FAQ’s  on  AIS  (Annual  In formation  Statement)

Q-1 What is Annual Information Statement (AIS)? Ans.

Annual Information Statement (AIS) is comprehensive view of information for a taxpayer displayed in

Form 26AS. Taxpayer can provide feedback on information displayed in AIS. AIS shows both reported value and modified value (i.e. value after considering taxpayer feedback) under each section (i.e. TDS, SFT, Other information).

The objectives of AIS are:

•   Display complete information to the taxpayer with a facility to capture online feedback

•   Promote voluntary compliance and enable seamless prefilling of return

•   Deter non-compliance

(“For more info. navigate to AIS under Services Menu after login”)

Q-2 What is the Difference between AIS and Form 26AS?

Ans. AIS is the extension of Form 26AS. Form 26AS displays details of property purchases, high-value investments, and TDS/TCS transactions carried out during the financial year. AIS additionally includes savings account interest, dividend, rent received, purchase and sale transactions of securities/immovable properties, foreign remittances, interest on deposits, GST turnover etc.

AIS also provides the taxpayer the option to give feedback on the transactions reported. Further, the aggregation of transactions on information source level is also reported in TIS.

(“For more info. navigate to AIS under Services Menu after login”)

Q-3 How can I view the Annual Information Statement?

Ans. You can access the Annual Information Statement functionality by following below mentioned steps:

Step 1: Login to URL https://www.incometax.gov.in/

Step 2: Click on “Annual Information Statement (AIS)” under “Services” tab from the e-filing portal after successful login on e-filing portal.

Step 3: Click on AIS tab, on the homepage.

Step 4: Select the relevant FY and click on AIS tile to view the Annual Information Statement.

(“For more info. navigate to AIS under Services Menu after login”. More details on AIS can be found in Annual Information Statement User Guide available in “Resources” section at AIS Homepage.)

Part-A displays general information pertaining to you, including PAN, Masked Aadhar Number, Name of the Taxpayer, Date of Birth/ Incorporation/ Formation, mobile number, e-mail address and address of Taxpayer.

PART- B

•   TDS/TCS Information: - Information related to tax deducted/collected at source is displayed here.

The Information code of the TDS/TCS, Information description and Information value is shown.

•   SFT Information: - Under this head, information received from reporting entities under Statement of Financial transaction (SFT) is displayed. The SFT code, Information description and Information value is made available.

•   Payment of Taxes: - Information relating to payment of taxes under different heads, such as Advance Tax and Self-Assessment Tax, is shown.

•   Demand and Refund: -You will be able to view the details of the demand raised and refund initiated (AY and amount) during a financial year. (Details related to Demand will be released soon)

•   Other Information: - Details of the information received from the other sources, such as data pertaining to Annexure II salary, Interest on refund, Outward Foreign Remittance/Purchase of Foreign Currency etc., is displayed here.

(“For more info. navigate to AIS under Services Menu after login”)

Q-5 What does “General information” part contains under AIS?

Ans- General information displays the general information pertaining to you, including PAN, Masked Aadhar Number, Name of the Taxpayer, Date of Birth/ Incorporation/ Formation, mobile number, e-mail address and address of Taxpayer.

(“For more info. navigate to AIS under Services Menu after login”)

Q-6 Can I track the Activity history in AIS?

Ans- Yes, you can track the activity history in AIS by clicking on the Activity history button on AIS homepage. You will be provided a summary view of activity performed on the AIS functionality. System generated Id (Activity ID) will be created for each performed activity, Activity date, Activity description and detail will be displayed under this tab.

(“For more info. navigate to AIS under Services Menu after login”)

You will be shown various details within the Taxpayer Information Summary such as,

•   Information Category

•   Processed Value

•   Derived Value

Further, within an Information Category following information is shown:

•   Part through which information received

•   Information Description

•   Information Source

•   Amount Description

•   Amount (Reported, Processed, Derived)

(“For more info. navigate to AIS under Services Menu after login”)

Q-8 In what all formats can I download my AIS?

