As the financial year 2025-26 concludes and the assessment year 2026-27 approaches, millions of Indian taxpayers are preparing to file their income tax returns. One of the most critical steps in this process is verifying how much Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) has been deducted from your income throughout the year. Whether you're a salaried employee, freelancer, or investor receiving interest income, understanding where and how to check your TDS deductions ensures you claim accurate tax credits and avoid discrepancies that could delay your refund or trigger notices from the Income Tax Department. This comprehensive guide walks you through every method available to check your TDS deducted during FY 2025-26, from Form 26AS to the newly enhanced Annual Information Statement.
Understanding TDS and Its Importance for FY 2025-26
Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) is a mechanism introduced under the Income Tax Act, 1961, where tax is collected at the source of income generation rather than at a later date. Under Section 203 of the Income Tax Act, every person responsible for deducting tax at source must issue a TDS certificate and deposit the deducted amount to the government within prescribed timelines. For FY 2025-26, TDS applies to various income streams including salary (Section 192), interest on fixed deposits exceeding ₹40,000 for regular citizens and ₹50,000 for senior citizens (Section 194A), professional and technical fees (Section 194J), rent (Section 194-I), commission (Section 194H), and dividend income (Section 194K).
The importance of tracking your TDS cannot be overstated. Every rupee deducted as TDS is a tax credit in your name that reduces your final tax liability when you file your Income Tax Return (ITR) for Assessment Year 2026-27. If your total TDS exceeds your actual tax liability, you are entitled to a refund from the Income Tax Department. Conversely, if there are mismatches between what your deductor claims to have deposited and what reflects in your tax records, you may face issues during ITR processing or even receive notices demanding additional tax payment. With the Income Tax Department's increasing reliance on data analytics and the Annual Information Statement introduced in recent years, ensuring TDS accuracy has become more critical than ever.
Types of TDS Applicable in FY 2025-26
Method 1: Checking TDS Through Form 26AS
Form 26AS is your consolidated annual tax credit statement that serves as the single most important document for verifying TDS deducted during FY 2025-26. Maintained by the Income Tax Department's Centralized Processing Center, Form 26AS shows all tax credits in your name including TDS deducted by employers, banks, clients, and other deductors, as well as advance tax and self-assessment tax paid by you. The form is updated regularly as deductors file their quarterly TDS returns with the department.
Step-by-Step Process to Download Form 26AS from Income Tax Portal
Step 1: Visit the official Income Tax e-filing portal at www.incometax.gov.in and click on 'Login'. Enter your PAN as User ID and your password. If you haven't registered yet, you must complete registration using your PAN, Aadhaar, and mobile number verification.
Step 2: After successful login, navigate to the 'e-File' menu on the top navigation bar and select 'Income Tax Returns' from the dropdown menu. You will see an option for 'View Form 26AS (Tax Credit)' in the left sidebar or under the services section.
Step 3: Click on 'View Form 26AS'. You will be redirected to the Traces website (TDS Reconciliation Analysis and Correction Enabling System). The authentication happens automatically through the e-filing portal. Select the Financial Year as '2025-26' and the format as 'HTML' for online viewing or 'PDF' for download.
Step 4: Click 'View/Download' and your Form 26AS for FY 2025-26 will be displayed. The form is divided into multiple parts - Part A shows TDS on all income other than salary, Part A1 displays TDS on salary, Part B shows TDS on sale of property, Part C contains tax collected at source (TCS), Part D shows advance tax and self-assessment tax paid, Part E displays refunds received, Part F shows Annual Information Statement details, and Part G contains TDS defaults if any deductor failed to deposit tax despite deduction.
For salaried individuals, the most relevant section is Part A1 which shows quarterly breakup of TDS deducted by your employer with details including employer's Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN), amount of tax deducted, and the date of deposit to the government. Each entry also shows the acknowledgment number of the TDS return filed by your employer, providing complete transparency. You can easily verify these amounts with the TDS certificates (Form 16) provided by your employer to ensure accuracy before using the Form 26AS / TDS Fetch Tool for streamlined verification.
