Step-by-Step Guide to Download Form 26AS from TRACES
- Rajesh Kumar Kar
- Dec 15
- 8 min read
Form 26AS acts as one of the most reliable tax documents for anyone preparing to file an Income Tax Return. It brings together every tax credit linked to a PAN, such as TDS, TCS, advance tax, and self-assessment tax. Since the TRACES system remains the official source for this information, downloading Form 26AS correctly ensures that tax filing happens without mismatches or refund delays. Whether the goal is to confirm TDS deductions, verify tax payments, or reconcile income information, this document becomes a mandatory checkpoint. Many platforms, including TaxBuddy, use Form 26AS to auto-validate user data and reduce filing errors.
After logging into the Income Tax portal, Form 26AS can be downloaded from TRACES by accessing the “View Form 26AS” option, accepting the redirection to TRACES, selecting the Assessment Year, and downloading the file in PDF or HTML format. The PDF opens using a password based on the date of birth, and the file shows all tax credits recorded throughout the year.
Table of Contents
Understanding Form 26AS and Its Importance in Tax Filing
Form 26AS serves as a consolidated tax credit statement issued under the Income Tax Act, 1961, and displays every instance where tax has been deducted or collected against a PAN. It includes entries such as TDS from salary, TDS on interest income, TCS from sellers, advance tax, self-assessment tax payments, and information from high-value financial transactions. Since all these credits influence the final tax payable or refundable amount, Form 26AS becomes the primary source for reconciliation.
Taxpayers often rely on Form 26AS to prevent errors such as missing TDS claims, incorrect tax credit entries, or mismatched figures that can lead to notices or refund delays. With TRACES updating entries based on the deductor’s quarterly filings, the form reflects the most authentic and department-verified tax data.
Steps to Download Form 26AS from the TRACES Portal
The TRACES portal provides a straightforward route for downloading Form 26AS. The process includes:
Visiting the Income Tax e-Filing portal.
Logging in using PAN-based credentials.
Navigating to the “View Form 26AS” link under the dashboard.
Accepting the secure redirection to TRACES.
Selecting the Assessment Year and preferred file format.
Downloading the form as a PDF, HTML, or text file.
After downloading, the PDF format opens using the taxpayer’s date of birth in DDMMYYYY format. HTML format is useful when checking entries online, while PDF is ideal for saving and sharing.
How to Access Form 26AS Through the Income Tax e-Filing Portal
The Income Tax e-Filing portal serves as the most direct and reliable route for accessing Form 26AS. After logging in with a PAN-based user ID and password, the dashboard displays several options related to filing, services, and tax information. Under the e-File menu, the option labelled “View Form 26AS” allows users to proceed toward downloading their tax credit statement. Selecting this option triggers a secure redirection to the TRACES platform, where a confirmation window appears asking the user to accept the terms and conditions before continuing. This step ensures secure data handling between the two systems.
Once redirected to TRACES, the interface provides a simple layout for selecting the appropriate Assessment Year. Users can choose to view Form 26AS online, download it in different formats, or print it for recordkeeping. The TRACES portal divides the form into multiple parts to help users understand their tax information more clearly. Part A displays TDS entries reported by employers, banks, or any entity that deducted tax during the financial year. Part B contains details of tax collected at source, which usually applies to specific transactions like high-value goods, scrap, or certain commercial activities. Part C shows information related to self-assessment tax, advance tax payments, or any tax paid directly through challans. Part E covers financial transactions reported under the Annual Information Return, such as high-value investments or purchases.
By reviewing these segmented sections, taxpayers can verify all tax credits recorded against their PAN. This structured view helps ensure accuracy in tax filings, identify missing TDS entries, and match all payments before preparing the return. Since the Income Tax Department cross-checks the return with the information on TRACES, accessing the form through the e-Filing portal helps avoid mismatches, errors, or refund delays.
