AIS vs TIS vs Form 26AS: What to Check Before Filing Your ITR (AY 2026-27)

Most income tax notices do not arise because taxpayers deliberately conceal income. They arise because what the taxpayer filed did not match what the system already had on record. Reviewing all three pre-filing documents together closes that gap before it becomes a problem.

Before filing your ITR for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27), three documents need to be reviewed together: Form 26AS, the Annual Information Statement (AIS), and the Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS). Each serves a different purpose. Looking at only one creates blind spots that commonly lead to refund adjustments, mismatch notices, or post-filing queries.

This guide explains how the three documents relate to each other, what each one contains, and what specifically to verify before submitting your return.

Understanding the Three Documents

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

What Is Form 26AS?

Form 26AS is your tax credit statement. It shows tax-related entries linked to your PAN for the financial year and is the primary legal document for claiming tax credits when filing your return.

What Form 26AS Contains

• Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) from all deductors
• Tax Collected at Source (TCS)
• Advance tax paid during the year
• Self-assessment tax paid via challan
• Refunds received, if any

What Form 26AS Does Not Show

• Your complete income picture across all sources
• Full transaction or investment data
• Gross sale values from capital market transactions

What Is the Annual Information Statement (AIS)?

The AIS is a comprehensive information dashboard that aggregates all financial transactions linked to your PAN for the financial year. It was introduced to give taxpayers full visibility into what reporting entities have shared with the Income Tax Department.

What the AIS Contains

• Salary, pension, and other employer-reported income
• Interest income from banks and post offices
• Dividend income from companies and mutual funds
• Capital market transactions: shares, mutual funds, bonds (reported at gross sale value, not profit)
• Specified Financial Transactions (SFT) reported by banks, registrars, and brokers
• Tax payments through challans
• Refund details

Who Reports Data Into the AIS

• Banks and financial institutions
• Employers
• Mutual fund houses
• Stock exchanges and depositories
• Registrar and transfer agents
• Other CBDT-notified reporting entities

What Is the Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS)?

The TIS is a processed, category-wise summary derived from the AIS. It aggregates transactions, removes duplicate entries, and applies internal system logic to produce the figures that pre-fill the ITR utility on the portal.

Key Points About TIS

• TIS cannot be edited directly by the taxpayer
• Pre-filled values in the ITR are drawn from TIS, not AIS
• If TIS values are incorrect, the underlying AIS data likely needs correction via the feedback mechanism
• Pre-filled values can be overridden in the ITR form, provided the taxpayer has supporting documentation

How the Three Documents Work Together

Understanding the relationship between these three documents prevents both under-reporting and under-claiming of credits.

What to Check Before Filing

These are the specific verifications worth completing before submitting the return. Doing this before filing, rather than responding to a notice after, saves considerably more time.

In Form 26AS: Tax Credit Verification

• Salary TDS entries match what is shown in Form 16 from your employer
• Bank interest TDS appears correctly and matches bank certificates
• Advance tax and self-assessment tax challans are reflected with correct amounts and CINs
• Any refunds from previous years are accurately recorded
• No unexpected TDS entries that belong to another PAN

In AIS: Income Visibility Verification

• No duplicate salary entries from the same employer
• Interest income is not repeated across multiple bank entries for the same account
• Dividend income matches statements from broker or registrar
• Capital market entries reflect gross sale value, not taxable profit. Do not use these figures directly as income in your return.
• Any income that does not belong to you is identified and flagged via feedback before filing

In TIS: Derived Value Verification

• Aggregated totals across income categories appear logical relative to your actual activity
• Income categories match your actual sources and have not been reclassified by the system
• No unexplained lump-sum figures that cannot be traced to a specific transaction

If TIS figures appear incorrect, the underlying issue is almost always in AIS. Correcting the AIS entry via the feedback mechanism is the appropriate step, after which TIS updates accordingly.

Common Mismatch Scenarios

AIS Shows Income Higher Than Your Records

This frequently occurs because AIS reports gross transaction values, not taxable income. A mutual fund redemption of ₹5 lakh that cost ₹4 lakh will appear as ₹5 lakh in AIS, not as ₹1 lakh of gains. This is not an error in AIS. The correct taxable amount is computed separately and disclosed in the capital gains schedule of the ITR. No AIS feedback is needed in this situation.

