Taxpayers in India need various documents for e-filing taxes, including Form 168 (AIS/TIS) and notices from the Income Tax Department. Security is ensured through passwords, typically combining the taxpayer’s PAN and date of birth. Different file types require unique passwords, which are outlined for easy reference.
Every taxpayer who is supposed to e-file their taxes in India are required to access several documents as a part of tax return preparation process. The documents include Form 168 of IT Act 2025 (Form 26AS, AIS of IT Act 1961), TIS, intimations, notices, ITR Forms, Form 130 of IT Act 2025 (Form 16 of IT Act 1961) etc.
The Income tax department will protect some of these documents with a password to ensure the security and confidentiality of taxpayer’s sensitive financial information.
The Income Tax Department typically uses a standard password format to secure these files. Learn more on different types of passwords needed to open different documents.
1. Annual Information Statement (Form 168 of IT Act 2025 (Form AIS of IT Act 1961)) or Tax payer Information Summary (TIS)
Form 168, aka Form AIS / TIS is a comprehensive statement which contains the details of the financial transactions undertaken by a taxpayer in a given financial year.
Form 168, aka Form AIS / TIS can be downloaded in pdf and JSON
The password for opening both pdf/JSON file is taxpayer pan in small case followed by date of birth in ddmmyyyy format
Example: Mr Laxman wants to access his Form 168, aka Form AIS in pdf format and his PAN is AAAPA1234A and date of birth is 10th April 1990 The password is
aaa
p
a
1234
a
10
04
1990
2. Defective Notice u/s 139(9) or Intimation u/s 143(1) or Rectification order u/s 154
Once the taxpayer files the income tax return or files rectification u/s 154, the Income Tax Department will process the income tax return and sends the intimation u/s 270(1) of IT Act 2025 (u/s 143(1) of IT Act 1961) or order u/s 287 of IT Act 2025 (u/s 154 of IT Act 1961) or defective notice u/s 263(9) of IT Act 2025 (u/s 139(9) of IT Act 1961) saying that the return has been processed without demand or refund, with demand or refund.
The intimation will be sent to taxpayer email or the taxpayer can download the same from Income tax portal.
The password for opening pdf files is taxpayer pan in small case followed by date of birth in ddmmyyyy format
Example: Mr Laxman received an intimation u/s 143(1) with demand and he wants to view the intimation and his PAN is AAAPA1234A and date of birth is 10th April 1990 The password for opening intimation u/s 143(1) is
aaa
p
a
1234
a
10
04
1990
3. Survey Notice u/s 133(6)
Generally Income Tax Department issues survey notices u/s 252(6) of IT Act 2025 (u/s 133(6) of IT Act 1961) asking for information on any transactions entered by taxpayer
The notices u/s 133(6) will be sent to email id of taxpayers or the taxpayers can download the same from e proceedings in Income Tax Portal
The password for opening the notice u/s 133(6) is PAN in uppercase
Example: Mr Laxman has received a notice u/s 133(6) asking to furnish more information on fixed deposits made by him during FY 2023-24 and his PAN is AAAPA1234A and date of birth is 10th April 1985 The password for opening Survey notice u/s 133(6) is
AAA
P
A
1234
A
4. Form 168 of IT Act 2025 (Form 26AS of IT Act 1961)
Form 168, aka Form 26AS is an important tax document in India, that every taxpayer need to refer at the time of Income Tax Filing, broadly contains the taxes that are paid on your PAN number.
Form 168, aka Form 26AS can be downloaded from Income tax portal and Traces
Income Tax Portal: The Form 168, aka Form 26AS can be viewed in HTML and downloaded in pdf and text file. It doesn’t have any password.
Traces: The Form 168, aka Form 26AS can be viewed in HTML and downloaded in pdf, Excel and text file. The file downloaded in pdf, excel , HTML don’t have any password. The file downloaded in text format has password which is date of birth of taxpayer in ddmmyyyy format
Example: Mr Laxman has downloaded Form 168, aka Form 26AS in text file from Traces portal and his PAN is AAAPA1234A and date of birth is 10th April 1990 The password for opening Form 168, aka Form 26AS in text format is
10
04
1990
5. Permanent Account Number (PAN)
PAN is a 10-digit alphanumeric number issued by the Income Tax Department.
If any person applies for the PAN, soft copy of PAN will be sent to email Id and hard copy will be delivered to address
Soft Copy of PAN is password protected and the password for opening file is date of birth of taxpayer in ddmmyyyy format
Example: Mr Laxman has applied for PAN and he has received PAN in his email and his PAN is AAAPA1234A and date of birth is 10th April 1990 The password for opening soft copy of PAN is
10
04
1990
6. Tax Deduction & Collection Account Number (TAN)
TAN means Tax Deduction Account Number or Tax Collection Account Number.
If any person applies for the TAN, soft copy of TAN will be sent to email Id and hard copy will be delivered to address
Soft Copy of TAN is password protected and the password for opening file is “six digit pincode mentioned in TAN Application”
Example: Mr Laxman has applied for TAN and he has received TAN in his email and his pincode is 307867. The password for opening soft copy of TAN is
307867
7. TDS Intimation
The taxpayer’s files TDS returns in Form 138 of IT Act 2025 (Form 24Q of IT Act 1961), Form 140 of IT Act 2025 (Form 26Q of IT Act 1961), Form 144 of IT Act 2025 (Form 27Q of IT Act 1961) and Form 143 of IT Act 2025 (Form 27EQ of IT Act 1961) for any deduction of TDS / TCS
The Centralized processing centre (TDS) will process the TDS/TCS returns and give the intimation if there are any defaults in the filed returns
The Password for opening such intimation is first four characters of your TAN in capital letters, followed by an underscore (_) and date of filing of regular statement in the format DDMMYYYY.
