What is Form 26AS?
Form 26AS is a tax credit statement maintained by the Income Tax Department of India. You can think of it as a consolidated summary of all tax credit-related activities that have occurred under your PAN in India. It helps you see exactly what the government has recorded on its side.
From mid-2020 onwards, Form 26AS became more detailed and now includes:
- TDS & TCS information
- Advance tax/self-assessment tax payments
- Refund details
- Some high-value financial transactions and defaults
- Basic assessment proceedings linked to your PAN
Example 1: Interest on NRO + Rent
- An NRI in the UAE gets interest on an NRO FD in India and rents from an apartment in Goa. The bank and the tenant deduct TDS and deposit it into your PAN.
- Before filing your ITR-2, ensure that all entries are visible in Form 26AS and then claim the full amount.
Example 2: Selling Real Estate in India
- An NRI sells a flat in Mumbai. The buyer takes TDS from the total sale price and puts it against your PAN.
- Before you figure out your capital gains and file your ITR, you verify Form 26AS to make sure this TDS is on record.
Example 3: Insurance Maturity
- Your Indian life insurance policy will expire in 2025, and the payout will be more than ₹1 lakh, minus TDS.
- Form 26AS displays the tax that was deducted, which helps you determine your total Indian tax liability.
What NRIs Should Know About Form 26AS?
Most of the money that NRIs receive from India (including interest, rent, capital gains, and insurance payouts) is sent to them after taxes are deducted. Section 195 of the Income-tax Act says that NRIs must do this for numerous payments made to you by Indian businesses.
Form 26AS lists all of this tax credit, so you can:
- Get the proper amount of tax credit when you file your NRI ITR (typically ITR-2 or ITR-3).
- Stay away from mismatches or tax notices that occur when what you report doesn't match what tax deductors recorded.
- Support treaty/DTAA claims when you want to avoid paying taxes twice in your home country.
- Keep track of refunds, defaults, or missing entries before you file your taxes.
What are the Components of Form 26AS for NRIs?
Most people think of Form 26AS as a whole statement, although it has some parts that are crucial for NRIs:
- TDS: Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) is the tax that banks, tenants, employers, insurers, brokers, buyers, and others take out of your pay.
- TCS: Tax Collected at Source (TCS) is a tax that is deducted from specific transactions, including sending money to another country or purchasing an expensive item.
- Advance/Self Assessment Tax: This is the tax you paid directly through challans
- Returns: The Income Tax Department issues refunds at the end of each financial year.
- High-Value Financial Transactions: The AIS/ Form 26AS system reports certain significant transactions.
- Property Transaction TDS: This is the tax you have to pay when you buy or sell property using your PAN.
- Mistakes or Defaults: These are the short deductions, late payments, or wrong entries flagged against your PAN.
This helps you determine how much money you've made and how much tax credit you are eligible for before filing your Indian tax return.
How Do Form 26AS and AIS Work Together?
The Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS) are both important for an NRI:
| Aspect |
Form 26AS |
AIS (Annual Information Statement) |
| Primary purpose |
Shows tax credits (TDS/TCS, payments, refunds) |
Detailed financial and income transaction records |
| Use in ITR |
The main basis to claim a tax credit |
Helps verify additional financial info & cross-check income |
| Transaction details |
Summary level data |
More detailed and broader view |
| Assessment info |
Shows some demands, refunds |
Provides expanded AIS information for taxpayer's view |
How NRIs Can Get Form 26AS?
NRIs can access or download their Form 26AS online in three basic methods:
-
Through the e-Filing Portal for Income Tax
If you have an e-Filing account, the e-filing portal is the official and conventional way to do it:
- Go to the Income Tax e-Filing site and sign in with your PAN-based login.
- To see Form 26AS (Tax Credit), go to e-File and then click on it.
- If you agree to the disclaimer, you will be taken to the TRACES site.
- Select View Tax Credit (Form 26AS) on TRACES.
- Choose the Assessment Year and the type of file you want (HTML, PDF, or Text).
- You can either look at or download your tax credit statement.
- To receive it as a PDF, first open it in HTML and then click "Export to PDF."
-
By Using the Dedicated NRI TRACES Portal
For NRIs who live outside of India, this is the best choice:
- Go to nriservices.tdscpc.gov.in to view the NRI TRACES site.
- If you are new, sign up with your PAN, DOB, and some basic information.
- Please verify your contact information and activate your account.
- Use your PAN and password to log in.
- Go to View/Verify Tax Credit and then click on View Form 26AS.
- Pick a year and a format, then download. nriservices.tdscpc.gov.in +1
Important: Create a separate TRACES account, as logging in to e-filing from overseas may not always be possible.
-
Using Net Banking
You can see Form 26AS immediately from your bank's website if your PAN is linked to your Indian bank's net banking:
- The PAN must be linked correctly.
- Log into your online banking account and look for the Tax Credit Statement or Form 26AS.
- If your bank supports it, this is free and easy to use.
What are the Key Points to Check in Form 26AS for an NRI?
Make sure you always do the following before you file your Indian tax return (ITR):
- All bank TDS entries for NRO interest or FDs are correct.
- TDS on rent under Section 195 is shown correctly.
- Capital gains TDS on the sale of property or shares is shown.
- Life insurance TDS on payouts over ₹1 lakh is shown.
- The advance tax or self-assessment tax you paid is shown.
- Refund amounts are correct and linked to the right year.
- If there are mistakes, defaults, or mismatched entries, they are understood.
Best Practices for NRIs in 2026
Before filing your return, review Form 26AS.
- Review your entries annually and after making significant purchases.
- Compare Form 26AS to your bank, broker, or tenant records and AIS.
- Ensure your e-Filing and TRACES contact information is always up to date to receive alerts.
- Keep a PDF copy every year for your records or for future loan or visa paperwork.
Conclusion
For NRIs, Form 26AS serves as a reliable tax passbook in India. It is essential for claiming the proper tax credit, avoiding mismatches, and filing your Indian tax return confidently. Never file your Indian tax return without first checking Form 26AS. If a tax credit does not show here, the Income Tax Department does not acknowledge it, and you may lose the benefit.
Invest 18k/month & get 2 Crore# Tax-Free*
Manage your funds online60k + happy customers across 25+ countries
Compare & Choose30+ Plans and 150+ Fund options
