⚡ Quick Summary: Your "Tax Passbook"
Think of Form 26AS as your "Tax Passbook." Just as a bank passbook records all your deposits and withdrawals, Form 26AS records every single rupee of tax that has been paid to the government on your behalf. This includes TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) cut from your salary by your employer, TDS on interest deducted by your bank, TCS (Tax Collected at Source) on foreign travel or car purchases, and any Advance Tax or Self-Assessment Tax you paid directly.
Why is it critical? Before filing your Income Tax Return (ITR), checking Form 26AS is mandatory. If a tax deduction (TDS) is missing from this form—perhaps because your employer or bank forgot to deposit it with the government—you will not get credit for it. This leads to a demand notice from the IT Department asking you to pay that tax again. Checking 26AS allows you to spot these discrepancies early and ask the deductor to correct them.
You can download this statement for free from the official Income Tax e-Filing portal, which redirects you to the TRACES website. It is available for every Financial Year separately. The downloaded file is usually a PDF protected by a password, which is your Date of Birth (DDMMYYYY) . While the government has introduced a more comprehensive statement called AIS (Annual Information Statement), Form 26AS remains the gold standard for verifying tax credits and refunds.
How to Download Form 26AS & Verify Your TDS (TRACES)
Form 26AS is the most important document for any taxpayer. It is your "Annual Tax Statement" that proves your employer or bank has actually deposited the tax deducted from your income to the government.
Warning: The "Fake Refund" Email
Scammers send emails looking exactly like the Income Tax Dept saying:
"You have a refund of ₹25,000 approved. Click here to verify bank account."
This is a Phishing Trap.
The IT Dept NEVER asks you to verify bank details via email links. Always login to the official portal (incometax.gov.in) to check refund status.
26AS vs AIS (The Confusion)
Which one should you trust for filing ITR?
Verdict: Use 26AS to verify taxes paid. Use AIS to verify income earned (Dividends, Interest, Share sales). Discrepancies in either can cause a "Defective Return" notice.
Beware of "Ghost TDS"!
Just because money was cut from your salary doesn't mean it reached the government.
- ❌ The Risk: If your employer deducts tax but doesn't deposit it, the Income Tax Dept will ask YOU to pay it again with interest.
- ✅ The Solution: Download Form 26AS every quarter. If you see the entry there, your money is safe.
Requirements Checklist
You don't need a separate login for TRACES. Just ensure:
- ✅ e-Filing Account: You must be registered on incometax.gov.in.
- ✅ PAN Number: This is your user ID.
- ✅ Password: Login password for the tax portal.
Are you ready?
Form 26AS contains details of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), Tax Collected at Source (TCS), and Advance Tax paid by you. It is automatically linked to your PAN. You cannot download it directly from the TRACES website as an individual; you must go through the Income Tax Portal.
1 Step 1: Login to e-Filing Portal
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1
Visit Website
Go to www.incometax.gov.in and click on 'Login'.
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2
Enter Credentials
User ID: Your PAN Card Number.
Password: Your portal password. Click Continue.
2 Step 2: Navigate to Form 26AS
Once logged in, follow this exact path:
- Menu Go to e-File > Income Tax Returns .
- Select Click on "View Form 26AS" from the dropdown menu.
- Confirm A disclaimer popup will appear saying "You will be redirected to TDS-CPC website" . Click Confirm .
3 Step 3: Download from TRACES
You are now on the TRACES portal. Follow these steps:
- Tick the box "I Agree" and click Proceed.
- Click on the link "View Tax Credit (Form 26AS)" at the bottom.
- Assessment Year: Select the relevant year (e.g., 2025-26 for income earned in 2024-25).
- View As: Select HTML to view instantly or PDF to download.
- Click View/Download . The file will be saved to your device.
Form 26AS vs AIS: What's the difference?
