AIS vs Form 26AS: How to Reconcile Before Filing ITR
The Annual Information Statement (AIS) is more comprehensive than Form 26AS. Mismatches between your records and AIS can trigger notices. Here is how to reconcile them before filing.
Harun Raaj
Chartered Accountant · Harun Raaj & Associates
Why AIS Matters More Than Ever
The Annual Information Statement (AIS) introduced under Section 285BB of the Income Tax Act captures significantly more financial transactions than the old Form 26AS. The Income Tax Department pre-populates ITR data from AIS — which means discrepancies between your actual income and AIS data can trigger automated scrutiny notices.
What AIS Contains That Form 26AS Does Not
Step-by-Step Reconciliation Process
Step 1: Download AIS
Log in to incometax.gov.in → AIS → Download AIS (JSON/PDF format) for FY 2024-25.Step 2: Download Form 26AS
From the same portal → e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Form 26AS → Download Part A and Part B.Step 3: Compare TDS/TCS credits
Every TDS entry in Form 26AS should also appear in AIS. If TDS is not reflected, the deductor may not have filed the TDS return — follow up with them before filing.Step 4: Verify salary figure
Cross-check the salary shown in AIS with your actual salary (Form 16 Part A). Significant differences — especially if AIS shows higher salary — need to be investigated.Step 5: Check bank interest
AIS pulls bank interest data directly from banks. Compare with your bank statements and Form 16A. Under-reporting of interest income is the most common mismatch.Step 6: Verify securities and mutual fund transactions
AIS shows all buy/sell transactions. Cross-check with your broker statement for capital gains computation. Long-term vs short-term classification must be verified.Step 7: Dispute inaccurate AIS entries
If AIS shows income that is wrong — for example, a joint account's interest attributed entirely to you — you can raise a feedback/dispute directly in the AIS module. The tax department reviews and may modify AIS. Always do this before filing.Filing With AIS Mismatches — What To Do
If there is a mismatch between what you are declaring and what AIS shows:
- If AIS is correct and you missed it: Include the income in your ITR
- If AIS is wrong: Submit feedback with supporting documents; file ITR with correct figures and be prepared to respond to any notice with evidence
Reconciling AIS is the most important step before filing. Our CA team does this for every client as part of our standard ITR filing process.
See Also
Frequently Asked Questions
What new financial transactions does AIS capture that Form 26AS does not include?+
According to the section 'What AIS Contains That Form 26AS Does Not', AIS captures salary income from employers, bank interest from savings and fixed deposits, dividends from companies/RTAs, mutual fund transactions from AMFI/RTAs, securities transactions from SEBI/exchanges, property transactions from registrars, foreign remittances via FEMA, GST turnover from GSTN, and rent received from TDS filers — none of which appear in the old Form 26AS.
How do I reconcile TDS credits between AIS and Form 26AS before filing ITR?+
Under Step 3 of the reconciliation process, every TDS entry in Form 26AS should also appear in AIS. If TDS is not reflected in AIS, the deductor may not have filed the TDS return — you should follow up with them before filing your ITR to ensure proper credit.
What should I do if AIS shows higher salary than my actual Form 16?+
Step 4 of the reconciliation process advises to cross-check the salary shown in AIS with your actual salary from Form 16 Part A. Significant differences, especially if AIS shows higher salary, need to be investigated before filing your return.
Why is bank interest the most common mismatch between AIS and actual income?+
According to Step 5, AIS pulls bank interest data directly from banks, and under-reporting of interest income is identified as the most common mismatch. You should compare AIS data with your bank statements and Form 16A to identify discrepancies.
Can I dispute inaccurate entries in AIS if income is wrongly attributed to me?+
Step 7 explains that if AIS shows income incorrectly attributed to you — such as a joint account's interest shown entirely in your name — you can raise a feedback or dispute directly in the AIS module, and the tax department reviews and addresses such claims.
Why does AIS data matter more than Form 26AS for ITR filing?+
According to the section 'Why AIS Matters More Than Ever', the Income Tax Department pre-populates ITR data from AIS under Section 285BB, meaning discrepancies between your actual income and AIS data can trigger automated scrutiny notices, making reconciliation critical.
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