Alternative Method: Accessing Form 26AS Through Net Banking
Several authorized banks provide direct access to Form 26AS through their net banking portals, eliminating the need to login separately to the Income Tax website. Banks including State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Punjab National Bank, and others offer this facility. Simply login to your net banking account, navigate to the 'Tax' or 'Statements' section, and select 'View Form 26AS'. You will be redirected to Traces website where Form 26AS can be viewed after authentication. This method is particularly convenient for taxpayers who prefer not to remember separate credentials for the e-filing portal.
Method 2: Using the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS)
The Annual Information Statement (AIS) represents a significant upgrade from Form 26AS, introduced by the CBDT to provide taxpayers with a comprehensive view of all financial transactions reported to the Income Tax Department. Unlike Form 26AS which primarily focuses on tax credits, AIS includes information on salary, interest income, dividend, securities transactions, mutual fund transactions, foreign remittance, and other specified financial transactions as reported by various entities including employers, banks, mutual fund houses, stock exchanges, and foreign exchange dealers.
The Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) is a taxpayer-friendly version of AIS that allows you to provide feedback on the information displayed and accept or reject specific transactions. This feature is particularly useful if certain transactions are incorrectly attributed to your PAN or if there are duplicates. The accepted transactions from TIS can be directly auto-populated in your ITR, significantly reducing the time and effort required for tax filing.
How to Access AIS and TIS for FY 2025-26
Step 1: Login to the Income Tax e-filing portal at www.incometax.gov.in using your PAN and password. After successful authentication, you will land on the dashboard showing your profile and filing status.
Step 2: On the dashboard, look for the 'Annual Information Statement (AIS)' option under the 'Services' tab or directly on the main menu. Click on 'Annual Information Statement (AIS)' to proceed.
Step 3: Select the relevant financial year 'FY 2025-26' from the dropdown menu. The system will display your AIS containing comprehensive information divided into multiple sections including salary (Part A), interest (Part B), dividend (Part C), capital gains from securities (Part D), off-market transactions (Part E), payment of rent (Part F), and TDS/TCS details (Part G).
Step 4: Review each section carefully. Pay special attention to TDS details under Part G, which shows all TDS deducted across various income sources with deductor details, amount, and deposit date. Cross-verify these entries with your Form 16, Form 16A, and other TDS certificates received from deductors.
Step 5: To access the Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS), click on 'View TIS' from the AIS page. TIS presents the same information in a consolidated format and allows you to provide feedback. If you find any incorrect information, you can select 'Information is not correct' or 'Information is duplicate' and submit your feedback. The system will mark those entries accordingly and exclude them from auto-population in your ITR.
The AIS is particularly valuable for taxpayers with multiple income sources beyond salary, such as freelance professionals, consultants, investors, and business owners. For instance, if you earned ₹8,50,000 as salary with TDS of ₹95,000, ₹1,20,000 as professional fees with TDS of ₹12,000 under Section 194J, and ₹65,000 as interest income with TDS of ₹6,500 under Section 194A, all these will be comprehensively displayed in your AIS along with the deductor information and payment dates. You can then use the Income Tax Calculator to compute your final tax liability after considering all income sources and TDS credits.
Method 3: Checking TDS Through Traces Portal Directly
The Traces (TDS Reconciliation Analysis and Correction Enabling System) portal maintained by the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) on behalf of the Income Tax Department serves as an alternative direct method to access Form 26AS and view TDS details. This portal is particularly useful if you face login issues with the main e-filing portal or prefer a dedicated interface for TDS-related queries.
Steps to Check TDS on Traces Portal
Step 1: Visit www.tdscpc.gov.in which is the official Traces portal. On the homepage, click on 'Register' if you are a first-time user. You will need to provide your PAN, select user type as 'Taxpayer', enter your personal details, and create a password. A confirmation email will be sent to your registered email address.
Step 2: After registration or if already registered, click on 'Login' and enter your PAN and password. Complete the captcha verification and click 'Proceed'. You will be directed to your Traces dashboard.
Step 3: On the dashboard, select 'View Form 26AS (Tax Credit)' from the menu options. Choose the financial year as '2025-26' and the view type as 'HTML' for online viewing or 'PDF' for downloading. Click 'View/Download'.
Step 4: Your Form 26AS for FY 2025-26 will be displayed with the same comprehensive details as accessed through the Income Tax portal. Review all parts systematically, noting down any discrepancies for follow-up with deductors.
