TRACES Portal Gets a Major Overhaul: New URL, Revamped Interface & What Every Deductor Must Know
Effective from April 1, 2026
The TRACES portal has been revamped. The old URL www.tdscpc.gov.in now automatically redirects to the new portal at traces.tdscpc.gov.in. Read on to understand the full impact on your TDS workflow.
India’s tax compliance landscape just received a significant digital upgrade. The TRACES portal — the backbone of TDS reconciliation and administration for crores of deductors and taxpayers — has been relaunched with a new URL, a refreshed interface, and a structured dual-layer system designed to smoothly transition from the Income Tax Act, 1961 to the newly operative Income Tax Act, 2025.
If you’ve been accessing www.tdscpc.gov.in recently and found yourself redirected to a completely different-looking page, you’re not alone — and you haven’t done anything wrong. The Income Tax Department has upgraded the infrastructure under the new law, and this guide walks you through every change: what’s new, what remains the same, and how to navigate the dual-interface system with confidence.
Why Was TRACES Revamped?
The Income Tax Act, 2025 — which came into force on April 1, 2026 — replaces the Income Tax Act, 1961 as the primary direct tax legislation in India. This landmark structural reform consists of 536 sections across 23 chapters, introducing simplified language, modernised compliance procedures, and a restructured TDS framework. Concepts like the “Tax Year” now replace the older “Previous Year/Assessment Year” terminology, and TDS thresholds have been substantially revised.
To support this transition, three major Income Tax Department portals have been upgraded in 2026:
- CBDT Official Website — www.incometaxindia.gov.in — already revamped with Act 2025 documentation
- E-Filing Portal — www.incometax.gov.in — revamped with new tax payment flows and updated ITR forms
- TRACES Portal — now at traces.tdscpc.gov.in — the latest in the revamp sequence
This phased approach ensures taxpayers and deductors can adapt without disruption. Existing compliance obligations under the 1961 Act are still accessible in the system, even as new workflows under the 2025 Act get their own dedicated interface.
The New URL: What Changed
The most visible change is the URL itself. The old address — www.tdscpc.gov.in — automatically redirects to the new portal at:
https://traces.tdscpc.gov.in/ — Bookmark this now. The old domain redirects here automatically, but using the new URL directly is best practice going forward.
The domain shift to the subdomain-based traces.tdscpc.gov.in also signals a structural intent — the TDSCPC (TDS Centralised Processing Centre) infrastructure is being reorganised to serve both 1961 Act and 2025 Act workloads side by side, with clear architectural separation between the two.
The Dual-Interface Architecture: Old & New Together
Here’s the most practically important aspect of the new TRACES setup. The revamped portal does not replace all existing functionality at once. Instead, it uses a dual-interface design — the new homepage for 2025 Act compliance, and a gateway button that opens the old interface for everything under the 1961 Act:
Legacy Compliance Hub
- Access via “Compliance under Income-Tax Act, 1961” button
- All TDS returns, corrections & filings under the 1961 Act
- Form 16/16A/16B/16C/16D/16E/27D downloads
- Conso File & Justification Report downloads
- Form 26AS & Annual Tax Statement
- 26QB/26QC/26QD workflows
- Lower/Nil Deduction Certificates (Forms 13, 15C, 15D, 15E)
- All historical TDS data & past corrections
Modern Compliance Hub
- Dedicated to Income Tax Act, 2025 compliances
- New TDS provisions with revised section numbering
- Flutter-based modern UI with redesigned navigation
- New Form 121 (merged 15G & 15H)
- Revised TDS thresholds per Act 2025
- Tax Year concept (no Previous Year/AY duality)
- Progressive feature rollout underway
Historical TDS data, past compliance records, and all workflows under the Income Tax Act, 1961 are still available exclusively through the old interface. Always use the “Compliance under Income-Tax Act, 1961” button on the new homepage for any legacy work — Form 16 downloads, past corrections, 26AS, Conso Files, etc.
