Income Tax Refund Not Credited Yet? Here’s How to Check Status and Reasons for Delay
Still waiting for your income tax refund? Learn how to check refund status, common delay reasons, and processing timelines. Refunds typically take 4–5 weeks, and eligible taxpayers earn 0.5% monthly interest on pending refunds.
Many taxpayers are still waiting for their income tax refunds, with delays reported despite most returns being processed by the tax department.
The Income Tax Return (ITR) filing deadline that was September 16 has passed long ago, and the majority of taxpayers have already been issued their refunds. Still, some are patiently waiting for the amount to be credited to their accounts. The Income Tax Department claims that the processing of refunds usually takes 4 to 5 weeks, although refunds with larger amounts could take more time.
There is a silver lining, though: taxpayers whose returns were filed before September 16 will get 0.5% interest per month on the refund amount starting from April 1. In contrast, those who filed their returns after the due date will accrue interest from the day they filed.
Eligibility Conditions for Refund Processing
To ensure your refund is processed without delays, make sure the following requirements are met:
- You have a valid user ID and password on the e-filing portal
- Your PAN is linked to your Aadhaar
- Your ITR is filed claiming a refund
How Long Does an Income Tax Refund Take?
- The Income Tax portal indicates that refunds are generally credited within 4–5 weeks.
- If your refund has not been credited in this window, check your email and inbox on the e-filing portal for:
- Communications about discrepancies
- Notifications from the IT department
- Any mismatch or correction request
- Taxpayers can also directly check their refund status on the income tax portal.
How to Check Your Income Tax Refund Status
Follow these steps:
- Visit the e-filing homepage
- Log in using your user ID and password
- Go to e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns
- Select the assessment year to view your refund status
- Click View Details to check the complete processing timeline of your return
Common Reasons for Income Tax Refund Delays
Refunds may be delayed due to several issues, including:
- TDS/TCS credit mismatch
- Incorrect deduction claims during filing
- Wrong allowances claimed by salaried taxpayers
- Errors in reporting income, resulting in a defective return
- Fake or inaccurate deductions claimed in previous years, prompting stricter scrutiny
