Income Tax News: Income tax refund delays continue to trouble many taxpayers even after their returns show “processed” status. While the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) has improved refund timelines, issues such as data mismatches, incorrect deduction claims, or discrepancies between filed returns and Form 26AS/AIS are emerging as major causes of delay.
ITR Refund Delayed: Key Reasons
In several cases, refunds are held up due to income tax notices triggered by system-flagged inconsistencies. Bank-related issues like incorrect account details, inactive accounts, or failure to pre-validate the bank account can also prevent the refund from being credited.
Income Tax News: What to Do If Your Refund or Interest Is Delayed
Tax experts suggest that verification should be the first step. Taxpayers must check the refund status on the income tax portal, review any notices issued, and respond within the stipulated time. It is also important to ensure that the bank account linked to the PAN is pre-validated and active.
If the issue persists despite compliance, taxpayers can raise a grievance through the income tax e-filing portal or contact the CPC for further clarification. Staying proactive and regularly tracking return status can help resolve refund delays faster.
Taxpayers should also ensure that their PAN is correctly linked with Aadhaar and that the bank account selected for refund is active and pre-validated. In cases where the refund is determined but not received, a refund reissue request can be raised through the portal.
If the delay continues despite completing all formalities, taxpayers can file an online grievance with the Centralised Processing Centre or contact the income tax helpline for assistance. Regularly monitoring communications from the tax department and keeping personal and financial details updated can help avoid prolonged refund delays.
