The deadline to file income tax returns (ITR) was July 31, 2024, and now taxpayers are waiting to get back any extra tax they paid. According to the latest data from the income tax department, over 7.28 crore ITRs were submitted by the deadline, which is 7.5% more than the 6.77 crore ITRs filed last year (AY 2023-24).

Eligibility for Tax Refund

Not everyone is expecting a tax refund, but some taxpayers who paid more tax than necessary are eligible to receive a refund.

An income tax refund is money returned to you by the tax department when you’ve paid more tax than you owe. This extra tax might have been paid through TDS (tax deducted at source), TCS (tax collected at source), advance tax, or self-assessment tax.

Timeline for Tax Refunds

The tax is figured out after taking into account all the deductions and exemptions when the income tax department reviews it.

Refunds start being processed only after the taxpayer verifies their return online. Usually, it takes about 4 to 5 weeks for the refund to be added to the taxpayer’s account.

The timing for processing refunds begins not from July 31, but from the day you verify your tax return.

Also Read: ITR Filing Deadline Explained: What Are The Implications Of Missing The July 31 Date?

Check Refund Status Online

If you haven’t received your income tax refund, check for any messages about issues with your return and look for emails from the tax department about your refund.

You can also check your refund status on the income tax e-filing portal by following these steps:

1. Go to the homepage of the e-filing portal.
2. Enter your user ID and password. If your PAN is not linked to Aadhaar, you’ll see a message saying your PAN is inactive because it’s not linked.

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