CBDT Expands Tax Information Reporting Framework

The Central Board of Direct Taxes has authorised the Directorate General of Income Tax (Systems), Delhi, to upload foreign financial information received under the Automatic Exchange of Information framework into taxpayers’ Annual Information Statement and Form 26AS.

The authorisation was issued through an order dated July 8, 2026, under agreements covered by Section 159 of the Income-tax Act, 2025. The measure is intended to integrate overseas financial information received under applicable Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements into India’s tax reporting and compliance systems.

AEOI Information to Be Reflected in Form 168

Under the CBDT order, the DGIT (Systems) may upload information received through the AEOI framework into the Annual Information Statement in Form 168.

Such information is required to be uploaded within 90 days from the end of the month in which it is received by the Income Tax Department.

The inclusion of foreign financial data in AIS is expected to provide taxpayers with a consolidated view of information relating to overseas bank accounts, investments, income and other reportable financial assets received through international information-sharing arrangements.

Timelines Prescribed for Form 26AS Uploads

The CBDT has also authorised the DGIT (Systems) to upload AEOI-related information into Form 26AS under the Income-tax Rules, 1962.

For information relating to the following periods, the data must be uploaded within 90 days from the date of the CBDT order:

• January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022
• January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024

For information relating to the period January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, the upload must be completed within 90 days from the end of the month in which the information is received.

DGIT (Systems) Empowered to Set Technical Standards

The Directorate General of Income Tax (Systems) has also been authorised to prescribe the procedures, formats and technical standards for uploading foreign financial information into AIS in Form 168 and Form 26AS.

This authorisation will support the standardised reporting and processing of information received from foreign jurisdictions under international tax cooperation arrangements.

Compliance Implications for Taxpayers

Taxpayers holding foreign bank accounts, investments, securities or other reportable overseas financial assets should carefully review their AIS and Form 26AS after the information is uploaded.

Foreign income and asset disclosures reported in income-tax returns should be consistent with the information reflected in these statements. Any mismatch, omission or incorrect reporting may result in compliance queries, verification proceedings or further scrutiny by the Income Tax Department.

The availability of historical AEOI information may also require taxpayers to assess earlier disclosures and consider corrective action, including filing an updated return where permitted under the applicable provisions.

The integration of foreign financial information into AIS and Form 26AS is expected to strengthen tax transparency, improve voluntary compliance and support data-based verification of overseas income and asset disclosures. CA Sansaar