Form 26AS, AIS (Annual Information Statement), and TIS (Taxpayer Information Summary) are key tools introduced by the Income Tax Department to increase tax transparency and improve voluntary compliance. However, many taxpayers are still unclear about how these forms differ and when they should be used.
This blog explains the difference between Form 26AS, AIS, and TIS for Financial Year 2024–25 (Assessment Year 2025–26), with examples and compliance tips to help you file your ITR confidently.
Legal Background
- Form 26AS is mandated under Section 203AA and Rule 31AB.
- AIS and TIS were introduced by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in 2021 under the Compliance Management Framework for improved taxpayer profiling.
- These reports are generated based on PAN-linked data submitted by banks, mutual funds, employers, and other entities.
What Is Form 26AS?
Form 26AS is a tax credit statement that shows:
- TDS (Tax Deducted at Source)
- TCS (Tax Collected at Source)
- Advance Tax / Self-Assessment Tax
- Refunds issued
- SFT transactions (in limited cases)
- Defaults in TDS return filings
It is an official ledger showing how much tax has been deposited against your PAN.
What Is AIS (Annual Information Statement)?
AIS is a comprehensive report that includes:
- All financial transactions linked to your PAN
- Income from different sources like salary, interest, dividends
- Investments in mutual funds, shares, fixed deposits
- Foreign remittances, property purchases, credit card bills
- Tax deducted and collected
- SFT transactions in full detail
AIS is more detailed and expansive than Form 26AS. It can be downloaded from the Income Tax Portal > AIS Section.
What Is TIS (Taxpayer Information Summary)?
TIS is an auto-generated summary of the AIS. It shows:
- Income types
- Total taxable income
- Pre-filled values for ITR
- Feedback adjustments (if you submitted corrections on AIS)
TIS is used during ITR filing to help pre-fill your return with the data the department has on file.
Key Differences Between Form 26AS, AIS, and TIS
| Feature | Form 26AS | AIS | TIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of Report | Tax ledger | Detailed financial report | Summary of AIS |
| Focus | TDS, tax payments | Full income + investments | Summary for return |
| Introduced In | Before 2020 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Source of Data | TRACES | Multiple reporting entities | Derived from AIS |
| Correction Allowed | No | Yes (feedback option) | Auto-adjusts based on AIS |
| Use | Tax credit match | Data verification | ITR pre-fill support |
Example: How They Work Together
Let’s say Mr. Arjun has the following during FY 2024–25:
- Salary from two companies
- Interest from multiple banks
- Mutual fund redemptions
- Sale of shares
- Rent received
- Form 26AS will show only the TDS deducted on salary and interest.
- AIS will show salary, interest, MF transactions, rent, and sale proceeds.
- TIS will summarize all into total income categories to help with ITR filing.
How to Use Them While Filing ITR
- Download all three from the Income Tax Portal.
- Check Form 26AS to verify tax credits.
- Review AIS for accuracy in income and transaction reporting.
- Submit corrections (feedback) in AIS if any error exists.
- Use TIS as a quick reference while reviewing pre-filled ITR data.
Conclusion
Form 26AS, AIS, and TIS serve different but connected purposes. Form 26AS helps verify your tax credits, AIS shows a broader view of your financial activity, and TIS simplifies filing with a clean summary. Reviewing all three ensures accurate and compliant ITR filing.
Reach out Today!
Not sure how to read or verify your Form 26AS, AIS, or TIS?
Schedule a meeting with our Chartered Accountant, Anshul Goyal, by visiting:
Disclaimer: I am Anshul Goyal, a Chartered Accountant licensed with ICAI, India. The content in this blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Should I check Form 26AS or AIS before filing ITR?
Check both. 26AS helps verify TDS credits, while AIS gives a complete income snapshot. - What if AIS has incorrect entries?
You can submit feedback directly in the AIS portal to request corrections. - Is TIS mandatory for filing return?
Not mandatory, but it helps you understand how your AIS data is being summarized for ITR pre-fill. - Can I rely only on TIS for ITR?
No. Always cross-check with AIS and your actual documents before filing. - Why are my mutual fund redemptions not showing in 26AS?
Form 26AS does not show detailed financial transactions. Check AIS for complete investment data.