The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Collect Form 16 from your employer, then download your Annual Information Statement (AIS) and view Form 26AS from the Income Tax e-Filing portal before preparing your income-tax return for AY 2026–27. Compare the three records with your own salary, bank and tax-payment records. If AIS and Form 26AS differ on TDS, TCS or tax paid, the Income Tax Department’s published guidance says you may rely on Form 26AS for filing and prepaid-tax computation, while still checking your records and pursuing corrections with the relevant source.
Why you should obtain all three records before filing
Each document answers a different pre-filing question. Form 16 is the employer-issued certificate for salary income. Form 26AS is the annual tax statement available through the e-Filing portal, with TDS- and TCS-related data shown there from AY 2023–24 onward. AIS is a broader statement of information currently available to the tax department, including categories such as TDS/TCS, SFT and other information, and it lets you submit feedback on active information.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Using only one statement can leave gaps. Your employer’s Form 16 helps you check salary, deductions reported by payroll and salary TDS. Form 26AS helps verify tax credits and tax paid as reflected in the department’s tax statement. AIS can show additional information and includes the Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS), which aggregates information by category. None of these statements removes your responsibility to report complete and accurate income.
Form 16, AIS and Form 26AS at a glance
| Record | Who issues it or where you access it | What it covers | How to use it before filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form 16 | Your employer issues it. Obtain it through the employer’s payroll or HR channel. | Salary income and the tax deducted by the employer, as reported on the certificate. | Use it to check salary figures and salary TDS against your own payslips and employer records. |
| Form 26AS | Income Tax e-Filing portal: Login > e-File > Income Tax Return > View Form 26AS. | TDS- and TCS-related data from AY 2023–24 onward, according to the department’s AIS FAQ. | Check tax credits and tax paid. If it conflicts with AIS on TDS, TCS or tax payments, the department’s published guidance permits relying on Form 26AS for filing and prepaid-tax computation. |
| AIS | Income Tax e-Filing portal, then the AIS portal. | Broader information presently available to the department, including TDS/TCS, SFT and other information; TIS provides category-level aggregation. | Review reported transactions, download a copy, and submit feedback on active information when the statement is incorrect or needs clarification. |
Portal labels can change. After signing in, follow the current labels displayed on the department’s website if they differ slightly from the documented routes above.
#1 Best Overall
- Compact & Portable Design: This Small Excel, Word, PowerPoint, & Windows Cheat Sheet Mouse Pad measures 11.8" x 9.8", offering a portable mouse pad. Its compact size fits in bags or laptop cases, suitable for professionals, students, or travelers.
- Multi-Software Shortcut Guide: Featuring essential shortcut keys for Excel, Word, PowerPoint, & Windows, this small mouse pad provides a quick reference for frequently used shortcuts, offering a reference designed to support workflow efficiency
- Smooth & Precise Surface: The finely-textured surface ensures precise mouse control, allowing for smooth and accurate movement during work or gaming sessions.
- Durable & Non-Slip Design: This Multi-Software Shortcut Mouse Pad features stitched edges to reduce fraying. The non-slip rubber base helps keep it securely in place, and the water-resistant fabric allows for easier maintenance.
- Clear Print Quality: Displays high-resolution printing intended to remain legible through regular use and cleaning
Prepare before you sign in
A short preparation check prevents you from downloading statements and then discovering that you cannot explain a difference. Keep the following information available:
- Your employer’s payroll or HR contact and the Form 16 delivery method used by that employer.
- Your payslips, salary-credit entries and any employer tax worksheet used to prepare Form 16.
- Bank records and certificates relevant to interest, tax deducted or tax paid.
- Records of tax payments and any communication from a deductor about a correction.
- A secure folder in which to store the original downloads and a note of the download date.
Use a private device and connection where possible. AIS and tax statements contain sensitive financial information. Keep the downloaded files in a location protected by your device’s access controls and avoid sending unencrypted copies through public channels.
Where can I find Form 16?
Get it from the employer that paid your salary
For salary income, the employer issues Form 16. The official material does not establish a single government or employee portal where every taxpayer can retrieve it. Employers use different payroll systems and delivery practices, so do not wait for Form 16 to appear automatically in a particular tax-department menu.
Recommended Free Tools
- Check your employer’s payroll or HR portal, email instructions or employee document centre.
- If you cannot locate the certificate, ask payroll or HR for the Form 16 for the relevant financial year and assessment year.
- Save the certificate in its original form and compare its salary and TDS figures with your payslips and salary credits.
