Form 26AS: View, Download & Understand Your Tax Credit Statement
Quick Summary
- Form 26AS is a consolidated Tax Credit Statement issued by the Income Tax Department of India, linked to your PAN, and accessible free of cost on the Income Tax e-filing portal.
- It primarily reflects TDS deducted and TCS collected against your PAN. For a broader view of tax payments, refunds, high-value financial transactions, and other reported information, taxpayers should also review the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Tax Information Summary (TIS).
- Earlier, Form 26AS was structured into multiple parts covering different tax and transaction categories. However, in the current system, Form 26AS mainly focuses on TDS and TCS details, while broader financial and tax-related data is available in AIS and TIS.
- Recent updates in the tax reporting system have expanded visibility of GST turnover, foreign remittances, virtual digital asset (VDA/crypto) transactions, and other financial data. However, much of this broader information is now accessed through AIS rather than directly through the current Form 26AS.
- You can access Form 26AS via the Income Tax Portal, TRACES redirection, or Net Banking through authorized banks if your PAN is mapped to the bank account.
- PDF password: The downloaded Form 26AS PDF is password-protected. In many cases, the password is your Date of Birth in DDMMYYYY format. If this does not work, check the instructions shown at the time of download.
- Form 26AS now works alongside AIS and TIS, which together provide a broader view of taxpayer information beyond TDS and TCS.
- Always cross-verify Form 26AS with your Form 16/16A before filing your ITR. If you find a discrepancy such as a wrong TDS amount, missing entry, or wrong PAN, the correction process usually starts with the deductor filing a revised TDS return.
- Form 26AS records are generally available for multiple financial years on the portal. Taxpayers should retain their tax documents as per applicable income tax and GST record-keeping requirements.
What is Form 26AS?
Form 26AS is a consolidated Tax Credit Statement issued by the Income Tax Department of India, uniquely linked to a taxpayer's Permanent Account Number (PAN). It serves as an official record of tax credit information associated with that PAN for a given financial year.
Think of Form 26AS as your tax passbook. Just as a bank passbook records every debit and credit in your account, Form 26AS helps you verify tax credit information linked to your PAN. Every salaried employee, self-employed professional, business owner, investor, and NRI with a PAN should review their Form 26AS before filing their Income Tax Return (ITR).
Form 26AS is made available through the Income Tax e-Filing system for taxpayers to verify tax credit information linked to their PAN.
Book A Demo
Information Available on Form 26AS
Form 26AS primarily reflects TDS and TCS data reported against your PAN. For a more complete view of financial transactions and tax-related information, AIS should also be reviewed.
It contains:
TDS (
Tax Deducted at Source
) - Details of TDS deducted by employers, banks, tenants, and other deductors, along with the deductor's TAN, amount deducted, and date of deposit to the government
TCS (Tax Collected at Source) - Tax collected by sellers of specified goods and services
Note: Several categories previously associated with Form 26AS, such as broader financial transaction reporting and other taxpayer details, are now primarily available through AIS, depending on the assessment year and reporting category.
Structure and Parts of Form 26AS
Earlier versions of Form 26AS were structured into multiple parts to cover different categories of tax and financial data. However, in the current system, Form 26AS mainly displays TDS and TCS information, while broader financial data is available through AIS
| Part | Content | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Part I | TDS on Salary | Deductor name, TAN, assessment year, salary-related TDS details |
| Part II | TDS on Non-Salary Payments | TDS on interest, rent, professional fees, contractor payments, commission |
| Part III | TCS | Tax Collected at Source details reported against PAN |
Important: Older references may still describe Form 26AS in a broader multi-part format. In the current system, taxpayers should rely on Form 26AS mainly for TDS/TCS verification and use AIS for broader taxpayer information.
