What is Form 26AS?#
Form 26AS is your personal tax passbook maintained by the Income Tax Department. It consolidates all tax-related transactions linked to your PAN (Permanent Account Number) in a given financial year.
Think of it as a tax credit statement — it shows how much tax has been credited to the government on your behalf.
What's Included in Form 26AS?#
| Part | Content |
|---|---|
| Part A | TDS deducted by employers, banks, tenants, etc. |
| Part B | TCS (Tax Collected at Source) — e.g., on car purchases |
| Part C | Advance tax and self-assessment tax paid by you |
| Part D | Refunds received in the year |
| Part E | SFT (Specified Financial Transactions) — high-value transactions like property, investments |
| Part F | TDS on sale of immovable property |
| Part G | TDS defaults by deductors |
Why Form 26AS is Critical#
- Cross-check TDS: Before filing ITR, verify that TDS deducted by your employer/bank matches Form 26AS. Claiming TDS that's not reflected can trigger a notice.
- Verify advance tax: Confirm your challan payments are recorded correctly.
- Spot errors: If a deductor hasn't filed their TDS return, your credit won't show. You'll need to follow up with them.
Form 26AS vs AIS (Annual Information Statement)#
Since 2021, AIS is more comprehensive than Form 26AS. AIS captures dividends, interest, mutual fund transactions, foreign remittances, and more. However, Form 26AS remains the definitive record for TDS credits used when processing your ITR.
How to Access Form 26AS#
- Log in to incometax.gov.in
- Go to e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Form 26AS
- Select the Assessment Year
- View or download the PDF
You can also access it through your net banking portal if your bank is registered with TRACES.