Filed your ITR but did not get your income tax refund? Here's how to check your ITR status online and resolve common delays

Filed your ITR but did not get your income tax refund yet? For many taxpayers, one of the most satisfying moments after filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) is seeing the refund credited to their bank account.

However, not every tax refund is processed immediately.While some taxpayers get their refunds quickly others have to wait a little longer. However, there are some delays which may require taxpayer to act. Experts say there is usually no need to panic. Understanding your assessment or tax refund status and knowing when to act can help avoid unnecessary delays.

How long does an income tax refund usually take?

Many taxpayers assume that filing and e-verifying an ITR guarantees a tax refund within a few days.


In reality, refund timelines vary.

Most refunds are processed within two to six weeks, provided the return has been correctly filed and e-verified, according to Abhishek Soni, CEO, Tax2win.

“While some taxpayers may receive their refunds within a few days, this is not the norm", he says.

If there is no update even after 30 to 45 days, taxpayers should log in to the Income Tax e-filing portal and check the refund status.

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How to check your income tax refund status online

The easiest way to track the status of your tax refund is through the Income Tax Department's e-filing portal.

After logging in, taxpayers can navigate to 'e-File' > 'Income Tax Returns' > 'View Filed Returns' and select the relevant assessment year.

The portal displays the current processing status of the ITR, including whether the refund has been issued, failed, is under verification or has been adjusted against an outstanding demand

What do common ITR processing and refund statuses mean?

The refund status shown on the portal reflects the stage at which the return is currently being processed. Understanding these statuses can help taxpayers decide whether they simply need to wait or take corrective action.

Refund Issued

This status means the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) has processed the income tax return under Section 143(1), determined that a tax refund is payable and initiated the payment.

Taxpayers should generally wait three to five working days for the amount to reach their bank account, according to Nikita Seth, Legal Associate, Jotwani Associates.

A "Refund Issued" status only confirms that the refund has been processed. It does not necessarily mean the assessment process has concluded completely, explains Seth.

If the refund still does not arrive, they should verify that the nominated bank account is active, pre-validated and correctly linked with their PAN. If necessary, a Refund Reissue Request can be submitted after confirming the bank account details.

Refund Failed

This status indicates that the Income Tax Department attempted to transfer the refund, but the payment could not be completed.

This does not mean the taxpayer has lost the refund, according to Seth.

Common reasons include an incorrect account number or IFSC, a closed or dormant bank account, failure to pre-validate the account, a mismatch between PAN and bank records, or not nominating the account for receiving refunds.

Rather than filing the income tax return again, taxpayers should first update and pre-validate the correct bank account on the e-filing portal, nominate it for refunds and then submit a Refund Reissue Request.

"In practice, most refund failures arise because taxpayers update their bank account after filing but forget to nominate the new account for refunds," she says.

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Processed with Tax Demand due

Sometimes taxpayers expect a refund but instead find the status showing "Processed with Demand Due."

This means the CPC has processed the return and either determined that additional tax is payable or adjusted the refund against an outstanding tax demand.

Taxpayers should first download the Intimation under Section 143(1) and carefully compare the department's computation with the return they filed, according to Seth.

The demand may arise due to TDS mismatches, incorrect reporting of income, disallowance of deductions, mathematical errors or an outstanding tax demand from an earlier year.

If the demand is correct, the tax should be paid promptly. However, if the taxpayer believes the demand is incorrect, they can submit an online response, file a rectification application under Section 154 where applicable, or consider filing an appeal if the issue involves a legal or factual dispute.

Under Verification

A return showing "Under Verification" has not necessarily been selected for scrutiny.

This status simply means additional verification is required before processing can continue, according to Seth.

The reasons may include pending e-verification, large refund claims, mismatches in reported information, high-value transactions reflected in the Annual Information Statement (AIS) or other system-generated risk parameters.

Taxpayers should first ensure that the return has been successfully e-verified and then regularly monitor the e-filing portal for any notices or requests for additional information.

"Ignoring notices is one of the biggest reasons refunds remain pending for months or even years," Seth says.

Why do income tax refunds get delayed?

Incorrect bank account details are one of the best-known reasons for refund delays, but they are far from the only one.

Refunds are also commonly delayed because the return has not been e-verified, there are mismatches in AIS, Form 26AS or TDS details, the wrong ITR form has been used, the return has been marked as defective, outstanding tax demands exist or additional verification is required, according to Soni.

Fortunately, many of these issues can be identified and resolved by taxpayers themselves.

What should taxpayers check after filing their ITR?

Experts say many refund delays are caused not by tax disputes but by simple procedural lapses after filing.

Ensuring that the ITR has been successfully e-verified, the nominated bank account has been pre-validated, and the income and TDS reported in the return match Form 26AS, AIS and the Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS), recommends Seth.

Taxpayers should also regularly monitor the e-filing portal for notices, verify that PAN, Aadhaar and bank details are correct, and keep documents such as Form 16, Form 16A, tax payment challans, investment proofs, bank statements and capital gains computations readily available in case additional verification is required.

Can the Income Tax Department adjust your refund against old tax demands?

Yes, but only after following the prescribed legal procedure.

Under Section 245 of the Income-tax Act, the department can adjust a refund against an outstanding tax demand.

However, Seth points out that taxpayers should ordinarily receive prior intimation before such an adjustment is made.

If a refund has been adjusted against a demand that appears incorrect, taxpayers should first review the Section 245 communication and the underlying demand before deciding on the appropriate response.