The classic filing headache
You get your Form 16 from HR, download your AIS (Annual Information Statement) from incometax.gov.in, compare the two, and the numbers do not match. Take a breath. For salaried Indians this is one of the most common situations, and it is completely fixable.
Why the gap happens
Your employer builds Form 16 from only the salary they paid and the proofs you gave them. AIS gathers data from everyone: - Banks report savings and FD interest. - Mutual fund registrars and brokers report SIP redemptions and share sales. - A previous employer reports salary you earned before switching jobs.
So AIS usually shows more income than Form 16.
The number that matters
An unreconciled mismatch can trigger a Section 143(1) adjustment or a notice, and filing late afterwards adds a Section 234F fee of Rs 1,000 (income up to Rs 5 lakh) or Rs 5,000 (above Rs 5 lakh) (Source: Income Tax Act, Section 234F). Fixing the gap before you file is far cheaper than fixing it after.
| Form 16 says | AIS also shows | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Salary only | FD interest Rs 38,000 | Add under Other Sources |
| Current job salary | Old employer salary plus TDS | Merge both |
| Nothing on investments | Share / MF sale value | Check capital gains, maybe ITR-2 |
Fix it in three steps (portal path)
- Download AIS: log in to incometax.gov.in, go to Services > Annual Information Statement (AIS), open the AIS tile, and download.
- Accept correct additions: real income you missed (say HDFC savings interest) goes under Income from Other Sources, and you pay any extra self-assessment tax before submitting.
- Dispute wrong entries: if a line is duplicated or not yours, open it in AIS and submit feedback such as "Information is not fully correct" or "Information relates to other PAN".
What you should do
Build a quick three-column list: AIS line, amount, already in my draft? For every "no", add the income or raise feedback. Never leave an AIS line unexplained.
Common mistake
Assuming Form 16 is the full story. It never includes bank interest, so a clean Form 16 with a fatter AIS is exactly how mismatch notices begin.
How LastMinute ITR helps
LastMinute ITR reconciles Form 16 against AIS and 26AS automatically and shows the exact gaps. Begin at /file, import at /file/import/documents, and review flags at /file/import/mismatch.
LastMinute ITR is a companion tool, not affiliated with the Income Tax Department. You file and e-verify your return yourself on incometax.gov.in.