Login Changes: Simpler Than Before
The login mechanism has been meaningfully simplified. Here’s exactly what changed:
| Login Field | Old TRACES | New TRACES |
|---|---|---|
| User ID | Required | Removed |
| TAN | Required | Required |
| Password | Required | Required |
| Captcha | Required | Required |
| Old Password Valid? | — | ✓ Yes |
The removal of the User ID field is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement. Your TAN now serves as the primary identifier, reducing the login to two credentials — TAN + Password — plus captcha. No re-registration, no fresh password creation.
Your existing password set on the old TRACES portal is fully valid on the new portal. Simply enter your TAN, your current password, and complete the captcha. No reset or re-registration required.
Step-by-Step: How to Login
Navigate to the New URL
Go to https://traces.tdscpc.gov.in/ — or type the old URL; it will redirect automatically.
Choose Your Login Type
Select Deductor, Tax Payer, or PAO from the login options on the homepage.
Enter TAN & Password
Enter your TAN (no separate User ID needed) and your existing password.
Clear the Captcha
Enter the captcha displayed on screen to complete verification.
Access Old Interface (for 1961 Act Work)
Click “Compliance under Income-Tax Act, 1961” for all past TDS filings, Form 16 downloads, corrections, and 26AS access.
Key TDS-Relevant Changes Under Income Tax Act, 2025
| Provision | Under Act 1961 | Under Act 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| New Tax Regime | Section 115BAC | Section 202 |
| TDS on Interest — Threshold | ₹40,000 (general) / ₹50,000 (seniors) | ₹1,00,000 (unified) |
| Non-Deduction Declaration Form | Form 15G / Form 15H (separate) | Form 121 (merged) |
| Time Concept | Previous Year + Assessment Year | Tax Year (single) |
| Return of Income | Section 139 | Section 263 |
| Tax Rebate | Section 87A | Section 156 |
| Medical Insurance Deduction | Section 80D | Section 126 |
| Income Exemptions | Section 10 | Section 11 |
The Bigger Picture: India’s Digital Tax Overhaul
The TRACES revamp is part of a coordinated digital transformation of the Income Tax Department’s entire infrastructure, triggered by the enactment of the Income Tax Act, 2025. All three primary portals of the CBDT ecosystem have now been aligned with the new law, following a phased rollout that began with the CBDT website and E-Filing portal earlier in the year.
The Income Tax Act, 2025 introduces several structural shifts beyond just section renumbering. The most impactful for daily compliance work include the adoption of a Tax Year concept (replacing the “Previous Year + Assessment Year” duality that existed for over six decades), a significantly raised TDS threshold on interest income (from ₹40,000–₹50,000 to a unified ₹1,00,000), and the merger of Forms 15G and 15H into a single Form 121. These aren’t cosmetic changes — they will affect how statements are filed, how certificates are processed, and how Annual Tax Statements are structured going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to Watch For Next
The Income Tax Department has signalled a phased migration approach — historical data and legacy workflows will progressively be integrated into the new portal UI as the transition matures. Deductors, tax professionals, and CAs should watch for:
- Progressive migration of 1961 Act workflows into the new portal interface
- New TDS statement formats under the Tax Year concept
- New Annual Tax Statement format aligned with Income Tax Act, 2025
- CBDT notifications and circulars on transition timelines
- Updates to the TRACES mobile app reflecting the new interface
New URL: https://traces.tdscpc.gov.in/
Old URL: www.tdscpc.gov.in → auto-redirects to new portal
Login: TAN + Password + Captcha (User ID field removed)
Old password: Valid — no reset needed
1961 Act work: Click “Compliance under Income-Tax Act, 1961” button
2025 Act work: Use the main new portal interface directly
TaxRoutine will continue tracking these changes and updating this guide as new notifications are issued. Bookmark this page and stay tuned to our blog for the latest updates on TRACES and all Income Tax Act, 2025 compliance developments.