Income Tax: Today is the last date for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the financial year 2025-26. As per the data on the Income Tax portal till September 14, 2025, 6.69 crore returns have already been filed. Of these, 6.03 crore returns are verified, and about 4 crore returns have been processed. The total number of returns filed last year was 7.28 crores. Therefore, many lakh taxpayers are expected to file returns at the last minute today. However, many taxpayers and tax consultants are struggling with the slow speed of the e-filing portal.

In how much time will ITR refund be available?

If your return is filed correctly, the refund can be received quickly, in some cases within a few days.

According to O.P. Yadav, tax evangelist and former principal commissioner (income tax), “The time taken to get the refund depends on the cheque made under section 143(1). Small refunds can be received on the same day, while in some cases it can take 7-10 days. There may also be some delay due to additional checks on deductions and exemptions in the new year.”

Some taxpayers got their refunds within 4 weeks, especially those with small refund amounts.

If there are complications in the return, such as capital gains or business income, the refund may be delayed. “In such cases, the department does cross-checking of details, so it may take time,” says Chirag Chauhan, a Mumbai-based chartered accountant.

Small refunds (less than ₹15,000) can be credited to the bank account within an hour in some cases.

There is no need to worry if the refund is delayed as the Income Tax Department pays 6% per annum as interest, this interest is applicable from April 1.

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