The last date for filing Income Tax Return (ITR) for the financial year 2025 is 15 September 2025. In such a situation, those who have not yet filed their ITR should get this work done as soon as possible. But the concern of taxpayers who have already filed ITR is now increasing about the refund.

Tax refund may take a long time.

Many people expect that the tax refund will be received within a few weeks as soon as the return is filed, but this does not happen every time. Let us tell you that the Income Tax Department has a legal time of 9 months to process the refund. This time is counted from the end of the financial year for which you have filed the return. However, usually the refund is received in 4 to 6 weeks. But due to the complexity of the return and the mistakes made in it, this process can also be long.

Mismatch in TDS can create big problems.
The most common reason for the delay in refund is a mismatch of TDS (Tax Deducted at Source). Many times, taxpayers make the mistake of not updating the correct TDS details or filling out the wrong form. If the TDS information given in your ITR and the figures recorded in Form 26AS do not match, then the Income Tax Department stops the refund and can also send you a notice.

ITR-1 holders get a refund quickly
The fastest processed return is ITR-1, which is filed by ordinary working people. On the other hand, forms like ITR-2, ITR-3, and ITR-4 take more time to process because the sources of income in them are complex, such as business income or capital gains. Business-related matters often require additional investigation, which delays the refund.

Last-minute haste can also be the reason.
As the deadline for ITR filing approaches, a large number of people file returns simultaneously, which puts a lot of pressure on the system. This can also cause delays in return processing and refund issuance. Therefore, try not to wait for the last date and file the return on time.

What to do if you don't get a refund?
If you have filed a return but have not received the refund yet, first login to the income tax portal and check the refund status. If the status says 'processing', you will have to wait a little. But if the refund is stuck due to any mistake or mismatch, read the notice under section 143(1) carefully and file an online rectification if needed. If the problem still persists, you can file a complaint on the e-governance portal or contact the income tax department helpline.

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