Example: Mr Laxman has filed his TDS return in Form 138, aka Form 24Q on 01st April 2026 and his TAN is HYDD12345A. He has received a intimation with defaults. The Password for opening such intimation is
HYDD
_
01
01
2026
8. TDS-Conso File
Conso file means a consolidated file containing the details of filed TDS Returns including Original and Corrections (Challans and deductee). It is mandatory for filing the TDS corrections, requesting form 130’s (aka form 16’s) or for any other activity etc.
The password for opening such Conso File is your TAN in Capital letters followed by an underscore (_) and Request number.
Example: Mr Laxman wants to file correction and requested for Conso file vide request number 6345690 and his TAN is HYDD12345A. The password for opening conso file is
HYDD
12345
A
_
6345690
9. Justification Report
Justification Report means a report which contains the reasons for the defaults filed in TDS/TCS return.
The password for opening such justification report is JR_TAN_Form type (Form 138, aka Form 24Q / Form 140, aka Form 26Q / Form 144, aka Form 27Q / Form 143, aka Form 27EQ ) _ quarter (Q1/Q2/Q3/Q4)_Financial Year
Example: Mr Laxman wants to verify the defaults in Form 138, aka Form 24Q filed by him for Q4 2024-25 and his TAN is HYDD12345A. The password for opening Justification report is
Form 26AS – Tax Credit Statement. Certain documents are essential to verify your tax obligations when filing your Income Tax Returns (ITRs), and one of those documents is Form 26AS, or tax credit statement. To ensure that tax filing is done correctly, taxpayers must understand Form 26AS, its objective, and its significance in the process.
What is Form 26AS?
Form 26AS is an annual statement that includes all the details about the tax deducted at source (TDS) or TCS on a taxpayer’s income. It includes details of self-assessment tax payments, advance tax, and high-value transactions undertaken by the taxpayer.
Note: Form 26AS format was introduced and came into effect on 1st June 2020. The new structure will contain the details of all the financial transactions and provide information about the specified financial transaction (SFT) and pending tax proceedings.
Here are some key changes and things to note for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26) that impact how you’ll use and relate to Form 26AS:
1. Enhanced Scope of AIS (Annual Information Statement): The AIS continues to be the more comprehensive statement, including details that were previously only available in Form 26AS, and much more. It now includes:
2. Importance of Cross-Verification: Even with pre-filled ITRs, it’s crucial to cross-verify the data in your Form 26AS and AIS with your own records (Form 16/16A, bank statements, etc.). Any discrepancies should be addressed with the deductor/collector for correction to avoid future tax notices.
3. Changes in ITR Forms (related to reporting data that might be in 26AS/AIS): While not directly changes to Form 26AS itself, the notified ITR forms for AY 2025-26 reflect new reporting requirements that align with the expanded data available in AIS. Some of these include:
Simplified ITR-1 and ITR-4 for Capital Gains: Taxpayers with long-term capital gains (LTCG) up to ₹1.25 lakh from listed equity shares and mutual funds can now use these simplified forms, provided there are no capital losses to carry forward or set off. This simplifies filing for small investors.
Mandatory Mention of TDS Section: If your income (other than salary) has TDS, you’ll need to mention the specific TDS section (e.g., 194J, 194C) in your ITR form to claim tax credit.
Detailed Disclosure for Opting Out of New Tax Regime: Business owners switching from the new to the old tax regime must now provide detailed disclosures in ITR-4, including past filings of Form 10-IEA.
New Capital Gains Rules from July 23, 2024: ITR forms now require reporting the date of transfer of capital assets to determine whether old or new tax rules apply. Separate reporting is also required for gains on unlisted bonds/debentures.
Buyback Proceeds as Deemed Dividends: From October 1, 2024, proceeds from buybacks by domestic listed companies are treated as deemed dividends and must be reported under “Income from Other Sources” in ITR-2, 3, and 5.
Disability Deduction Requires Certificate Acknowledgement: For deductions under Section 80DD or 80U, the acknowledgement number of the disability certificate is now required in ITR 2 and 3.
Asset and Liability Reporting Threshold Raised: The requirement to disclose assets and liabilities in Schedule AL has been raised from an income threshold of ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore.
4. Increased Due Date for ITR Filing: The CBDT has extended the due date for ITR filing for Assessment Year 2025-26 (FY 2024-25) from July 31, 2025, to September 15, 2025, for non-audit cases. This extension is to allow time for system development and utility integration due to the significant modifications in the ITR forms.
Information that can be interpreted from Form 26AS
It includes information about the cases where TDS was not deducted by submitting Form 15G or Form 15H, this applies to the senior citizens with income below the taxable limit.
PART III: TDS on Non-cash Transactions (Section 194B, 194R, 194S)
Covers TDS on benefits received in kind, such as gifts, incentive-based foreign trips, or prizes like cars won in lotteries.
PART IV: TDS on Rent, Property, Professional Fees & Virtual Digital Assets
Provides information on refunds issued by the CPC-TDS. Additional details can be checked in the AIS (Annual Information Statement) on the e-filing portal.
PART VIII: TDS Details for Buyers/Tenants/Contractors
Records TDS deductions for property buyers, tenants paying rent over Rs.50,000 per month, those making professional or contractor payments exceeding Rs.50 lakh, and buyers of virtual digital assets.
PART A:Part A of form 26as will contain basic information such as name of the individual, the details of PAN Card, Aadhar, mobile number, email address, communication address, etc.
PART B:Part B will contain information with respect to the following type of transactions:
Any other information in relation to sub-rule (2) of 114-I
How to View Form 26AS from Net Banking Facility?
A PAN holder who has a net banking account with any authorised bank is eligible to access Form 26AS. Only if your PAN number is connected to that particular account may you read your Form 26AS. This service is provided for free. The banks that have registered with NSDL to enable users to view Form 26AS include the following:
Step 1: Visit the ‘TRACES’ website by clicking on the traces link.
