What is the Annual Information Statement (AIS)?#
The Annual Information Statement (AIS) is a comprehensive tax document introduced by the Income Tax Department in 2021. It shows a complete picture of all financial transactions reported to the IT department against your PAN — far more detailed than the older Form 26AS.
The AIS is designed to help taxpayers pre-fill their ITR accurately and to allow the department to cross-check disclosures.
What AIS Covers#
AIS captures information from multiple sources under two parts:
Part A — General Information#
- Name, PAN, address, contact details
Part B — Tax Information (26 categories including)#
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Salary | As reported by employer |
| Rent received | As reported by tenant (TDS u/s 194-I) |
| Dividends | Reported by companies |
| Interest income | Bank FDs, savings account, bonds |
| Capital gains | From stocks, mutual funds (reported by brokers/AMCs) |
| Foreign remittances | Amount received from abroad |
| Mutual fund transactions | Purchase/sale values |
| Property purchases/sales | Transaction value |
| SFT transactions | Credit card spends, cash deposits |
| Other income | Lottery, games, etc. |
AIS vs Form 26AS#
| Feature | Form 26AS | AIS |
|---|---|---|
| TDS credits | ✅ Detailed | ✅ Included |
| Advance tax paid | ✅ | ✅ |
| Dividends | ❌ | ✅ |
| Mutual fund sales | ❌ | ✅ |
| Interest income | Limited | ✅ Full detail |
| Property transactions | Limited | ✅ Full detail |
| Foreign remittances | ❌ | ✅ |
How to Use AIS for ITR Filing#
- Download AIS before filing — go to incometax.gov.in → e-File → AIS
- Review each entry — check for accuracy
- Submit feedback — if any entry is incorrect (e.g., a transaction belongs to someone else), submit feedback in the AIS portal
- Reconcile with your records — your declared income should match AIS data or have a valid explanation
- File ITR — the pre-filled ITR in the portal is now largely populated from AIS
What Happens if Your ITR Doesn't Match AIS?#
The IT department uses AIS data to auto-identify mismatches. If income appears in AIS but not in your ITR, you may receive:
- A defective return notice
- A 143(1) demand
- A 143(2) scrutiny notice
Always reconcile AIS with your ITR before submitting.