Income-Tax Refunds Above ₹50000 May Be Delayed due to Stricter Scrutiny This Year; Check What to Do
Taxpayers claiming refunds over ₹50,000 may face delays this year as the Income Tax Department applies additional verification checks.
New Delhi, September 23: Taxpayers who have filed income-tax returns and are expecting large refunds — particularly refunds above ₹50,000 — may have to wait longer this year. According to sources in the Income Tax Department, large refund claims will undergo additional checks, which could delay their issuance.
Taxpayers claiming refunds over ₹50,000 may face delays this year as the Income Tax Department applies additional verification checks. Smaller refunds are being processed faster, but large claims could take weeks longer. Here’s why delays happen and how you can track or reissue your refund if needed.
What’s going on
- The deadline for filing income tax returns (ITR) was September 16. Over 7 crore returns have already been filed.
- While refunds for smaller claims are likely to be processed more quickly, those claiming refunds above ₹50,000 will face a longer processing time due to extra verification procedures.
- Refunds for ITRs filed early, especially simple ones such as those using ITR-1 forms or where income is mainly salary with basic deductions, may get processed more rapidly. In some cases, the refund has been issued on the same day as filing.
Reasons for the delay
- The Income Tax Department says that large refund claims require additional checks. These checks are meant to ensure that all claims are legitimate and comply with relevant provisions.
- For ITRs filed near the deadline, e-verification portals are overloaded. The process of e-verification may take 24 to 48 hours under these circumstances.
- After verification, once the ITR is processed, crediting the refund to the taxpayer’s bank account may still take 2-5 weeks.
What taxpayers can do
- File the ITR as early as possible rather than waiting until the last day. Early filings tend to be verified more swiftly.
- Ensure correct bank account details and other relevant information so there are no delays due to errors.
- Choose simple return forms (if eligible), e-verify promptly, and avoid last-minute filings to minimize delays in refund processing.
Authorities advise taxpayers expecting large refunds to be patient, as procedural safeguards and verification requirements are being strictly enforced this year.
Here are some more details about typical delay timelines for income-tax refunds (in India), reasons for delay, and how you can check the status of your refund. Useful if you’re waiting or want to plan ahead.
Typical Timelines for Refunds
These are approximate timelines people generally experience. Actual delays depend on many factors (complexity of return, correctness of details, whether returns are filed close to the deadline, etc.).
| Type/Complexity of ITR | When you file + if everything is in order | What to expect in “normal” processing times | What may increase delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple returns (only salary + basic deductions, correct bank/Aadhaar/PAN details) | Filed well before deadline, e-verified promptly | Usually 2–5 weeks after e-verification to get refund. | Minor delays if bank account details are wrong, or if the return is filed just before the deadline. |
| More complex returns (capital gains, business income, multiple deductions, etc.) | Even with everything correct | May take longer than 5 weeks; in some cases up to a couple of months (depending on scrutiny or additional verification steps). This may include checking exemptions, TDS mismatches etc. | If the return is selected for scrutiny, forms are defective, bank details invalid, or PAN/Aadhaar not linked. |
| Large refund amounts (e.g. above ~₹50,000) | Especially if there are claims for big deductions or exemptions, or mismatched data | These may be subject to extra verification; delay may be longer than for small refunds. Specific published figures are less clear, but stories suggest delays beyond 5 weeks are more common for big-refund claims. | Mismatches in TDS, Form 26AS/AIS vs ITR, inaccurate bank details, or late e-verification. |
Also, note: if you file the return on the last days before the due date, processing/e-verification tends to slow down (due to high volume). That adds to delay.
Common Causes of Delay
Some of the frequent reasons why refunds get delayed:
- Mistakes or mismatches in PAN / Aadhaar / bank account / IFSC details.
- Bank account not pre-validated or account doesn’t match with the details on income-tax portal.
- Return not being e-verified (if you filed but did not verify digitally). Without verification, return is not complete.
- Discrepancies between income declared / exemptions claimed and what Form 26AS / AIS (Annual Information Statement) show.
- Return being selected for scrutiny or flagged for additional verification.
- Filing close to the due date (load on portal, delays in verification, etc.)
How to Check Refund / ITR Status
You can track your refund status and see where things stand. Here are the ways to do that:
- Income Tax E-Filing Portal
- Log in using your PAN / Aadhaar / user ID.
- Go to ‘e-File’ → ‘Income Tax Returns’ → View Filed Returns to see if the return has been processed, what the status is, etc.
- There may also be a “Refund / Demand Status” or “Check Refund Status” option.
- NSDL TIN Portal
- Use the Refund Status by PAN service. You enter your PAN and assessment year.
- This shows if the refund is paid or in process.
- Other Services
- Sometimes via TRACES or the annual information statements to check whether TDS details match.
- “Refund reissue” option if refund failed due to bad bank details.
- User Manuals / Help Guides
- The Income-Tax e-Filing portal provides a user manual for “Refund Status” showing detailed instructions.
What You Can Do If Your Refund Is Delayed
If you think your refund has been delayed beyond the usual time:
- Check if your bank account details are correct and pre-validated. If wrong, update details and request refund reissue.
- Confirm that your PAN is linked with Aadhaar. If not, link them; an unlinked PAN may block processing.
- Make sure you completed e-verification of your ITR. If not, that step will need to be done.
- Check if there are any notices or demands (from earlier years) that might be adjusted against your refund.
- If your return was selected for scrutiny or verification, you may need to submit additional information/responses.
- Use the services above to track status, and if allowed, raise a grievance via the tax portal’s grievance / helpdesk / contact centre.