If you changed jobs during the year, obtain the relevant salary certificate or Form 16 information from each employer that paid you. Use your own records to make sure the period and amounts covered by the certificate match the period you actually worked.
Rank #2
- [MULTIFUNCTIONAL]You'll get 2 pieces computer monitor memo boards that you can stick on the left and right edges of your monitor, and they're the perfect office desk organizers and accessories. Computer monitor side panels desktop organizer are suitable for home work or office,bringing convenience. Desktop memo is used to organize meeting memos, important messages, business cards, planning notes.Paste on the message board to keep track of important things and to-do items to prevent forgetting.
- [🌟HIGHLY QUALITY] The material of computer screen side note holder is transparent acrylic. Durable, simple, stylish, light weight, easy to use, not easy to fall off or break. This cute office supplies for women desk can be used for a long time. This computer desk accessories is waterproof and dirt resistance, and look simple and stylish. The transparent acrylic sticky note holder as cubicle accessories is easy to notice the context of your sticky notes.
- [📋Easy to use] Office must haves cool office gadgets for desk ready to tear, easy to install and remove, not easy to leave traces. You only need to peel off the protective film on the surface of the computer side board memo, wipe off the dust on the edge of the computer monitor, and then stick the desk essentials for women office on the right or left side of the tape, and you're done. A perfect gift for your colleagues, friends or classmates and family members or relatives
- [🏢MULTI-SCENE USE] This desk supplies computer memo board can be applied to home and office, clear your office decor for women, suitable for most computer monitors, screens and cabinets, you can put it where you think, this cute office decor serve as a reminder. Stick on the computer side. It’s a good office gadgets can remind work improve office productivity. Pasted cabinets, dressers, refrigerators, walls, etc as cubicle accessories. To make life more orderly.
- [💌NOTE] The adhesive force of the computer sticky note holder is very strong. It can not be directly pasted on the computer screen. It should pasted on the black edge of the screen. Narrow edge not recommended!!! If you are not satisfied with your purchase, or if the product is damaged or broken in transit, please let us know immediately. We will promptly solve your problem.
What to check on Form 16
- The employer and employee details identify the correct employment relationship.
- The salary amount agrees with your payroll records for the relevant year.
- The tax deducted agrees with the TDS amount shown in your employer records.
- Any difference is documented before you begin entering figures in the return.
Do not treat Form 16 as a substitute for checking other income. It is relevant to salary income; interest, securities transactions, other receipts and tax payments may need to be checked against AIS, Form 26AS, bank records and your own documents.
How to download AIS
Route 1: use the AIS option on the dashboard
- Sign in to the Income Tax e-Filing portal.
- From the dashboard, select the Annual Information Statement (AIS) menu.
- Select Proceed to the AIS portal.
- On the AIS portal, select the AIS tile to open the statement.
- Use the available download control and choose the format you need.
Route 2: use the e-File menu
- Sign in to the Income Tax e-Filing portal.
- Open e-File > Income Tax Return > View AIS.
- Select Proceed when the portal directs you to the AIS service.
- Select the AIS tile and open the relevant statement.
- Download the statement in the format appropriate for your records.
The department documents AIS downloads in PDF, JSON and CSV formats. PDF is generally the most convenient format for reading and sharing with a tax professional. JSON and CSV preserve machine-readable data and can be useful when you need to sort, filter or import entries into your own reconciliation worksheet. The department does not require you to choose one format over another; retain the format that supports your records and keep the downloaded copy unchanged.
Understand what AIS can and cannot tell you
AIS displays information presently available to the department. It can contain TDS/TCS, SFT and other information, and its TIS section aggregates information by category. You can submit feedback on active information when an entry is incorrect or requires clarification.
A blank or incomplete AIS entry is not proof that no income exists. Check related information in your own records and report complete, accurate income in the return. Conversely, an entry in AIS is information available to the department, not an automatic determination that every amount is taxable in the way it is displayed. Read the category and supporting details, then compare them with the underlying transaction.
Rank #3
- Stay Organized with Ease: Our To Do List Notepad provides multiple sections with plenty of space to jot down all of your important tasks.A versatile office supply perfect for daily task management, helping you keep track of everything that needs to be done and prioritize effectively.
- Achieve Your Productivity Goals: Begin each day on a positive note, reminding you of your potential, strength, and the significance of staying focused on your goals. Our Daily Checklist Notepad is the ultimate tool to streamline your daily planning and elevate your productivity. With a clear and concise overview of your tasks, you can effortlessly prioritize what truly matters and make consistent strides towards achieving your goals.
