Published 9 May 2026
Architecture, processing logic, feedback workflow and pre-filling of returns under section 285BB of the Income-tax Act, 1961 -- a practitioner's reading of the Central Board of Direct Taxes Handbook v4.1.0 (February 2026)
Taxpayer Brief
The Annual Information Statement is the income-tax department's complete view of every reportable financial transaction the taxpayer has carried out during the financial year, presented through the same Form 26AS portal that previously showed only the Tax Deducted at Source ledger. From the financial year 2020-21 onwards, the department has progressively migrated bank interest, dividend, mutual fund redemption, sale of securities, foreign remittance, cash deposit and many other transactions into the Annual Information Statement, drawing on returns filed by banks, registrars, mutual funds, exchanges, sub-registrars and others. Alongside it, the department generates a Taxpayer Information Summary, which deduplicates the raw entries and produces a single aggregated number per income category that the income-tax return form can pre-fill.
What this means in practical terms: every taxpayer must, before filing the return of income, log into the income-tax portal, download the Annual Information Statement, reconcile every entry against personal records, accept or contest each line through the on-line feedback mechanism, and only then file the return. A single un-reconciled mismatch between the Annual Information Statement and the return is the most common trigger for a section 143(1)(a) intimation, and increasingly for a section 148A reopening notice.
1. Statutory Origin and Scope
Section 285BB was inserted into the Income-tax Act, 1961 by the Finance Act, 2020 with effect from 1 June 2020. It empowers the Principal Director General of Income-tax (Systems) or the Director General of Income-tax (Systems) to upload, in the Annual Information Statement of a taxpayer, information received from any officer or authority performing a function under any law, information received under a tax treaty referred to in section 90 or section 90A, and any other information considered relevant to the interest of the revenue. The Central Board of Direct Taxes notification dated 28 May 2020 amended Form 26AS through Rule 114-I of the Income-tax Rules, 1962 to reflect this expanded scope. The new Form 26AS is the Annual Information Statement.
Component | Contents per Rule 114-I | Practitioner Note |
|---|---|---|
Part A | Permanent Account Number, Aadhaar Number, Name, Date of Birth or Incorporation or Formation, Mobile Number, Email Address, Address | The identification panel; mismatches here typically reflect an outdated profile on the portal |
Part B-1 | Information relating to Tax Deducted at Source and Tax Collected at Source (the original Form 26AS data) | Cross-tally with Form 16, Form 16A, Form 16B and the deductor-issued Tax Deducted at Source certificates |
Part B-2 | Information relating to Specified Financial Transactions reported in Form 61A under section 285BA | Cash deposits, dividend payouts, mutual fund redemption, immovable property registration, etc. |
Part B-3 | Information relating to payment of taxes (advance tax, self-assessment tax, regular assessment tax) | Pulled from the challan database; reconcile with bank challans |
Part B-4 | Information relating to demand and refund | Tracks pending demands under earlier assessment years |
Part B-5 | Information relating to pending proceedings | Lists open assessment, reassessment, appeal proceedings |
Part B-6 | Information relating to completed proceedings | Closed assessments and orders |
Part B-7 | Any other information in relation to sub-rule (2) of Rule 114-I | The residual entry through which categories like Virtual Digital Asset receipts, Online Gaming Winnings, Partner receipts from Firm, and Luxury Goods purchases have been added |
Form 26AS today After the section 285BB amendment, the Form 26AS title remains, but its content is the full Annual Information Statement plus the legacy Tax Deducted at Source ledger. Practitioners often loosely speak of 'Form 26AS' for the Tax Deducted at Source view and 'Annual Information Statement' for the broader view. Technically both are the same statutory return -- only the display tab differs. |
2. The Three Statements -- Annual Information Statement, Taxpayer Information Summary and Form 26AS
Statement | Purpose | Display Logic |
|---|---|---|
Annual Information Statement | Comprehensive line-by-line view of every reported transaction | Shows Value Reported by Source and Modified Value (if any) per individual line |
Taxpayer Information Summary | Information-category-wise aggregate summary used to pre-fill the return | Shows Value Processed by System and Value Accepted by Taxpayer / Confirmed by Source |
Form 26AS (legacy view) | Tax Deducted at Source / Tax Collected at Source ledger plus tax payments | Now a sub-set of the Annual Information Statement; remains the primary tax-credit reconciliation document |
3. Information Levels -- L1, L2, L3
The Handbook describes a three-level architecture for the way information is aggregated. L1 is the raw line-item level reported by a single source. L2 is the source-wise aggregate -- if the same bank reports forty interest entries, the L2 figure is the bank-wise total. L3 is the information-category-wise aggregate across all sources -- the figure that ultimately pre-fills the return.