Step 2: Once you visit the website, click on ‘Request for 26A/27BA’, which you can find under the ‘Statement/Payments’ section.
Step 3: You will be able to view the guidelines you will have to follow to submit your Form 26A/27BA online. Click on ‘Proceed’.
Step 4: Select the Form Type, Financial Year, and Transaction Type from the drop-down menu and click on ‘Proceed’.
Step 5: As you request Form 26A/27BA, a request number will be generated. Click on ‘Go to Track Request for 26A/27BA’.
Step 6: You will then be able to view your requests for Form 26A/27BA on your screen. If you have raised a request for Non-Deduction/Collection, you will get an option to upload the file.
Step 7: Under the ‘Download’ option, click on ‘Requested Download’.
Step 8: Proceed to download the utility form.
Step 9: Enter the verification code and then click on the ‘Submit’ button.
Step 10: You can download the TRACES Sample for Non-Deduction or Non-Collection with the utility.
Step 12: After extracting the files from the utility, it is validated by running it through the JAVA application.
Step 13: Under the ‘Status’ for Non-Deduction/Non-Collection, you will find the ‘Upload Files’ option. Click on it.
Step 14: Enter the verification code.
Step 15: As you click on the ‘upload’ option, you will have to fulfill a verification process by entering a digital signature and I-PIN if redirected from the bank’s website.
Step 16: You will get confirmation from TRACES once the verification is successful.
Step 17: You can then click on ‘Go to Track Request for 26A/27BA’, where you can view the status as ‘Submitted.
Step 18: Once the request gets validated successfully, it will be sent for ‘E-filing’, after which the status will also show ‘E-filing’.
TDS Certificate vs. Form 26AS: Key Points to Cross-Check
Do not forget to check whether certain details mentioned in your form are correct or not. Make sure your name, Permanent Account Number(PAN), Deductor’s TAN, refund amount paid to you, and TDS amount on Form 26AS are correctly mentioned. These details are extremely important and in case any of the details are found to be incorrect, you will find difficulties in filing your income tax returns.
You will have to verify that your TDS as shown in the certificate has been received by the Central Government of India. You can do this by comparing the TDS data on the Form AS data with your payslips data.
Check whether the TDS shown in Form 16/16A is also reflecting on your Form 26AS correctly. If the TDS is not reflecting in your Form, then it means that the deductor has deducted the TDS but is yet to submit it to the IT department. In such a case, get in touch with your deductor immediately and get the issue resolved at the earliest.
How AIS Complements Form 26AS for Taxpayers
The Income Tax Department has come up with Annual Information Statement, also known as AIS with an aim to incorporate new information such as off market transactions, foreign remittances, mutual fund purchases, interest received on income tax refunds, break up details of salary and ITR information of another person.
The income tax department was already availing these details from the authorized bodies.
For example, banks submit Form 15CC for payment done to NRIs, transfer agents, and depositors report off market. Furthermore, salary break up details are present in Form 16 from the information uploaded by employers on the TRACES portal.
FAQs on Form 26AS
How to download Form 26AS in excel format? First, you have to log in to the e-filing account, then go to the ‘e-File’ option, click’Income Tax Returns’ and choose ‘View Form 26AS’. Now, read the disclaimers and click on ‘Confirm’. Now, click on ‘View tax credit’, select the ‘Assessment Year’, View Type’ as ‘Excel’, and click the View/Download button.
How to rectify errors in Form 26AS?One of the effective ways to correct the errors in Form 26AS is to inform the deductor and tell him to file a rectified TDS return.
What comes under Form 26AS?This form contains all information on the tax deducted from your income. It includes the details of the tax collected by collectors, self-assessment tax payments, advance tax paid by you, assessment tax deposited by you, and refund details.
What are the TDS related forms that I need to submit?In Part A1 of this form, you will have information about your income where TDS has not been deducted when you have submitted Form 15G/Form 15H.
What is the importance of Form 26AS?This form is an annual credit statement (consolidated) that is issued about your PAN. You must compare Form 16, which is received from your employer, with Form 26AS.
What do I do if the amount of advance tax paid in the bank is wrongly reflected in my Form 26AS?This may be because the bank has made an error in its data entry. You must take up this issue with your bank and rectify the amount.
Can I make changes to the address and name of the PAN holder which is there in Form 26AS?Yes, if the details of the PAN holder are incorrect, you can constantly update this. You should apply the ‘Request for new PAN card or/and changes or correction in PAN data’ option on the official website.
When does Form 26AS get updated?Form 26AS gets updated when the income tax department processes the TDS return filed by the taxpayer.
Why is Form 26AS needed?Form 26AS is needed as it offers proof of tax deducted and collected at source on behalf of taxpayers. In addition, it confirms that banks and employers have deducted specific taxes on your behalf and deposited them in the government’s account.
When will TDS reflect in Form 26AS?TDS will get reflected in Form 26AS after you file a TDS return, and it will be processed by the CPC. The entire process will take around seven days.
form 16, which your employer furnishes before filing your taxes for the relevant financial year. Form 16A reports TDS on non-salary payments like interest and dividends. It is to be noted that Form 26AS should have the same amount deducted as Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) as in Form 16 and Form 16A. However, there might be inconsistencies in the TDS amount deducted for various reasons, including clerical mistakes. Let us understand the differences that may arise and the consequences of mismatches. In this article, we will learn about the following:
Based on these details, the TIN central system matches information related to tax payments before converting it into a comprehensive ledger for the concerned PAN. This is Form 26AS.
Advance Tax and Self Assessment Tax paid by the tax payer.
Importance of Rectifying Mismatches
The Income Tax department provides a pre-fill service for ITR filing where all data is automatically captured by matching PAN . When Form 26AS is not up to date, taxpayers cannot use the pre-fill facility.