Downloading Form 26AS via Net Banking: An Alternate Method
Many authorised banks provide a seamless facility to access and download Form 26AS directly through their net banking portals. This service is available as long as the bank account is linked with the correct PAN, since TRACES verifies the identity before granting access. Once logged into the net banking dashboard, users can navigate to sections such as “Tax Services,” “Income Tax,” “e-Tax,” or “View Tax Credit Statement,” depending on the bank’s layout. The portal then redirects securely to the TRACES system without requiring a separate login, making the process far quicker than visiting the Income Tax website each time.
The net banking route is especially helpful for individuals who frequently check their TDS credits or monitor updates across the financial year. It eliminates the need to remember separate TRACES or e-filing credentials and ensures uninterrupted access through a familiar banking interface. The downloaded form carries the same accuracy and format as the version available on the Income Tax portal because the bank connects directly to TRACES. This guarantees that every detail—TDS, TCS, advance tax, and self-assessment tax—appears exactly as recorded in the department’s central system.
Users also benefit from faster loading times and fewer technical interruptions, as bank portals generally have stable servers. For taxpayers who prefer simplicity or face issues logging into the Income Tax portal, the net banking method serves as an efficient and reliable alternative for obtaining Form 26AS whenever required.
Troubleshooting Form 26AS Download Issues on TRACES
Sometimes Form 26AS may not download due to technical or data-related issues. Common reasons include temporary server downtime, slow browser performance, pop-up blockers, and incomplete deductor filings. Ensuring that pop-ups are enabled and clearing browser cache usually resolves technical interruptions.
If certain TDS entries do not appear, it may be due to delayed filing by the deductor or incorrect PAN entry in their records. In such cases, deductors should be contacted for corrections. Since TRACES updates entries only after quarterly filings, waiting for the updated data may also solve the issue.
Why Form 26AS Is Essential for Accurate ITR Filing
Form 26AS helps taxpayers avoid errors such as claiming excess TDS, missing entries, or reporting income inconsistently. During ITR processing, the Income Tax Department compares the details in the filed return with Form 26AS and AIS. Any mismatch may lead to notices, adjustments, or refund delays.
Since the form shows department-verified tax credits, using it ensures that the return aligns with official data. It also simplifies refund calculations, especially for those with multiple income sources or multiple deductors.
How TaxBuddy Helps Simplify Tax Filing Using Form 26AS
TaxBuddy’s system automatically reads and reconciles tax credits from Form 26AS to avoid mistakes commonly seen in manual filings. By matching TDS entries, tax payments, and income information, TaxBuddy reduces the possibility of notices due to mismatches. Expert-assisted plans further help users understand discrepancies, validate entries with AIS, and ensure the final return is error-free.
This makes TaxBuddy especially useful for individuals with multiple deductors, freelancers, senior citizens, and those with complex tax structures. The platform ensures a smooth and accurate filing experience using verified information from Form 26AS.
Conclusion
Form 26AS remains one of the most critical documents for error-free tax filing. With tax credits, TDS entries, and payment records consolidated in one place, it ensures accurate reporting and helps avoid mismatches during ITR processing. Platforms like TaxBuddy simplify this process by reconciling Form 26AS data automatically and guiding taxpayers through each step. For anyone looking for assistance in tax filing, it is highly recommended to download the TaxBuddy mobile app for a simplified, secure, and hassle-free experience.
FAQs
Q1. Does TaxBuddy offer both self-filing and expert-assisted plans for ITR filing, or only expert-assisted options? TaxBuddy provides both self-filing and expert-assisted plans to suit different types of taxpayers. The self-filing option works best for individuals with straightforward income sources, where AI-driven tools automatically read Form 16, extract data, and prefill most details. Those dealing with multiple income streams, capital gains, rental income, business earnings, or potential mismatches in Form 26AS often rely on expert-assisted plans. These plans connect users with qualified tax professionals who review documents, reconcile TDS and AIS entries, and ensure error-free filing.