Ans. You can download Annual Information Statement (AIS) in PDF, JSON, CSV file formats.

Q-9 How do I submit feedback on the information?

Ans.  You  can  submit  feedback  on  active  information  displayed  under  TDS/TCS  Information,  SFT Information or Other information by following below mentioned steps:

Step 1: Click on “Optional” button mentioned in the Feedback column for relevant information. You will be directed to ‘Add Feedback’ screen.

Step 2: Choose the relevant feedback option and enter the feedback details (dependent on feedback option).

Step 3: Click “Submit” to submit the feedback

(“For more info. navigate to AIS under Services Menu after login”)

Note on ‘e-Proceedings’

(For cases under International Taxation and Central Charges)

1. As a part of e-governance initiative, to facilitate conduct of assessment proceedings electronically, Income-tax Department has developed the ‘e-Proceedings’ facility. It is a simple way of communication between the Department and assessee in a hassle-free manner, through electronic means, without the necessity to visit Income-tax Office for conduct of assessment proceedings. This new facility is also environment friendly as assessment proceedings have now become paperless.

2. In assessment proceedings through the e-Proceedings’ functionality, there is a seamless flow of letters, notices, questionnaires, orders etc. from Assessing Officer to assessees’ e-Filing account. On receipt of Departmental communication, assessee is able to submit his response along with attachments, if any, by uploading the same on the e-Filing portal. The response submitted by the assessee is also viewed by the Assessing Officer electronically. Thus, besides saving precious time of the taxpayer, ‘e-Proceedings’ also provides a 24X7 anytime/anywhere convenient facility to submit response to the Departmental queries in course of assessment proceedings.

3. In proceedings being carried out through the ‘e-Proceedings’ facility, assessee retains complete information of all e-submissions made during the course of assessment proceedings in his e-filing account, which is very useful for reference & record purposes.

4. In cases under e-Proceedings’, physical hearing/attendance may take place in following situation(s):

I. where books of accounts have to be examined; or

II. where provision of section 131 of Income-tax Act, 1961 has been invoked; or

III. where examination of witness is to be made by assessee or Assessing Officer; or

IV. where a show-cause notice contemplating any adverse view is issued and assessee requests for personal hearing to explain the matter.

5. The response to the notice" if any, is to be submitted to the Assessing Officer by the assessee through ‘e-Proceedings’ facility, as mentioned above.

6. This taxpayer friendly measure has substantially reduced the compliance burden for assessees. The assessees who do not yet have an e-Filing account, are requested to get themselves registered by visiting the home page of website https://www.incometax.gov.in .

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Note on ‘Faceless-Assessment’

(For cases under faceless assessment)

Faceless Assessment is a step forward towards bringing in an efficient and transparent tax regime in the country. The salient features of Faceless Assessment are as under:

i. A National Faceless Assessment Centre (NaFAC) has been set up to facilitate the conduct of Faceless Assessment proceedings in a centralized manner.

ii. Further to facilitate the conduct of Faceless Assessment various Assessment Units, Verification Units, Technical Units, Review Units have been set-up.

iii. All communication with the assessee or any other person for the purpose of making faceless shall be made in electronic mode.

iv. An electronic record shall be authenticated by the NaFAC by sending it through electronic communication while an electronic record shall be authenticated by respective Units by their digital signature. An electronic record originated by the assessee or any other person shall be authenticated by affixing his digital signature if he is required under the rules to furnish his return of income under digital signature and in any other case affixing his digital signature or under electronic verification code.

v. Every notice, order or any other electronic communication shall be delivered to the assessee by way of -

a) Placing an authenticated copy thereof in the assessee’s registered account or

b) Sending an authenticated copy thereof to the registered e-mail address of the assessee or his authorized representative or

c) Uploading an authenticated copy on the assessee’s Mobile App and followed by a real time alert.

