Waiting for ITR Refund? Know why some people get refund in 10 days and some after months. Here understand the complete math of ITR-1, 2, 3 and the real reasons for delay in refund. Know the way to check refund status online.
Income Tax Return filing (Income Tax Return filing 2025) has officially started. Those who have filed returns are now waiting for refund. You must have noticed that some people get refund very quickly and some people take a long time to get refund. Why does this happen? People are not aware of this. Understand here how your refund is processed after filing ITR.
‘Average’ time of 10 days
Last year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman herself had said that with the use of technology, the time taken in the refund process has now reduced considerably. While it took an average of 93 days to issue a refund in 2013-14, now this time has come down to just 10 days. However, at that time the Finance Minister had also said that not every ITR is processed in 10 days. But the thing to note here is that 10 days is an ‘average’ time, not a guarantee.
Your ITR form is the reason for the delay
The biggest and direct reason for the delay in your ITR refund is the ITR form filled by you. The easier it is for the Income Tax Department to process a form, the sooner its refund comes. Simply put, if you have filed ITR-1, then your refund is processed first because there are very few complications in it. At the same time, refunds for those who file ITR-2 and especially ITR-3 may take more time because they contain complex information like capital gains and business income, which takes time to scrutinize.
Other 3 major reasons for delay in refund
Apart from the ITR form, there are some other things that affect the process of your refund-
Date of filing return
People who file their ITR well before the due date are more likely to get their refund processed quickly. Filing in the last days increases the load on the server, which causes delay in processing.
E-verification of ITR
After filing ITR, it is mandatory to e-verify it within 30 days. If you delay verification, then your refund process will also start with the same delay.
Bank account information
If you have given the wrong bank account number or IFSC code in your ITR, or your bank account is not pre-validated, the refund may fail and the entire process may get delayed.
How to check your ITR Refund Status?
You can easily check your ITR Refund Status from home. For this, follow the steps given below:
Step 1: First of all go to the Income Tax website https://tin.tin.nsdl.com/oltas/refundstatuslogin.html.
Step 2: Enter your PAN card number (PAN).
Step 3: Select ‘Assessment Year’.
Step 4: Fill the captcha code appearing on the screen.
Step 5: Click on the ‘Proceed’ button. Your refund status will be visible on the screen.
FAQs
1. I have filed and e-verified the ITR, yet why did the refund not come?
This could be due to the complexity of your ITR form (such as ITR-3), bank account not being pre-validated, or your return being selected for scrutiny.
2. What does it mean if “Refund Processed but not yet paid” is shown in the refund status?
This means that the Income Tax Department has processed your refund, but has not yet sent it to the bank for payment. It may take a few more days.
3. Can providing the wrong bank account get the refund stuck?
Yes, this is a big reason for refund delays. Always ensure that your bank account is pre-validated and the information is correct.
4. What is the maximum time the Income Tax Department can take to issue a refund?
As per the law, the department has to issue a refund within 9 months of the end of the assessment year. However, now most refunds come within a few weeks.
5. How can I get my refund faster next time?
File your ITR before the due date, choose the right ITR form, fill in all the details correctly and e-verify it immediately after filing.