The Traces portal also offers additional features such as downloading TDS certificates, tracking TDS correction requests, and viewing deductor-wise TDS summary. For taxpayers who have multiple deductors or frequently need to download TDS certificates for different quarters, the Traces portal provides a centralized repository that is updated in near real-time as deductors file their quarterly TDS returns.
Understanding Form 16 and Form 16A for TDS Verification
While Form 26AS and AIS are government-maintained consolidated statements, TDS certificates issued by individual deductors play an equally important role in TDS verification. These certificates serve as primary evidence of tax deduction and must be obtained from all entities that deducted TDS from your income during FY 2025-26.
Form 16: TDS Certificate for Salary Income
Form 16 is a certificate issued by employers to salaried employees under Section 203 of the Income Tax Act. It is divided into two parts: Part A contains details of TDS deducted and deposited to the government with quarterly breakup, including employer's TAN, employee's PAN, and acknowledgment numbers of quarterly TDS returns. Part B provides a detailed computation of salary income including basic salary, allowances (HRA, transport, special allowances), perquisites, exemptions claimed (HRA exemption, LTA, standard deduction), deductions under Chapter VI-A (80C, 80D, 80G, etc.), and the resulting taxable income and tax liability.
Employers are required to issue Form 16 by June 15, 2026 for FY 2025-26. The certificate is digitally signed and contains a unique certificate number for verification. If you have changed jobs during the year, you should obtain separate Form 16 from each employer covering their respective periods of employment. For example, if you worked with Company A from April to September 2025 earning ₹4,20,000 with TDS of ₹35,000, and then joined Company B from October 2025 to March 2026 earning ₹5,80,000 with TDS of ₹68,000, you need Form 16 from both employers to claim total TDS credit of ₹1,03,000. Don't forget to check if your employer correctly calculated your HRA exemption using the HRA Calculator for accurate tax computation.
Form 16A: TDS Certificate for Non-Salary Income
Form 16A is issued for TDS deducted from non-salary sources including interest on fixed deposits, professional fees, commission, rent, and other payments. Banks, clients, tenants, or any other deductor must issue Form 16A quarterly within 15 days of filing their TDS return. For instance, if a bank deducted ₹12,000 as TDS on your fixed deposit interest during Q1 FY 2025-26 (April-June 2025), they must file the quarterly TDS return by July 31, 2025, and issue Form 16A by August 15, 2025.
Form 16A contains the deductor's TAN, deductee's PAN, amount paid, amount of TDS deducted, TDS deposited date, and acknowledgment number of the TDS return. It is crucial to collect Form 16A from all deductors because it serves as documentary evidence in case of discrepancies between your records and Form 26AS. You can also download Form 16A from the Traces portal by logging in with your PAN and selecting the relevant quarter and financial year.
Common TDS Discrepancies and How to Resolve Them
Despite the robust TDS mechanism, discrepancies between TDS deducted by your employer or other deductors and the amount reflected in Form 26AS or AIS are not uncommon. These mismatches can occur due to incorrect PAN quoted by the deductor, errors in TDS return filing, delayed deposit of TDS to the government, or technical issues in data processing at the Income Tax Department's central systems. Understanding common discrepancy scenarios and their resolution mechanisms is essential to avoid complications during ITR filing for AY 2026-27.
Types of Common TDS Mismatches
Scenario 1: TDS Deducted but Not Reflected in Form 26AS - This is the most common issue where your employer or other deductor has deducted TDS from your payment and you have received Form 16/16A as evidence, but the amount does not appear in your Form 26AS. This typically happens when the deductor has not yet filed the quarterly TDS return, filed the return with incorrect PAN details, or there is a delay in processing at TIN-CPC (Tax Information Network - Centralized Processing Center).
Scenario 2: Lower TDS Amount in Form 26AS Than Actually Deducted - Sometimes Form 26AS shows a partial amount of TDS while your salary slips or TDS certificates show higher deductions. This can occur if the deductor deposited only part of the deducted amount or made errors while filing the TDS return.
Scenario 3: TDS Reflected Against Wrong PAN or Quarter - In cases where the deductor has quoted an incorrect PAN or allocated TDS to the wrong financial quarter in their return, the credit may appear under a different PAN in Form 26AS or in a different assessment year altogether.
