ITR Filing AY 2026-27: Taxpayers who are logging into the Income Tax Department’s e-Filing portal for Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27 have noticed something a bit odd. Both Form 26AS and the newly introduced Form 168 are now showing up under the older and newer tax legislations.
The dual display has triggered confusion among salaried employees, professionals and businesses, with many wondering whether Form 26AS has been replaced entirely and which document should be used while filing Income Tax Returns (ITR).
Why are both Form 26AS and Form 168 visible?
The simultaneous appearance of Form 26AS and Form 168 is part of the transition to the Income Tax Act, 2025 and the Income Tax Rules, 2026, which came into effect from April 1, 2026. “Form 26AS is applicable till FY 2025-26 and from Tax Year 2026-27, Form 168 will be applicable,” said Mihir Tanna, Associate Director at S.K. Patodia LLP.
Under the new law, Form 26AS has been renumbered as Form 168. However, since taxpayers are currently filing returns for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27), a period governed by the earlier framework the Income Tax Department has kept both versions available on the portal for ease of reference and comparison.
Does Form 168 replace Form 26AS immediately?
No. For the ongoing ITR filing season, taxpayers should keep using Form 26AS for validating tax credits while filing their returns for FY 2025-26.
Form 168 starts acting as the related annual tax info statement under the new law, for tax years governed by the Income Tax Act , 2025. The portal currently shows both forms at once, just so users can maneuver the change bit by bit smoothly and without confusion.
What is Form 26AS?
Form 26AS has traditionally been the taxpayer’s annual tax credit statement. It includes:
- Tax Deducted at Source (TDS)
- Tax Collected at Source (TCS)
- Advance tax payments
- Self-assessment tax
- Refund details
- Certain specified financial transactions
It is one of the primary documents taxpayers use to ensure the taxes deducted against their PAN have been correctly credited before filing an ITR.
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ITR Filing AY 2026-27: What Is New In Form 168?
Form 168 expands the scope of the traditional Form 26AS and is designed as a more comprehensive annual tax information statement. Besides tax credits, it can include:
- Salary and other income information
- Interest and dividend income
- High-value financial transactions
- Specified Financial Transactions (SFTs)
- Property-related transactions
- Foreign remittances
- GST-related information where applicable
- Tax demands and refunds
- Details of pending or completed tax proceedings
- Taxpayers do not need to file Form 168 separately.
Why has the government introduced Form 168?
According to the Income Tax Department’s guidance under the new rules, Form 168 aims to improve transparency in tax reporting. Provide a single, comprehensive view of a taxpayer’s financial information. Make compliance easier under the new Income Tax Act
“Form 168 represents the annual information statement framework under the new tax legislation and continues the broader objective of providing taxpayers with a comprehensive view of information available with the Income Tax Department. Beyond tax credits, it encompasses details relating to taxes paid, refunds, demands and information reported by various institutions, including employers, banks, mutual funds, stockbrokers and other reporting entities,” said Dinesh K. Jain, Managing Partner.
What should taxpayers do before filing ITR?
Tax experts advise taxpayers to carefully reconcile Form 26AS, Annual Information Statement (AIS), Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS), Form 16 (for salaried employees), and bank interest certificates and investment statements
Any mismatch should be corrected before filing the return to avoid processing delays or possible notices from the Income Tax Department. If incorrect information appears in AIS or the annual tax statement, taxpayers can submit feedback through the Income Tax portal or contact the reporting entity for correction.
