Millions of taxpayers who have filed their Income Tax Returns (ITR) for Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27 are now awaiting their tax refunds. Refunds are usually processed after the Income Tax Department confirms the return; even small mistakes or pending formalities can significantly delay the refund.
The five most common reasons why refunds may be delayed
1. Your ITR Has Not Been e-Verified
Filing your income tax return is only the first step. The income tax department starts processing a return only after it has been successfully e-verified.
If you have not completed the e-verification process through Aadhaar OTP, net banking, bank account, or Demat account, your return will remain unprocessed and your refund will not be issued.
2. Mismatch in Income or Tax Details
The department will cross-check the information in your ITR with official tax records, including:
Form 26AS
Annual Information Statement (AIS)
Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS)
Any mismatch in salary income, Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), advance tax payments, or other income details may trigger additional verification, delaying the processing of your refund.
3. Incorrect Bank Account Information
Income tax refunds are paid directly to the taxpayer's pre-validated bank account.
If you entered the wrong account number, incorrect IFSC code, or failed to pre-validate your bank account on the Income Tax e-filing portal, the refund may fail or be delayed until the issue is corrected.
4. Pending Tax Demand
If you have any outstanding tax demand from a previous assessment year, the Income Tax Department may adjust your current refund against those pending dues after following the prescribed legal process.
In that case, your refund amount may be reduced, or its release can take longer than normal.
5. Return Selected for Scrutiny
Some Income Tax returns are selected for additional verification or scrutiny based on risk assessment parameters or inconsistencies detected by the system.
Selection for scrutiny does not necessarily mean any wrongdoing by the taxpayer. However, refunds are generally processed only after the verification process has been completed.
How to Check Your Income Tax Refund Status
Taxpayers can track their refund status through the income tax e-filing portal as follows:
- Log in to the Income Tax e-filing portal.
- Just click on e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns.
- Select Assessment Year 2026-27.
Check your return and refund status
Taxpayers can also track their refund through the NSDL refund tracking facility using their PAN and Assessment Year details.
To avoid delays, experts suggest taxpayers verify that all information in the return agrees with official tax records, complete e-verification promptly, and verify that their bank account details are accurate and pre-validated before submitting the return.
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