Scenario 4: Duplicate TDS Entries - Occasionally, if a deductor files both original and correction statements without properly linking them, duplicate entries may appear in Form 26AS, potentially overstating your tax credits.
Step-by-Step Resolution Process
Step 1: Contact Your Deductor Immediately - As soon as you identify a discrepancy, reach out to your employer's payroll department, bank's accounts team, or the client who deducted TDS. Provide them with specific details including the amount deducted as per your records, the quarter in question, and the mismatch observed in Form 26AS. Request them to verify their TDS return filing and deposit records.
Step 2: Request Correction Statement Filing - If the deductor confirms an error in their TDS return such as wrong PAN, incorrect amount, or wrong quarter mapping, ask them to file a TDS Correction Statement on the Traces portal. The correction statement must reference the original TDS return acknowledgment number and specify the corrections being made. Once filed and processed by TIN-CPC, the corrected information will reflect in your Form 26AS within 7-10 working days.
Step 3: Raise Grievance on Traces Portal - If the deductor is unresponsive or unwilling to file a correction, you can raise an online grievance on the Traces portal. Login to www.tdscpc.gov.in, navigate to 'Grievances' section, and register a complaint with category 'Credit Mismatch in Form 26AS'. Provide details including deductor's TAN, your PAN, quarter, financial year, and nature of discrepancy. Upload supporting documents such as Form 16/16A, salary slips, or payment receipts. The Traces team will investigate and coordinate with the deductor for resolution.
Step 4: Contact TIN-CPC Helpline - You can also contact the TIN-CPC call center at toll-free number 1800-103-0344 (from MTNL/BSNL landlines) or +91-20-27218080 (chargeable for mobile/private landlines). Email queries can be sent to tininfo@nsdl.co.in. Provide your PAN, details of discrepancy, and reference numbers of TDS certificates for faster resolution.
Step 5: File ITR with Supporting Documents - If the discrepancy cannot be resolved before the ITR filing deadline of July 31, 2026, you should still claim the TDS credit in your return based on Form 16/16A certificates received. While filing, attach these certificates as supporting documents in the ITR upload section. In the additional information or notes section of the ITR form, mention that certain TDS credits claimed are not reflected in Form 26AS but are supported by valid certificates. The Income Tax Department's processing system will verify your claim against deductor records and grant the credit if substantiated.
Key Deadlines for TDS and ITR Filing for FY 2025-26
Understanding the timeline of TDS deposit, return filing, and income tax return submission is crucial for effective tax planning and ensuring all your TDS credits are properly reflected before you file your ITR for Assessment Year 2026-27. The Income Tax Act prescribes specific due dates for deductors to deposit TDS and file quarterly returns, which directly impact when the credits appear in your Form 26AS.
Quarterly TDS Return Filing Schedule for Deductors
Under Section 200 of the Income Tax Act, deductors (employers, banks, businesses) must file quarterly TDS returns in Form 24Q (for salary), Form 26Q (for payments other than salary), and Form 27Q (for payments to non-residents). For FY 2025-26, the quarterly deadlines are:
Since Form 26AS is updated based on these quarterly returns, TDS deducted in a particular month appears in your Form 26AS only after the deductor files the return for that quarter and it is processed by TIN-CPC. For example, TDS deducted from your salary in March 2026 will typically reflect in Form 26AS only by mid-June 2026, after your employer files the Q4 return by May 31, 2026. Therefore, it is advisable to download and verify your Form 26AS only after June 15, 2026 to ensure all TDS for FY 2025-26 is captured before filing your ITR.
Income Tax Return Filing Deadlines for AY 2026-27
For individual taxpayers not requiring tax audit, the deadline to file ITR for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) is July 31, 2026. If you have income from business or profession requiring audit under Section 44AB, the deadline extends to October 31, 2026. Filing your return after these dates attracts a late filing fee of up to ₹5,000 under Section 234F and interest on any unpaid tax under Sections 234A, 234B, and 234C.
Given that the ITR deadline is July 31, 2026, and Q4 TDS returns are due only by May 31, 2026, there is a narrow window for verification and discrepancy resolution. This makes it essential to proactively monitor your TDS throughout the year rather than waiting until the last moment. Use the Form 26AS / TDS Fetch Tool periodically to track your TDS credits as they get updated quarterly.