Additionally, if there is a mismatch, the IT return will be rejected, and taxpayers will have to respond to the IT notice online and explain the reasons.
It may also cause delays in processing returns, thus, delaying tax refunds. The tax return is a vital document. Thus, rectifying mismatches early will help taxpayers file ITR without any hassles.
If the TDS deducted already is not reflected in your 26AS, the TDS refund attributable might not be processed.
Reasons for Mismatches between TDS Statement and Form 26AS
There are various occasions where the TDS information in the TDS statement, Form 16 or 16A may differ from what is available in Form 26AS. The most common reasons for such mismatch(es) are listed below:
More often than not, such mismatches can be attributed to wrong information provided in the TDS return. So, please approach your employer/deductor to file a revised TDS return after making the necessary corrections.
The Income Tax department allows the assessee to mention the reason for the mismatch in the online portal in answer to a Notice sent by the department.
Consequences of TDS Mismatch
Computerized ITR processing income tax returns has made it easier to identify matches in Form 26AS and TDS statements. The income tax portal contains links that would provide access to 26AS, allowing the assessee to verify and cross-check the details. Hence, please ensure that TDS details in TDS statements and Form 26AS match to avoid any adverse consequences.
Q. How will I know if there is a tax credit mismatch in the ITR?
And. In case of a TDS mismatch, you will be served a defective notice. It will have the option to correct the TDS details either online or offline. If the defective notice remains unanswered, CPC will process the return by providing partial TDS credit and raise the demand for balance taxes due.
Q. If there is no tax credit mismatch, the message, “Tax Credit Claimed is Fully Matched with Tax Credit Available in 26AS” will be displayed. My Self-Assessment / Advance Tax in 26AS do not reflect the amounts deposited by me. What do I need to do now?
Ans. You need to validate the Challan number and your PAN in such cases.
Ans. In case of a mismatch, you may rectify the errors at your end (by filing a Rectification Request) or get them corrected by Tax Deductors by making a correction in TDS Returns/Forms like 24Q, 26Q, 27Q, 27EQ.
Q. What happens if form 16 and 26AS do not match?
Ans. Once you compare the forms and identify the error, you must inform the person responsible for deducting TDS from your income, i.e. your employer. If the reason for the mismatch is a mistake from your employer’s side, it is easier and faster for them to make corrections. The employer has to file a revised TDS Return.
July 31 – the due date for filing income tax returns for the financial year 2023-24 (assessment year 2024-25) – is drawing closer.
If you are a salaried tax-payer and have not yet received your Form-16, you can still take the first steps towards filing returns by getting all your documents in order – primarily your Form 26AS, that is the tax credit statement, Annual Information Statement (AIS), capital gain and bank statements.
Why check Form 26AS and AIS
Both Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement can be downloaded through the Income Tax portal (incometax.gov.in). If you haven’t registered already, you can do so now before commencing the process. Your Permanent Account Number (PAN) will be your user ID.
Through Form 26AS, you will be able to view details of property purchases and high-value financial transactions executed during the year besides tax deducted at source (TDS) and tax collected at source (TCS) deposited with the income tax department by deductors such as employers and banks.
AIS is an extension of Form 26AS, which provides a more extensive and comprehensive look at your taxes deducted and paid as well as other financial transactions. For instance, it will display details of tax refunds, savings account interest or dividend earned, rent received, purchase and sale transactions of securities, immovable properties, foreign remittances and so on.
Studying these two statements will ensure that you do not, inadvertently or otherwise, omit any financial transactions that are liable to tax. You will be able to identify the sources of income where tax has been deducted, which will allow you to claim credit against such deductions.
You need to be particularly alert while reconciling the details of high-value financial transactions (SFT) that you may have carried out during the year with the data in Form 26AS. For example, the statement will display cash deposits of over Rs 10 lakh in your savings accounts in a financial year or purchase of property worth over Rs 30 lakh. Any discrepancy on these counts that goes unrectified can lead to tax notices in future.
Flag mismatch, get discrepancies resolved
A comparison of your Form-16, income statements and bank interest certificates, among other things, can help you detect any mismatch between data on transactions and tax deducted in Form 26AS, AIS and your records. Do not ignore any discrepancies and these could trigger queries and even notices from the income-tax department.
A comparison of your Form-16, income statements and bank interest certificates, among other things, can help you detect any mismatch between data on transactions and tax deducted in Form 26AS, AIS and your records. Do not ignore any discrepancies and these could trigger queries and even notices from the income-tax department.
Now, it is not possible to get your grievances around Form 26AS mismatches resolved through the I-T portal. You will have to approach your tax deductor (for instance, employer or bank) or collector to get the errors rectified. Since these tasks can be time-consuming, it is best to commence the return-filing process well in advance so that you have time to complete the reconciliation and rectification, if needed.
To raise a dispute on any figures mentioned in Part B of the statement (which contains income, TDS, SFT details, etc), you need to click ‘Bulk feedback’, select the specific transaction where you have spotted the error, and then click on ‘Continue’. Under the ‘Feedback type’ dropdown menu, select the appropriate grounds of complaint and hit ‘Submit’. If your argument is accepted, AIS will then reflect the value reported by the dedcutors as well as data modified after your feedback.
If details of your income and taxation as per Form-16, bank statements tally with your Form 26AS and AIS, your path to quick and error-free ITR filing will become clearer.
Summary of Form 26AS Form 26AS is an essential statement that provides various details related to tax deductions, collections, payments, refunds, and high-value transactions. This form comprises several parts, including details of tax deducted at source, tax collected at source, tax paid, paid refunds, SFT transactions, TDS defaults, and turnover as per GSTR-3B.
