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The wait for income tax refund has become longer than expected for many taxpayers. The reason is not only the checking of the system, but also some common mistakes while filing the return which stop the refund. Small steps like timely verification, correct bank details and TDS matching play a big role in getting the refund quickly.
New Delhi. If your income tax refund has not yet arrived, you are not alone. A large number of taxpayers are facing this delay. Although the department has cleared small refunds quickly, many cases are getting stuck due to mistakes. According to the law, the department gets time till December 31, 2026 to process the returns, but repeated mistakes cause unnecessary delays in refunds. Especially if the claim seems doubtful or investigation of old tax demands is necessary, the refund may be delayed further.
Not doing verification on time and wrong bank information
The biggest mistake is not verifying the return within 30 days after filing it. Late verification results in the return being treated as ‘billed’, which slows down the refund process. The second big problem is not updating the bank account. Refund is sent only to that account which is linked to PAN, active and pre-validated on the portal. Many times people change banks or do not update IFSC, due to which the refund fails. Updating the correct bank account immediately can avoid this problem.
Ignoring defective notice and TDS mismatch
Many taxpayers receive notice of ‘defective return’ under section 139(9), but failure to respond in time renders the return invalid. This not only causes delay, but also requires starting the process again. The second major problem is non-matching of TDS. If the deductor has not deposited TDS or filed an incorrect statement, the tax credit is not reflected in your AIS/TIS. In such a situation the refund stops. It is necessary to first check AIS, request correction to the deductor if any error is found and file rectification if necessary.
Refund gets stopped due to suspicious claim and wrong declaration
If the tax exemption or deduction claims made in the return appear suspicious to the system, the department may conduct additional investigation. This situation also arises when the employer has stopped the proof submission prematurely or there has been a difference in the amount due to change in the tax regime. In such cases, submitting documents quickly and providing correct information speeds up the refund process. Overall, with timely verification, updated bank details, correct TDS and complete documentation, you can avoid unnecessary delays in refunds.
