Income Tax Refund: There is a big update for taxpayers. : Has your income tax return not yet arrived? Every taxpayer wants a timely refund after filing their ITR. But this year, the situation is different. Thousands of people are still waiting for their income tax refunds. The delay has become so severe that people are complaining on social media. Experts say that this time the delay is due to several reasons. From the late issuance of forms in 2025 to the stringent verification process, refunds are being delayed.

Why are refunds slow?

According to tax experts, ITR forms and utilities were released late this year. This resulted in less time for filing, and a large number of returns were filed simultaneously. According to Shefali Mundra, CA at ClearTax, the delayed arrival of forms, the shortened filing window, and the clustering of returns created a burden on CPCs. When millions of returns arrive simultaneously, processing naturally slows down.

This time, the IT department is more stringent than ever regarding data matching. Even the slightest mismatch between AIS, TIS, or Form 26AS leads to scrutiny. If there’s an incorrect TDS statement, a duplicate entry, or a discrepancy in a property transaction, the refund isn’t issued immediately, and the return goes into close scrutiny. Experts say this is why many taxpayers are stuck in the slow lane.

Scrutiny on those with high-value refund claims

Those who have claimed large refunds or whose returns contain unusual entries are also facing increased verification. CA Mundra says the department is re-examining every questionable claim, often requesting additional documents, which adds to the time lag. This year, salary, NRI, and property capital gains returns are among the most delayed.

What should taxpayers do?

File the return only after completely matching AIS, TIS and Form 26AS.

Keep your bank account pre-validated.

Choose the correct ITR form.

If you are an NRI, fill Form 67 on time.

And business taxpayers must do GST-TDS matching.

According to tax experts, those who prepare in advance and file returns after matching every document usually get their refunds the fastest.