One can access Form 26AS through the TRACES portal or the net banking facility of their bank. It is beneficial for taxpayers as it enables them to review their financial transactions involving TDS/TCS, compute income, claim tax credits, and verify refunds.
Notably, a new version of Form 26AS was introduced on 1 June 2020, expanding its scope to include additional data such as specified financial transactions, tax demands, tax refunds, and pending/completed income tax proceedings. This update aims to enhance tax compliance and accuracy in tax payments.
The new AIS, effective 1 June 2020, will also include information on specified financial transactions, pending and completed assessment proceedings, tax demands, refunds and the existing data presented in the form.
Part A2: Details of Tax Deducted at Source on the Sale of Immovable Property u/s194(IA)/TDS on Rent of Property u/s 194IB/TDS on Payment to Resident contractors and professionals u/s 194M(For Seller/Landlord of Property/ Payee of resident contractors and professionals)
Part B: Details of Tax Collected at Source
Part C: Details of Tax Paid (other than TDS or TCS)
Part D: Details of Paid Refund
Part E: Details of SFT Transaction
Part F: Details of Tax Deducted at Source on the sale of Immovable Property u/s194(IA)/TDS on Rent of Property u/s 194IB/TDS on payment to resident contractors and professionals u/s 194M(For Buyer/Tenant of Property/Payer of resident contractors and professionals)
Part G: TDS Defaults* (processing of Statements)
Part H: Details of Turnover as per GSTR-3B
Part A: Details of Tax Deducted at Source
Part A of Form 26AS contains TDS details deducted from your salary, interest income, pension income, prize winnings, etc. It also includes the TAN of the deductor and the amount of TDS deducted and deposited to the government. This information is provided every quarter.
Part A1: Details of Tax Deducted at Source for 15G/15H
Details of income where no TDS has been deducted are given here since the taxpayer has submitted Form 15G or Form 15H. You can verify the status of the TDS deduction if you have submitted Form 15G or Form 15H. If you have not submitted Form 15G or Form 15H, this section will display ‘No transactions present’.
Part A2: Details of the following entries are mentioned here:
TDS on sale of immovable property u/s194(IA) (for the seller of property)
TDS on rent of property u/s 194IB (for the landlord of property)
Part B shows the Tax Collected at Source (TCS) by the seller of goods. Entries in Form 26AS will show the seller’s details who have collected tax from you.
Part C: Details of Tax Paid (Other than TDS or TCS)
If you have deposited any tax yourself, that information will appear here. Details of advance tax. as well as self-assessment tax, are present here. It also contains challan details (BSR code, date of deposit, CIN) through which the tax was deposited.
Part D: Details of Paid Refund
Information regarding your refund will be presented in this section if any. The assessment year to which the refund pertains, along with the mode of payment, the amount paid and interest paid, and the date of payment, are mentioned.
Part E: Details of SFT Transaction
Banks and other financial institutions must report high-value transactions to the tax authorities. High-value purchases of mutual funds, property purchases, and corporate bonds are all reported here.
Part F: Details of Tax Deducted at Source on the sale of Immovable Property u/s194(IA)/TDS on Rent of Property u/s 194IB/TDS on payment to resident contractors and professionals u/s 194M
Form 26AS can be downloaded on the TRACES website. Below are the steps to view and download Form 26AS from the TRACES website.
Step 1: Visit the e-filing website
Step 2: Enter your user ID- It can be either PAN or Aadhaar number. If the user ID is invalid, error message will be displayed. Continue with valid user ID details.
Step 3
Enter the password and continue.
Step 4
The following screen will appear. Go to ‘e-file’. Click on ‘Income Tax Returns’ and select ‘View Form 26AS’ in the drop-down.
View Form 26AS
Step 5
Click on ‘Confirm’ to the disclaimer so that you are redirected to the TRACES website (don’t worry, this is a necessary step and is completely safe since it is a government website).
TRACES Website
Step 6: You are now on the TRACES (TDS-CPC) website. Select the box on the screen and click on ‘Proceed’.
Step 7: Click on the link at the bottom of the page – Click ‘View Tax Credit (Form 26AS)’ to view your Form 26AS.
Step 8: Choose the Assessment Year and the format you want to see Form 26AS.If you want to see it online, leave the format as HTML. You can also choose to download it as a PDF. After you have made your choice, enter the ‘Verification Code’ and click on the ‘View/Download’ button.
Step 9: After the download, you can view Form 26AS by opening it.
How to view Form 26AS from net banking facility?
The facility to view Form 26AS is available to a PAN holder having a net banking account with any authorised bank. You can view your Form 26AS only if your PAN number is linked to that particular account. This facility is available for free. The list of banks registered with NSDL through which you can view your Tax Credit Statement (Form 26AS) are as below:
How to use the income tax department’s e-filing website?
The first step is to either login or register on the e-filing website. After entering your PAN number under the ‘Taxpayer’ tab, the website will tell you if you’re already registered.
If you’ve e-filed before, the chances are that you might already be registered. Please search your email inbox for ‘incometax.gov.in’ to look for information that might be useful.
Log in through your user ID and password, and you can use the portal for income tax-related compliances.
Note: Your user ID is your PAN number. If you don’t remember your password, you need to reset your password.
Benefits of Form 26AS
Form 26AS provides important information about tax deducted/collected and deposited with the government tax authorities by the authorised deductors/collectors.
A taxpayer can view all financial transactions involving TDS/TCS for the relevant financial year in Form 26AS.
The government is yet to notify or clarify the specified financial transactions reportable in the new Form 26AS. The new form is in line with the Budget 2020 announcement to facilitate compliance and correct payment of taxes.
Detailed step-by-step instructions for viewing and downloading Form 26AS via the Income Tax India e-Filing Portal, also through TRACES, and net banking. Also, it explains the importance of Form 26AS to have good tax compliance and file your returns correctly.
