How to Correct Errors in AIS & Form 26AS Before the Tax Season Starts
AIS and Form 26AS have quietly become two of the most important documents for every taxpayer. They show the information the Income Tax Department already has about you, long before you file your return.
If these documents show an incorrect figure, the system assumes it is correct; and your ITR is marked as inconsistent.
Small mistakes are common: duplicated bank interest, missing TDS, wrong capital gain entries, or transactions that don't belong to you at all.
Catching these issues early makes tax filing far easier and reduces the risk of unwanted notices.
Here, you'll see the mistakes to watch for, how to fix them, and what to do if updates take time.
Why AIS and Form 26AS Matter More Than Ever
AIS gives a broad view of your financial activity: interest earnings, dividends, securities trades, rent reported by tenants, cash deposits, and certain high-value transactions.
It also reflects information submitted by a wide range of digital platforms. Even entertainment or gaming platforms with financial transactions, such as Mostbet bookmaker and casino in India, may report payments or withdrawals whenever those movements hit your bank account.
This is why usually taxpayers sometimes find entries they did not expect; the system aggregates data from every source tied to your PAN.
Form 26AS focuses on the tax side: TDS, TCS, advance tax, and refunds.
When these two documents disagree with your personal records, the system quickly flags the mismatch.
AIS pulls data from many sources, which is why errors usually appear there first. A bank, employer, broker, or tenant only has to make one reporting mistake for the wrong figure to appear under your PAN.
The Most Frequent Errors People See
Most AIS mismatches fall into a few predictable patterns that show up for taxpayers every year.
Inflated or Duplicate Interest Income
Banks sometimes send quarterly reports multiple times. AIS then shows interest that is far higher than what you earned.
Missing TDS Entries
Employers or tenants may deduct TDS but file the return late or with wrong details. Until revised, the tax credit will not appear in 26AS.
Capital Gain Entries Without Cost Details
Some brokers report only the sale amount, leaving your AIS to show large gains that do not reflect actual profit.
Entries That Belong to Someone Else
Wrong PAN tagging is rare but not impossible. If a financial institution uploads data under the wrong PAN, AIS picks it up instantly.
How to Review AIS and 26AS in a Systematic Way
You can correct most AIS errors yourself through the feedback option built into the portal. When you open an incorrect entry, AIS lets you choose the type of mistake.
Once you pick the right category, add a short note explaining what the accurate figure should be or why the entry needs to be changed.
A simple, factual line is enough. If you have documents that support the correction, such as bank statements, Form 16, Form 16A, contract notes, or rent-related paperwork, upload them with your feedback so the institution reviewing the request has everything they need.
After submitting it, AIS updates the status as the verification moves forward, and you can check the progress anytime. Some entries get corrected within a few days, while others take longer depending on how quickly the reporting institution responds.
How to Fix Errors in Form 26AS
Form 26AS cannot be corrected by you. Only the deductor can correct it.
Here's how to handle it:
- Identify who made the error; employer, bank, tenant, or client.
- Share proof and ask them to revise their TDS return.
- Follow up until the revised return reflects in 26AS.
- Check that the tax credit appears before claiming it in your ITR.
What If Corrections Don't Reflect Before Filing?
If corrections don't show up in AIS or 26AS before filing, you can still proceed without risking issues. The simplest approach is to rely on your own records and report your income exactly as it appears in your bank statements, salary documents, and broker reports.
The system may flag a mismatch later, but accurate figures are always defensible.
The only part you should avoid estimating is TDS. Claim it only when it appears in Form 26AS, since the system automatically rejects anything missing from that file.
Keep your bank statements, Form 16, rent records, and brokerage summaries ready. If the department asks for clarification, these documents clearly show how you arrived at your numbers and close the matter quickly.
How to Minimize Errors Next Year
A few habits prevent most mismatches:
- Update PAN across all financial accounts
- Close unused accounts properly
- Save bank and broker statements quarterly
- Cross-check TDS with Form 16 as soon as it's issued
- Review AIS twice a year instead of waiting for tax time
Final Takeaway
AIS and Form 26AS are now central to how your return is evaluated. Fixing mistakes early protects you from mismatches and helps your tax filing move smoothly. A careful review now saves stress later.
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