Income Tax Return Update: After filing your Income Tax Return (ITR), most taxpayers eagerly await their refund. If you filed your ITR on time and are constantly checking your bank account to see if your refund has arrived, you’re not alone. For assessment year 2025-26, the income tax refunds of over 5 million individuals are still pending. This time, the major reason for the delay is believed to be the stringent scrutiny process being conducted by the Income Tax Department. When the refund status is unclear even on the e-filing portal, it’s natural for taxpayers to become concerned. Therefore, it’s important to understand why the refund is stuck and where to find out.
Why are refunds delayed?
Technically, income tax refunds are issued only after the department has thoroughly examined and verified all the information provided in your ITR. Sometimes, discrepancies are found between the income stated in the return and the data in Form 26AS or AIS, which halts processing. Incomplete bank account validation is also a major reason for refund delays. If e-verification is not completed within 30 days of filing the ITR, the refund is not issued. In some cases, the assessing officer has doubts about your deductions and issues a notice seeking clarification. Failure to respond promptly can also result in the refund being withheld.
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How to Check Refund Status Online
Before filing any complaint, it’s important to check the current status of your refund. You can do this by logging on to the official Income Tax website, incometax.gov.in. After logging in, go to the e-File section and click on Income Tax Returns and then View Filed Returns. Here, you will see the refund status, such as Under Processing or Refund Issued.
You can also check your refund status by entering your PAN number and assessment year on the TIN-NSDL website. If the status says “Refund Returned,” it means the department sent the refund, but the money was returned due to a discrepancy in the bank details.
What to do if you don’t get information online?
If the portal displays “Under Processing” for a long time and you don’t get any clear information, you should contact the Centralized Processing Center (CPC). The Bengaluru-based CPC handles the processing of ITRs and refund issuance across the country. You can call their helpline. Keep your PAN number and assessment year handy when calling so that officials can provide you with accurate information.
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How to file a complaint online
If the issue remains unresolved after calling, you can file a complaint online on the e-filing portal. After logging in, go to the Grievances section and select the Submit Grievance option, and select CPC-ITR as the relevant department. Here, select the Refund-related category and describe your issue in detail.
You can also file a complaint through the e-Nivaran system. This is the Income Tax Department’s joint grievance redressal system, monitored by senior officials. Referring to previous correspondence or notices when filing a complaint can help resolve your matter faster.