The Annual Information Statement (AIS) was introduced by the Income Tax Department in 2021. Since then, it has become one of the most important documents when it comes to filing your income tax return (ITR).
But what exactly is AIS—and why should you care? Let’s break it down.
What is the AIS?
AIS is a consolidated statement provided by the Income Tax Department that captures your financial activity for the year across various categories. It typically includes:
- Income from salary, interest on savings accounts, dividends, capital gains, rental income
- Taxes paid—TDS, TCS, advance tax, and self-assessment tax
- Purchase/sale transactions related to securities or immovable property
- Foreign remittances
- GST turnover
and more.
Where does AIS data come from?
The tax department collects this information from a wide range of sources—employers, banks, NBFCs, EPFO, brokers, insurance companies, registrars like CAMS and KFintech, and depositories such as CDSL and NSDL.
In short, the tax department already has a detailed picture of your financial activity—often more than you might realise.
How to use AIS while filing your ITR?
One of the most useful things about AIS is that it acts as a single reference point for all your financial data, making it incredibly helpful while filing your tax return.
After you file your ITR, the department compares it with your AIS. If there’s a mismatch—say, you forgot to report interest income from your savings account—you’re likely to get a notice from the department.
In recent years, many taxpayers have received emails for such mismatches. They were asked either to clarify specific transactions via AIS feedback or to file an updated return.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to cross-check your AIS before submitting your return. It reduces the chances of getting a notice later.
How to download AIS from the income tax portal?
- Login to the e-filing portal using your PAN & password
- Click on AIS in the top menu
- Hit Proceed and you’ll get redirected to AIS portal
- Click on the AIS tile
- Choose the relevant financial year and view/download the PDF version
How to provide AIS feedback?
It’s possible that your AIS may include errors or entries that don’t match your records. If that happens, you can raise a correction by submitting feedback directly on the AIS portal.
Here’s a detailed post on how to submit AIS feedback.
AIS vs Form 26AS: What’s the difference?
Think of AIS as a more detailed and upgraded version of Form 26AS.
While Form 26AS covers property purchases, high-value investments, and TDS/TCS details, AIS goes much further. It includes additional data such as dividend income, capital gains, foreign remittances, and more.
Plus, AIS lets you submit feedback on any discrepancies—something that’s not possible with Form 26AS.
In summary: Always check your AIS before filing your ITR. It’s the smartest way to avoid surprises like mismatch notices, and helps ensure your return is accurate and complete.
Happy tax filing!