Best Practices for TDS Verification and Tax Planning
Effective TDS management goes beyond merely checking Form 26AS before ITR filing. Proactive monitoring, accurate documentation, and strategic planning throughout the financial year can help you optimize tax efficiency, avoid last-minute stress, and ensure seamless ITR processing. Here are comprehensive best practices every taxpayer should follow for FY 2025-26 and beyond.
Quarterly TDS Reconciliation
Instead of waiting until March 2026 to verify TDS, download Form 26AS at the end of every quarter (August, November, February, and June) and match it with your salary slips, bank statements, and payment receipts. For salaried individuals, verify that the TDS amount shown in Part A1 of Form 26AS for each quarter matches the TDS mentioned in your monthly salary slips. If you receive income from other sources like fixed deposit interest, professional fees, or rent, cross-check the TDS entries in Part A with the TDS certificates (Form 16A) issued by respective deductors.
For example, if your employer deducted ₹25,000 as TDS in Q1 (April-June 2025) as per your salary slips, verify by August 15, 2025, that this exact amount reflects in Form 26AS under your employer's TAN. Early detection of discrepancies gives you ample time to request corrections before the ITR filing deadline approaches.
Maintain Digital and Physical Records
Create a dedicated folder (digital and physical) for all tax-related documents for FY 2025-26. This should include monthly salary slips, Form 16 from current and previous employers if applicable, all Form 16A certificates from banks and other deductors, investment proofs submitted to employer for tax deductions, rent receipts if claiming HRA, medical insurance premium receipts for Section 80D, donation receipts for Section 80G, and statements of tax-saving investments like ELSS mutual funds, PPF, NSC, and home loan principal repayment under Section 80C.
Having organized records ensures you can quickly respond if the Income Tax Department seeks clarification on any claimed deduction or TDS credit during ITR processing. Moreover, these documents serve as crucial evidence if you need to dispute any discrepancy in Form 26AS or AIS.
Verify PAN in All Financial Transactions
A significant cause of TDS mismatches is incorrect PAN quotation by taxpayers or deductors. Whenever you submit investment applications, open new bank accounts, or engage in financial transactions, double-check that your PAN is correctly mentioned. Similarly, when providing PAN to employers or clients, verify the spelling of your name matches exactly as per PAN card records. Even minor differences like 'Kumar' vs 'Kumaar' or initials vs full name can cause TDS credit mismatches.
Submit Form 15G/15H to Avoid Unnecessary TDS
If your total income for FY 2025-26 is below the taxable limit (₹2,50,000 for individuals below 60 years, ₹3,00,000 for senior citizens aged 60-80 years, and ₹5,00,000 for super senior citizens above 80 years under the old tax regime), you can submit Form 15G (for individuals below 60 years) or Form 15H (for senior citizens) to banks and other deductors to avoid TDS on interest income. This prevents unnecessary blocking of funds that would otherwise be refunded only after ITR filing and processing, which can take several months.
Regular Monitoring of AIS and TIS
The Annual Information Statement is continuously updated as various reporting entities submit information to the Income Tax Department. Login to the e-filing portal at least once every two months to review your AIS and check if any new financial transactions have been reported. Pay special attention to transactions you don't recognize, as these could indicate identity theft, incorrect PAN mapping by financial institutions, or transactions by family members with similar names.
Use the TIS feedback feature promptly to mark any incorrect or duplicate information. Providing feedback before filing ITR prevents these erroneous transactions from auto-populating in your tax return, which could inflate your reported income and tax liability. For instance, if your AIS shows a dividend income of ₹40,000 from a company you never invested in, mark it as 'Information is not correct' in TIS with appropriate reason. The system will exclude it from ITR auto-fill.
Utilize Tax Planning Tools
Leverage online tax calculators to estimate your tax liability throughout the year rather than discovering at year-end that you owe additional tax. If you have income from capital gains on stocks or mutual funds, use the Capital Gain Calculator to compute your LTCG and STCG liability and plan for advance tax payments accordingly. For equity traders, the Stock Profit Calculator helps track gains and losses for accurate tax computation.