1. What is Form 26AS ?
Form26AS is an important tax document in India, that every tax payer need to refer at the time of Income Tax Filing, broadly contains the taxes that are paid on your PAN number.
Tax deducted at source on Salary, Interest Income or Other Income
Tax Collected at Source by the Seller
Advance Tax Paid / Self-Assessment tax during the Financial Year (W.e.f AY 2023-24, this information is not available in Form 26AS.Taxpayer needs to refer AIS for the challan details)
Refund received during the year and other related information (W.e.f AY 2023-24, this information is not available in Form 26AS.Taxpayer needs to refer AIS for the refund details. Only TDS refund will be available in Form 26AS)
Details of SFT (Statement of Financial Transactions) like Cash Deposits in Current Account, other than current account, Sale or Purchase of Immovable Property, Sale or Purchase of Mutual Funds, Payment of Credit Cards, Purchase of Foreign Exchange Currency etc (W.e.f AY 2023-24, this information is not available in Form 26AS.Taxpayer needs to refer AIS for the SFT details)
Details of TDS Defaults (for the TAN holders)
Details of GST Turnover as per GSTR 3B (for GST registered dealers)etc (W.e.f AY 2023-24, this information is not available in Form 26AS.Taxpayer needs to refer AIS for the GST details)
4. Instructions to download Form 26AS from Income Tax India e-Filing Portal
Enter the User Id (PAN / AADHAR / OTHER USER ID). Now click on login.
Step 3.
After login, the following screen will appear. Go to e-File and click Income Tax Return and click on View Form 26AS (Tax Credit) in the drop-down menu.
Step 4:
Click on confirm so that you will be re directed to TDS-CPC (Traces) website to view your form 26AS.
Step 5:
Now you are on the Traces Website (TDS-CPC). Select the box and proceed.
Step 6:
Click on the link View Tax credit (Form 26AS) at the bottom of the page to view form 26AS.
Step 7:
Select the Assessment year, format (HTML / text) in which you want to see your Form 26AS, and click on view /download.
If you want to see the form 26AS in online, select the format as HTML
If you want to download the 26AS in text format, select the format as ‘text’.
If you want to download the 26AS in pdf, select the format as View as HTML, Click on View/Download and Click on Export as pdf to download in pdf.
Step 8:
The password for opening your form 26AS is your date of birth (DOB) in ddmmyyyy format. For example, if your DOB is 01-Jul-1974, enter the password as 01071974)
5. Instructions to view Form 26AS through Internet Banking
A tax payer who has internet banking access with a bank authorised by the Income Tax Department to show tax credit can use this facility.
Salaried Individuals for AY 2023-24: Returns and Forms Applicable for Salaried Individuals for AY 2023-24
1. ITR-1 (SAHAJ) – Applicable for Individual
This return is applicable for a Resident (other than Not Ordinarily Resident) Individual having Total Income from any of the following sources up to ₹ 50 lakh
Salary / Pension
One House Property
Salary / Pension One House Property Other sources (Interest, Family Pension, Dividend etc.)
Agricultural Income up to ₹ 5,000
Note: ITR-1 cannot be used by a person who: (a) is a Director in a company (b) has held any unlisted equity shares at any time during the previous year (c) has any asset (including financial interest in any entity) located outside India (d) has signing authority in any account located outside India (e) has income from any source outside India (f) is a person in whose case tax has been deducted u/s 194N (g) is a person in whose case payment or deduction of tax has been deferred on ESOP (h) who has any brought forward loss or loss to be carried forward under any head of income
2. ITR-2 – Applicable for Individual and HUF
This return is applicable for Individual and Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
Not having Income under the head Profits and Gains of Business or Profession
Who is not eligible for filing ITR-1
3. ITR-3- Applicable for Individual and HUF
This return is applicable for Individual and Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
Having Income under the head Profits and Gains of Business or Profession
Who is not eligible for filing ITR-1, ITR-2 or ITR-4
4. ITR-4 (SUGAM) – Applicable for Individual, HUF and Firm (other than LLP)
This return is applicable for an Individual or Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), who is Resident other than Not Ordinarily Resident or a Firm (other than LLP) which is a Resident having Total Income up to ₹ 50 lakh and having income from Business or Profession which is computed on a presumptive basis (u/s 44AD / 44ADA / 44AE) and income from any of the following sources:
Salary / Pension
One House Property
Other sources (Interest, Family Pension, Dividend etc.)
Agricultural Income up to ₹ 5,000
Note:
ITR-4 cannot be used by a person who: (a) is a Director in a company (b) has held any unlisted equity shares at any time during the previous year (c) has any asset (including financial interest in any entity) located outside India (d) has signing authority in any account located outside India (e) has income from any source outside India (f) is a person in whose case payment or deduction of tax has been deferred on ESOP (g) who has any brought forward loss or loss to be carried forward under any head of income
Please note that ITR-4 (Sugam) is not mandatory. It is a simplified return form to be used by an Assessee, at his option, if he is eligible to declare Profits and Gains from Business or Profession on presumptive basis u/s 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE.
1. Form 12BB – Particulars of claims by an employee for deduction of tax (u/s 192)
Provided by
Details provided in the form
An Employee to his Employer(s)
Evidence or particulars of HRA, LTC, Deduction of Interest on home loan, Tax Saving Claims / Deductions on eligible payments or investments for the purpose of calculating Tax to be Deducted at Source (TDS)
Income of employee, Deductions / Exemptions and Tax Deducted at Source for the purpose of Computing Tax Payable / Refundable
3. Form 16A – Certificate u/s 203 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for TDS on Income other than Salary
Provided by
Details provided in the form
Deductor to Deductee
Form 16A is a Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) Certificate issued quarterly that captures the amount of TDS, Nature of Payments and the TDS Payments deposited with the Income Tax Department
4. Form 67- Statement of Income from a country or specified territory outside India and Foreign Tax Credit
Submitted by
Details provided in the form
Taxpayer on or before the due date specified for furnishing the ITRs u/s 139(1)
Income from a country or specified territory outside India and Foreign Tax Credit claimed
5. Form 26AS
Provided by
Details provided in the form
Income Tax Department (It is available on e-Filing Portal: Login > e-File > Income Tax Return > View Form 26AS)
Tax Deducted / Collected at Source.
