Check AIS and Form 26AS Before Filing ITR for AY 2026–27

Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) accurately is essential to avoid notices, delayed refunds, and unnecessary compliance issues. The Income Tax Department has advised taxpayers to review their Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Form 26AS before submitting their ITR for Assessment Year 2026–27.

What is AIS?

The Annual Information Statement (AIS) is a comprehensive statement available on the Income Tax e-Filing Portal. It contains financial information reported to the Income Tax Department from various sources, including:

Bank interest
Dividend income
Securities and mutual fund transactions
TDS and TCS details
High-value financial transactions
Other reported income

AIS provides taxpayers with a complete picture of the financial information available with the Income Tax Department.

What is Form 26AS?

Form 26AS is your consolidated tax statement. It includes details such as:

Tax Deducted at Source (TDS)
Tax Collected at Source (TCS)
Advance tax and self-assessment tax payments
Refund details
Certain specified financial transactions

Reviewing Form 26AS alongside AIS helps ensure that the information reported matches your financial records.

Why Should You Reconcile AIS and Form 26AS?

Reconciling these statements before filing your return helps you:

Avoid reporting incorrect income.
Prevent mismatches with departmental records.
Reduce the possibility of defective returns.
Minimise the risk of receiving notices.
Help ensure timely processing of refunds.

What Should Taxpayers Do?

Before filing your ITR:

Log in to the Income Tax e-Filing Portal.
Review your AIS and Form 26AS carefully.
Compare the information with your own records.
Submit online feedback if any information is incorrect.
File your ITR-1 or ITR-2 only after completing the reconciliation.

Important Deadline

File your Income Tax Return on or before 31 July 2026 (or before filing your return, whichever is earlier after reconciliation).

Conclusion

Reviewing AIS and Form 26AS is a simple but important step that can help ensure your Income Tax Return is accurate and complete. Taking a few minutes to reconcile your financial information today can help avoid complications later.

Contact BSA & Company for expert guidance