Summary of this article
ITR refunds generally arrive within four to five weeks after e-verification.
Incorrect bank details can delay or block refund credit.
Taxpayers can track refund status through the e-filing portal.
More than 78 million income tax returns (ITRs) for financial year 2025-26, or assessment year 2026-27, were filed up to August 31, 2026, against 73 million returns filed within the deadline in the previous year, according to the Income Tax Department.
Of the returns filed, about 59 million were ITR-1 and ITR-2 submissions received by July 31. The rest included returns from taxpayers with business or professional income, who used forms, such as ITR-3, ITR-4, ITR-5 and ITR-7 to file their returns.
For those expecting a tax refund, the filing date alone does not determine when the money will be credited to their bank account. The return has to be e-verified before the department starts processing it. The income tax e-filing portal indicates that taxpayers generally receive refunds within 4-5 weeks of completing the e-verification process.
Thus, a taxpayer who filed the return before July 31 but completed e-verification later should calculate the waiting period from the verification date. If the expected period has passed and there is no refund or communication from the department, the return status should be checked.
How to Check the Refund Status
The status of a filed return can be viewed through the official income tax e-Filing portal. The taxpayer has to log in using the Permanent Account Number (PAN) and password, open the e-file, select Income Tax Returns and then go to View Filed Returns.
The portal provides the filing history for different assessment years and displays the refund status associated with the relevant return.
What Can Delay an Income Tax Refund
The primary reason for a delay in refund is issues related to the taxpayer’s bank account details. The account registered on the e-filing portal must be valid and active. A closed, dormant, frozen or inactive account can lead to the transfer not taking place.
An incorrect IFSC code or an account that has not been pre-validated can also create a problem. Taxpayers should check whether their PAN and Aadhaar linkage is in order, and that the PAN is operative. A mismatch between PAN details and the bank account information can also lead to a failed transfer.
A refund can also be held up for reasons unrelated to the bank. For instance, the Income Tax Department may adjust the refund amount against an outstanding tax demand from a previous assessment year. A difference between the information reported in the ITR and details relating to income or tax deducted at source (TDS) can also result in additional verification and delay in refund.
ITR and Refund Deadline for Other Categories of Taxpayers
The July 31 deadline does not apply to every taxpayer. Companies and taxpayers whose accounts require an audit generally have time until October 31 to file their returns. Those covered by transfer-pricing provisions under Section 92E have a November 30 deadline.
For taxpayers in these categories as well, who are eligible for a refund, the 4-5 week processing period is counted after successful e-verification of the ITR.
