What Is Form 26AS & Why Should You Check It? Your PAN’s Tax Report Could Save You From Trouble

Form 26AS is a tax passbook linked to your PAN (Permanent Account Number). It is issued by the Income Tax Department and shows a detailed summary of the taxes deducted from your income by others, such as your employer, banks, or buyers of your property. It also includes information about any advance tax or self-assessment tax you’ve paid.

This form acts like a mirror of your tax history for a financial year—showing what tax has already been paid so you don’t end up paying it again.

Why is Form 26AS So Important?

When you file your Income Tax Return (ITR), it is crucial to ensure all the tax deducted or paid is correctly recorded. If there’s a mismatch between your ITR and the details in Form 26AS, it could delay your refund or even trigger a notice from the tax department.

For example, ABC, a salaried employee in Mumbai, was confused when the tax portal displayed a message about Form 26AS. He had received a message that Rs 35,000 was deducted by his employer, but when he checked his Form 26AS, the amount reflected was lower. It turned out that his employer had delayed updating the TDS. Because he caught it early by checking Form 26AS, Amit was able to clarify the issue and avoid any problems during ITR filing.

How to View Form 26AS?

Accessing Form 26AS is simple and free:

Visit incometax.gov.in

Log in using your PAN credentials

Click on ‘e-File’ > Income Tax Returns > View Form 26AS

You’ll be redirected to the TRACES website, where you can view or download the form