What is Form 26AS? Comprehensive Guide for NRIs and Residents

Want to keep records of your deducted tax in India? This is one of the most common issues individuals, especially non-resident Indians (NRIs), face while managing finances overseas.

In this regard, Form 26AS serves as a consolidated tax document used by the Income Tax Department to keep records of tax-related transactions. It is a detailed statement showing any amount deducted as Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) or Tax Collected at Source (TCS), which can be used while filing income tax returns (ITR).

Form 26AS is a vital document containing information such as self-assessment tax payments, TDS deducted on the sale of immovable assets, advance tax payments, and certain specified financial transactions. Want to know more about why it matters for Indian residents and NRIs? Read this blog to understand it clearly.

What Is Form 26AS and Why Is It Important?

Form 26AS is an annual tax statement provided by the Income Tax Department. It gives an overview of tax-related information and financial transactions mainly linked to tax credits.

If you are an Indian resident or NRI liable to pay tax in India, understanding this form is important because it works like a tax passbook. It provides a clear picture of your tax affairs in India.

The form also shows completed or pending tax demands, assessment proceedings, and refunds. The revised Form 26AS with expanded reporting was introduced from 1 June 2020. However, detailed financial transaction information is now mainly available in the Annual Information Statement (AIS), which is separate from Form 26AS.

Why Form 26AS Matters

• Tax Reconciliation: Form 26AS helps match TDS or tax paid with official tax department records while filing ITR.
• Foreign Remittance Tracking: Some high-value transactions may appear through reporting systems, but detailed foreign remittance data is generally available in AIS rather than Form 26AS.
• Income Verification: It provides visibility of tax credits related to income sources such as salary, business income, or interest where TDS applies.
• Error Prevention: Checking Form 26AS before filing ITR helps avoid mismatches that could result in tax notices or inquiries.

The updated Form 26AS typically includes taxpayer details, TDS/TCS credits, tax payments, refunds, and certain transaction indicators. More detailed financial reporting, cross-border transactions, and expanded disclosures now appear mainly in AIS.

Information Available on Form 26AS

Form 26AS is a comprehensive tax credit document for residents and NRIs. It generally includes:

• TDS details from deductors such as employers or contractors.
• TCS details collected by authorized collectors.
• Advance tax or self-assessment tax paid.
• Regular assessment tax paid.
• Tax refund details issued by the IT Department.
• TDS default information after return filing.
• Certain financial transaction indicators (detailed data mainly appears in AIS).
• TDS on sale of immovable property.
• Completed or pending tax proceedings.

Additionally, the Annual Information Statement (AIS) introduced alongside the revised reporting framework from 1 June 2020, separately provides expanded information on financial transactions, refunds, demands, and other tax-related data.

Structure and Parts of Form 26AS

Form 26AS under the Income Tax Act, 1961 contains multiple sections mainly related to tax credits.

Part A: Tax Deducted at Sources (TDS) Details

In the Form 26AS, this section showcases the details of the deducted tax on your income by all individuals or entities who need to deduct tax at source. It consists of information like the name of the tax deductor, Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN), tax amount, credit or paid amount, and the time for which the tax deduction was made.

TDS Details for Form 15G/15H: Shows cases where TDS was not deducted because Form 15G/15H was submitted.

TDS Under Specific Sections:
Examples include: 

• Sale of immovable property (Section 194-IA)
• Rent paid by individuals/HUFs (Section 194-IB)
• Payments to professionals or contractors (Section 194M)

Part B: Tax Collected at Source (TCS) Details

If you get an income subject to TCS, this section in the form showcases the relevant details of it. It consists of the name and TAN of the individual or entity who collected the tax, the collected tax, the paid or credit amount, and the period.

Part C: Tax Paid (Excluding TCS/TDS)

This section of Form 26AS contains information on the taxes you paid directly, such as the advance tax and self-assessment tax that you paid during a fiscal year. This involves details of the paid amount and the payment date.

Part D: Income Tax Refund Details

During the financial year, if you have received any kind of tax refunds, this section of the form will provide details of that refund amount and that financial year.

Part E: SFT (Specified Financial Transactions) Details

This section of the Form 26AS consists of the information on high-value financial transactions, such as mutual funds, shares, and other specific financial assets. Through this detail, the tax officials monitor transactions for non-compliance and tax evasion.

Part F: TDS Deducted and Paid by You

This section contains the TDS information when you deduct and deposit your liable tax. For instance, while purchasing a property, making payments to professionals or contractors, or paying rent.

Part G: TDS Default Details

After completing TDS returns, if any discrepancies or defaults are found in the tax deducted amount, the details of these are mentioned in this section of the form.

Part H: Turnover Details in GSTR-3B Details

Under the Goods and Services Tax (GST), taxpayers who are registered, details of turnover mentioned in GSTR-3B are also stated in the revised Form 26AS.

This was all about the structure and parts of Form 26AS. Moving further, let's go through the process to download and use the form for filing the ITR.

