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Form 26AS

Tax

Consolidated Annual Tax Credit Statement

A consolidated tax statement maintained by the Income Tax Department showing all TDS deducted, TCS collected, advance tax paid, and self-assessment tax paid for a taxpayer's PAN in a given financial year.

Definition

Form 26AS (officially the Annual Tax Credit Statement) is a consolidated tax credit document issued by the Income Tax Department of India. It shows all taxes deducted at source (TDS), taxes collected at source (TCS), and direct taxes (advance tax and self-assessment tax) paid by or on behalf of a taxpayer against their PAN.

Form 26AS is the authoritative document for reconciling your tax payments before filing an ITR. It is linked to your PAN and aggregates entries from all deductors (employers, banks, mutual funds, property buyers) who have deducted TDS and deposited it with the government in your name.

Since 2020–21, Form 26AS has been expanded and is now supplemented by the more detailed AIS (Annual Information Statement).

Formula

No mathematical formula — Form 26AS is a statement, not a calculation.

Tax Payable Calculation (at ITR filing):

Net Tax Payable = Total Tax Liability − TDS (as per Form 26AS) − TCS (as per Form 26AS) − Advance Tax Paid − Self-Assessment Tax Paid

If result < 0: Refund is due

Worked Example

Meena is a salaried professional. For FY 2025–26:

  • Total tax liability (computed in ITR): ₹85,000
  • Form 26AS shows:
    • TDS deducted by employer (Part A): ₹72,000
    • TDS on bank FD interest (Part A): ₹5,000
    • Advance tax paid (Part C): ₹10,000
    • Total credits: ₹87,000

Net Tax Payable = ₹85,000 − ₹87,000 = −₹2,000

Meena is entitled to a refund of ₹2,000, which is claimed in her ITR and credited to her PAN-linked bank account.

Key step: Before filing, Meena verifies Form 26AS against her Form 16 (employer TDS) and bank TDS certificates. All entries match — she files with confidence.

Key Things to Know

  • Part structure of Form 26AS: Part A — TDS on salary/professional fees/interest. Part A1 — TDS on 26QB (property purchase). Part B — TCS. Part C — Advance tax and self-assessment tax. Part F — Annual Information (recently added). Part G — TDS defaults.
  • Reconciliation before filing ITR: Always cross-check Form 26AS against: Form 16 (from employer), Form 16A (from other TDS deductors — banks, clients), dividend/interest certificates, and advance tax challans. Discrepancies must be resolved before filing.
  • High-value transaction reporting: Form 26AS also includes a section on specified financial transactions (SFT) — reported by banks, mutual funds, and registrars. This includes FDs above ₹10 lakh, mutual fund investments above ₹10 lakh, and property registrations. This data cross-checks against your ITR income.
  • Transition to AIS: The Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) and AIS were introduced as more comprehensive companions to Form 26AS. The IT department now pre-fills ITRs with data from both documents, making accurate filing easier — but requiring taxpayers to review and correct any errors before filing.
  • Section 194IA (property purchase): If you purchased property above ₹50 lakh, the seller is credited TDS in their Form 26AS via your Form 26QB filing. Ensure you file Form 26QB within 30 days of the purchase month — failure attracts significant penalty.

Related Calculators

Income Tax Calculator →Calculate income tax for FY 2025-26 under old and new tax regimes. Includes 87A rebate, surcharge, cess, and deductions (80C, 80D, HRA). India income tax.

Related Terms

TDSTax Deducted at SourceITRIncome Tax ReturnForm 16TDS Certificate from EmployerAISAnnual Information Statement
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Form 26AS and AIS?
Form 26AS (now called Tax Credit Statement) shows taxes deducted at source (TDS), taxes collected at source (TCS), and advance tax/self-assessment tax paid. AIS (Annual Information Statement) is broader — it shows all of the above plus your financial transactions reported by third parties: bank interest, dividends received, mutual fund transactions, property purchases/sales, foreign remittances, and more. AIS is the comprehensive financial picture; Form 26AS focuses specifically on tax credits.
How do I access Form 26AS?
Form 26AS is available on the Income Tax e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in) under 'Tax Credit' → 'View Form 26AS'. You can also access it through your net banking portal — most major banks provide a direct link to Form 26AS. It is available in PDF format and covers the current and previous financial years.
What should I do if TDS in Form 26AS doesn't match my records?
First, download the full Form 26AS and verify each deductor's entry against your Form 16/16A. If a deductor's TDS credit is missing, the most likely cause is that the deductor hasn't deposited the TDS with the government or filed the TDS return. Contact the deductor (your employer, bank, or other payer) to rectify. If they've paid but the credit isn't reflecting, a correction TDS return must be filed by the deductor.
If my employer deducts TDS but it's not in Form 26AS, can I still claim credit?
Under current rules, you cannot claim TDS credit in your ITR if it's not reflecting in Form 26AS/AIS, as the IT department's system cross-checks. The burden to ensure TDS is deposited and reflected falls on the deductor (employer/bank). However, if you have documentary proof (salary slips, Form 16), you can claim credit and the department may allow it with supporting documentation, though this often requires follow-up.
Is Form 26AS automatically updated?
Yes, Form 26AS is updated automatically when deductors file their quarterly TDS returns (by the 31st of the month after the quarter). TDS for April–June is due in the TDS return filed by July 31. Large deductors are required to file monthly. So there can be a lag of 1–3 months between TDS deduction and its reflection in your Form 26AS.