vi. The assessee shall file his response to any notice or order or any other electronic communication through his registered account on the e-filing website www.incometax.gov.in and once an acknowledgement is sent by the National Faceless Assessment Centre containing the hash result generated upon successful submission of response, the response shall be deemed to be authorized.

vii. A person is not required to appear before the Centre or any unit either personally or through authorized representative. Personal hearing, if required, shall be conducted through video conferencing or video telephony, to the extent technologically feasible, in following situation(s):

i. In a case where a variation is proposed in the income or loss returned, the assessee or his authorized representative, as the case may be, may request for personal hearing on the e-filing portal www.incometax.gov.in so as to make his oral submissions or present his case before the income-tax authority of the relevant unit and the income-tax authority of the relevant unit shall allow such hearing. ( Procedure for seeking of personal hearing is available at the end of this note.)

ii. Where any examination or recording of the statement of the assessee or any other person (other than statement recorded in the cause of survey under section 133A of the Act) is required.

viii. Pr.CCIT(NaFAC) may, at any stage of the assessment, if considered necessary, transfer the case to the Assessing Officer having jurisdiction over such case, with the prior approval of the Board. For further details, please refer to Section 144B of the Act at www.incometaxindia.gov.in.

Procedure for seeking personal hearing

1. Seeking personal hearing through Video Conferencing

Step 1: The Assessee shall Logon to the ‘e-Filing’ portal www.incometax.gov.in

Step 2: The Assessee shall select "e-Proceeding" under "Pending Actions" menu. Proceeding details are classified under three tabs "Self", "Of Other PAN/TAN" & "As Authorized Representative”. The Assessee can select applicable tab.

Step 3: A screen showing details of proceedings such as proceeding name, assessment year, PAN, proceeding limitation date, proceeding closure date will appear.

Step 4: The Assessee shall click on "View Notice" button of proceeding to view notice details. Additional proceeding details such as notice/communication reference id, notice section, notice description, document id, notice issue date, response due date, will be displayed.

Step 5: The Assessee shall click on “Seek Video Conferencing” button against a particular notice. A new screen will open with details of notice. The Assessee shall select appropriate item from drop-down menu under the ‘Reason for seeking video conferencing’ field, enter details of the reason in the textbox and attach relevant document (if any).

Note: “Seek Video Conferencing” button will be available only in respect of Show-cause notice/Summons u/s 131(1)(b) issued to Assessee/third party in cases under faceless assessment.

Step 6: The Assessee shall click on “Submit” button. A success message will be displayed confirming the submission of request.

2. Post approval of Video Conferencing Request by Faceless Assessment Unit

• ‘VC Scheduled’ letter shall be served on the email id of the Assessee available on records with Faceless Assessment Unit and the Assessee can also independently download ‘VC Scheduled’ letter from Income Tax e-Filing portal. ‘VC Scheduled’ letter will contain details of scheduled Date & time and Video conferencing URL.
• On the ‘Video Conferencing’ screen under e-Proceedings tab, the Assessee shall be able to see changed status as ‘Approved’ & VC Scheduled Date & Time.
• Video conferencing link shall also be shared by SMS and same will also be updated on e-filing portal.

3. Seeking adjournment of Video Conferencing Request

• Follow steps 1 to 4 of Seeking personal hearing through Video Conferencing

• Step 5: The Assessee shall click on “Seek Video Conferencing” button against a specific notice. A new screen will open with details of earlier submitted request. The assessee shall click on ‘Seek Adjournment of video conferencing’ button.

• Step 6: The Assessee shall select ‘Reason for Seeking adjournment of Video Conferencing’ and enter relevant details and submit request.

• Once the adjournment request is approved by the Faceless Assessment Unit, new line item with Updated status, VC Scheduled Date & Time, Link along with other details be displayed in e-Filing portal under e-Proceedings tab.

Note:

After successful conduct of personal hearing through Video Conferencing, Video conferencing Recording link will be available on e-Filing portal under e-Proceedings menu.

Video conferencing adjournment can be sought only once for a notice and the same can be sought up to the VC Scheduled time or response due date, whichever is earlier.