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Form 26AS
What Is Form 26AS?
Form 26AS is an annual tax statement issued by the Income Tax Department of India that provides a comprehensive summary of all tax-related transactions linked to a taxpayer’s PAN (Permanent Account Number). It includes details such as TDS (Tax Deducted at Source), TCS (Tax Collected at Source), advance tax, self-assessment tax, and refunds issued.
This statement acts as a single-window reference for taxpayers to track how much tax has been deducted, deposited, and adjusted against their income during a financial year.
What Does Form 26AS Include?
Form 26AS typically consists of the following information-
- TDS deducted by employers, banks, or other deductors
- TCS collected by sellers on specific transactions
- Advance tax and self-assessment tax paid by the taxpayer
- Income tax refunds received, along with dates
- High-value transactions like mutual fund purchases, property sales, or credit card spends (in updated AIS/TIS formats)
- Details of any demand or refund adjustments made by the department
All this information is captured based on the PAN number, making it essential for accurate tax filing.
How to View Form 26AS
Viewing and downloading the form 26AS in the following ways-
- Through the Income Tax e-Filing Portal
- Log in using your PAN credentials
- Navigate to ‘e-File’ > ‘Income Tax Returns’ > ‘View Form 26AS’
- You’ll be redirected to the TRACES portal to view or download the form in PDF or text format
The form is password-protected — typically, your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format is used to open it.
Structure of Form 26AS
Form 26AS is usually divided into several parts:
- Part A: TDS details on salary, interest, commission, rent, etc.
- Part A1: TDS on income other than salary (if applicable)
- Part A2: TDS on property transactions under Section 194IA
- Part B: Details of TCS (Tax Collected at Source)
- Part C: Advance tax and self-assessment tax payments
- Part D: Refunds issued by the Income Tax Department
- Part E: AIR (Annual Information Return) for high-value transactions
- Part F: Tax deducted on property purchases (Form 26QB related)
- Part G: Defaults related to processing of statements
Each section helps cross-verify the tax credits available and ensure accuracy in returns.
Why Is Form 26AS Important?
- Tax Filing Accuracy: Ensures the tax return filed by the taxpayer reflects the correct tax credit
- Verification of TDS: Confirms whether TDS deducted by employers or others has been correctly deposited
- Loan & Visa Applications: Acts as proof of income and tax compliance
- Avoids Discrepancies: Prevents mismatches between income reported and tax paid
- Tracks Refunds: Shows if any refund was issued and when
Difference Between Form 26AS and AIS
While both offer tax-related summaries:
- Form 26AS focuses on TDS, TCS, and tax payments
- AIS (Annual Information Statement) offers a more detailed view, including income from savings, mutual funds, dividends, and more
For employees, a correctly filed Form 24Q ensures that their Form 26AS is updated and matches with their salary and TDS data — simplifying the process of income tax return filing.
