For many taxpayers, filing an income tax return is only part of the process—the real sense of completion comes when the refund is credited to their bank account. While the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) has significantly improved refund timelines over the years, delays continue to affect a large number of taxpayers.

This year, most refund delays have been attributed to income tax notices triggered by mismatches in return details, income reporting, or deduction claims flagged by the system. If your return status shows “Processed” but the refund has not been credited, it becomes essential to identify the underlying reason.

What to do if your refund or interest is delayed

If a refund or the applicable interest under Section 244A does not arrive within the expected timeframe, tax experts recommend beginning with verification. CA (Dr) Suresh Surana advises taxpayers to first check the refund status on the income tax e-filing portal under “View Filed Returns” or “Refund Status.” It is also important to cross-check Form 26AS, the Annual Information Statement (AIS), and the Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) to ensure that all tax credits, deductions, and bank details are accurately reflected.

Even when a refund is marked as processed, technical or banking issues may prevent the amount from reaching the taxpayer’s account. Dr Surana explains that taxpayers should confirm whether their bank account is pre-validated and correctly linked with PAN for direct credit. In cases where refunds fail due to incorrect bank details or an expired ECS mandate, a refund re-issue request can be raised on the e-filing portal after validating the correct bank account.

Who to contact if the issue persists

If the refund order is missing or the credited amount is incorrect, taxpayers may need to take additional steps. A rectification request under Section 154 can be filed online through the e-filing portal to address errors related to refund or interest calculations. If the problem remains unresolved, taxpayers can raise a grievance through the e-Nivaran portal or contact the CPC in Bengaluru via the official helpdesk or written communication for further review.

Why refunds may get delayed beyond 90 days

Refunds delayed beyond 90 days are commonly linked to verification and compliance-related issues. According to Dr Surana, discrepancies between income, TDS, or advance tax details reported in the return and those reflected in Form 26AS, AIS, or TIS are among the most frequent causes. Refunds may also be delayed if a return is selected for scrutiny or detailed assessment by the CPC or the jurisdictional assessing officer.

Bank-related issues—such as incomplete account information, lack of pre-validation, or PAN–Aadhaar linkage problems—can further slow the process. Additionally, outstanding tax demands or unresolved rectification requests may result in refunds being adjusted or withheld under Section 245 of the Income Tax Act. High processing volumes during peak filing periods can also lead to technical delays.

While a delayed refund can be frustrating, most issues can be resolved through timely verification, regular status checks, and prompt responses to notices. Keeping bank details updated and staying proactive throughout the process can help ensure that refunds are credited without unnecessary delays.