Forgot your Income Tax portal password? No worries! Now, download Form 26 from your bank in a snap..

As soon as the season for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) arrives, the very first document people require is Form 26AS. Essentially, this is the document that reveals how much TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) was deducted from your income throughout the year, how much tax was subsequently deposited, and where significant financial transactions were conducted in your name.

However, the real trouble begins when people forget their Income Tax portal password. They then have to endure considerable hassle, as hours can be wasted dealing with the complexities of OTPs, password resets, and login procedures.

On a positive note, it is no longer mandatory to log in to the Income Tax portal to download Form 26AS. Yes, several major banks across the country are now offering this facility through their net banking platforms.

To put it simply, Form 26AS serves as your tax report card.

It contains comprehensive details, including:

How much TDS has been deducted from your salary
How much tax has been deducted from your bank Fixed Deposits (FDs)
The amount of Advance Tax you have deposited
The amount of tax refund you have received
Details regarding major financial transactions and investments
It is considered an essential document to have before filing your ITR.
Has its name changed?
Under the new Income Tax Act of 2025, Form 26AS is now being referred to as "Form 168" in various contexts. However, among the general public, the name "Form 26AS" remains the more commonly used term for the time being.

What are the key takeaways?
You can download Form 26AS directly via your bank's net banking service.
You can access it directly through the TRACES portal.
You can save the document in PDF format.
This form simplifies the process of filing your ITR.

How to download Form 26AS from your bank's website? Easy Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1:

Log in to your bank's Net Banking portal.

Step 2:

Navigate to the 'Tax Services' or 'Income Tax' section.

Step 3:

You will find the option for 'Form 26AS' listed there.

Step 4:

Clicking on it will redirect you to the TRACES website.

Step 5:

Now, select the relevant 'Assessment Year.'
Under "View As," select 'HTML.'

Step 6:

Click on 'View/Download.'

Step 7:

Download and save the PDF file.

Which banks offer this facility?

What to do if you want to download it from the Income Tax Portal?
If you wish to download it directly from the portal, follow these steps:

1. Log in to incometax.gov.in.
2. Go to the 'e-File' section.
3. Select 'Income Tax Returns.'
4. Click on 'View Form 26AS.'
5. You will be redirected to the TRACES website.
6. You can download the PDF from there.

Why is Form 26AS so important?
Many people file their ITR directly, only to receive a notice later.
This happens because the TDS details do not match.
Bank interest income often gets overlooked,
or certain transactions go unreported.
Form 26AS helps in reconciling all these details.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.