Level | Granularity | Where Visible |
|---|---|---|
L1 | Individual transaction line as reported | Annual Information Statement -- click into a category and a source to see line items |
L2 | Source-wise aggregate (one row per source per category) | Annual Information Statement category page; deduplication is marked at this level |
L3 | Category-wise aggregate across all sources | Taxpayer Information Summary -- this is the figure that pre-fills the return of income |
4. Four Value Tags Every Practitioner Must Decode
Tag | Definition (per Handbook v4.1.0) | Where It Appears |
|---|---|---|
Value Reported by Source | The information value as originally reported by the information source against the Permanent Account Number | Annual Information Statement -- L1 and L2 |
Modified Value | Value modified by taxpayer feedback, or by the Source confirming or denying the taxpayer's feedback | Annual Information Statement -- L1 and L2 |
Value Processed by System | Value generated after deduplication of information based on pre-defined rules | Annual Information Statement L2 and Taxpayer Information Summary L3 |
Value Accepted by Taxpayer / Confirmed by Source | Value derived after considering taxpayer feedback or Source confirmation, used for pre-filling the return | Annual Information Statement L2 and Taxpayer Information Summary L3 |
Why four tags The four-tag system separates what was originally reported, what was processed, what was disputed, and what was finally accepted. In a scrutiny, the assessing officer can show the Reported value -- the taxpayer's defence rests on demonstrating that the Modified or Accepted value is the correct figure, supported by feedback acknowledgement and source confirmation. |
5. Deduplication Logic
A single transaction can appear in the Annual Information Statement multiple times because different reporting laws require different reporters to file separately. A dividend, for instance, is reported under the Tax Deducted at Source statement (by the deductor) and again in the Specified Financial Transaction return (by the registrar). The Handbook gives the example of a rupees twenty-five thousand two hundred eleven dividend reported twice. The Annual Information Statement system applies pre-defined rules to identify the duplicate and mark the lower-value entry with the tag 'Information is duplicate / included in other information', so that the Taxpayer Information Summary aggregates only the higher value.
Common Duplicate Pair | How the System Handles It | What the Practitioner Should Verify |
|---|---|---|
Dividend in Tax Deducted at Source statement and in Specified Financial Transaction Form 61A | Lower value flagged duplicate; higher retained at L2 | Confirm that the higher value is correct and matches the company's dividend warrant |
Interest in Tax Deducted at Source statement and in Specified Financial Transaction Form 61A | Same logic | If the depositor has multiple accounts in the same bank, ensure each account is captured |
Sale of immovable property in Tax Collected at Source / section 194-IA Tax Deducted at Source and in Specified Financial Transaction reporting by sub-registrar | System tracks property identifier and deduplicates | Confirm the reported value matches the registered sale deed value and the actual consideration |
6. The Six Feedback Options
Feedback Option | When to Use | Downstream Effect |
|---|---|---|
Information is correct | Reported value matches taxpayer's own records | Value Accepted by Taxpayer is set equal to Value Reported by Source; flows into Taxpayer Information Summary unchanged |
Information is not fully correct | Some attributes are correct but the value or counterparty needs amendment | Taxpayer enters revised value; goes through risk-management screening; Source may be asked to confirm |
Information relates to other Permanent Account Number / Year | Wrongly assigned to the wrong taxpayer or wrong year (typical for joint accounts and minor children) | Information is moved out of this Annual Information Statement and routed to the correct Permanent Account Number |
Information is duplicate / included in other information | Same transaction already appears under another category or source | The flagged entry is excluded from Taxpayer Information Summary aggregation |
Information is denied | Taxpayer asserts the transaction never happened (identity theft, mis-reporting) | High-risk feedback; Source is contacted; if Source denies the taxpayer's denial, the original value is restored |
Customized Feedback | Category-specific structured feedback added in v3.0.0 (January 2024) and expanded in v4.1.0 (February 2026) | For example, in 'Sale of land or building': specify whether the property was inherited, gifted or jointly held with cost-allocation |
Customised feedback expansion in v4.1.0 The February 2026 Handbook update extends customised feedback to additional categories. The earlier Handbook (v3.0.0) added it to seven categories: Interest from others, Sale of land or building, Receipts from transfer of immovable property, Purchase of immovable property, Purchase of vehicle, Purchase of time deposits, and Purchase of securities and units of mutual funds. v4.1.0 adds further categories. Always download the latest Handbook before filing season. |
7. Risk Management of Feedback
Where the taxpayer feedback modifies or denies the reported value, the Annual Information Statement system runs a risk-management rule set. Low-risk feedback (small value, well-supported, consistent with previous filings) is auto-processed. High-risk feedback (large value, denial, repeated denials, mismatch with bank records) is routed to the original Source for confirmation. If the Source confirms, the taxpayer's modification stands; if the Source denies the taxpayer's denial, the original Reported Value is restored, and the matter is flagged for the assessing officer's attention.
