Filed ITR On Time But No Refund Yet? You May Be Eligible For Extra Interest

The deadline to file Income Tax Returns (ITR) has already passed, yet many taxpayers are still waiting for their refunds. This raises an important question: if there is a delay in receiving the refund, does the government pay interest on it? The answer is yes, but it depends on when you filed your return and why the delay occurred.

If you filed your ITR for the financial year 2024–25 within the deadline, that is, by September 16, the government is required to pay interest on your refund starting from April 1. This interest continues to accumulate until the day the refund amount is credited to your bank account.

In simple terms, if the Income Tax Department delays the processing of your return, you are entitled to receive interest on the refund.

However, the rule changes slightly if you filed your return after the deadline. In such cases, interest is calculated from the date you filed your return, not from April 1. That means those who filed their ITR late may lose out on a portion of the interest.

Under Section 244A of the Income Tax Act, there is a clear provision for paying interest on refunds. If the government fails to issue your refund within the stipulated time, it must pay you interest as compensation.

The rate of interest is 0.5% per month (or part of a month) and is applied to the entire refund amount. This interest is calculated on any tax paid in advance — such as TDS, advance tax, or self-assessment tax. However, if the delay occurred due to your own error — for example, if you provided incorrect details or incomplete documents — then you will not be eligible for interest on the refund.

But if the delay was caused by the Income Tax Department, then you are definitely entitled to interest. If your refund has still not been credited, the first step is to check the status on the Income Tax e-filing portal. If required, you can contact the Central Processing Centre (CPC) or your assessing officer for further assistance.

It’s also important to keep all payment receipts and relevant documents safe. They can serve as proof in case of any future disputes. If you filed your ITR accurately and within the due date, then as per Section 244A, you are legally entitled to receive interest from the government for any delay in processing your refund.