Registering on TDS TRACES Website

TRACES is the CBDT's central portal for TDS that allows taxpayers to view Form 26AS and download Form 16/16A, and deductors to file corrections, download conso files and default summaries. To register, taxpayers need PAN and details of one prior tax-payment entry, while deductors need TAN, Token Number of a filed TDS return, and a challan detail plus a single deductee PAN-amount combination. Registration completes after email activation within 48 hours.

Mayank Wadhera

Published: 13 Sept 2023

Updated: 16 May 2026

4 min read

TRACES (TDS Reconciliation Analysis and Correction Enabling System) is the CBDT's central portal for everything TDS — Form 16, Form 16A, Form 26AS download, conso file, default downloads, justification reports and online correction. In 2026, almost every salaried taxpayer, deductor and pensioner needs at least one functional TRACES login. The good news: registration is a 15-minute exercise if you have your basic IDs ready.

Who Needs to Register on TRACES

TRACES serves three primary user types: taxpayers (to view Form 26AS, AIS and TDS certificates), deductors (companies, firms, individuals deducting tax) and PAOs/AOs (drawing and disbursing officers in government). The registration pathway differs slightly across types, but the underlying ID requirements are the same.

What You Need Before You Start

Keep these ready to avoid mid-registration rejection:

PAN (for taxpayers) or TAN (for deductors).
A recent TDS challan acknowledgement (CIN) — only for deductor registration.
An active email ID and mobile number not used by another TRACES account.
For deductors: details from any one TDS return already filed against the TAN.
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) if you plan to file online corrections.

Step-by-Step: Taxpayer Registration

For a taxpayer view of 26AS and AIS through TRACES:

Go to the TRACES portal and click on Register as New User → Taxpayer.
Enter your PAN, date of birth, name and the captcha.
Authenticate using one TDS detail or one tax-payment detail from your last assessed return — the system asks for the assessment year, type and amount.
Enter mobile number and email. You will receive separate OTPs for each — enter both.
Set a user ID and password (the system enforces complexity rules).
Activation link is sent to your email; click within 48 hours to activate.

Step-by-Step: Deductor Registration

For a company, firm or proprietor deducting TDS:

Go to TRACES and select Register as New User → Deductor.
Enter TAN and verify with the Token Number (acknowledgement) of any TDS return already filed against that TAN.
Enter challan details — BSR code, challan serial, date and amount — for any one challan deposited against that TAN.
Add the unique PAN-amount combination of any single deductee from that return.
Set the authorised person's PAN, name, designation and contact details.
Activate via the email link and log in to download conso files, file 24Q/26Q/27Q corrections and request Form 16/16A.

Common Registration Errors and Fixes

Four errors account for most failed registrations. First, mismatch between PAN name and Aadhaar/MCA records — get the underlying record corrected first. Second, using a TDS return that has not yet been processed; wait 48-72 hours after filing. Third, entering the wrong financial year for the verification challan. Fourth, sharing the same mobile/email across two accounts — TRACES enforces unique credentials per user.

After Registration — What to Do First

Once your login is active, link your DSC if you are a deductor, set up your TDS practitioner role if a CA will handle corrections, and bookmark the request workflow for Form 16 (employees), Form 16A (vendors) and Form 27D (TCS). Run a quarterly check on default summaries and justification reports to catch issues before notices land.

Day-to-Day Use Cases After You Log In

Most TRACES users underestimate how much value the portal unlocks once registered. Salaried employees can download Form 16 directly without chasing HR. Pensioners can pull Form 26AS quarterly to track TDS on interest. Deductors can request conso files, file online corrections, view default summaries, justify mismatched challans and download justification reports. The platform also surfaces compliance scores that flag your TAN's pattern of late filings — a useful internal-audit input.

Download Form 16 (Part A and Part B) for each financial year.
Pull Form 26AS and reconcile against your bank and broker statements.
Request Form 16A for vendor payments (deductors).
File online corrections to TDS returns via DSC.
Track justification reports and default notices in real time.

Conclusion

Registering on TRACES is one of those administrative tasks where 15 minutes of careful setup saves hours of back-and-forth during tax season. Get the ID details right, activate within 48 hours and configure DSC and roles early. Your Form 16, Form 26AS, conso files and correction flows all run through TRACES — make sure your account is ready before you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TRACES registration free?

Yes, registration on the TRACES portal is completely free. There are no fees for registering as a taxpayer or deductor, and there is no annual subscription. The portal is operated by the income-tax department under CBDT and is a public utility.

Can I have separate logins for PAN and TAN?

Yes. PAN-based taxpayer logins and TAN-based deductor logins are entirely separate. Many CAs, founders and finance teams maintain one taxpayer login per individual PAN and additional deductor logins per company TAN that they need to manage.

What if my activation link has expired?

If you miss the 48-hour activation window, you can request a fresh activation link from the TRACES login screen by entering your user ID. If the system still rejects you, raise a TRACES grievance with your PAN/TAN and the registration date and the team usually resolves it within a few working days.

Do I need DSC to register on TRACES?

Not for registration itself. DSC is required only for filing online TDS corrections and certain authorised actions. As a taxpayer downloading Form 16, Form 26AS and AIS, you do not need a DSC at all — the OTP-based flow is sufficient.