As the deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the financial year 2024–25 approaches, several taxpayers have reported discrepancies in their Annual Information Statement (AIS). The Income Tax Department has issued a clarification and guidance on how to resolve such mismatches effectively.

✅ Why AIS Verification is Important Before Filing ITR

The AIS is a crucial document that records a taxpayer’s financial transactions such as bank interest, dividend income, stock and mutual fund trades, real estate transactions, and foreign income. Any mismatch between AIS and your ITR can lead to tax notices, penalties, or delays in refund processing.

That’s why tax experts recommend cross-verifying AIS with Form 26AS and your ITR data before submission.

⚠️ Common AIS Errors Reported

Many taxpayers have found:

• Duplicate entries

• Misclassified income

• Missing or inaccurate transactions

To address this, the Income Tax Department has made the feedback process more accessible on the AIS portal.

🛠️ How to Fix AIS Errors – Step-by-Step

If you notice any incorrect or incomplete entry in your AIS:

1. Log in to the Income Tax e-filing portal

2. Go to the AIS section

3. Click on the problematic entry

4. Use the ‘Optional’ or ‘Add Feedback’ button

5. Select the correct reason (e.g., “Not my transaction”, “Amount incorrect”, etc.)

6. Submit the feedback with supporting details, if needed

🔄 What Happens After You Submit Feedback?

Once feedback is submitted:

• The Income Tax Department will verify the transaction with the original data provider (e.g., banks, mutual funds, etc.)

• If your feedback is found valid, the AIS will be updated

• You can track the feedback status as ‘Accepted’ or ‘Rejected’ through the portal

💡 It’s important to regularly check the status of your feedback to ensure your ITR reflects accurate information.

📢 Official Clarification on Social Media

On July 16, 2025, the Income Tax Department addressed the AIS mismatch issue via a post on X (formerly Twitter). They encouraged taxpayers to:

• Review each transaction individually

• Use the feedback mechanism

• Stay proactive to prevent ITR filing errors

📋 Expert Advice: Always Compare AIS with Form 26AS

Tax consultants suggest verifying AIS along with Form 26AS, which shows TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) and other tax credits. If a transaction appears in AIS but not in your ITR (and no feedback is provided), it can trigger a compliance check later.

✅ Pro Tip: Take 15–20 minutes to match AIS and 26AS before filing—it can save you hours of trouble later.

🧾 Final Word

As the last date to file ITR approaches, ensure that:

• Your income details in the ITR match AIS and Form 26AS

• Any discrepancies are corrected via the feedback option

• You double-check your data before hitting ‘Submit’

The AIS feedback system is designed to improve transparency and reduce the chances of taxpayer errors. Use it wisely to avoid hassles in future assessments.