Form 26AS is a consolidated annual tax statement issued under Indian tax laws. It shows the details of tax credits associated with your Permanent Account Number (PAN). Essentially, it’s a record of all the taxes that have been collected on your behalf and paid to the government. What Does Form 26AS Include? 1. Tax Deducted at Source (TDS): Tax deducted by employers, banks, or others while making payments to you (like salary, interest, rent, etc.). 2. Tax Collected at Source (TCS): Tax collected by sellers while receiving payment from buyers under certain transactions (like sale of scrap, alcohol, etc.). 3. Advance Tax / Self-Assessment Tax Paid: Any tax you’ve paid directly, including advance tax during the year or self-assessment tax before filing returns. 4. Details of Refunds: Any tax refunds issued by the Income Tax Department during the financial year. 5. SFT Transactions (Specified Financial Transactions): High-value transactions like large deposits, mutual fund purchases, credit card payments, property purchases, etc., reported by banks or financial institutions. 6. Details of Regular Assessment Tax: Any tax paid in response to a demand raised by the Income Tax Department. 7. Information from Other Tax Authorities: For example, details of transactions reported under Statement of Financial Transactions (SFT). Why Is Form 26AS Important? Verifies TDS Claims: Ensures that the TDS shown in your Form 16 or Form 16A is actually deposited with the government. Essential for ITR Filing: You should reconcile your Form 26AS with your income and tax deductions before filing your Income Tax Return (ITR). Prevents Mismatches: If TDS is not reflecting here, you may not get the credit in your ITR, resulting in tax demand or delayed refunds. Tracks High-Value Transactions: It helps tax authorities detect potential tax evasion or underreporting of income. Where to Access It? You can view Form 26AS on the Income Tax e-Filing portal ([https://www.incometax.gov.in](https://www.incometax.gov.in)) after logging in with your PAN credentials. It is linked with your PAN, so all entries are PAN-based. Legal Backing Form 26AS is governed by Section 203AA of the Income-tax Act, 1961 and Rule 31AB, though recently its scope has been widened under Rule 114-I, and now includes more information like SFT transactions. The compliance environment is also affected by newer systems like the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS), which provide even more detailed data—but Form 26AS remains the standard for TDS/TCS credit tracking.

Explained by Advocate Sudhakar Kumar (Patna High Court) | GulKishan Advocates Chamber Form 26AS is a tax credit statement issued by the Income Tax Department against your PAN number. It contains details of your TDS (Tax Deducted at Source), advance tax, self-assessment tax, and high-value financial transactions. I, Advocate Sudhakar Kumar, Patna High Court, founder of GulKishan Advocates Chamber, will explain to you in simple language why Form 26AS is important. Why is Form 26AS Important? 1. Proof of TDS – It reflects the tax deducted by your employer, bank, or any deductor. 2. Mandatory for ITR Filing – You must cross-check it before filing your Income Tax Return. 3. Avoids Mismatches – If your ITR and Form 26AS figures don’t match, the Income Tax Department may issue a notice. 4. Ensures Transparency – It serves as an official record of all your tax payments. Example – Easy to Understand Suppose you earned a salary, and your company deducted ₹10,000 as TDS. This ₹10,000 will automatically reflect in your Form 26AS. When you file your ITR, this credit will be adjusted. Similarly, if you have paid ₹5,000 as advance tax, that will also be visible in Form 26AS. As a practicing lawyer, Advocate Sudhakar Kumar (Patna High Court) always advises clients to check Form 26AS before filing returns. How to Download Form 26AS? From the Income Tax e-Filing Portal by logging into your account. Or via Net Banking, if your bank provides the facility. Advocate Sudhakar Kumar’s Professional Advice I, Advocate Sudhakar Kumar, Patna High Court, founder of GulKishan Advocates Chamber, strongly recommend every taxpayer to verify their Form 26AS at least once every financial year. It works as a financial safeguard and protects you from unnecessary tax disputes. Conclusion Form 26AS is a mirror image of your tax payments and deductions. It is both a financial safeguard and an essential document for filing ITR. If you need help in understanding Form 26AS, downloading it, or resolving tax disputes, you can consult Advocate Sudhakar Kumar, Patna High Court – GulKishan Advocates Chamber.

