ITR Filing 2024-25: The time for filing income tax returns (ITR) is near, and in such a situation, it is very important for taxpayers to match all their financial documents carefully. It is often seen that differences come to the fore between Form 16 and the Annual Information Statement (AIS). This mismatch can not only cause a delay in ITR filing but also increase the risk of investigation by the Income Tax Department. Therefore, it is important to remove these discrepancies in time.
What is Form 16?
Form 16 is a certificate issued by the employer, which contains complete details of TDS deducted from the employee’s salary. It includes information about total salary, tax deductions, exemptions, and deductions like section 80C, 80D. In simple language, this document is proof of your salary income and the tax deducted from it.
What is AIS?
The Annual Information Statement (AIS) is a report issued by the Income Tax Department, which contains details of all the major financial activities of the taxpayer throughout the year. It includes information about bank interest, share dividends, rental income, mutual fund transactions, and income from other sources. Its purpose is to provide taxpayers with their complete financial picture so that no mistake is made during return filing.
Why is there a difference between Form 16 and AIS?
Mismatch between Form 16 and AIS can happen due to many reasons, such as:
Late or incorrect reporting by the bank or financial institution
Error in PAN or TAN information
TDS deducted by the employer is not reaching the tax department properly
Multiple Form 16s on changing jobs
Technical problem on the income tax portal, or old data being updated
How to overcome the difference?
If you notice discrepancies in your Form 16 and AIS, there is no need to panic. These steps can resolve the issue:
Match both the documents closely – especially the name, PAN, TAN, salary, and TDS amount.
If there is an error in Form 16, immediately contact the employer and get a revised Form 16.
If there is a mistake in reporting by the bank or other institution, ask them for a correction in writing.
Keep all income sources like salary slips, bank statements, investments, and rent receipts safe.
Report errors using the AIS feedback option available on the income tax portal.
Smart filing tips
Wait till the TDS reporting is complete so that all entries are correctly matched.
Cross-check all documents before filing ITR.
File the return only after reconciling Form 16 and AIS.
Do not ignore even the smallest mistake.
File on time to avoid the risk of penalty or notice.