Note: Information (Advance Tax/SAT, Details of refund, SFT Transaction, TDS u/s 194 IA,194 IB,194M, TDS defaults) which were available in 26AS will now be available in AIS mentioned below.
6. AIS- Annual Information Statement
Provided by
Details provided in the form
Income Tax Department (It can be accessed in Services menu after logging on to Income Tax e-Filing portal)
Tax Deducted / Collected at Source SFT Information Payment of taxes Demand / Refund Other information (like Pending/Completed proceedings, GST Information, Information received from foreign government etc)
Path to access AIS: Go to e-filing portal > login > Services > AIS
7. Form 15G – Declaration by resident taxpayer (not being a Company or Firm) claiming certain receipts without deduction of tax
Submitted by
Details provided in the form
A Resident Individual less than 60 years or HUF or any other Person (other than Company / Firm) to Bank for not deducting TDS on Interest Income, if the income is below basic exemption limit
Estimated Income for the FY
8. Form 15H – Declaration to be made by a resident individual (who is 60 years age or more) claiming certain receipts without deduction of tax
Submitted by
Details provided in the form
A Resident Individual, 60 years or more to Bank for not deducting TDS on Interest Income
Estimated Income for the FY
9. Form 10E – Form for furnishing particulars of Income for claiming relief u/s 89(1) when Salary is paid in arrears or advance
10% – Taxable Income above ₹ 50 lakh – up to ₹ 1 crore
15% – Taxable Income above ₹ 1 crore – up to ₹ 2 crore
25% – Taxable Income above ₹ 2 crore – up to ₹ 5 crore
37% – Taxable Income above ₹ 5 crore
Maximum rate of Surcharge on Income by way of Dividend or Income under the provisions of Sections 111A, 112, and112A is 15%
What is Marginal Relief?
Marginal relief is a Relief from Surcharge, provided in cases where the Surcharge payable exceeds the additional income that makes the person liable for Surcharge. The amount payable as Surcharge shall not exceed the amount of income earned exceeding ₹ 50 lakh, ₹ 1 crore, ₹ 2 crore or ₹ 5 crore respectively
What is Health and Education cess?
Health & Education cess @ 4% shall also be paid on the amount of income tax plus Surcharge (if any)
Investments / Payments / Incomes on which I can get tax benefit
These deductions will not be available to a taxpayer opting for the New Tax Regime u/s 115BAC, except for deduction u/s 80CCD (2), 80CCH which will be applicable for New Tax Regime as well.
Deduction towards payments made to Pension Scheme of Central Government, excluding deduction claimed under 80CCD (1)
Deduction limit of ₹ 50,000
Section 80CCD(2)
Deduction towards contribution made by an employer to the Pension Scheme of Central Government If the Employer is a PSU or OthersDeduction limit of 10% of salary If the Employer is Central or State GovernmentDeduction limit of 14% of salary
Section 80CCH
Deduction in respect of contribution to Agnipath Scheme
Where an assessee, being an individual enrolled in the Agnipath Scheme and subscribing to the Agniveer Corpus Fund on or after the 1st day of November, 2022, has in the previous year paid or deposited any amount in his account in the said fund
Allowed a deduction in the computation of total income, of the whole of the amount so paid or deposited
Where the Central Government makes any contribution to the account of an assessee in the Agniveer Corpus Fund
Allowed a deduction in the computation of total income of the whole of the amount so contributed
Section 80D
Deduction towards payments made to Health Insurance Premium & Preventive Health check up
For Self / Spouse or Dependent Children
₹ 25,000 (₹ 50,000 if any person is a Senior Citizen) ₹ 5,000 for preventive health check up, included in above limit
For Parents
₹ 25,000 (₹50,000 if any person is a Senior Citizen) ₹ 5,000 for preventive health check up, included in above limit
Deduction towards Medical Expenditure incurred on a Senior Citizen, if no premium is paid on health insurance coverage
For Self/ Spouse or Dependent Children
Deduction limit of ₹ 50,000
For Parents
Deduction limit of ₹ 50,000
Section 80DD
Deduction towards payments made towards maintenance or medical treatment of a Disabled Dependent or Paid / Deposited any amount under relevant approved scheme
Flat deduction of ₹ 75,000 available for a person with Disability, irrespective of expense incurredThe deduction is ₹ 1,25,000 if the person has Severe Disability (80% or more).=
Section 80DDB
Deduction towards payments made towards Medical treatment of Self or Dependant for specified diseases
Deduction limit of ₹ 40,000 (₹ 1,00,000 if Senior Citizen)
Section 80E
Deduction towards interest payments made on loan for higher education of Self or relative
Total amount paid towards interest on loan taken
Section 80EE
Deduction towards interest payments made on loan taken for acquisition of residential house property where the loan is sanctioned between 1st April 2016 to 31st March 2017
Deduction limit of ₹ 50,000 on the interest paid on loan taken
Deduction limit of ₹ 1,50,000 on the interest paid on loan taken
Section 80G
Deduction towards Donations made to prescribed Funds, Charitable Institutions, etc. Donation are eligible for deduction under the below categories
Without any limit
100% deduction 50% deduction
Note: No deduction shall be allowed under this section in respect of donation made in cash exceeding ₹ 2000/-
Subject to qualifying limit
100% deduction 50% deduction
Section 80GG
Deduction towards rent paid for house & applicable to only those who are self-employed or for whom HRA is not part of Salary
Least of the following shall be allowed as deduction
Rent paid reduced by 10% of Total Income before this deduction
₹ 5,000 per month
25% of Total Income (excluding long term capital gains, short term capital gains under section 111A or income under section 115A or 115D)
Note: Form 10BA to be filled for claiming this deduction.
