Table of Contents
How to check TDS refund status — Form 26AS / Income Tax (2026)
Direct answer. Visit incometax.gov.in → Login → e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Form 26AS (or AIS - Annual Information Statement). TDS credits appear by quarter, deductor, and amount. If TDS shown but not credited in your return, file revised return. If TDS deducted but NOT shown in 26AS, deductor failed to deposit.
Quick facts
| What you need | PAN + IT portal login OR mobile + OTP |
| Form 26AS | incometax.gov.in → e-File → View Form 26AS |
| AIS (broader) | incometax.gov.in → AIS — Annual Information Statement |
| TRACES portal | tdscpc.gov.in (CPC-TDS for advanced) |
| SLA | Quarterly — TDS appears in 26AS within 60 days of deduction |
| Helpline | 1800-103-0344 (TRACES) · 1800-103-0025 (general IT) |
| Statutory base | Income-tax Act 1961 §192-§206 |
Step-by-step
- Login at incometax.gov.in.
- Click e-File → View Form 26AS — opens TRACES portal in new tab.
- Form 26AS shows TDS by quarter, by deductor (employer, bank, tenant, contract awarder).
- Compare with your records — Form 16 from employer, TDS certificate from bank, etc.
- For broader view: AIS — shows TDS + AIS reportable transactions (high-value, foreign, etc.).
- If TDS missing: contact deductor (employer/bank) for revised TDS return Form 24Q/26Q.
Real story from a citizen
What we hear from RTI Wiki users: Anita, a 33-year-old freelance designer, found her bank had deducted TDS on FD interest of Rs. 12,500 but it wasn't showing in Form 26AS even after 4 months. She filed an RTI to her bank's Branch Manager + CBDT TDS division asking (a) TDS deducted vs deposited, (b) reason for non-reflection in 26AS, © revised TDS return status. Bank found their TAN had a typo on the original return. Filed corrected; TDS reflected within 60 days; she included it in her IT return for full refund.
7 reasons your status may be stuck
- Deductor (employer/bank) didn't file TDS return — quarter-end Form 24Q/26Q late. Fix: chase deductor; RTI to deductor's assessing officer.
- TAN typo in TDS return — credit can't map to your PAN. Fix: deductor files revised return.
- Wrong PAN mentioned by deductor — credit goes to someone else. Fix: deductor revises.
- Section mismatch — TDS reported under wrong section (e.g., 194A vs 194I). Fix: deductor revises.
- Threshold not met — small TDS (< Rs. 5,000 in some categories) may not be deposited if threshold not crossed. Verify.
- Lower deduction certificate issued by AO — TDS less than expected. Verify your application history.
- Year-of-credit issue — TDS shown in wrong AY. Match your accounting year.
Pro tips most don't know
- AIS (Annual Information Statement) is broader than 26AS — also shows high-value transactions (FD, mutual fund, real estate, foreign remittance) reported by third parties. Pre-filling your ITR uses AIS.
- Form 16/16A from deductor must match 26AS — discrepancy is auditable. Always reconcile before filing ITR.
- Form 26AS is updated 30-60 days after quarter-end TDS return. Q4 TDS appears typically in Jun-Jul.
- TIS (Taxpayer Information Summary) — simplified version of AIS. Easier reconciliation.
- TDS not deposited (deductor pocketed) — file complaint at TDS-CPC + RTI; deductor faces 3% penalty + prosecution.
Helpline + contact
TRACES (TDS): 1800-103-0344 · CPC: 1800-103-4455 · efilingwebmanager@incometax.gov.in · Twitter: @IncomeTaxIndia
If status is delayed beyond SLA — file an RTI
The official SLA on this service is published. If your status is stuck beyond it, you have a statutory right under §6 RTI Act 2005 to demand information from the public authority. Reply mandatory in 30 days.
File an RTI to: CBDT TDS Cell + Deductor's Assessing Officer
Ask these 5 questions:
- TDS deducted vs deposited reconciliation
- revised TDS return status
- officer-in-charge
- deductor compliance history
→ Use our free AI RTI Drafter to generate a complete §6(1) application in 60 seconds. The Drafter pre-fills your name, address, fee statement, and the 5 questions above.
→ Or speak it in हिन्दी / English / 9 other Indian languages via AwaazRTI.
→ For deeper case-law on this scenario: Full RTI playbook — all 100+ scenarios.
Frequently asked questions
- Q: What if TDS shown in Form 16 but not in 26AS? — Deductor (employer) didn't file the quarterly TDS return. Chase HR; if no action, RTI to deductor's AO.
- Q: How long to wait for TDS to reflect? — 60 days from quarter-end TDS return filing.
- Q: What's the difference between 26AS and AIS? — 26AS = TDS history. AIS = 26AS + all reportable financial transactions (FD, MF, real estate, foreign remittance).
- Q: Can I claim TDS missing from 26AS in my return? — Risky — IT department disallows; revised return needed once 26AS is updated. Best to wait.
- Q: Deductor refuses to file TDS return — what to do? — File complaint at TDS-CPC (1800-103-0344) + RTI to deductor's AO + Income Tax penalty proceedings.
Summary + what to do next
To check status: use the official portal listed above with your reference number. SLA is published; if stuck beyond it, file a free RTI.
- If status is normal → wait the published SLA, then download/use your document
- If status is delayed → click 🪄 AI RTI Drafter now; complete §6 application in 60 seconds
- If status is rejected → demand reasons under §4(1)(d) RTI Act; appeal/represent
- For state-specific guidance → see state-by-state guide
All RTI Wiki tools (free, no login)
- 🪄 AI RTI Drafter — type problem, get §6 application
- 🎤 AwaazRTI — voice-to-RTI in 11 Indian languages
- 🔮 Outcome Predictor — score your draft's win-likelihood
- ⚖️ First Appeal Generator — §19(1) draft on Day 31
- 📬 PIO Reply Checker — analyse evasive replies
- 📅 Timeline Calculator — track 30-day window
- 💰 Fee Calculator — state-wise fees
- 🔍 RTI Research — AI Q&A from this site
Related on RTI Wiki
- Master guide: Full RTI playbook — all 100+ scenarios
- State-by-state: Pick your state
- Citizen RTI playbook: All 100+ scenarios
- The RTI Act 2005: Complete guide
- All status-check guides: All 25 status-check pages
Sources
- RTI Act 2005 §§6, 7, 19
- Official portal (linked in Quick Facts)
- Statute referenced in Quick Facts
Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.