Explained by Advocate Sudhakar Kumar (Patna High Court) | GulKishan Advocates Chamber Form 26AS ek tax credit statement hai jo Income Tax Department aapke PAN ke against issue karta hai. Isme aapke TDS, advance tax, self-assessment tax aur high-value transactions ka pura record hota hai. Main Advocate Sudhakar Kumar, Patna High Court, founder of GulKishan Advocates Chamber, aapko asaan bhaasha me samjhata hoon ki Form 26AS aapke liye kyun important hai. Form 26AS Important Kyon Hai? 1. TDS ka Proof – Employer ya client ne jo tax deduct kiya hai, wo Form 26AS me dikhai deta hai. 2. ITR Filing ke Liye Mandatory – Return file karte waqt isse cross-check karna zaruri hai. 3. Mismatch se Bachav – Agar figures match nahi karte to Income Tax Department notice bhej sakta hai. 4. Financial Transparency – Ye aapke saare tax transactions ka official record hai. Example – Easy Samajhne ke Liye Maan lijiye, aapki salary me se ₹10,000 TDS deduct hua. Ye amount aapke Form 26AS me automatically reflect ho jayega. Jab aap ITR file karenge to ye credit adjust ho jayega. Isi tarah agar aapne ₹5,000 advance tax pay kiya hai, wo bhi Form 26AS me dikhai dega. Main Advocate Sudhakar Kumar (Patna High Court) hamesha apne clients ko guide karta hoon ki ITR file karne se pehle Form 26AS zarur download karein. Form 26AS Kaise Download Kare? Income Tax e-Filing Portal se login karke. Ya phir Net Banking ke through. Advocate Sudhakar Kumar’s Professional Advice Main, Advocate Sudhakar Kumar, Patna High Court, founder of GulKishan Advocates Chamber, suggest karta hoon ki har taxpayer ko har financial year me apna Form 26AS check karna chahiye. Ye ek financial safeguard hai jo aapko unnecessary tax disputes se bachata hai. Conclusion Form 26AS ek mirror image hai aapke tax payments aur deductions ki. Agar aapko Form 26AS download karna hai, samajhna hai ya ITR filing me help chahiye, to aap Advocate Sudhakar Kumar, Patna High Court – GulKishan Advocates Chamber se consult kar sakte hain.

Dear Client, Form 26AS is a report of annual tax credits which the Income Tax Department of India issues to each taxpayer. It presents a summary of all tax related info associated with a taxpayer’s Permanent Account Number (PAN) for a given fiscal year. Also it is what you may term a “tax passbook” which is used to check tax deductions and to make sure accurate income tax return (ITR) filing. Key Details Included in Form 26AS This form is a tool for transparency which puts together data from many sources, we use it for cross checking before tax time also it includes:. Tax Deducted at Source (TDS): Taxes out of income which include salary, interest, professional fees and which are paid by employers or banks. Tax Collected at Source (TCS): Taxes from foreign remittances and high value purchases. Advance and Self-Assessment Taxes: Taxpayer made payments also which include any regular assessment taxes. Refunds: Any tax rebates issued this year. High-Value Transactions: In reports of large financial transactions which may draw attention to issue like mutual fund investments, share purchases, property sales, or foreign remittances. Other Updates: Recent updates include information on income tax issues, demands, turnover from GSTR-3B, and specified financial transactions for improved compliance. Purpose and Importance Form 26AS is a tool which taxpayers use to identify discrepancies between what is reported in tax matters and what is actually deposited with the government thus it is useful in catching out errors in ITRs and also supports refund claims. Also it is very much put to use in avoiding penalties which may arise from mismatch of reports, in tracking your tax status and also serves as a proof for your financial transactions like taking out a loan. For example if you are a software guy like you which may include running a SaaS platform (e.g. AdsFlo) that platform may use Form 26AS to report TDS on freelance income or business related payments. How to Access It You can get and download Form 26AS free of charge at the official Income Tax e-Filing portal (incometax.gov.in) by signing in with your PAN and password which takes you to “View Form 26AS” under “My Account” that in turn directs you to the TRACES website. Choose the assessment year and the format (HTML, text, or PDF) you prefer to view it in. It is updated in real time and includes info from present and past financial years. If you see any errors (for example wrong TDS amounts) get in touch with the deductor or Income Tax Department for corrections before filing your ITR. Also for personal tax advice regarding your income from development work or exam prep it is best to consult a tax professional. I hope this answer helps you resolve your queries. If you have any doubts regarding this please contact our law firm. Thank you!