AIS and Form 26AS Do Not Match

This typically means income has been reported in AIS by a third party without any TDS being deducted, or TDS was deducted but the deductor has not deposited it. Tax credit is governed by Form 26AS. If TDS is missing from Form 26AS, follow up with the deductor and consider filing a grievance on the portal if the deadline is near.

TIS Differs From AIS

TIS applies deduplication and reclassification logic to AIS data. The difference between AIS and TIS is the system's own processing, not an error to be flagged. If TIS totals appear wrong, review the AIS entries first to determine whether the source data is the issue.

When AIS Is Wrong: How to Approach Filing

Filing the ITR based on inflated or incorrect AIS figures is not required and can result in overpayment of tax. The correct approach is to file based on actual taxable income, document the position, and address the AIS discrepancy separately.

How to Correct Errors in Each Document

Errors in Form 26AS

Form 26AS errors are almost always caused by the deductor, not the taxpayer. Common causes include incorrect PAN quoted by employer or bank, or TDS deposited under a wrong challan. The resolution requires the deductor to file a correction statement. Follow up with the employer's payroll or finance team, or with the bank's TDS desk.

Errors in AIS

Use the AIS feedback mechanism on the e-filing portal. Select the relevant entry and mark it with the appropriate feedback category: Incorrect, Duplicate, Income of Another Person, or Income Not Taxable. After submission, the reporting entity is notified and has 30 days to respond. The AIS entry status updates to reflect whether the correction was accepted or rejected.

Errors in TIS

TIS cannot be corrected directly. Correct the underlying AIS entry first. Once the AIS feedback is processed and accepted, TIS values update accordingly. If the return has already been filed before the correction is accepted, the filed return stands as the taxpayer's declared position.

Summary Checklist

FAQs

1. Do I need to match my ITR exactly with AIS figures?

No. AIS reports gross transaction values, which often differ from taxable income. Mutual fund redemptions, share sales, and off-market transfers may appear at full value in AIS without reflecting the cost of acquisition or applicable exemptions. The ITR is filed based on actual taxable income. Where the return differs materially from AIS, maintaining documentation to explain the difference is advisable.

2. What if TDS is missing from Form 26AS but was deducted from my salary?

The deductor has likely not deposited the tax or quoted an incorrect PAN. Follow up with your employer's payroll team to file a correction. In the interim, you may still file the return and claim the credit, supported by Form 16 or payslips. Consider filing a grievance on the Income Tax portal if the deductor does not resolve the issue before the filing deadline.

3. Can I file the ITR before AIS feedback is resolved?

Yes. Filing does not need to wait for AIS feedback to be accepted by the reporting entity. File based on actual taxable income, download the AIS Consolidated Feedback PDF as a record of your correction attempt, and maintain documentation for any entries that differ from your return. If a clarification is sought later, the documentation supports your position.

4. Why does AIS show a higher amount than my actual income?

AIS typically reports gross transaction values, not net taxable income. A share sale of ₹10 lakh where the cost was ₹7 lakh appears as ₹10 lakh in AIS, not ₹3 lakh of gains. This is expected behaviour, not an error. Compute taxable capital gains separately and report them correctly in the ITR schedules. No AIS feedback is needed for this type of difference.

5. What is the difference between AIS and Form 26AS for tax credit purposes?

Form 26AS is the legally operative document for claiming TDS and advance tax credits. AIS provides broader income visibility but does not govern tax credits. If AIS and Form 26AS show different TDS amounts, the credit claimed in the ITR is validated against Form 26AS during CPC processing. Please consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser or qualified tax professional if significant discrepancies exist between the two documents.

6. When does Form 168 replace Form 26AS?

Form 168 replaces Form 26AS from FY 2026-27 onwards under the Income Tax Rules 2026. For returns being filed now for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27, due July 31, 2026), Form 26AS remains the applicable document. Taxpayers will encounter Form 168 when filing returns for FY 2026-27, due in 2027.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. Information on AIS, TIS, Form 26AS, and Form 168 is based on publicly available CBDT notifications and Income Tax Department guidance applicable for AY 2026-27 (FY 2025-26). Procedures and form references may change in subsequent notifications. Please consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser or qualified tax professional before making any tax filing or financial decision.