If a message from the Income Tax Department has recently landed on your phone, don’t be surprised. As the July 31 deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITRs) comes closer, many taxpayers are about the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) reported by their employers.
The message typically reads: “Total TDS by Employer of PAN XXXXX is Rs… for quarter ending March and cumulative TDS for FY 2025-26 is Rs…. View 26AS/ATS for details. ITD Team.”
At first glance, the SMS may seem like a tax notice or a warning. It is neither. It is simply a reminder from the department to help taxpayers verify their tax details before filing their returns.
The idea is to encourage taxpayers to check their tax records, confirm that the TDS deducted by their employer has been correctly deposited and complete their ITR filing well before the deadline.
The Income Tax Department has stepped up its outreach as return filing gathers pace across the country.
The SMS is intended to help taxpayers verify the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) reported by their employer. The department wants people to compare the amount mentioned in the message with the details available in Form 26AS and the Annual Tax Statement (ATS).
This simple step can help identify any mismatch before filing the return. If the TDS reflected in the records is incorrect or incomplete, taxpayers have enough time to get the issue resolved before submitting their ITR.
The reminders also serve another purpose. Every year, many people leave tax filing until the final few days, leading to heavy traffic on the income tax portal and avoidable filing errors. By sending these alerts early, the department hopes more taxpayers will file their returns in advance.
The filing season has gathered momentum with the deadline approaching.
According to the Income Tax Department, their Income Tax Returns for Assessment Year 2026-27. The department also said that over 10 lakh returns were filed in a single day, indicating that more people are completing the process before the due date.
Tax authorities have urged eligible taxpayers not to wait until the last week and instead file early for a smoother experience.
TDS is the tax deducted by an employer before paying a salary and deposited with the government on the employee’s behalf.
When filing an ITR, taxpayers claim credit for this tax. If the TDS details in Form 26AS or the Annual Tax Statement do not match the actual deductions, it could result in incorrect tax calculations, delayed refunds or additional queries from the department.
That is why the Income Tax Department is asking taxpayers to review these records before filing their return.
For salaried employees, pensioners and individuals whose accounts are not subject to audit, July 31 is the last date to file the .
Missing the deadline could attract late filing fees, interest on outstanding tax and other consequences under the Income-tax Act, depending on the taxpayer’s circumstances.
Although filing an ITR may seem straightforward, the process often takes longer than expected if documents are missing or tax records need to be verified.
Before filing, taxpayers should ensure that Form 16, Form 26AS, the Annual Tax Statement, bank interest details, capital gains statements and information on deductions are readily available. Cross-checking these documents can help avoid mistakes and speed up return processing.
The ‘Total TDS’ SMS is not a reason to worry. Instead, it is a timely reminder from the Income Tax Department to review your tax details, ensure everything is in order and complete your return before the July 31 deadline.