Filing ITR Before June 15 May Trigger AIS Mismatches And Refund Delays For Taxpayers

The ITR filing season for AY 2026–27 has begun, but taxpayers are advised to wait until mid-June. Employers, banks, mutual funds, and other institutions have until May 31 to submit their quarterly TDS returns and Statement of Financial Transactions (SFT). The Income Tax Department processes these in early June, updating AIS, Form 26AS, and TIS. Filing before these updates are reflected can result in errors. 

Why Filing Before June 15 Is Risky

• Incomplete AIS and Form 26AS data: Salary, interest, dividend, and capital gains entries may not yet appear.
• Incorrect TDS credits: Claiming tax deducted at source before it is updated can trigger mismatches.
• Refund delays: Early filing often leads to revised returns, slowing refund processing.
• Risk of notices: Mismatches between ITR and AIS/Form 26AS can attract scrutiny under Sections 139(9), 143(1), or 143(2). 

What Updates Happen In June

• Salary income entries after employers file quarterly TDS returns.
• Bank interest and dividend income reported by financial institutions.
• Capital gains and securities transactions from brokers and registrars.
• Property transactions and mutual fund investments reflected in AIS.
• Form 16 issuance by employers, typically by June 15. 

Recommended Approach

• Wait until mid-June to ensure AIS, Form 26AS, and TIS are fully updated.
• Reconcile income details across Form 16, AIS, Form 26AS, and bank statements.
• Use the feedback mechanism in AIS to correct duplicate or incorrect entries.
• File before the due date of July 31, 2026 for salaried taxpayers to avoid penalties. 

Filing Season Highlights

•⁠  ⁠AIS, Form 26AS, and TIS updates continue until mid-June

•⁠  ⁠Filing before June 15 risks mismatches and refund delays

•⁠  ⁠Employers issue Form 16 by June 15 after TDS filings

•⁠  ⁠Common mismatches include unreported interest, capital gains discrepancies, and incorrect TDS claims

•⁠  ⁠Salaried taxpayers’ ITR deadline is July 31, 2026

Sources: The Financial Express, Mint, Goodreturns, Income Tax Department