The process of filing Income Tax Return (ITR) for the financial year 2024-25 (Assessment Year 2025-26) has started. This time the last date has been fixed as 15 September 2025 instead of 31 July. An important document while filing ITR is the Annual Information Statement (AIS), which was introduced by the Income Tax Department a few years ago. Its purpose is to promote transparency and easy tax compliance.
What is AIS (Annual Information Statement)?
AIS is a digital report that tracks your financial transactions throughout the year and ensures that you have declared the correct income. It gives you a chance to identify and rectify any discrepancy. AIS includes many financial transactions of the taxpayer.
- Interest received from bank
- Dividend income
- Trading in mutual funds and shares
- foreign transactions
- Credit card expenses, real estate transactions etc.
This data is recorded in A I S even if there is no TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) or TCS (Tax Collected at Source). This gives a comprehensive picture of your total income. Taxpayers can visit the portal and view the AIS report and also give feedback on it. If there is any mistake, you can give a digital response, which the department considers and amends.
Transactions Covered in Annual Information Statement
To view A I S, log on to https://www.incometax.gov.in.
Go to the ‘Service’ section and click on ‘Annual Information Statement (AIS)’.
Select the financial year of your choice.
Download the report in PDF or JSON format.
What is Form 26AS?
Form 26AS is an old but very important document. It gives information about the taxes that have already been deducted on your income or you have paid yourself.
- TDS deducted from salary or other source
- TCS (Tax Collected at Source)
- Advance tax and self-assessment tax
- Refund status
- Its main purpose is to ensure that the exact credit of tax is showing in your account.
Key Differences Between AIS and Form 26AS
The main difference between A I S and Form 26AS is that AIS contains information about all types of financial transactions of the taxpayer like interest, dividend, shares and foreign transactions, while Form 26AS provides details related to only TDS, TCS and tax payments. The data source of AIS is institutions like banks, mutual funds and stock exchanges, while the data of Form 26AS comes mainly from employers, banks and the tax department. AIS allows the taxpayer to provide feedback on the information reported, whereas this facility is not available in Form 26AS.
A I S vs Form 26 AS
| Feature | Annual Information Statement | Form 26AS |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Tracks all financial transactions | Shows tax deducted or paid |
| Introduced by | Income Tax Department | Income Tax Department |
| Data Source | Banks, Mutual Funds, Exchanges | Employers, Banks, Govt. departments |
| Editable/Feedback Option | Yes | No |
| Format | PDF / JSON | PDF only |
| Where to Access | income tax e-filing portal | income tax e-filing portal |
Also Read – ITR Filing AY 2025-26: New ITR Forms 1 & 4 Notified – Know What’s Changed
