h2">
    Form 16A is available only after the relevant Form 26Q or Form 27Q return is filed. If you already filed the return, skip to Step 2.

    To confirm filing status, use the [**Search E-File TDS Return Jobs**](/api-reference/tds/compliance/e-file/endpoints/search_job) endpoint with the TAN, financial year, quarter, and form.

    <Accordion title="cURL Request - Search E-File TDS Return Jobs" defaultOpen>
      ```bash theme={null}
      curl --request POST \
        --url https://api.sandbox.co.in/tds/compliance/e-file/search \
        --header 'Authorization: {sandbox-access-token}' \
        --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
        --header 'x-api-key: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx' \
        --header 'x-api-version: 1.0.0' \
        --data '{
          "@entity": "in.co.sandbox.tds.compliance.e-file.search",
          "tan": "AHMA09719B",
          "quarter": "Q2",
          "form": "26Q",
          "financial_year": "FY 2024-25",
          "from_date": 1711929600000,
          "to_date": 1750463999000,
          "page_size": 20
        }'
      ```
    </Accordion>

    Look for a job where `status` is `succeeded` for the matching form and quarter. This confirms the return is filed and you can proceed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit a Form 16A job" stepNumber={2} titleSize="h2">
    Submit a Form 16A generation job using the [**Submit Job**](/api-reference/tds/compliance/certificate-form16\(a\)/endpoints/submit_job) endpoint. Set the path to `form16a` and the `form` field to `26Q` (or `27Q` for non-resident payments).

    <Accordion title="cURL Request - Submit Form 16A Job" defaultOpen>
      ```bash theme={null}
      curl --request POST \
        --url https://api.sandbox.co.in/tds/compliance/traces/deductors/forms/form16a \
        --header 'Authorization: {sandbox-access-token}' \
        --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
        --header 'x-api-key: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx' \
        --header 'x-api-version: 1.0.0' \
        --data '{
          "@entity": "in.co.sandbox.tds.compliance.traces.credentials",
          "username": "traces-username",
          "password": "traces-password",
          "tan": "AHMA09719B",
          "security_captcha": {
            "@entity": "in.co.sandbox.tds.compliance.traces.credentials.security_captcha",
            "quarter": "Q2",
            "financial_year": "FY 2024-25",
            "form": "26Q",
            "bsr_code": "0510001",
            "challan_date": 1711929600000,
            "challan_serial_no": "00001",
            "provisional_receipt_number": "123456789012345",
            "challan_amount": 150000,
            "unique_pan_amount_combination_for_challan": [
              ["ABCDE1234F|50000"],
              ["PQRSX9876Z|50000"],
              ["LMNOP4321Q|50000"]
            ]
          },
          "remember_me": true
        }'
      ```
    </Accordion>

    A successful response returns a certificate job with:

    * `job_id` - Use this to poll status and fetch certificates
    * `status` - Typically `created` or `queued`
    * `remember_me` - Indicates whether credentials are stored for polling

    <Info>
      If `remember_me` is `true`, you can poll status without resending TRACES credentials where supported. If `remember_me` is `false`, include credentials when polling.
    </Info>

    <Warning>
      Make sure `unique_pan_amount_combination_for_challan` includes at least three PAN-amount pairs for the selected challan. TRACES uses this to validate access.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Poll and fetch certificates" stepNumber={3} titleSize="h2">
    After submitting the job, poll its status and fetch completed jobs when ready.

    ### 3.1 Poll a specific Form 16A job

    Use the [**Poll Job**](/api-reference/tds/compliance/certificate-form16\(a\)/endpoints/poll_job) endpoint with the `job_id` from Step 2:

    <Accordion title="cURL Request - Poll Form 16A Job Status" defaultOpen>
      ```bash theme={null}
      curl --request POST \
        --url 'https://api.sandbox.co.in/tds/compliance/traces/deductors/forms/form16a/status?job_id={job_id}' \
        --header 'Authorization: {sandbox-access-token}' \
        --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
        --header 'x-api-key: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx' \
        --header 'x-api-version: 1.0.0' \
        --data '{
          "@entity": "in.co.sandbox.tds.compliance.traces.credentials",
          "username": "traces-username",
          "password": "traces-password",
          "tan": "AHMA09719B"
        }'
      ```
    </Accordion>

    When processing is complete, the job `status` becomes `succeeded` or `failed`.

    ### 3.2 Fetch all Form 16A jobs and download certificates

    To list jobs for a TAN and period, use the [**Fetch Jobs**](/api-reference/tds/compliance/certificate-form16\(a\)/endpoints/fetch_job) endpoint:

    <Accordion title="cURL Request - Fetch Form 16A Jobs">
      ```bash theme={null}
      curl --request POST \
        --url https://api.sandbox.co.in/tds/compliance/traces/deductors/forms/form16a/search \
        --header 'Authorization: {sandbox-access-token}' \
        --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
        --header 'x-api-key: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx' \
        --header 'x-api-version: 1.0.0' \
        --data '{
          "@entity": "in.co.sandbox.tds.compliance.certificate.job.search",
          "tan": "AHMA09719B",
          "quarter": "Q2",
          "form": "26Q",
          "financial_year": "FY 2024-25",
          "from_date": 1711929600000,
          "to_date": 1750463999000,
          "page_size": 20
        }'
      ```
    </Accordion>

    For `status = "succeeded"`, use the certificate download URLs in the job metadata (if enabled on your plan) to download the Form 16A PDFs and store them in your system.

    <Warning>
      If the job fails, verify TRACES credentials, challan details, and that the return is processed for the selected quarter and financial year.
    </Warning>
  </Step>
</Steps>