Since 2021, the government introduced AIS (Annual Information Statement). It is more detailed than 26AS.
| Feature | Form 26AS | AIS (New) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Data | TDS, TCS, Advance Tax | TDS + Stocks, Mutual Funds, Dividends |
| Detail Level | Summary | Very Detailed (Transaction wise) |
| Usage | To check Tax Credits | To check Total Income |
Decoding the TDS Codes
You will see these section codes in your 26AS. Here is what they mean:
Common Form 26AS Discrepancies & Resolution Steps
| Error | Cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| TDS deducted by employer/bank is missing | The deductor has not filed their quarterly TDS return, or it is not yet processed by TRACES. | Ask your employer/bank to file their Form 24Q or 26Q. Wait for the quarterly update deadline. |
| Mismatch in the TDS amount | Deductor made a typographical error in your PAN or the deducted amount during filing. | Contact the deductor immediately to file a "TDS Correction Statement" on the TRACES portal. |
| Unknown high-value transactions showing | Incorrect PAN mapping by a financial institution (e.g., property registrar or bank). | Submit immediate online feedback against the transaction in the AIS portal to prevent false tax demands. |
| Status showing 'U' (Unmatched) | The deductor has deposited the tax, but the bank has not yet updated the details with the IT Department. | Wait for 10-15 days. If it still doesn't change to 'F' (Final), ask the deductor to verify the challan details. |
Form 26AS Quarterly Update Timelines
Knowing when to check your Form 26AS is crucial to avoid panic. Employers and banks file TDS returns quarterly. Here is when your tax passbook actually gets updated:
Beyond Taxes: Smart Financial Planning
While you wait for your TDS to reflect, ensure your overall financial health is secure. Explore our free tools and guides:
Alternative Method: How to Download Form 26AS via Net Banking (Without e-Filing Login)
If you have forgotten your Income Tax Portal password, or if the government website is facing heavy server downtime during the tax season, you can directly access Form 26AS using your bank's Internet Banking facility. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has authorized major Indian banks (like SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis, etc.) to provide direct access to TRACES.
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1
Log in to Net Banking
Log in to your primary bank's Internet Banking portal using your standard banking credentials. (Note: Your PAN must be officially linked to this bank account).
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2
Find the Tax Section
Navigate to the "Tax" or "e-Services" tab. (For example, in HDFC, it is under the 'Enquire' tab; in SBI, it is under 'e-Services').
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3
Select Form 26AS
Click on the specific option labeled "View Tax Credit Statement (Form 26AS)".
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4
Confirm & Download
You will be prompted to select your PAN and confirm the redirection. Once you click "Confirm", you will be securely and automatically logged into the TRACES portal without needing a separate password. You can then download the PDF for your chosen Assessment Year.
Understanding Your Tax Passbook: The 7 Parts of Form 26AS
Once you successfully download the Form 26AS PDF, it can look incredibly overwhelming. The document is scientifically divided into specific chronological parts. Here is exactly how to read it:
| Section | What it Contains |
|---|---|
| Part A: Details of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) | This is the most critical section for salaried employees and freelancers. It lists every single entity (like your employer, your bank, or clients) that has deducted TDS from your payments, showing the exact amount paid and the exact tax deposited to the government. |
| Part A1 & A2: 15G/15H & Property Sale | If you submitted Form 15G or 15H to your bank to prevent TDS deduction on your FD interest, it will reflect here as "No Tax Deducted." Part A2 tracks the 1% TDS deducted when you sell a high-value property. |
| Part B: Details of Tax Collected at Source (TCS) | If you purchased an expensive luxury car (over ₹10 Lakhs) or bought international tour packages, the seller collects TCS from you. This tax credit legally belongs to you and reflects in this section. |
| Part C: Details of Tax Paid | If your total tax liability is higher than the TDS deducted, you must pay the remaining balance directly to the government via challan. Any Advance Tax or Self-Assessment Tax you manually pay instantly reflects here. |
| Part D: Details of Paid Refunds | If you filed your ITR last year and the Income Tax Department issued a refund, the exact refunded amount, the date of clearance, and the mode of payment will be permanently recorded in this section. |
| Part E & F: SFT & Property TDS | Part E displays High-Value Transactions (like buying mutual funds over ₹10 Lakhs or massive cash deposits) reported under the Statement of Financial Transactions (SFT). Part F deals exclusively with buyers of real estate who must deduct TDS before paying the builder. |
Complete Your Financial Planning
Filing your taxes correctly is just one part of financial stability. Ensure your family and wealth are fully protected by utilizing our free tools and staying updated on the latest financial scams.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a password for the PDF?
Usually, the 26AS PDF from TRACES is not password protected . However, if you download the AIS/TIS, the password is your PAN (in lowercase) + Date of Birth (DDMMYYYY). Example: abcde1234f01011990.
Can I download 26AS without login?
No. You can also view it through your Net Banking account (if PAN is linked), but direct access requires Income Tax Portal login.
What if details are wrong in 26AS?
You cannot edit 26AS yourself. You must contact the deductor (your employer or bank) and ask them to file a TDS Correction Statement .