According to officials, the most frequent cause of delay is non–pre-validated bank accounts, as the Income Tax Department only issues refunds to accounts verified on the e-filing portal. Taxpayers with unvalidated accounts receive no credit until the details are updated and approved.
Another major issue is unverified ITRs. Returns must be verified within 30 days of filing, either through electronic authentication or by sending a signed ITR-V acknowledgement by post. Until verification is completed, processing does not begin.
Refunds are also held up when taxpayers fail to respond to defective return notices. These notices, issued when discrepancies or errors are detected, require correction within 15 days. Delayed or absent responses can stall refunds for months. Incorrect exemption or deduction claims—such as overstated HRA or Section 80C investments—also prompt additional scrutiny and may require a revised return.
With the filing deadline this year set on September 16, the Central Processing Centre (CPC) in Bengaluru has been reviewing a high volume of returns. Officials say smaller refunds are generally cleared quickly, while refunds exceeding ā¹1 lakh often undergo additional checks.
Tax practitioners advise taxpayers to routinely check their refund status through the e-filing portal under the “My Account” section. If a refund has failed due to invalid account details, updating or adding a new bank account usually resolves the issue within two to three days.
Experts recommend ensuring bank account validation, verifying ITRs promptly, and keeping documentation ready when making multiple deduction claims. As more taxpayers rely on the digital system, timely compliance, they say, remains the most effective way to avoid refund delays.
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