Employment Documents (India)
Appointment/offer letter at hiring; relieving + experience letters at exit; Form 16 proves salary + tax.
Do it on the official site
Employer HR (all letters; Form 16 via TRACES). Escalation: area Labour Commissioner / Labour Court. Tax: incometaxindia.gov.in.
- Fees
Employer docs free; a legal notice/complaint may carry a lawyer cost [confirmed free for docs]
- Processing time
Relieving/experience: last day to 7–30 days; Form 16 by 15 June
- How long it lasts
Permanent records; Form 16 tied to the FY
What to know first
- Relieving letter = released on a date (notice/dues cleared); experience letter = full tenure/role/conduct — new employers ask for both.
- Form 16 (Sec 203) is the key salary + tax proof, issued by 15 June.
- Withholding docs/dues can be challenged as an unfair labour practice.
- Use Form 16 / payslips / PF records as alternate proof if HR withholds letters.
How to do it
- 1Keep the appointment letter → at exit serve notice, clear dues, request relieving + experience letters → get Form 16 by 15 June.
- 2If refused: written request → legal notice → Labour Commissioner complaint (use Form 16/payslips/PF as alternate proof).
What you need to bring
- Resignation + acceptance; notice-completion proof; full-and-final settlement; appointment letter; payslips/bank credits; Form 16; EPFO/PF passbook
In person
Employer HR; area Labour Commissioner; Labour Court; labour-law advocate; IT Dept/TRACES
Questions people ask
- Relieving vs experience letter?
- Relieving = release date; experience = full tenure.
- Employer won't give a relieving letter?
- Written request → legal notice → Labour Commissioner; use Form 16/payslips/PF as alternates.
- What does Form 16 prove?
- Salary + tax deducted and deposited.
Documents that travel with it
Sources
- incometaxindia.gov.in form-16; cleartax.in/s/what-is-form-16; taggd.in relieving-vs-experience (accessed 2026-06-26)