Income tax refund delays have become a major issue this assessment year, affecting salaried employees, pensioners, and small taxpayers across India. Normally, refunds are credited within a few weeks after filing and e-verification. However, this year many people are still waiting months later.
The Income Tax Department has introduced stricter verification systems. Returns are now being checked more deeply against Form 26AS, the Annual Information Statement (AIS), bank interest data, and other financial records. Even small mismatches — such as interest income or TDS differences — are causing returns to be flagged for extra scrutiny.
Additionally, automated “nudges” are being sent to taxpayers asking them to re-check or revise their filings. While these measures are meant to prevent wrong refunds and tax evasion, they have slowed down the overall refund process.
Tax experts say that while the law allows the department time to complete processing, there is no clear timeline for refund release. This uncertainty has created stress, especially for people who depend on refunds for household expenses, investments, or medical needs.
In some cases, taxpayers may be eligible for interest on delayed refunds, but the main concern remains when the money will actually be credited. The situation has reopened debate about the efficiency and transparency of India’s tax refund system.
