As the deadline for filing income tax returns for the financial year 2024-25 and assessment year 2025-26 has passed, many taxpayers are now eagerly waiting for their income tax refunds (ITR). While refunds are typically credited to bank accounts on time, some taxpayers face delays due to various reasons. If you’re still waiting for your refund, here’s a step-by-step guide to checking your ITR status online and understanding possible causes of delay.
Several factors can contribute to delays in receiving refunds:
PAN Inoperability: If your PAN is not linked to your Aadhaar, the refund process may fail.
Mismatched Details: Discrepancies between your ITR and Form 26AS can cause delays.
Late Filing: Filing your return close to the due date may require extra processing time.
Incorrect Bank Details: Invalid account numbers, IFSC codes, or a bank account name mismatch with PAN can result in failed refunds.
Large Refund Amounts: Refunds of significant amounts may undergo additional scrutiny by the tax department.
Understanding these reasons can help taxpayers take corrective actions to ensure their refund is processed without unnecessary delays.
The Income Tax Department provides a simple online process to check your refund status in real time. Follow these steps:
Visit the official Income Tax e-filing portal: https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/
Log in using your PAN, Aadhaar, or other registered user ID and password.
If your PAN is not linked with Aadhaar, a pop-up notification will appear indicating that your PAN is inoperative. You must link your PAN with Aadhaar before proceeding.
After logging in successfully, navigate to the e-File tab and click on Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns.
Alternatively, go to the Services tab → Know Your Refund Status.
Select the relevant assessment year to view your refund status. You will see the complete timeline of your filed ITR, including:
Whether the refund has been issued
Partial or full adjustment of the refund
Refund failure
Refunds can fail due to several preventable issues:
PAN not linked with Aadhaar
Bank account not pre-validated
Bank account name not matching PAN details
Incorrect or invalid IFSC code
Bank account mentioned in ITR has been closed
Taxpayers should ensure all personal and bank details are accurate to avoid delays or failed refunds. Regularly checking the e-filing portal and keeping an eye on official email notifications from the Income Tax Department can help track the status efficiently.
Ensure your PAN is Aadhaar-linked before filing or verifying your ITR.
Double-check bank account details to avoid refund failures.
Monitor your ITR status periodically to identify any issues early.
By following these steps, taxpayers can stay informed about their income tax refunds, reduce delays, and avoid unnecessary complications.
