If you filed your Income Tax Return (ITR) in june or July 2025 but haven’t received your refund yet, you’re not alone. Thousands of taxpayers are facing delays, and social media is flooded with complaints tagging the Income Tax Department.

Let’s break down why refunds get delayed, how to check your status, and what you can do to avoid issues.

1. What is an Income Tax Refund?

An Income Tax Refund is the excess tax paid by a taxpayer that the Income Tax Department returns. Refunds usually occur when:

Your employer or bank deducted higher TDS than necessary.

Advance tax paid exceeds your actual liability.

Deductions or exemptions weren’t fully claimed.

Minor calculation errors occurred while filing your ITR.

Once verified, the department credits the excess amount directly to your bank account.

2. How Long Does It Take?

Refunds are processed after e-verification of your ITR. Normally:

Refunds take 4–5 weeks to get credited.

If the refund doesn’t show up within this time, check your refund status online immediately.

Timely verification and correct account details are key to avoiding unnecessary delays.

3. How to Check Your ITR Refund Status Online

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Visit the Income Tax e-Filing portal.

Log in using your PAN/Aadhaar and password.

Go to e-File > Income Tax Returns > view Filed Returns.

Select the relevant Assessment Year to view your refund status.

Understanding Refund Status

Refund Issued – Successfully credited to your account.

Refund Partially Adjusted – Part of the refund adjusted against outstanding tax dues.

Refund Fully Adjusted – Entire refund used to settle previous tax dues.

Refund Failed – Credit could not be processed due to wrong bank details or mismatches.

4. Common Reasons Why Refunds Fail

Refund failure usually occurs due to simple errors:

PAN not operative or not linked with Aadhaar.

Bank account not pre-validated.

Name mismatch between bank records and PAN.

Incorrect IFSC code provided.

Refund sent to a closed or inactive account.

5. 5 Major Reasons for Refund Delays

Even if your refund isn’t failed, minor issues can slow the process. Key reasons include:

Incomplete e-verification – ITRs not verified online are not processed.

Incorrect or outdated bank details – A wrong account number or IFSC can delay credit.

Mismatch in Annual Information Statement (AIS) – Discrepancies between reported income and bank/employer data.

Discrepancies in reported income – If employer/bank TDS doesn’t match the ITR filed.

Pending tax dues from previous years – Refunds are adjusted against any outstanding taxes.

6. How to Avoid Refund Delays

Always e-verify your ITR immediately after filing.

Keep bank details updated and ensure your account is active.

Link your PAN with Aadhaar to avoid mismatches.

Check your Annual Information Statement (AIS) for discrepancies.

Clear any pending tax dues before filing your ITR.

Bottom Line

If your ITR refund is delayed, the first step is to check the refund status online. Most delays are due to minor mismatches or incomplete verification. Ensuring your details are correct, updated, and error-free can significantly speed up the process.

Remember, patience is key, but proactive steps can save you weeks of waiting.