What is AIS (Annual Information Statement) and How to Use It for ITR Filing in 2026

A few years ago, filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) was relatively straightforward. You took your Form 16 from your employer, added up a few fixed deposit receipts, and hit submit. The government only knew what you (or your employer) told them.

Those days are officially over.

Welcome to the era of the Annual Information Statement (AIS). The Income Tax Department now uses an advanced AI-driven system to track almost every single financial move you make—from the interest you earn on your savings account to the mutual funds you sold last week.

If you file your ITR without checking your AIS first, you are practically inviting a tax notice. At VJR Advisory Group, we ensure our clients’ returns match their official government records flawlessly.

Here is your jargon-free, complete guide to understanding the AIS and using it to file an error-free ITR for FY 2025–26.

⏱️ The 30-Second Explanation: What exactly is AIS?

The Annual Information Statement (AIS) is an exhaustive master record of all your financial transactions over the course of the financial year (April 1 to March 31).

Banks, mutual fund houses, stockbrokers, property registrars, and forex dealers are now legally required to report your high-value transactions directly to the Income Tax Department using your PAN card. The IT Department takes all this data and compiles it into your personal AIS.

1. Form 26AS vs. AIS: Aren't they the same thing? 🥊

This is the most common confusion among taxpayers. While both are official tax documents, they serve very different purposes.

• Form 26AS: This is basically your TDS passbook. It shows you transactions where tax was already deducted (like salary TDS, or 10% TDS on freelance invoices) and advance tax you paid.
• AIS: This is the entire financial universe. It includes everything in Form 26AS, plus transactions where no tax was deducted (like your ₹3,000 savings bank interest, or a large credit card bill you paid).

The Golden Rule: You must use both documents. Use 26AS to claim your tax credits (refunds), and use the AIS to declare your total income accurately.

2. What Exactly Does the AIS Track? 🕵️‍♂️

The AIS captures over 50 different types of specified financial transactions (SFTs). Here are the most critical ones you need to watch out for:

1. Salary and Allowances: Exactly what your employer reported.
2. Interest Income: Interest from Savings Accounts, Fixed Deposits (FDs), Recurring Deposits (RDs), and even Income Tax Refunds.
3. Stock & Mutual Fund Activity: Your capital gains, dividends, and total sale value of securities. (Yes, they know about those shares you sold in November!)
4. Property Transactions: Buying or selling real estate above ₹30 Lakhs.
5. Foreign Remittances: Money sent abroad for travel, education, or investments.
6. High-Value Spends: Paying a credit card bill of more than ₹10 Lakhs in a year, or buying a luxury car.

3. Step-by-Step Guide: How to Download Your AIS 📥

Getting your hands on your AIS is completely free and takes less than two minutes.

1. Log In: Go to the official Income Tax e-Filing portal (eportal.incometax.gov.in) and log in with your PAN and password.
2. Navigate: On the top menu bar, click on Services, then select Annual Information Statement (AIS).
3. Proceed: A pop-up will ask you to proceed to the AIS portal. Click 'Proceed'.
4. Select the Year: Make sure you select the correct Financial Year (FY 2025-26) in the top left corner.
5. View or Download: Click on the 'AIS' tab. You can view the details directly on the screen or click the download icon to save it as a PDF. (Note: The password for the PDF is usually your PAN in uppercase followed by your Date of Birth in DDMMYYYY format).

4. What If My AIS Has Wrong Information? 🚨

Because the AIS is populated by third-party data (banks, brokers), mistakes happen.

Maybe your bank accidentally reported your FD interest twice. Or worse, a transaction belonging to someone else is showing up under your PAN! Do not ignore this. If you file your ITR leaving out a transaction that is in your AIS, the system assumes you are hiding income.

How to fix it: The AIS portal has a built-in Feedback Mechanism.

• Open the specific transaction in the AIS portal.
• Click on the 'Optional' feedback button.
• Select from options like: “Information is not fully correct,” “Information relates to other PAN,” or “Information is duplicated.”
• Once submitted, the system will update your TIS accordingly, and you can file your ITR with the correct numbers.

Don’t Risk a Mismatch Notice. Let VJR Advisory Group Help!

The AIS has made it impossible to hide income, but it has also made filing taxes much more complicated for the average salaried professional and freelancer. Mismatches between your ITR and AIS are currently the #1 trigger for income tax scrutiny notices.

At VJR Advisory Group, our tax experts meticulously reconcile your Form 16, Form 26AS, and AIS/TIS before filing. We handle the complex capital gains calculations, submit feedback for any AIS errors on your behalf, and ensure 100% compliance.