AIS vs TIS vs Form 26AS: What to Check Before Filing Your ITR

Most Income Tax notices don’t arise because people deliberately hide income.
They arise because what the taxpayer filed didn’t align with what the system already knew.

Before filing your Income Tax Return (ITR), three documents must always be reviewed together: Form 26AS, Annual Information Statement (AIS), and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS). Looking at only one of them creates blind spots that often lead to refund adjustments or post-filing queries.

This guide explains how these three documents work together, what each one represents, and what you should actually verify before submitting your return.

Understanding AIS, TIS, and Form 26AS

Although all three documents are accessed from the same Income Tax portal, they serve very different purposes. Treating them as interchangeable is the most common filing mistake.

What Is Form 26AS?

Form 26AS is your tax credit statement.
It shows tax-related entries linked to your PAN, including:

• Tax Deducted at Source (TDS)
• Tax Collected at Source (TCS)
• Advance tax paid
• Self-assessment tax paid
• Refunds issued (if any)

What Form 26AS does well

• Confirms whether tax deducted from your income has actually reached the government
• Acts as the primary legal document for claiming tax credits

What it does NOT do

• It does not show your complete income
• It does not reflect full transaction or investment data

Think of Form 26AS as:
“Proof of tax paid” - not proof of total income

What Is the Annual Information Statement (AIS)?

The AIS is a comprehensive information dashboard for a financial year.

It includes:

• Salary, interest, and dividend income
• Capital market transactions (shares, mutual funds, bonds)
• Sale and purchase values (not profit)
• Specified Financial Transactions (SFT)
• Tax payments through challans
• Refund details

AIS data is reported by:

• Banks
• Employers
• Mutual fund houses
• Stock exchanges
• Registrars
• Other reporting entities

*Note: AIS reports information - it does not determine tax liability.

What Is the Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS)?

The TIS is a processed, category-wise summary derived from AIS.

• It aggregates transactions
• Removes duplicates
• Applies internal system logic
• Acts as the primary source for pre-filled data in the ITR utility

You cannot edit TIS directly, but:

• You can override pre-filled values in the ITR
• Provided you have supporting documentation

Think of TIS as:
“The system’s calculated view of your AIS data”

The System Hierarchy

Understanding this hierarchy prevents under-reporting and under-claiming.

Practical system flow:

• AIS → Income & transaction visibility (risk flagging)
• TIS → Derived values used for pre-fill and comparison
• Form 26AS → Primary legal proof for TDS/TCS credit

Or simply:

AIS informs → TIS derives → Form 26AS legally validates tax paid

Things to check before filing ITR

This is the non-negotiable checklist before filing.

What to Check in Form 26AS (Tax Credit Focus)

Verify:

• Salary TDS matches Form 16
• Bank interest TDS appears correctly
• Advance tax and self-assessment tax challans are reflected
• Refunds (if any) are accurate

Red flag:
TDS deducted but not appearing in Form 26AS
→ Usually means deductor hasn’t deposited tax or PAN was quoted incorrectly

Golden rule:
If tax is not visible in Form 26AS, credit is usually not allowed.

*Note: For salaried employees, mismatches often arise not because of income errors, but due to incorrect exemption claims or missing declarations, especially around HRA and salary structuring.

What to Check in AIS (Income Visibility Focus)

Verify:

• No duplicate salary entries
• Interest income is not repeated across banks
• Dividend income matches broker statements
• Capital market entries reflect sale value, not profit
• Income not belonging to you is flagged

New and critical check (often missed):
Ensure that off-market transfers or gift of shares are not misclassified as sales in AIS.

This is a growing source of notices, where:

• Simple family transfers
• ESOP restructuring
• Internal demat movements

are incorrectly flagged as taxable sales.

*Note: AIS often shows gross sale value, not taxable profit, especially for shares and mutual funds. This is why understanding how capital gains are actually taxed in India becomes critical before blindly matching AIS figures. Mutual fund investors should be especially careful here, as AIS reporting for redemptions does not distinguish between equity and debt taxation rules, which follow different timelines and rates. Read mutual fund taxation rules.

What to Check in TIS (Derived Value Focus)

Verify:

• Aggregated totals are logical
• Income categories match actual sources
• No unexplained lump-sum figures

If TIS is incorrect:

• AIS data likely needs correction
• Or reporting entity data is wrong

*Note: This becomes particularly relevant for freelancers and consultants using presumptive taxation, where AIS receipts may not match taxable income under the presumptive scheme

Common Mismatch Scenarios

AIS shows income higher than your records

Often due to gross transaction reporting. Not automatically taxable. Requires explanation, not panic.

AIS and Form 26AS don’t match

Income may be reported without TDS, or TDS deducted but not deposited. Tax credit depends on Form 26AS.

TIS differs from AIS

TIS applies internal logic. It may suppress duplicates or reclassify data. It cannot be edited directly.

Should You File ITR as per AIS Even If It’s Wrong?

No - but you cannot ignore it either.

Correct approach:

• File ITR based on actual taxable income
• Submit AIS feedback for incorrect entries
• Maintain documentation for justification

In many cases:

• You can file first
• Respond later if clarification is sought

*Note: Blindly matching AIS numbers is riskier than explaining a mismatch.

How to Correct Errors in AIS, TIS, or Form 26AS (With Proof)

Errors in Form 26AS

• Usually TDS deposit or PAN mismatch issues
• Requires deductor action
• Follow-up with employer / bank

Errors in AIS or TIS

Use the AIS feedback mechanism and mark entries as:

• Incorrect
• Duplicate
• Not related to you

Very important compliance step:
Always download the “AIS Consolidated Feedback” PDF after submitting corrections.

This PDF:

• Is time-stamped
• Acts as legal evidence
• Proves you attempted correction before filing

If a notice arrives later, this document protects you.

Summary Checklist

Final Takeaway

Safe ITR filing is not about matching numbers blindly across reports.
It is about understanding how the system views your data and responding intelligently.

Form 26AS safeguards your tax credits.
AIS shows what the department knows.
TIS reveals how the system will compare your return.

When you respect this structure and document your position properly, most post-filing issues never arise.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is based on the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 2025, and prevailing income tax reporting practices. It does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Readers are advised to consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to their individual circumstances.