CBDT enables foreign asset data in AIS on e-Filing portal for taxpayers
Synopsis
India's tax authority has quietly handed taxpayers a mirror: foreign bank accounts, investments, and income that over 100 countries have already shared with the Income Tax Department are now visible in the AIS. The message is unmistakable — disclose accurately in Schedule FA and FSI, because the data is already there.
Key Takeaways
CBDT has enabled display of foreign asset and income data in the Annual Information Statement (AIS) on the Income Tax e-Filing portal as of 16 July 2025 .
Data from more than 100 partner jurisdictions under the AEOI framework is now accessible, covering CY 2022, CY 2023, and CY 2024 .
Information for CY 2025 will be displayed after it is received, expected in September or October 2026 .
Taxpayers must still fully report all foreign assets and income in Schedule FA and Schedule FSI regardless of what appears in AIS.
The initiative is framed as a facilitation measure , not a scrutiny or investigation tool; SMSes and e-mails are being sent to taxpayers for AY 2026-27 filing reminders. 'Kar Saathi' , CBDT's AI-powered assistant on the e-Filing portal, is available to guide taxpayers on foreign asset reporting.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has enabled the display of foreign asset and income information — received under the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) framework — within the Annual Information Statement (AIS) of eligible taxpayers on the Income Tax e-Filing portal. The move, announced on Thursday, 16 July, is aimed at facilitating voluntary tax compliance rather than triggering scrutiny or investigation, according to a senior official.
What Has Changed
Taxpayers can now log into their secure e-Filing accounts and view details of their foreign bank accounts, custodial accounts, financial investments, interest, dividends, and other specified foreign income — as reported to India by partner jurisdictions. The data is accessible exclusively through the taxpayer's own secure login credentials on the portal, ensuring privacy.
As of now, information pertaining to Calendar Year (CY) 2022, CY 2023, and CY 2024 has been made available in the AIS. Data for CY 2025 is expected to be displayed once received, likely in September or October 2026.
How India Receives This Data
India receives financial account information from more than 100 partner jurisdictions under various international agreements and exchange mechanisms. According to the official, AEOI information for a given calendar year begins arriving from September of the following year under internationally accepted standards of information exchange.
Notably, the data reflected in AIS does not constitute a complete or exhaustive record of a taxpayer's foreign holdings. Taxpayers are, therefore, still required to correctly and completely report all foreign assets and foreign-source income in Schedule FA and Schedule FSI of their Income Tax Return — irrespective of whether such information appears in the AIS.
How to Access the Information
Taxpayers can view their foreign asset data by following these steps on the e-Filing portal:
Log in to the Income Tax e-Filing portal and navigate to 'AIS', which directs users to the Compliance Portal. On the Compliance Portal, click 'Reports', then select 'Foreign Assets Information' to view data linked to the logged-in PAN. A specific calendar year can be selected from the drop-down menu, and the information can be downloaded as a PDF.
CBDT's Outreach and AI Assistance
As part of this initiative, the CBDT is issuing SMSes and e-mails to taxpayers, informing them about the new feature and reminding them to report foreign assets and income while filing returns for Assessment Year 2026-27. Taxpayers may also use 'Kar Saathi', the AI-powered virtual assistant on the e-Filing portal, for guidance on selecting the correct return form and reporting foreign assets and income.
'By providing taxpayers with timely access to information available with the Department, CBDT aims to minimise inadvertent reporting errors, improve the accuracy of Income-tax Returns and make tax compliance simpler, more convenient and more transparent,' the official said.
What This Means for Taxpayers
This is a significant step in India's broader push toward transparent, technology-driven tax administration. The CBDT has been clear that the initiative is designed to facilitate compliance — not to initiate investigations. However, taxpayers with undisclosed foreign assets should note that the Department already holds this data through international exchange channels, making accurate disclosure in Schedule FA and Schedule FSI more critical than ever. All filings for AY 2026-27 should reflect this information accurately.
Point of View
But taxpayers often did not know the extent of it. By making it visible, the Board is effectively signalling that the era of inadvertent non-disclosure is over. The caveat that AIS data is incomplete and that full Schedule FA and FSI reporting remains mandatory is important: it protects the Department's enforcement position while nudging compliant taxpayers. The real test is whether this reduces genuine reporting gaps or primarily serves as a precursor to a fresh wave of notices targeting high-value foreign account holders who have not filed accurately in recent years.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new CBDT initiative for foreign assets in the AIS?
The CBDT has enabled taxpayers to view foreign asset and income information — received from over 100 countries under the AEOI framework — directly in their Annual Information Statement on the Income Tax e-Filing portal. The initiative covers data for CY 2022, CY 2023, and CY 2024, and is intended to help taxpayers file accurate returns for AY 2026-27.
How can I view my foreign asset information in the AIS?
Log in to the Income Tax e-Filing portal, navigate to 'AIS', and you will be directed to the Compliance Portal. Click on 'Reports', then 'Foreign Assets Information', select the relevant calendar year from the drop-down, and download the PDF. The data is accessible only through your own secure login credentials.
Does the AIS show all my foreign assets and income?
No. The AIS reflects only the information received by the Income Tax Department from partner jurisdictions under international exchange agreements, and is not a complete record. Taxpayers are required to fully and correctly report all foreign assets and foreign-source income in Schedule FA and Schedule FSI of their Income Tax Return, regardless of what appears in AIS.
When will CY 2025 foreign asset data be available in the AIS?
According to the CBDT, information for CY 2025 will be displayed in the AIS once it is received from partner jurisdictions, which is expected in September or October 2026.
Is this initiative a sign that the tax department is investigating taxpayers with foreign assets?
No. The CBDT has explicitly stated that this initiative is designed to facilitate taxpayer compliance and not to investigate or scrutinise taxpayers. The goal is to minimise inadvertent reporting errors and make tax compliance more transparent and accurate.
