If your income tax refund has not arrived yet, you are not alone. The government has informed Parliament that nearly 24 lakh income tax returns (ITRs) for Assessment Year (AY) 2025–26 have been pending for processing for more than 90 days.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary stated that out of 8.79 crore ITRs filed until February 4, 2026, approximately 24.64 lakh returns were pending beyond the 90-day mark. This significant backlog has left lakhs of taxpayers waiting for their returns to be processed, with many refunds currently on hold.
The Finance Ministry clarified that these delays are not part of a blanket crackdown on honest taxpayers. Instead, they are linked to technology-driven risk analysis and compliance campaigns conducted by the Income Tax Department.
The scrutiny process is aimed at identifying discrepancies and encouraging voluntary compliance rather than initiating strict enforcement action.
The government explained that “Revise Your Return” messages are part of the NUDGE campaign run by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). NUDGE stands for Non-intrusive Usage of Data to Guide and Enable.
Under this initiative, data analytics and digital communication tools are used to identify potential risks in filed returns. Taxpayers flagged by the system are encouraged to review or revise their returns voluntarily before stricter measures are taken.
According to the minister, advanced risk analysis identified taxpayers with possible irregularities. These mainly involved:
Non-disclosure of foreign assets or foreign income
Incorrect or excessive deduction claims
Wrong claims under Sections 80G, 80GGC, and 80E
The majority of flagged cases reportedly related to unreported foreign holdings or inaccurate deduction claims.
If your ITR for AY 2025–26 is still pending, consider taking the following steps to avoid further delay:
Ensure your return has been properly verified
Regularly check the processing status on the income tax portal
Respond promptly to any notices or communication from the department
Confirm that your bank account details are correctly linked for refund credit
For now, many taxpayers may need to wait as the department completes its checks. While the government maintains that these measures are intended to strengthen compliance and reduce future disputes, delayed refunds continue to test the patience of affected taxpayers.
Maintaining proper documentation and responding quickly to official communication can help speed up the processing of pending returns.
