For financial year 2025-26 (Assessment year 2026-27), the last date to file income tax returns is July 31, 2026. According to The Times of India, filing after this date is treated as belated and subject to penalties. Form 26AS has become an essential document for salaried taxpayers during the ITR filing process, providing a consolidated view of tax-related information linked to their Permanent Account Number (PAN).
As reported by The Times of India, Form 26AS primarily contains details of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) by employers, banks and other deductors, as well as Tax Collected at Source (TCS) on specified transactions such as foreign remittances. According to Parizad Sirwalla, Partner and Head - Global Mobility Services, Tax, KPMG in India, Form 26AS serves as a key reference document for reviewing tax credits and reconciling tax-related information available with the Income Tax Department before filing an income-tax return. Form 26AS reflects the taxes which have been reported by the third party to whom the taxes have been deposited or by whom the taxes have been deducted, ensuring complete transparency in tax collection processes.
According to The Times of India, taxpayers should also refer to the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS), which provide a more comprehensive view of financial transactions and income-related information available with the department. Reviewing Form 26AS before filing helps ensure that taxes deducted on behalf of taxpayers have been correctly credited and prevents discrepancies between their records and Income Tax Department information. Any mismatch may lead to processing delays or queries from the Income Tax Department. Income-tax return helps in reconciling the records as submitted by assessee and as per Income-tax department records, completing the self-assessment process where advance taxes paid need to be reported to the Department through the filing procedure.
As reported by The Times of India, taxpayers can access Form 26AS through the Income Tax e-Filing portal (https://www.incometax.gov.in) by navigating to e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Form 26AS. The portal redirects users to the TRACES platform, where the statement can be viewed online or downloaded in PDF or text format. Form 26AS can also be accessed through the net banking facilities of select authorized banks, providing multiple access options for taxpayers. Form 26AS is available for download through the Income Tax e-Filing portal, with the option to view online or download in PDF or text format.
According to The Times of India, taxpayers are advised to review Form 26AS carefully and reconcile it with AIS, TIS and other tax records before filing their income tax returns to avoid errors and ensure smooth processing. Parizad Sirwalla emphasizes the importance of thorough reconciliation to prevent processing delays and queries from the Income Tax Department during the filing process. Even when the advance taxes have been paid, the same need to be reported to the Department through Income-tax return filing procedure, which completes the self-assessment of income and taxes are computed on the same.
