Annual Information Statement (AIS) has become one of the most important documents for Income Tax Return filing in India. Before filing your ITR, you should always check your AIS because the Income Tax Department already uses this data to compare what you report in your return.
A lot of taxpayers still confuse AIS with Form 26AS. But AIS is much more detailed. It includes savings account interest, stock market transactions, mutual fund investments, foreign remittances, GST turnover, dividend income, and several other financial details linked to your PAN.
If you ignore your AIS and file incorrect information, it can lead to mismatches, delayed refunds, or notices under Section 143(1) of the Income Tax Act.
In this guide, you will understand what AIS is, how to view AIS online, AIS password format, AIS vs Form 26AS differences, and how to use AIS correctly while filing your ITR for FY 2025-26.
What is Annual Information Statement (AIS) in Income Tax?
Annual Information Statement (AIS) is a detailed financial statement issued by the Income Tax Department that shows your reported financial transactions for a financial year.
AIS was introduced to give taxpayers a complete picture of their financial activity linked with PAN. It helps both taxpayers and the Income Tax Department ensure that the information reported in the ITR matches the records available with government systems.
The statement includes information received from:
- Banks
- Mutual fund companies
- Stock brokers
- Employers
- GST portal
- Property registrars
- Foreign remittance systems
Unlike older tax statements, AIS is much more detailed and helps detect underreported income or mismatched data during ITR processing.
What Information Does AIS Show?
AIS shows various categories of financial transactions linked to your PAN.
The purpose of AIS is to help you verify whether your income and taxes are correctly reported before filing your return.
Common Information Available in AIS
| Transaction Type | Examples | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Salary Income | Salary credited by employer | Helps match Form 16 |
| TDS Details | Tax deducted by employer/bank | Prevents TDS mismatch |
| Bank Interest | Savings & FD interest | Taxable income reporting |
| Stock Transactions | Share buying/selling | Capital gains reporting |
| Mutual Funds | SIPs, redemption | Investment tracking |
| Property Transactions | Property purchase/sale | High-value transaction tracking |
| Foreign Remittance | Overseas transfers | Compliance verification |
| Dividend Income | Shares & mutual funds | Taxable income inclusion |
How to View AIS Online?
You can view AIS online through the official Income Tax portal using your PAN-linked login credentials.
Checking AIS before filing your ITR helps you avoid notices, mismatches, and refund delays.
How to Check AIS Online Step-by-Step
- Visit the Income Tax e-filing portal
- Log in using your PAN, password, and OTP
- Go to “Services”
- Click “Annual Information Statement (AIS)”
- Open the AIS portal
- Select the relevant financial year
- View or download AIS PDF
The portal also allows you to download both:
- AIS
- Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS)
TIS is a simplified summary version of AIS used mainly for quick ITR reference.
What is AIS Statement Password Format?
AIS PDF files are password protected for security reasons.
The AIS password format is usually your PAN number in lowercase followed by your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format.
Example of AIS Password
PAN = ABCDE1234F
Date of Birth = 15 August 1995
Then password will be:
abcde1234f15081995
A lot of taxpayers fail to open AIS PDFs simply because they enter the PAN in uppercase letters. The password always uses lowercase PAN letters.
AIS vs Form 26AS — What is the Difference?
AIS and Form 26AS are related but not identical.
Form 26AS mainly shows TDS, TCS, and high-value transactions. AIS provides a much broader financial overview.
AIS vs Form 26AS Comparison Table
| Feature | AIS | Form 26AS | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| TDS Details | Yes | Yes | Tax verification |
| Savings Interest | Yes | Limited | Income tracking |
| Stock Transactions | Yes | No | Capital gains reporting |
| Mutual Fund Data | Yes | No | Investment reporting |
| Foreign Remittance | Yes | Limited | Compliance |
| Feedback Option | Yes | No | Error correction |
AIS is now considered more important for accurate ITR filing because it contains much wider financial reporting.
Why is AIS Important for ITR Filing?
AIS helps you file accurate Income Tax Returns and reduce the risk of notices from the Income Tax Department.
Under-reporting income is one of the most common reasons for tax notices in India today.
Why Taxpayers Should Check AIS Before Filing
- Helps identify missed income
- Prevents TDS mismatch
- Reduces notice risk
- Improves refund processing
- Helps reconcile investments
- Detects incorrect reporting
During ITR processing, such mismatches can trigger automated notices.
What is AIS Feedback in Income Tax?
AIS feedback allows taxpayers to correct or dispute incorrect financial information shown in AIS.
The Income Tax Department introduced AIS feedback functionality to improve data accuracy and reduce unnecessary notices.
Situations Where AIS Feedback is Useful
You can submit feedback if:
- Transaction does not belong to you
- Information is duplicated
- Amount is incorrect
- Income is exempt
- Transaction is already included elsewhere
How to Submit AIS Feedback
- Open AIS portal
- Select transaction
- Click “Add Feedback”
- Choose appropriate reason
- Submit response
Feedback helps update your Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) for more accurate ITR filing.
What Mistakes Do Taxpayers Commonly Make with AIS?
Many taxpayers either ignore AIS completely or misunderstand the data shown inside it.
This often creates unnecessary tax problems later.
Common AIS Mistakes
| Mistake | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Ignoring AIS before filing | Income mismatch notice |
| Not reporting bank interest | Additional tax demand |
| Incorrect capital gains reporting | Refund delays |
| Assuming AIS is always correct | Wrong tax filing |
| Not checking TDS entries | Missing tax credits |
Can AIS Show Incorrect Information?
Yes, AIS can sometimes contain incorrect, duplicate, or outdated information.
AIS collects data from multiple reporting entities, and occasional reporting errors can happen.
Common Reasons for Incorrect AIS Entries
- PAN entered incorrectly by reporting entity
- Duplicate transaction reporting
- Incorrect bank reporting
- Old investment records
- Joint account confusion
This is why AIS should be reviewed carefully instead of blindly copied into your ITR.
Conclusion
Annual Information Statement (AIS) has become one of the most important documents for Income Tax Return filing in India. It helps you understand exactly what financial information the Income Tax Department already has against your PAN.
Before filing your ITR for FY 2025-26, always review your AIS carefully. Check for mismatches, verify TDS details, confirm capital gains, and submit feedback if something looks incorrect.
If you are confused about AIS, Form 26AS, TDS mismatches, or capital gains reporting, EasyTax can help you review your tax data properly and file your return accurately without unnecessary complications.