Q2. Which is the best site to file ITR? The Income Tax Department’s official e-filing portal remains the primary website for tax compliance. However, many taxpayers prefer using trusted tax platforms such as TaxBuddy because they offer a smoother interface, guided filing journeys, and automated checks. These features reduce the chances of errors, prevent mismatches with Form 26AS, and provide expert help when needed, making the overall filing process more accurate and convenient.
Q3. Where to file an income tax return? Income Tax Returns can be filed directly on the government’s e-filing portal or through authorised tax filing platforms like TaxBuddy. While the portal offers a fully manual filing process, platforms such as TaxBuddy simplify the experience by auto-reading Form 16, reconciling Form 26AS and AIS data, suggesting the correct ITR form, and offering expert review for accuracy.
Q4. What is Form 26AS used for in tax filing? Form 26AS is used as a consolidated tax credit statement to verify TDS, TCS, advance tax, and self-assessment tax paid during the financial year. It helps taxpayers confirm whether all deducted taxes are correctly deposited with the government. Since the Income Tax Department matches the return with Form 26AS during processing, it becomes critical for preventing mismatches, notices, or refund delays.
Q5. How often does Form 26AS get updated? Form 26AS is updated periodically based on filings submitted by deductors or collectors. When an employer, bank, or organisation files their quarterly TDS/TCS return, the corresponding entries appear in Form 26AS once processed. Additionally, any advance tax or self-assessment tax payment made by the taxpayer reflects in the form after the challan is validated. Updates may happen multiple times throughout the year, depending on these filings.
Q6. Why does Form 26AS not show certain TDS entries? Missing TDS entries often occur when the deductor—such as an employer or bank—incorrectly enters the PAN while filing TDS returns or delays filing the statement. Sometimes the deductor deposits the tax but fails to link the payment to the correct PAN or record it in the right section. These issues require the deductor to revise their TDS return, after which the entry appears in Form 26AS.
Q7. What is the password to open Form 26AS PDF? The PDF version of Form 26AS is password-protected for security. The password is the taxpayer’s date of birth in DDMMYYYY format. For example, if the date of birth is 10 August 1985, the password will be 10081985.
Q8. Can Form 26AS be downloaded without logging in? Form 26AS cannot be downloaded without secure login because it contains sensitive financial and tax information. Access is possible only through authenticated platforms such as the Income Tax e-filing portal or the net banking interface of authorised banks where the user’s PAN is verified.
Q9. Can a mismatch in Form 26AS delay tax refunds? Yes, mismatches between the return and Form 26AS can delay refunds. When the Income Tax Department finds discrepancies—such as claiming TDS amounts not reflected in the form or reporting incorrect tax payments—it may adjust the refund, raise a query, or send an intimation seeking clarification. Ensuring that Form 26AS is accurate before filing helps avoid these delays.
Q10. How does TRACES ensure secure access to Form 26AS? TRACES uses multiple layers of security to safeguard tax information, including encrypted connections, PAN-based authentication, controlled redirects from the e-filing portal, and password-protected file downloads. These measures ensure that only authorised individuals can view or download Form 26AS, keeping taxpayer data safe from misuse.
Q11. Is AIS the same as Form 26AS? AIS (Annual Information Statement) is not the same as Form 26AS. AIS offers a wider view of financial activity, including savings interest, dividends, securities transactions, rent receipts, foreign remittances, and more. Form 26AS focuses specifically on tax credits such as TDS, TCS, and tax payments. Both documents are important for ensuring that the Income Tax Return is accurate and fully aligned with departmental records.
Q12. Can TaxBuddy help validate Form 26AS entries before filing ITR? TaxBuddy helps users validate Form 26AS data by comparing it with AIS, Form 16, investment proofs, and other income-related documents. The platform identifies mismatches, helps correct discrepancies, and ensures that the filing reflects accurate tax credit information. This reduces the chances of errors, notices, and refund adjustments during processing.
Comments