If you maintain multiple bank accounts, the Bank Statement Analyser can help consolidate all transactions and identify patterns that may require tax attention, such as high-value deposits that could trigger scrutiny or cash transactions exceeding reporting thresholds under the Income Tax Act.
Special Considerations for Different Taxpayer Categories
While the fundamental process of checking TDS remains consistent, certain taxpayer categories face unique challenges and should adopt specific strategies for effective TDS verification during FY 2025-26.
Salaried Employees with Multiple Employers
If you changed jobs during FY 2025-26, you must obtain Form 16 from each employer covering their respective employment periods. Inform your current employer about your previous employment and provide them with salary and TDS details from the earlier employer. This enables your current employer to calculate TDS correctly considering your total salary for the year under Section 192. Failure to do so can result in under-deduction of TDS, leading to tax demand and interest when you file ITR.
For instance, if you earned ₹6,00,000 with TDS of ₹40,000 from Company A (April-August 2025) and ₹7,50,000 with TDS of ₹70,000 from Company B (September 2025-March 2026), your total salary is ₹13,50,000 and total TDS is ₹1,10,000. Your Form 26AS Part A1 should show separate entries for both employers. When filing ITR, you must report both salary incomes and claim both TDS credits to arrive at correct tax liability.
Freelancers and Professionals
If you receive professional or technical fees subject to TDS under Section 194J (at 10% for fees or 2% for technical services), you may have dozens of TDS deductors (clients) throughout the year. Maintain a detailed spreadsheet tracking each client payment, date, TDS deducted, and TDS certificate received. Reconcile this with Part A of Form 26AS where each client's TDS should appear with their TAN.
Since freelancers often invoice clients net of TDS, accurate TDS tracking is crucial. For example, if you invoiced Client X for ₹50,000 for consulting services, they would deduct ₹5,000 as TDS and pay you ₹45,000. Ensure this ₹5,000 TDS appears in Form 26AS against Client X's TAN. If multiple clients have similar issues or if you face systematic non-reflection of TDS despite receiving Form 16A, this could indicate clients are not filing TDS returns properly, requiring proactive follow-up.
Senior Citizens and Pensioners
Senior citizens often have income from pension (TDS under Section 192), interest on fixed deposits and saving schemes (TDS under Section 194A), and sometimes rental income (TDS under Section 194-I). Given the higher threshold of ₹3,00,000 for senior citizens (60-80 years) and ₹5,00,000 for super senior citizens (above 80 years) under the old tax regime, many may not have tax liability despite TDS deductions, making TDS verification essential for claiming refunds.
Senior citizens should pay special attention to Section 194A TDS on bank interest. The threshold for FY 2025-26 is ₹50,000 per financial year per bank (compared to ₹40,000 for others). If total income is below taxable limits, submit Form 15H to all banks at the beginning of the financial year to avoid TDS. If TDS has already been deducted, ensure all bank TDS entries appear in Form 26AS Part A and file ITR to claim refund.
NRIs (Non-Resident Indians)
Non-Resident Indians have TDS deducted at higher rates on various incomes sourced from India including interest on NRO accounts, rental income from Indian properties, and capital gains from sale of assets. TDS rates for NRIs are generally higher unless Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) benefits are claimed by submitting Form 10F along with Tax Residency Certificate (TRC).
NRIs must verify Form 26AS carefully because they file ITR only if their India-sourced income exceeds the basic exemption limit or if they want to claim refund of excess TDS. Form 26AS for NRIs will show TDS under relevant sections with higher rates applied. For example, interest on NRO fixed deposits attracts TDS at 30% (plus surcharge and cess) for NRIs compared to 10% for residents. If DTAA benefits were claimed, verify that TDS was deducted at the reduced treaty rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Form 26AS and Annual Information Statement (AIS)?
Form 26AS is a tax credit statement showing TDS, TCS, advance tax, and self-assessment tax paid against your PAN. The Annual Information Statement (AIS) is a comprehensive statement introduced by CBDT that includes all financial transactions reported to the Income Tax Department, including salary, interest income, dividend, securities transactions, mutual fund investments, and foreign remittances. While Form 26AS focuses primarily on tax credits, AIS provides a complete view of your financial information. Both can be accessed through the Income Tax e-filing portal and should be verified before filing your ITR for accuracy.
