Many taxpayers this year are noticing that their Income Tax Return (ITR) refunds are taking longer than usual. This delay is creating confusion and leaving people unsure about when their refund will actually arrive. The good news is that you can easily check your refund status online within a few minutes. This helps you avoid repeated follow-ups and unnecessary stress.
An income tax refund is issued when you have paid more tax than your actual tax liability for the year. This usually happens when the total TDS, advance tax or self-assessment tax paid by you turns out to be higher than the final tax amount after deductions and exemptions. In such cases, the Income Tax Department returns the extra amount directly to your registered bank account.
How to Track Your ITR Refund Online
You can check your refund status using the income tax e-filing portal or the TIN-NSDL website.
Checking Refund Status on the e-Filing Portal (Using PAN)
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Visit the official e-filing website.
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Log in using your PAN and password.
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On the home page, go to: e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns.
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You will see a list of all filed returns along with the refund status for each year.
Checking Refund Status on the TIN-NSDL Portal
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Visit the TIN-NSDL refund status page.
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Enter your PAN and the relevant Assessment Year.
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The refund status will be displayed on the screen.
How Long Does It Take to Receive a Refund?
The refund process begins only after your ITR is successfully e-verified. In most cases, refunds are credited within four to five weeks of filing. If your refund is delayed beyond this period, you should check for common mistakes or review any communication from the Income Tax Department.
Reasons Why Your Refund May Be Delayed
Refund delays usually happen due to small but important issues such as:
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Bank account not pre-validated
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Mismatch between bank account name and PAN
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Incorrect or inactive IFSC code
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Closed or inactive bank account
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PAN not linked with Aadhaar
Understanding Different ITR Statuses
Here are the common statuses displayed on the e-filing portal:
Submitted and pending for e-verification:
Your ITR is filed but not verified yet.
Successfully e-verified:
The return is verified but not processed.
Processed:
Your return has been completed successfully.
Defective:
There is an error in your ITR, and you will receive a notice under Section 139(9) to correct it.
Case transferred to Assessing Officer:
Your case has been moved from CPC to the jurisdictional Assessing Officer for further review.
