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Income Tax Return Filing 2026: Check AIS Before Filing ITR to Avoid Notice; Know What It Is and How to Access It

Posted on 20th Jul 2026 03:59 pm by rohit kumar

Many taxpayers believe that Form 16 contains everything required to file an Income Tax Return (ITR). However, tax experts advise that relying only on Form 16 can lead to errors.

 

Before submitting your ITR, it is important to verify your Annual Information Statement (AIS). Even a small mismatch between your tax return and the information available with the Income Tax Department could result in a delayed refund, additional scrutiny, or a tax notice.

 

What Is the Annual Information Statement (AIS)?

 

The Annual Information Statement (AIS) is a comprehensive financial statement available on the Income Tax Department's e-filing portal.

 

It displays major financial transactions linked to your PAN during a financial year.

 

The information is reported directly to the Income Tax Department by institutions such as:

 

Banks

Employers

Mutual fund companies

Stock brokers

Property registrars

Other financial institutions

 

AIS gives taxpayers a consolidated view of their financial information before filing an Income Tax Return.

 

How Is AIS Updated?

 

AIS is updated regularly as financial institutions submit information to the Income Tax Department.

 

The statement reflects data received through:

 

TDS returns

TCS returns

Statement of Financial Transactions (SFT)

Advance tax and self-assessment tax payments

Other tax-related filings

 

As these reports are processed, the latest information becomes available in your AIS.

 

How to Check AIS Online Before Filing ITR

 

You can access your AIS online through the Income Tax Department's e-filing portal by following these steps:

 

Step 1

 

Visit the official Income Tax e-filing portal.

 

Step 2

 

Log in using your PAN, password and other required credentials. New users should complete the registration process first.

 

Step 3

 

Go to the "Services" section or select the "AIS" option from the dashboard.

 

Step 4

 

Select the relevant financial year.

 

Step 5

 

Click on the AIS tile to view your Annual Information Statement.

 

You can also download the statement for future reference.

 

What Information Does AIS Contain?

1. Personal Information

 

AIS displays your:

 

Name

PAN

Aadhaar details

Date of Birth

Mobile Number

Email ID

Address

2. Financial Information

 

This section includes important tax-related information such as:

 

TDS and TCS details

High-value financial transactions

Taxes paid by you

Outstanding tax demand

Previous tax refunds

Interest income

Dividend income

Securities transactions

Other financial information reported to the department

Why Is Checking AIS Important Before Filing ITR?

 

Verifying AIS before filing your Income Tax Return helps ensure that the information reported by various financial institutions matches your return.

 

Checking AIS can help you:

 

Avoid refund delays

Prevent tax notices

Reduce the chances of scrutiny

Detect incorrect reporting

Identify missing income

Ensure accurate tax filing

 

Matching AIS with your return significantly lowers the risk of future disputes with the Income Tax Department.

 

Compare AIS with Form 16 and Form 26AS

 

Before submitting your ITR, taxpayers should reconcile the information available in:

 

Form 16

Form 26AS

Annual Information Statement (AIS)

 

If there is any mismatch, it should be reviewed carefully before filing the return.

 

Found an Error in AIS? Here's What to Do

 

If you notice incorrect information in your AIS—such as a transaction that does not belong to you or inaccurate financial details—you can submit feedback directly through the Income Tax portal.

 

Once the feedback is processed, the corresponding values in your Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) may be updated, helping reduce the risk of future tax notices.

 

Key Benefits of Checking AIS

Complete financial transaction history

Better tax compliance

Faster refund processing

Reduced chances of notices

Easier reconciliation of income

Improved filing accuracy

Online correction facility

Key Highlights

AIS contains all major financial transactions linked to your PAN.

Data is received from banks, employers, brokers and other reporting entities.

Always compare AIS with Form 16 and Form 26AS before filing your ITR.

Incorrect entries can be reported online through the Income Tax portal.

Checking AIS can help avoid refund delays, scrutiny and tax notices.

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