Many taxpayers have noticed that their Income Tax Return (ITR) refunds are taking more time than usual this year, creating confusion and uncertainty about
when the money will arrive. Fortunately, refund status can be checked online in just a few steps, helping you avoid repeated follow-ups and unnecessary stress. An income tax refund is issued when the taxpayer has paid more tax than their actual liability for the year. This usually happens when tax deducted at source (TDS), self-assessment tax, or advance tax payments exceed the final tax calculation after considering deductions and exemptions. In such cases, the Income Tax Department returns the excess amount to the taxpayer’s registered bank account. How to Track Your ITR Refund Online Taxpayers can check their refund status using either the income tax e-filing portal or the TIN-NSDL website. Checking Refund Status on the e-Filing Portal (Using PAN) Step 1: Visit the official e-filing website: https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/ Step 2: Log in using your PAN and password. Step 3: On the home page, follow: e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns. Step 4: A year-wise list of your filed returns will appear, showing the status of each refund request. Checking Refund Status on the TIN-NSDL Portal Step 1: Go to https://tin.tin.nsdl.com/oltas/refund-status-pan.html Step 2: Enter your PAN and Assessment Year. Step 3: Your refund status will be displayed instantly. How Long Does It Usually Take to Receive a Refund? The refund process begins only after your ITR has been successfully e-verified. In most cases, refunds are credited within four to five weeks of filing. If the amount doesn’t arrive within this period, taxpayers should check for errors in their return or review any communication from the Income Tax Department. Why Your Refund May Be Delayed
- Refunds often get delayed due to simple but critical issues. Common reasons include:
- Bank account not pre-validated (now mandatory)
- Mismatch between the bank account name and PAN
- Incorrect or inactive IFSC code
- Closed or inactive bank account
- PAN not linked with Aadhaar
The e-filing portal reflects several possible ITR statuses:
- Submitted and pending for e-verification: ITR filed but not verified.
- Successfully e-verified: Verified, but processing not completed.
- Processed: Return completed successfully.
- Defective: Errors detected; a notice under Section 139(9) will be issued for correction.
- Case transferred to Assessing Officer: CPC has moved your case to your jurisdictional AO for further verification.