How to Download and Use Form 26AS for Filing ITR

After accessing the online Income Tax Department platform, downloading Form 26AS is an easy process that is vital for filing the income tax return. Through this form, one can claim all tax credits that are eligible during the ITR process. Moving ahead, here are the steps that you need to follow to download the form from the portal:

Steps to Download Form 26AS

1. Visit the e-filing website. On the top-right side of the corner, you will see the login option. Click on that.
2. Visit the Income Tax e-filing website and click login.
3. Log in using PAN/Aadhaar and password.
4. Navigate to e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Form 26AS. You will be redirected to TRACES.
5. Accept the confirmation checkbox.
6. Click “View Tax Credit (Form 26AS)”.
7. Select financial year and viewing format (HTML/PDF).
8. Download the PDF. It is usually password protected, typically PAN (lowercase) plus date of birth in DDMMYYYY format.

This form shows tax deducted, collected, or paid in India including advance tax, TDS, and self-assessment tax.

For NRIs, reviewing Form 26AS is essential for claiming correct tax credits, refunds, and DTAA benefits where applicable.

Note: Some financial details are now primarily shown in AIS, which complements Form 26AS.

How NRIs Can Access Form 26AS Outside India

NRIs can access Form 26AS the same way as resident taxpayers through the Income Tax e-filing portal or TRACES website. No separate NRI portal is required.

You simply need:

• PAN/Aadhaar login credentials
• Registered email or mobile for OTP verification

Steps:

• Log in to the Income Tax portal.
• Go to e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Form 26AS.
• Proceed to TRACES.
• Select financial year and format.
• View or download the form.

These steps remain the same if you use the TRACES website. This is how you can access your Form 26AS outside India. Now, moving further, let's know the benefits of Form 26AS.

Download Form 26AS Format for FY 2024-25

Download Form 26AS format for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26)

Benefits of Form 26AS

As mentioned above, many times, Form 26AS is a vital document for both NRI and resident Indian taxpayers. It is a strong statement that consists of a summary of all the information on taxes available from the IT Department. Form 26A is essential and provides several benefits to taxpayers in India. Want to know what they are? Read the points below and get your answers.

• Form 26AS provides complete information on the deducted/collected tax and whether it is deposited with the tax officials by the authorized collectors/ deductors.
• In the Form 26AS, an individual can see all the financial transactions, including TCS/ TDS, done in the relevant fiscal year.
• While filing the income tax return, Form 26AS helps in calculating the income and claiming the applicable tax credits.
• Using Form 26AS during an assessment or financial year, a taxpayer can confirm verification of applicable tax refunds.
• In situations where a person has income from several sources or has paid taxes in different jurisdictions, this form plays an essential role in avoiding paying double tax. It provides a clear overview of the paid tax and helps the taxpayers in claiming tax exemptions or credits on the already paid tax in another country or for the money that is subject to tax relief under the double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA).

These are the benefits that Form 26AS offers to taxpayers while filing the ITR in India. Moving further, now, let's know the difference between Form 26AS and TDS certificate (Form 16/ 16A).

Form 26AS vs TDS Certificates (Form 16 / 16A)

Form 26AS and TDS certificate (Form 16/16A) are both vital tax documents in India for taxpayers that are associated with Tax Deducted at Source (TDS). Although both forms help taxpayers in claiming tax benefits, but have different purposes and consist of different details. Want to know more about them? Here, the table below showcases the difference between these forms. So read on and get a clear overview of them.

This is the key difference between the TDS certificate (Form 16/16A) and Form 26AS. Now, moving further, let's know the things to check in the TDS certificate along with Form 26AS.

Things to Check in TDS Certificates with Form 26AS

Before submission, Form 26AS should be verified with both the TDS certificates, i.e., Form 16 (available for salaried individuals) and Form 16A (for NRIs and non-salaried individuals), to certify that the deducted TDS from the income of the payee is correct and deposited to the income tax department. Moving ahead, here are the things you need to check in your Form 26AS and TDS certificate:

• Your Personal Details: In the certificate, your complete name and PAN card number should be mentioned. This certifies that the tax deducted is correctly attributed to you.
• Details of the Deductor: In the certificate, details of the tax deducted by the deductor and his/her collector account number (TAN) should be mentioned. This connects the TDS certificate to the deduction source.
• Payment Information: The amount paid to you and the deducted TDS amount should be stated in the certificate. It helps in verifying whether the correct amount was deducted or not.
• Financial and Assessment Years: The TDS certificate should state the financial year, i.e., 1 April to 31 March, and the assessment year (year following the financial year) for which you paid tax. This assists in correlating the deducted tax with your ITR.
• Quarterly Details: In case you receive the TDS certificate quarterly, it will showcase the specific quarter, i.e, Q1, Q2, Q3, or Q4, in which tax is deducted. It further helps in tracking the timing and frequency of tax deductions and payments.

These are the things that you need to verify in both, TDS certificate and Form 26AS.

Final Thoughts

Understanding Form 26AS is important for both resident Indians and NRIs. Reviewing it regularly helps confirm accuracy of tax paid, deducted, and deposited.

This ensures your income is properly reflected and prevents issues during ITR filing. Since filing for FY 2024-25 has already begun, professional assistance can help simplify compliance.

You may connect with SaveTaxs experts for smoother tax filing and compliance support.