⚡ 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:
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.