Risk Trigger | Departmental Action | Practitioner Response |
|---|---|---|
Denial of a transaction above the materiality threshold | Routed to Source; if Source confirms the original entry, taxpayer is asked to reconcile | Maintain an evidentiary file -- bank statements, contract notes, broker confirmations -- to substantiate the denial |
Modification reducing the reported value materially | Flag for confirmation by Source | Provide the worked computation showing why the reported figure was higher (gross vs net, period mismatch, etc.) |
Repeated denials by the same Permanent Account Number across years | Pattern flag; potentially routed for reassessment proceedings under section 148A | Consider whether the underlying issue is mis-reporting at Source or genuine identity issue; respond pre-emptively |
8. Pre-filling of the Return of Income
The Taxpayer Information Summary's L3 figure -- the Value Accepted by Taxpayer / Confirmed by Source per category -- is the figure that the income-tax return preparation utility pulls into the relevant schedule of the return. Salary into Schedule S, House Property rent into Schedule HP, dividend and interest into Schedule OS, Capital Gains into Schedule CG, sale of securities into Schedule 112A or 115AD, business receipts into Schedule BP, and so on. The taxpayer can override the pre-filled figure manually in the return preparation utility, but that override should be reflected back in the Taxpayer Information Summary by submitting the corresponding feedback in the Annual Information Statement -- otherwise the section 143(1)(a) intimation will flag the gap.
9. Channels to View and Act on the Annual Information Statement
Channel | What It Offers | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
Income-tax e-filing portal -- AIS module | Full Annual Information Statement and Taxpayer Information Summary; in-line feedback submission; download in PDF, JSON, CSV formats | Default and primary channel |
AIS Utility (offline desktop tool) | Download the Annual Information Statement as a JSON file, mark feedback offline, upload back to portal | Useful for high-volume corporate clients with hundreds of line items |
AIS Mobile Application | View Annual Information Statement and submit feedback on a mobile device | Convenient for individual taxpayers reconciling on the go |
10. The Practitioner's Filing-Season Workflow
- Download the Annual Information Statement, the Taxpayer Information Summary and Form 26AS in PDF and JSON for every client by the end of June.
- Reconcile each L2 line with the client's books, bank statement, broker statement and registrar confirmation.
- Submit feedback on every mismatch through one of the six feedback options, recording the Submission Reference Number for the file.
- Wait for the Source-confirmation cycle (typically 7 to 30 days) on high-risk feedback before finalising the return.
- Re-download the updated Annual Information Statement -- the Modified Value should now reflect the feedback outcome.
- Pre-fill the return from the Taxpayer Information Summary, override any L3 figures that still need correction, and document the override rationale on the file.
- Save the finalised Annual Information Statement, Taxpayer Information Summary and feedback acknowledgement in the client folder for at least eight assessment years.
11. Case Law Reference and Anticipatory Legal Analysis
Case Law Reference: The Annual Information Statement architecture The Annual Information Statement (AIS) was introduced by the Central Board of Direct Taxes Notification 23/2021 dated 1 March 2021 read with section 285BA of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (Specified Financial Transactions reporting). The AIS aggregates third-party data on the assessee's income, expenses, investments, and remittances. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Mumbai in [VERIFY: confirm Tribunal citation on AIS-as-evidence in scrutiny proceedings] confirmed that AIS is treated as a starting point for scrutiny but the assessee retains the right to challenge any incorrect entry. [VERIFY: cross-check specific Tribunal and High Court citations in the BharatTax case-law database.] |
Prospective Interpretation -- The AIS challenge procedure Two unsettled interpretive issues. (i) Treatment of the AIS challenge procedure -- the assessee may submit feedback on the e-filing portal; if accepted, the entry is re-classified, but the underlying third-party reporter is not notified of the correction. (ii) Treatment of section 148A reopening based on AIS-detected mismatches -- the income-tax department uses AIS to identify reopening candidates; the practitioner must reconcile AIS against the Income Tax Return pre-emptively. The BharatTax case-law database should monitor emerging Tribunal positions. [VERIFY: confirm Tribunal decisions emerging on the AIS-driven reopening framework.] |
12. Key Takeaways
- The Annual Information Statement is a statutory document under section 285BB of the Income-tax Act, 1961 read with Rule 114-I of the Income-tax Rules, 1962.
- It comprises Part A (identification) and seven sub-parts under Part B covering Tax Deducted at Source / Tax Collected at Source, Specified Financial Transactions, tax payments, demand and refund, pending and completed proceedings, and any other information.
- The Taxpayer Information Summary is the deduplicated, category-wise aggregated companion document used to pre-fill the return of income.
- The information passes through three levels -- L1 line item, L2 source-wise aggregate, L3 category-wise aggregate.
- Four value tags govern reconciliation: Value Reported by Source, Modified Value, Value Processed by System, Value Accepted by Taxpayer / Confirmed by Source.
- Six feedback options give the taxpayer a structured way to dispute or accept each entry; high-risk feedback is routed to the Source for confirmation.
- Reconciliation between the Annual Information Statement and the return of income is the single most important pre-filing exercise -- mismatches are the most common cause of section 143(1)(a) intimations.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It does not constitute tax / legal advice. Please consult a qualified Chartered Accountant or tax practitioner for advice specific to your circumstances. The legal position is current as of FA 2024 (No. 2) / FA 2025; subsequent amendments and CBDT notifications may modify the position.