- Reliable and Stylish: Our to do list planner combines functionality with durability. With a transparent PP cover, the inner pages are well-protected from dirt and wear. Additionally, the back cover is crafted with thick paperboard, offering a stable surface for your writing needs. Each notepad includes 52 pages of high-quality, 100gsm paper, which is thick and non-bleeding, resulting in a smooth and enjoyable writing experience.
- Versatile Use: This daily checklist notepad, suitable for teacher supplies and a wide range of applications, proves invaluable in various settings including work, school, and home. Whether you need to organize your daily tasks, plan a project, or create a grocery list, this notepad serves as the ideal tool. Its compact size ensures easy portability, allowing you to conveniently carry it with you throughout your day.
- Perfect Present for Anyone: Our Daily To-Do List Notepad is the perfect present for those who value organization and productivity. With its stylish design and versatility, this office desk accessory is also a practical addition to school supplies. Suitable for students, professionals, and homemakers alike, it helps keep tasks and priorities in check effortlessly.
How to view Form 26AS
- Sign in to the Income Tax e-Filing portal.
- Follow Login > e-File > Income Tax Return > View Form 26AS.
- Open the statement for the assessment year you are preparing.
- Save or print the statement for your reconciliation file, subject to the portal’s current download and viewing options.
The current AY 2026–27 help route identifies Form 26AS as the annual tax statement available through the e-Filing portal. According to the department’s AIS FAQ, Form 26AS shows TDS- and TCS-related data from AY 2023–24 onward, while other taxpayer details are available in AIS. That difference in scope is why you should view both statements rather than assuming one replaces the other.
Reconcile the records in a deliberate order
Reconciliation means matching the department’s statements to the transactions and certificates you actually hold, not merely checking whether two portal screens look similar. Use one worksheet or checklist and record the source of every figure you plan to enter.
- Confirm the assessment year. Make sure Form 16, AIS and Form 26AS all relate to the same financial year and assessment year. A statement from another year can look plausible while producing a wrong return.
- Start with salary. Match Form 16 to payslips, salary credits and employer records. Investigate differences before copying salary or TDS figures into the return.
- Check salary TDS in both portal statements. Compare the employer’s TDS figure with the corresponding TDS entry in Form 26AS and AIS. Record whether the difference is a timing issue, an employer correction or a data-entry problem.
- Review AIS categories. Examine TDS/TCS, SFT and other information, along with the TIS aggregation. For each entry, identify the underlying bank, deductor or transaction record.
- Check tax payments. Compare tax paid and other prepaid-tax figures with your payment challans, bank records and the statements shown on the portal.
- Investigate non-salary income. Check bank and other personal records for income that may not be fully represented in Form 16. The AIS FAQ states that taxpayers must check related information and report complete, accurate income.
- Record unresolved items. Note the amount, statement, source and action needed. This prevents an unexplained difference from being silently copied into the return.
What should you do if AIS and Form 26AS do not match?
The Income Tax Department’s published mismatch guidance says that, where TDS/TCS or tax-payment figures differ between AIS and Form 26AS, taxpayers may rely on Form 26AS for filing the return and computing prepaid tax. Treat that as a filing reference, not as permission to ignore the difference.
- Compare both statements with your Form 16, deductor certificates, bank records and tax-payment proof.
- Identify whether the discrepancy concerns the amount, deductor, assessment year or timing of a reporting update.
- For an employer-related difference, contact the employer’s payroll or HR team and request that the source record be checked or corrected.
- For a bank or other deductor difference, contact that deductor and ask it to verify the reported transaction or tax deduction.
- Use AIS feedback for an active AIS item when the portal offers that option and the entry is incorrect or needs clarification.
- Keep a record of your communication and supporting documents, then report complete information in the return.
If your personal records contradict both statements, do not choose the smaller or more convenient number without investigating. The department’s guidance specifically calls for checking actual TDS/TCS and tax paid and reconciling discrepancies with the employer, deductor or bank.
Rank #4
- 【Adjustable & Ergonomic】：This laptop stand can be adjusted to a comfortable height and angle according to your actual needs, letting you fix posture and reduce your neck fatigue, back pain and eye strain. Very comfortable for working in home, office and outdoor.
- 【Sturdy & Protective】 ：Made of sturdy metal, it can support up to 17.6 lbs (8kg) weight on top; With 2 rubber mats on the hook and anti-skid silicone pads on top & bottom, it can secure your laptop in place and maximum protect your device from scratches and sliding. Moreover, smooth edges will never hurt your hands.
- 【Heat Dissipation】 ：The top of the laptop stand is designed with multiple ventilation holes. The open design offers greater ventilation and more airflow to cool your laptop during operation other than it just lays flat on the table.
