What is AIS (Annual Information Statement)? How to Use It for ITR Filing 2026

The Annual Information Statement (AIS) is one of the most important documents for ITR filing in 2026. The Income Tax Department collects financial data from banks, brokers, employers, and other institutions — and consolidates it all in your AIS. If you don't reconcile your AIS before filing, you risk getting a notice.

What is AIS?

AIS is a comprehensive statement of all financial transactions linked to your PAN. It was introduced in 2021 and has become increasingly important as the IT Department uses it to cross-check your ITR.

Think of AIS as the government's version of your financial life — they know about your salary, bank interest, mutual fund redemptions, property transactions, and more.

AIS vs Form 26AS — What's the Difference?

Feature	Form 26AS	AIS
TDS/TCS details	✅	✅
Salary income	✅	✅
Bank interest	✅	✅
Mutual fund transactions	❌	✅
Stock market transactions	❌	✅
Property transactions	❌	✅
Foreign remittances	❌	✅
GST turnover	❌	✅

AIS is a superset of Form 26AS. Under the Income Tax Act 2025, Form 26AS is renamed Form 168, but taxpayers still refer to it as Form 26AS or AIS.

What Does AIS Contain?

AIS has two parts:

Part A — General Information

PAN, name, date of birth, contact details

Part B — Financial Transactions

Salary — from all employers
Interest income — savings account, FD, RD from all banks
Dividend — from all companies and mutual funds
Securities transactions — stocks bought/sold (from SEBI/exchanges)
Mutual fund transactions — purchases and redemptions (from AMFI)
Property transactions — purchase/sale (from registrar)
Foreign remittances — LRS transactions (from banks)
GST turnover — if you are GST registered
Rent received — if reported by tenant

How to Download AIS

Go to incometax.gov.in → Login with PAN and password
Click on AIS under the "Services" menu
Select the financial year (FY 2025-26)
Download as PDF or JSON

You can also download the Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) — a simplified version of AIS showing net income under each category.

Why You Must Check AIS Before Filing ITR

The IT Department's system automatically compares your ITR with AIS. If there is a mismatch:

You may receive a defective return notice under Section 139(9)
You may receive a scrutiny notice under Section 143(2)
Your refund may be delayed

Common mismatches:

Bank interest not declared in ITR
Mutual fund redemptions not reported
Dividend income missed
Salary from previous employer not included

What to Do if AIS Shows Wrong Information

If AIS shows income that is incorrect or doesn't belong to you:

Click on the transaction in AIS
Select "Feedback" → "Information is incorrect" or "Information relates to other PAN"
Submit your feedback with explanation

The IT Department will review and update AIS. However, don't wait for AIS to be corrected before filing — file your ITR with the correct figures and mention the discrepancy.

AIS Reconciliation Checklist

Before filing ITR, verify:

All salary income matches Form 16
Bank interest matches your bank statements
Mutual fund redemptions match your broker/CAMS statement
Dividend income matches your demat account
No unknown transactions in your AIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AIS the same as Form 26AS?

No. AIS is more comprehensive than Form 26AS. It includes mutual fund transactions, stock market transactions, and property deals that Form 26AS doesn't show. Under the new IT Act 2025, Form 26AS is renamed Form 168.

What if I don't reconcile AIS before filing?

You risk receiving a notice from the IT Department for under-reporting income. The department's AI system automatically flags mismatches between ITR and AIS.

Can I file ITR without checking AIS?

Technically yes, but it's risky. Experts strongly recommend checking AIS before filing, especially if you have investments, bank FDs, or mutual funds.

When is AIS updated for FY 2025-26?

AIS is updated in real-time as institutions report data. For FY 2025-26, most data should be available by June 2026. Employers typically upload Form 16 data by June 15.

Why does AIS show income I didn't earn?

This can happen due to wrong PAN quoting by a third party, or data errors. Submit feedback in AIS to flag incorrect entries.

Confused about AIS mismatches? I reconcile AIS with your documents as part of every ITR filing. Message me on WhatsApp.