Moment guide · FY 2026-27

I am cross-checking Form 16 before filing my return

How do I verify Form 16 against AIS and 26AS before filing ITR?

Cross-check Form 16 Part A (monthly TDS) against Part B (annual computation), then match the totals with Form 26AS and the AIS on the portal — any mismatch should be resolved before filing. Choose the correct ITR form for your income type, since a wrong form makes the return defective under section 139(9), and file by 31 July to avoid late-fee interest under section 234F.

The #1 trap

Trusting the pre-filled ITR blindly — pre-filled figures pull from AIS/26AS, which can contain employer errors, duplicate TDS or income from a previous employer that was later corrected. Also, many taxpayers file ITR-1 when they have capital gains or rental income, and the return comes back defective under section 139(9) with no time left before the 31 July due date.

Ankit, finance manager reconciling before his first ITR filing

Ankit downloads his Form 16, which shows salary income of ₹13,00,000, standard deduction of ₹75,000 and TDS of ₹1,05,000 deducted by the employer. He opens the AIS on the income-tax portal and sees the same salary and TDS, plus fixed-deposit interest of ₹18,000 from a bank where he holds an FD, and dividend income of ₹6,500 from shares — none of which appears in his Form 16, because the employer only reports salary. His Form 26AS shows the employer's TDS of ₹1,05,000 and additional TDS of ₹1,800 cut by the bank on the FD interest under section 194A. Ankit adds the interest and dividend to his return, because AIS entries are pre-filled into the ITR and suppressing them invites a notice. His total income becomes ₹13,00,000 minus ₹75,000 plus ₹18,000 plus ₹6,500, which is ₹12,49,500, and the bank's ₹1,800 TDS becomes a credit in his return. Because he has dividend and interest income, ITR-1 still works for a resident with only salary and other sources, so he files ITR-1. His colleague who sold shares for a capital gain must file ITR-2, and a friend with freelance consulting income files ITR-3. Ankit verifies that the pre-filled salary matches his Form 16 exactly, because a duplicate entry from a previous employer would overstate his income. He files by 31 July, paying the small balance of tax computed, and keeps the Form 16, AIS and bank statements together. A quick call with us dials in the final figure. Ankit also compares the employer's TDS amount in Form 16 Part A with the quarter-wise entries in Form 26AS, because a missing quarter means his TDS credit is short and his refund is delayed. If the AIS shows an interest entry from a bank account he closed years ago, he checks whether it is a duplicate or a genuine missed credit before removing it, because deleting a genuine entry can cause a mismatch notice. The pre-filled ITR is convenient but not authoritative: he edits the salary figure only if the employer's correction statement (Form 26) changed it after Form 16 was issued. If his total income exceeds the threshold or he has any income to declare, the 31 July due date controls, and filing late attracts a fee under section 234F of ₹5,000 (₹1,000 for small incomes). A quick call with us dials in the final figure.