- 【Portable & Foldable】：The foldable design allows you to easily slip it in your backpack. Ideal for people who travel for business a lot.
- 【Broad Compatibility】：Our desktop book stand is compatible with all laptops from 10-15.6 inches, such as MacBook Air/ Pro, Google Pixelbook, Dell XPS, HP, ASUS, Lenovo ThinkPad, Acer, Chromebook and Microsoft Surface, etc.Be your ideal companion in Home, Office & Outdoor.
How the three records fit together when you prepare the ITR
Use Form 16 for the salary story
Form 16 is the employer’s certificate for salary income. It is the starting point for salary figures and employer-deducted tax, but it does not describe every possible source of income or every tax payment you made during the year.
Use Form 26AS for the tax-credit reference
Form 26AS is the department’s annual tax statement for the TDS/TCS-related coverage described above. Its figures are particularly important when you calculate credits and prepaid tax for the return. Where the department’s published guidance addresses a difference with AIS, it gives Form 26AS priority for that filing computation.
Use AIS for the broader information review
AIS gives you a wider view of information presently available to the department and allows feedback on active information. Use it as a completeness and anomaly check, then verify entries against the underlying documents and your own records.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Common problems and practical fixes
Form 16 is not in the expected portal
There is no universal employee government portal established for Form 16 delivery in the official material. Return to your employer’s payroll or HR channel, check prior payroll emails and request the certificate directly if necessary.
Best Value
- Twin-Ball Design : Hiacry gel pen features a double ball conical tip that reduces writing resistance and provides a stable and smooth writing experience. 0.7mm quick drying black ink ensures no jumping, leakage or seepage.
- Quick-Dry Long Lasting Ink：0.7mm black ink can slide effortlessly, dry immediately, & is not easily dirty. It has a high-capacity reservoir (up to 1300 meters), which is very suitable for left-handed & right-handed users.
- Sleek Design for Journaling & Planning: Engineered with a low center of gravity and precision tip for steady ink flow, these journaling pens excel at note-taking, sketching, planning, and more. They combine stylish pens with top-tier performance.
- Rolling Ball Design：The pocket clip with roll ball design can be easily attached to notebook pockets and binders, in addition, the fidget on the pen clip is also a small toy for your daily thinking to relieve stress.
- Comfortable Non-Slip Grip：The ergonomic pen barrel has a soft rubberized coating for a comfortable, non-slip grip, so you won't get fatigued even after long hours of writing.
The AIS menu looks different
Portal labels can change. Look for the current Annual Information Statement option on the dashboard or use the current e-File path that leads to View AIS. Follow the on-screen route to the AIS portal and then the AIS tile.
You can open AIS but cannot use the file you downloaded
Download the PDF for a readable copy. Keep JSON or CSV when you need structured data for sorting or a reconciliation workflow. Preserve the original file and make any working copy separately so that your notes do not overwrite the source statement.
A portal entry does not match your documents
First confirm the assessment year and the identity of the employer, bank or deductor. Then compare the amount with your certificate and bank record, contact the source for correction and keep evidence of the request. An AIS entry is information currently available to the department; it does not remove your duty to check related information and report accurately.
Keep evidence after filing
ITR-1 returns are annexure-less, so you generally do not attach Form 16, AIS or Form 26AS to the return. The official FAQ nevertheless says taxpayers should retain supporting documents in case the authorities ask for them later. Keep the certificates, downloaded statements, tax-payment records, reconciliation notes and correspondence used to resolve discrepancies.
Use a consistent file-naming system, such as the assessment year followed by the document name and download date, and retain an unchanged original alongside any annotated working file. Store backups securely and limit access because these files contain personal tax and financial information.
Quick Recap
A final pre-filing checklist
- Form 16 has been obtained from every relevant employer through the employer’s payroll or HR channel.
- Salary and salary TDS agree with your payslips and employer records.
- AIS has been opened through the current e-Filing route and downloaded in a usable format.
- Form 26AS has been viewed through Login > e-File > Income Tax Return > View Form 26AS.
- TDS, TCS and tax-paid figures have been checked against personal records.
- AIS entries, including TIS categories, have been reviewed for information you need to investigate.
- Discrepancies have been taken up with the employer, deductor or bank, with notes retained.
- Any AIS feedback needed for an active incorrect item has been submitted through the portal.
- Income not shown or not fully explained by the statements has been checked against your own records and included accurately.
- All supporting documents and reconciliation notes are stored securely for later reference.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
