It’s been a few Months after September. 16, 2025, deadline to file income tax returns, but some taxpayers are still waiting for their refunds. While Most ITR filings have already been processed for Assessment Year 2025-26 (AY 2025-26), Refunds have been unusually delayed for many Taxpayers compared to the previous Year.
Reasons Behind the Delay in ITR Refunds
Bank Account related issues such as incorrect account numbers, wrong IFSC codes or unvalidated accounts. Refunds will not materialise until all of these errors are rectified. Another big reason behind the delay has been the Aadhaar Pan Linkage; in a lot of cases, the identity data does not match, in such conditions, the system holds back the refund until the records are updated.
Incorrect claims are another reason for the delays. Returns with deductions that lack adequate supporting documents, or refund amounts not matching the reported income, in certain cases, may raise red flags and lead to further delay.
As per reports, the Income Tax Department’s centralised Processing Centre(CPC) in Bengaluru has put in place increased scrutiny this year. The CPC is examining claims for large refunds or returns with suspicious entries more closely, and even standard returns are delayed because so many were filed close to the deadline.
Taxpayers can avoid the delay by verifying bank details for accuracy, checking whether the AIS data matches the return, responding to notices on time and making necessary corrections.
How to check the Status
To check the status of your tax refund and status:
- Visit the e filing portal at https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/
- Log in using your registered Id and password
- Navigate to the e-File, then Income Tax returns and View filed Returns.
- Select the relevant assessment year and click view details.
The portal will indicate whether the refund has been issued , is under review or is pending due to missing information. Taxpayers with Inoperative PANs must activate and link them with Aadhaar to avoid any further delay in the refunds.
When Will You Receive Refunds
Refunds are generally credited within four to five weeks after the ITR is e-verified. If refunds are delayed beyond the usual period, Taxpayers should check their emails and portal notifications for alerts about verification issues or incorrect bank details. Raising a grievance ticket on the portal may help in escalation. As the backlog clears and processes stabilise, the space of refund distribution will increase as well.
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