Before filing your ITR for FY 2025–26, always download and review both Form 26AS and AIS (Annual Information Statement) from the income tax portal. These two documents are your primary source of truth — and any discrepancy between them and your filed return can trigger an automatic notice from the CPC.
Form 26AS vs AIS — Key Differences
| Feature | Form 26AS (TRACES) | AIS (Annual Information Statement) |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | TDS deducted on your income, advance tax, self-assessment tax paid | All financial transactions reported on your PAN — comprehensive 360° view |
| Data sources | Employer TDS returns (24Q), bank TDS (26Q), property buyer TDS (26QB) | TDS returns + Securities transactions + MF redemptions + Bank interest + Property purchase/sale + Foreign remittances + GST turnover |
| Mutual fund data | Not shown | All buy/sell transactions in mutual funds |
| Property data | TDS on property if buyer deducted | Both purchase and sale transactions reported |
| Dividends | TDS on dividends (if deducted) | All dividend income (listed companies) |
| Foreign transactions | Not directly | Foreign remittances sent/received |
| Where to download | incometax.gov.in → e-File → View Form 26AS | incometax.gov.in → Services → Annual Information Statement |
TIS (Taxpayer Information Summary)
AIS comes with TIS (Taxpayer Information Summary) — a simplified aggregated view derived from AIS. TIS shows the aggregate of all your income sources in a summarized form. It's the easiest document to start with. The income tax portal uses TIS for auto-filling your ITR pre-filed data.
How to Reconcile Form 26AS and AIS Before Filing
- Download AIS → check TIS for high-level income summary
- Download Form 26AS → verify TDS credits match your employer's Form 16 and bank TDS certificates
- Compare AIS vs your actual income: any income shown in AIS that you don't recognize?
- If AIS shows wrong data: submit 'Feedback' in the AIS portal — mark it as 'Income not received' or 'Partially correct'
- Cross-check capital gains shown in AIS (MF/equity sales) with your broker statement
- Ensure all TDS credits in 26AS are claimed in your ITR
What Happens if You Ignore AIS Discrepancies?
The Income Tax Department's AI-powered processing (CPC) automatically matches your ITR with AIS and Form 26AS data. If you report income lower than what AIS shows, you'll receive an automated intimation under Section 143(1) with a tax demand. The safest approach: report all income shown in AIS (even if it appears wrong) and submit AIS feedback for corrections. This creates a paper trail that protects you.