Section 80GGA
Deduction towards Donations made for Scientific Research or Rural Development
Donation are eligible for deduction under the below categories:
Research Association or University, College or other Institution forScientific ResearchSocial Science or Statistical Research
Association or Institution for Rural DevelopmentConservation of Natural Resources or for Afforestation
PSU or Local Authority or an association or institution approved by the National Committee for carrying out any eligible project
Funds notified by Central Government forAfforestationRural Development
National Urban Poverty Eradication Fund as setup and notified by Central Government
Note: No deduction shall be allowed under this Section in respect of donation made in cash exceeding ₹ 2000/- or if Gross Total Income includes income from Profit / Gains of Business / Profession
Section 80GGC
Deduction towards Donations made to Political Party or Electoral Trust
Deduction towards Donations made to Political Party or Electoral Trust
Deduction on interest received on deposits by Resident Senior Citizens
Deduction limit of ₹ 50,000/-
Section 80U
Deductions for a resident individual taxpayer with Disability
Flat ₹ 75,000 deduction for a person with Disability, irrespective of expense incurredFlat ₹ 1,25,000 deduction for a person with Severe Disability (80% or more), irrespective of expense incurred
Misreporting of income and claiming wrongful deductions while filing the Income Tax Return (ITR) for AY 2023-24 can lead to serious consequences, according to Income Tax Department.
Mitali Madhusmita, Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana region, recently said that many taxpayers have claimed refunds of as high as 75% to 90% of the TDS deducted by the employer.
Addressing media last week, the Income Tax official said a large number of salaried taxpayers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have been found to have claimed wrong deductions/exemptions in their ITRs. They have claimed refunds based on those wrongful deductions/exemptions.
Talking about the consequences of wrongful deduction/exemption claims, Mitali Madhusmita said that under the Income-tax Act,1961, there are stringent consequences of misreporting income and claiming wrongful deductions. Such consequences include interest @ 12%/year, penalty @ 200% of taxes and prosecution which may entail imprisonment.
“Under the Income-tax Act,1961(the ‘Act’) there are stringent consequences of misreporting of income and claiming wrongful deductions. Those include interest @ 12% /yr, penalty @ 200% of taxes, prosecution which may entail imprisonment,” the official said.
As per Income Tax rules, no proof of deductions/exemptions claimed is required to be uploaded while filing the returns. Also, returns are also processed expeditiously and refunds are automatically credited to the bank account of the taxpayer.
However, taxpayers should ensure that they are claiming the right deductions/exemptions and they should keep documents as proof to show in case the tax department sends a notice in future.
Mitali Madhusmita said that the Income Tax Department has taken several initiatives to ensure ease of compliance for taxpayers and encourage voluntary compliance. ITR form has been simplified and the process of e-filing has been made seamless.
The due date to file ITR for AY 2023-24 for most taxpayers, whose accounts don’t need to be audited is July 31. Till 2nd July 2023, more than 1.32 crore ITRs have been filed for AY 2023-24.
It is important to have the original copy of Form 16, and employers have to issue this before the due date of filling the return.
Technically, Form 16 is a certificate issued by an employer to an employee that lists the total salary paid to the employee during a financial year, as well as the amount of tax that was withheld (deducted) from the employee’s salary by the employer.
Form 16 is important for an employee because it serves as proof of income and tax paid, and is required when an employee files his/her income tax return.
“The form contains important information, such as the employee’s permanent account number (PAN), the employer’s tax deduction and collection account number (TAN), and the employee’s salary details, including any deductions that have been made under various sections of the Income-tax Act, 1961,” says Suneel Dasari, founder, CEO, EZTax.in, an online income tax filing portal.
Things To Keep In Mind For Form16
Verify that the form is authentic: It is important to make sure that the form issued by your employer is correct in all respects, including the TAN and PAN number mentioned on the form, which should also match the employer’s details.
Check the dates on the form: The Form 16 should be for the financial year for which you are filing your income tax return. For example, if you are filing your return for the financial year 2022-2023, the form should have the dates April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.
Ensure the total amount of tax paid matches: The total amount of tax paid by the employer should match with the amount of tax paid by you. If there is a difference, reach out to your employer to clarify the discrepancy.
Check if all the deductions are mentioned: Make sure that all deductions, such as house rent allowance (HRA) and standard deduction, are included in the form.
Check details of all tax deductions: The form should have the details of all the tax deductions, such as those under Section 80C for investments in specified schemes, and 80D for medical insurance.
Keep the original copy: Keep the original copy of Form 16 safe, as that will help you file the return correctly.
Due date of filing: The Form 16 should be issued by your employer well in advance, so that you are able to file your return before the due date, which is usually July 31.
Form 26AS has two parts – Part A and Part B.
Part A contains details of taxes that have been paid or deducted by various deductors, such as employers, banks, and other financial institutions. It includes information on taxes that have been deducted at source (TDS), as well as taxes that have been collected at source (TCS).
Part B contains information on taxes paid by the taxpayer through self-assessment or advance tax, as well as any refunds that have been issued to the taxpayer by the income tax department.
Importance of Form 26AS: It is important to check Form 26AS before filing the income tax return, as it contains important information that is required to be filled in the income tax return.
Adds Bajaj: “If there is any discrepancy between the TDS/TCS/advance tax as shown in Form 26AS and what is filled in the return, then it may lead to a notice from the income tax department for the same. It will also help the taxpayer to verify whether tax has been deducted by the employers or tax deductors, where one has multiple sources of income.”
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