New Additions to the Tax Reporting System
The tax reporting framework has expanded in recent years to include additional data points such as GST turnover, foreign remittances, and virtual digital asset transactions. However, much of this information is now available through AIS rather than directly within the current Form 26AS.
| New Addition | Source | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| GST Turnover (GSTR-3B) | GSTN | Can be used for cross-verification with income disclosures |
| Foreign Remittances (Form 15CC) | Authorized dealers / banks | Reflects outward remittance reporting in the broader reporting system |
| VDA / Crypto Transactions (Section 194S) | Crypto exchanges, VDA platforms | Relevant for tax reporting and TDS tracking in the broader ecosystem |
| Mutual Fund Transactions | AMFI / AMCs | Reported under broader information reporting systems |
| Off-Market Securities Transactions | NSDL / CDSL (depositories) | Helps tax authorities track non-exchange transfers |
Note: Many of these data categories are now reflected in AIS instead of Form 26AS.
Practical implication for taxpayers: If broader tax reporting data such as GST-linked information or high-value transaction reporting does not align with your return, it may increase the likelihood of scrutiny or mismatch review. Reviewing Form 26AS together with AIS before filing helps reduce this risk.
How to View Form 26AS
1. Via Income Tax / E-Filing Portal
This is the primary and most recommended method:
- Go to incometax.gov.in
- Login with your PAN as User ID and your registered password
- Navigate to e-file → Income Tax Returns → View Form 26AS
- You will be redirected to the TRACES portal
- Confirm and accept the Terms of Usage
- Select the relevant option to view your Form 26AS
- Choose the Assessment Year and view format, if available
2. Via TRACES Website
The TRACES website is the dedicated TDS processing portal of the Income Tax Department:
- Go to tdscpc.gov.in
- Click "Taxpayer" under the Login section
- Enter your PAN, password, and captcha
- Navigate to My Account → View Form 26AS
- Select assessment year and download format
3. Via Net Banking
If your bank account is linked to your PAN, many banks offer direct Form 26AS access without requiring a separate login flow. Viewing Form 26AS through net banking is available only if the PAN is mapped to that bank account.
- Log in to your bank's Internet Banking portal
- Navigate to Tax or Tax Services section
- Select "View Form 26AS / Tax Credit Statement"
- You may be redirected to the relevant tax portal or service page
- Accept Terms of Usage and select the assessment year
Authorized banks for Form 26AS net banking access include banks notified for this facility.
The exact list can change over time, so it is best to verify the current list through the official tax portal or your bank.
If your bank is not on this list, use the Income Tax Portal or TRACES website method instead.
4. Via Mobile App
The AIS for Taxpayer app provides mobile access to AIS data. For Form 26AS, taxpayers should primarily use the Income Tax e-Filing portal or TRACES.
How to Download Form 26AS (PDF / Text)
Form 26AS can be downloaded in available formats from the relevant portal access flow:
| Format | Best For | File Type |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing with CA, attaching to loan applications, printing | Password-protected PDF | |
| Text (.txt) | Importing into accounting software, data analysis | Plain text |
PDF Password Tip: The downloaded Form 26AS PDF is password-protected. In many cases, the password is your Date of Birth in DDMMYYYY format. If this does not work, check the instructions provided on the download screen.
Download steps:
- Select assessment year and format
- Click "Export" or "Download"
- Open the downloaded file using the required password or instructions shown on screen
Form 26AS is generally available for multiple past years on the portal, subject to system availability and portal access.
Benefits of Form 26AS
Here is the list of benefits of Form 26As:
Accuracy Assurance for ITR Filing
Form 26AS helps show how much TDS or TCS has been reported against your PAN. If you claim tax credit in your
ITR
that is not reflected in the system, your return may be processed with a mismatch or demand.
Prevents Credit Mismatch
By confirming that tax already deducted is linked to your PAN, Form 26AS helps reduce the risk of claiming incorrect tax credit.
Fraud and Identity Detection
Unusual entries in Form 26AS, such as TDS from an unknown deductor, can be an early signal of PAN misuse or data reporting issues.
Error-Free ITR Filing
Since tax return filing now relies on multiple data sources including AIS and TIS, reviewing Form 26AS before filing helps you verify tax credits more accurately.
