Tried to fill in every detail in the right manner, yet your income tax refund has not arrived? There is no need to worry—this has been the case for countless other filers as well. Many taxpayers who filed and verified their returns on time have complained that their refunds are stuck at the processing stage for weeks. Hence, the delay is a real issue and is happening due to specific reasons.
Refund payouts between April and September 2025 were significantly lower compared to the same period last year, even though overall tax collections increased. When fewer refunds are released and more returns are filed, delays naturally build up in the system.
Another reason for the delay is deeper scrutiny by the Income Tax Department. The processing system flags many cases for manual review if there is any data mismatch or unusual pattern. Even small discrepancies between the Income Tax Return (ITR), the Annual Information Statement (AIS), or Form 26AS can cause the file to be held back for verification.
Beyond manual review, basic procedural issues add to further delays. Refunds cannot be issued if the bank account is not pre-validated on the income tax portal or if the IFSC code, account number, or PAN linkage is incorrect. Refunds also get stuck when e-verification is not completed on time, even if the return was filed before the deadline.
Why are certain tax refunds on hold?
In some cases, refunds are on hold due to outstanding tax demands from earlier years. The department is allowed to adjust your pending refund against any unpaid tax dues before releasing the balance.
There is also a legal timeline behind the scenes. For the current assessment cycle, the Centralised Processing Centre must process returns by December 31, 2026.
What should taxpayers do?
Anyone facing delays should first run an extensive check for mismatches in the AIS or Form 26AS, confirm that their bank account is pre-validated, and ensure that no communication from the department has been missed.
If the return has been pending for an unusually long time, users can also raise a grievance on the income tax portal.
How to check your ITR refund status
If you are constantly checking your bank account for a tax refund, this guide will help you check the status of your income tax refund and understand why there may be a delay.
Why is your income tax refund pending, and when will it be credited?
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman pointed out that refund delays occur because the department reviews potentially incorrect deduction claims. Taxpayers with missing information are being contacted to file revised returns. As per the CBDT, low-value refunds are being cleared first, and most refunds are expected to be processed by December 2025.
ITR status check online
- Visit the e-filing portal at income.gov.in and log in using your ID and password.
- Click on e-File, then Income Tax Returns, followed by View Filed Returns.
- Select your assessment year to see the refund status.
- Click on View Details to check the complete lifecycle of your filed ITR and track processing stages.
Check your tax refund status using your PAN number
To check the ITR refund status using your PAN number, visit:
https://tin.tin.nsdl.com/oltas/refund-status-pan.html
Enter your PAN card number, select the assessment year, and click Proceed to view your refund status.
What do different ITR statuses mean?
Your ITR may show various statuses:
- Submitted and Pending Verification – You have not yet verified your return.
- Successfully e-Verified – The return is awaiting processing.
- Processed – Your return is complete.
- Defective – Corrections are required within the specified time.
- Case Transferred to AO – Your jurisdictional Assessing Officer will contact you for additional details.
