ITR - What are the reasons under which a tax refund gets delayed?

While some of you may have already received your tax refund, others may still be waiting. There could be several reasons for this, including a mistake on your part or a delay in the I-T department.

If you have not yet received your tax refund, you should first check the status of the refund online at incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in or the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) e-governance website tin.tin.nsdl.com. While most tax refunds are credited to the assessment bank account within a few weeks of ITR filing, there may be delays in some cases.

What are the reasons under which a tax refund gets delayed?

Incorrect bank account information

There is a possibility that taxpayers did not provide the correct bank account number or other bank information when filing their income tax return (ITR). As a result, before filing your ITR, double-check the bank account information.

Additional documentation/information is required.

One of the most common reasons for refunds not being issued is the requirement for additional documentation or information. You may have overlooked some information when filing your ITR.

False information

To gain advantage, you may have coded insufficient or fabricated information. To correct this, you should provide complete and relevant information to reduce the possibility of rejection or delay in the refund procedure.

TDS/TCS mismatch is claimed

The mismatch in TDS claimed in 26AS could be due to the employer or TDS deductor (i.e. bank, etc.) incorrectly filing their TDS return, and you may need to approach them to correct their TDS return.

Refund request is being processed

The delay could also be at the level of the income tax department. It may take some time to process the request, or there may be a delay on the bank's end.

Check to see if your ITR has been processed by the tax department.

First, check to see if the income tax department has processed your ITR. You will receive a tax refund only after your ITR has been processed and confirmed by the tax department. Please keep in mind that you will only receive a refund if the tax department confirms that you are eligible for one after processing your income tax return. You will not receive a refund if the income tax department believes there is no tax refund pending.

How to Check income tax refund status

1) Visit https://tin.tin.nsdl.com/oltas/refundstatuslogin.html

2) Enter your PAN and the appropriate assessment year.

3) Next, enter the captcha and press the 'Submit' button.

4) A message will appear on your screen depending on the status of your refund.

What should you do to receive your tax refund?

If you have filed your income tax return but have not received your tax refund within a reasonable time, first determine whether you verified your income tax return online or offline. ITR submission is incomplete and will not be processed until it is e-verified. If your ITR V has not yet been verified, you have until the end of the month to do so.

The I-T Department provides five platforms for ITR verification: net banking, bank ATMs, Aadhaar, bank accounts, and demat accounts. Additionally, you should check your email to see if the income tax department has sent you an email requesting a response. It is critical to respond to any emails as soon as possible. You can also use the e-filing portal to submit a service request.