How to Use Form 26AS for Effective Tax Management
Form 26AS is most valuable as an active tax management tool, especially before ITR filing.
1. Reconciling TDS with Form 16/16A
Your employer issues Form 16 and other deductors issue Form 16A. These should match the TDS/TCS details reflected in your tax records. To reconcile:
- Download your Form 26AS for the relevant assessment year
- Cross-check deductor name, deductor TAN, amount deducted, and tax credit details
- Flag any entry where the amount in Form 16/16A differs from Form 26AS
- A discrepancy means your deductor may need to correct their TDS return
2. Verifying ITR Pre-Fill Data
When you open your ITR form on the Income Tax Portal, much of your tax-related information may be pre-filled from multiple reporting sources including AIS and TIS. Before accepting the pre-fill:
- Compare the pre-filled TDS figures with your Form 26AS entries
- Check that other relevant taxpayer information is properly reflected in AIS/TIS
- For business owners: confirm that broader turnover-related reporting, where applicable, aligns with your return disclosures
3. Tracking Income Tax Refund Status
Refund-related details are better checked through the Income Tax e-Filing portal and related services. If the income tax refund shows issued but has not reached your account, verify your bank account details on the portal and take the required follow-up action.
Form 26AS vs. AIS vs. TIS - The 3-Layer Tax Information Ecosystem
Since 2021, the Income Tax Department has implemented a three-tier system to enhance tax information transparency.
| Feature | Form 26AS | Annual Information Statement (AIS) | Tax Information Summary (TIS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it shows | Primarily TDS and TCS details; broader financial and tax-related data is available in AIS | All reportable financial transactions linked to PAN - broader scope | Aggregated, taxpayer-verified summary derived from AIS - for ITR pre-fill |
| Introduced | Existing tax credit statement, with current TRACES display limited mainly to TDS/TCS | November 2021 | November 2021 |
| Granularity | Tax credit level | Transaction-level broader reporting | Category-level summary |
| Taxpayer feedback | Limited in current use | Yes | Derived from AIS after feedback |
| Used for | TDS/TCS verification | Comprehensive information review | ITR pre-fill support |
| Includes SFT / high-value? | Not the main current source | Yes | Yes, in summarized form |
| Includes non-financial data | No | Yes | Yes, in summary form |
| Access | TRACES / IT Portal | IT Portal | IT Portal |
Recommended workflow before filing ITR:
- Download Form 26AS → verify TDS entries against Form 16/16A
- Review AIS → flag any incorrect, duplicate, or unrelated transactions
- Check TIS → confirm the aggregated figures used for ITR pre-fill reflect your corrections
- File ITR using the corrected information
TDS Certificate (Form 16/16A) and Form 26AS
Form 16/16A and Form 26AS are two sides of the same TDS transaction:
- Form 16/16A is issued by the deductor to you - it is the deductor's acknowledgment that tax was deducted from your income
- Form 26AS helps you verify whether the tax credit linked to that deduction is being reflected in the tax system
- The critical insight: a TDS entry shown by the deductor should also be reflected correctly in your tax credit records for smooth ITR filing.
Things to Verify in TDS Certificate with Form 26AS
Before filing your ITR, verify the following four items for every TDS entry:
| # | What to Verify | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deductor's TAN and Name | Ensures the TDS is attributed to the correct entity |
| 2 | Amount Deducted | Helps confirm the correct tax credit has been reported |
| 3 | Assessment Year | Year mismatch is a common filing issue |
| 4 | Matching Entries | Every valid Form 16/16A entry should match the tax credit records linked to your PAN |
Recommended workflow before filing ITR:
- Download Form 26AS → verify TDS entries against Form 16/16A
- Review AIS → flag any incorrect, duplicate, or unrelated transactions
- Check TIS → confirm the aggregated figures used for ITR pre-fill reflect your corrections
- File ITR using the corrected information
What to Do If Form 26AS Has a Discrepancy
Discrepancies in Form 26AS are more common than most taxpayers realize, especially when deductors file quarterly TDS returns with errors that directly affect TDS certificate issuance. The correction process usually starts with your deductor.