How can I check TDS deducted by my employer for FY 2025-26?
To check TDS deducted by your employer for FY 2025-26, you can download Form 16 from your employer, which provides a detailed breakup of salary paid and TDS deducted. Additionally, login to the Income Tax e-filing portal, navigate to 'e-File' and select 'Income Tax Returns,' then access Form 26AS or AIS/TIS. Under the 'TDS on Salary' section (Part A1), you will find quarterly TDS details deducted by your employer with TAN, amount, and deposit dates. Cross-verify these figures with your Form 16 to ensure accuracy before filing your return for AY 2026-27.
What should I do if there is a TDS mismatch in Form 26AS?
If you find a TDS mismatch in Form 26AS, first verify the details with your deductor (employer, bank, or other entity) and check if they have deposited the TDS but not reflected it correctly in their TDS return. Contact the deductor immediately and request them to file a correction statement (revised TDS return) with the correct PAN and amount details. You can also raise a grievance on the Traces portal or contact the TIN-CPC helpline. Wait for 7-10 days after the correction is filed for the updated information to reflect in Form 26AS. If the issue persists, you can still claim the TDS credit while filing ITR by providing supporting documents like Form 16/16A.
Can I download Form 26AS without logging into the e-filing portal?
No, you cannot download Form 26AS without proper authentication. You must login to the Income Tax e-filing portal using your PAN and password or through net banking credentials of authorized banks. Alternatively, you can access Form 26AS through the Traces portal using your PAN and password. For security reasons, the Income Tax Department requires proper authentication before displaying your tax credit statement. However, once logged in, the process is straightforward and you can download Form 26AS in PDF format for any financial year. There is no offline method or third-party website that can legally provide your Form 26AS without authentication.
When does TDS deducted in March 2026 reflect in Form 26AS?
TDS deducted in March 2026 typically reflects in Form 26AS after the deductor files their quarterly TDS return for Q4 FY 2025-26, which is due by May 31, 2026. However, most employers and deductors file returns by mid-May. The Income Tax Department processes these returns at TIN-CPC, and the credit usually appears in Form 26AS within 7-10 days of successful return processing. Therefore, TDS deducted in March 2026 generally becomes visible in Form 26AS by early to mid-June 2026. It is advisable to check your Form 26AS after June 15, 2026, before filing your ITR for AY 2026-27 to ensure all tax credits are properly reflected.
Is Form 16 mandatory to check my TDS, or is Form 26AS sufficient?
While Form 26AS is sufficient to check TDS credits from all sources, Form 16 is important for salaried individuals as it provides detailed salary breakup, exemptions claimed, and deductions allowed by the employer under sections 80C, 80D, and others. Form 16 helps you understand how your employer calculated taxable salary and is essential for accurate ITR filing. Form 26AS only shows the quantum of TDS deposited but does not provide salary components or exemption details. For complete accuracy, you should obtain Form 16 from your employer and cross-verify the TDS amount with Form 26AS. Both documents together ensure error-free ITR filing for FY 2025-26.
Conclusion
Checking TDS deducted during FY 2025-26 is a critical step in ensuring accurate income tax return filing for Assessment Year 2026-27. With the availability of comprehensive digital tools including Form 26AS, Annual Information Statement, Taxpayer Information Summary, and the Traces portal, taxpayers now have unprecedented transparency into their tax credits and financial information reported to the Income Tax Department. By adopting a proactive approach of quarterly verification, maintaining organized documentation, promptly resolving discrepancies, and leveraging the feedback mechanisms in TIS, you can ensure seamless ITR processing and timely receipt of any tax refund due to you.
Remember that the ITR filing deadline of July 31, 2026, requires you to have all TDS information verified well in advance, particularly since Q4 TDS credits may appear in Form 26AS only by mid-June 2026. Don't wait until the last moment—start your TDS verification process now and address any mismatches immediately. Whether you're a salaried employee, freelancer, investor, or pensioner, understanding and monitoring your TDS throughout the year is fundamental to effective tax planning and compliance. For a hassle-free tax filing experience with automated TDS verification, access to all your tax documents in one place, and intelligent tax computation, explore the comprehensive suite of TaxFetch Tools designed specifically for Indian taxpayers navigating the complexities of income tax in FY 2025-26 and beyond.