Form 26AS is a statement that provides details of any amount deducted as TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) or TCS (Tax Collected at Source) from various sources of income of a taxpayer. It also reflects details of advance tax/self-assessment tax paid, and high-value transactions entered into by the taxpayer. Form 26AS gives a consolidated record of every tax-related information associated with your PAN (Permanent Account Number) and is required because it provides proof of tax deducted and collected at source on our behalf. It helps to verify the contents of the TDS certificate and ensure that the TDS deducted from your income is actually deposited with the income tax department. The following information is available on Form 26AS:

• Tax deducted at source and tax collected at source
• Pending and completed income tax proceedings
• Income tax payments such as advance tax and self-assessment tax paid by the taxpayer
• Details of specified financial transactions
• Tax demands and tax refunds

Form 26AS can be viewed and downloaded easily from the TRACES (TDS Reconciliation Analysis and Correction Enabling System) website. Taxpayers who are registered at the Income Tax e-filing portal can also view Form 26AS by logging in using their username and password. The Form 26AS can only be viewed if the person’s PAN is linked with their bank account. The facility is available free of cost, and the following banks that are registered with NSDL (National Securities Depository Limited) allow viewing Form 26AS:

• Axis Bank
• Bank of Baroda
• Bank of India
• Bank of Maharashtra
• Canara Bank
• Citibank N.A.
• City Union Bank Ltd.
• ICICI Bank Ltd.
• IDBI Bank Ltd.
• Karnataka Bank
• Corporation Bank

Form 26AS is required to be filed by taxpayers who have TDS or TCS deducted on their income.