Types of Discrepancies
| Discrepancy Type | Common Cause | Who Must Act |
|---|---|---|
| TDS shown as deducted but not reflected correctly | Deductor reporting issue | Deductor |
| Wrong TDS amount | Data entry error in TDS return | Deductor |
| Your PAN shows TDS from an unknown deductor | PAN misquoted | Deductor / taxpayer follow-up |
| Mismatch in broader reported data | Reporting issue in tax information systems | Taxpayer may need to review AIS feedback options |
Step-by-Step Discrepancy Resolution Workflow
Step 1 - Identify the discrepancy type
Download your Form 26AS and highlight every entry that differs from your Form 16/16A or actual tax documents.
Step 2 - Contact your deductor
For TDS errors:
- Write formally to the payroll/accounts department of your employer or bank
- Provide your PAN and the correct figures
- Request the deductor to file a revised TDS return
Step 3 - Deductor files revised TDS return
Your deductor must correct the relevant TDS return through the applicable system.
Step 4 - Form 26AS updates after processing
Once the correction is processed, your Form 26AS should update accordingly.
Step 5 - If deductor is unresponsive
Raise a grievance or use the applicable taxpayer service on the Income Tax Portal.
- Step 6 - Filing ITR when discrepancy is unresolved
If the ITR due date approaches and the discrepancy is still unresolved:
- File your ITR with the correct income figures
- Keep supporting documents ready
- If required, respond to any notice or mismatch communication with documentary evidence
Step 7 - Broader reporting mismatch
If a broader financial transaction does not relate to you, review the relevant information in AIS and use the feedback option where applicable.
High-Value Transactions (Specified Financial Transactions)
High-value financial transactions are part of the tax reporting system and are primarily visible in AIS, though they were earlier associated more closely with Form 26AS.
Transaction Types & Specific Thresholds
| Transaction Type | Reporting Threshold (Cumulative) | Reported By |
|---|---|---|
| Immovable Property | Purchase/sale of ₹30 lakh or more | Sub-registrar / Registrar |
| Fixed Deposits (FD) | Aggregating to ₹10 lakh or more (excluding renewals) | Banks / Post Offices |
| Savings Account Cash | Deposits aggregating to ₹10 lakh or more | Banks |
| Credit Card Payments | ₹1 lakh or more in cash; ₹10 lakh or more by any other mode | Banks / Issuers |
| Mutual Funds / Stocks | Investments aggregating to ₹10 lakh or more | AMCs / Companies |
| Bonds / Debentures | Investments aggregating to ₹10 lakh or more | Issuing Companies |
| Foreign Exchange | Sale of foreign currency aggregating to ₹10 lakh or more | Authorised Dealers |
What to do if you see an SFT entry: An SFT entry is not by itself a tax demand. It is part of the information reporting system used to cross-verify your return disclosures.
Form 26AS and GST - What Business Owners Must Know
A significant development in the broader tax reporting system is the use of GST-related information for cross-verification. GST turnover data is typically visible in AIS and may be used for comparison with income declared in ITR.
What this means for sole proprietors and small businesses:
Income cross-verification: Broader tax reporting systems may compare GST-related turnover information with your return disclosures. If major inconsistencies appear, it may increase scrutiny risk.
Threshold monitoring: Businesses near the GST registration threshold should ensure that their tax and business records remain consistent across filings.
BUSY Accounting Software automatically handles GST reconciliation , aligning sales figures with GST returns to reduce mismatch risk.
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Conclusion
Form 26AS remains an important tax credit statement for verifying TDS and TCS linked to your PAN. At the same time, India's tax reporting system has evolved, and taxpayers should now review Form 26AS together with AIS and TIS for a more complete picture before filing their ITR.
