ITR Refund Delay: How to Resolve it?

ITR Refund Delay: How to Resolve it?

Experiencing an ITR refund delay can be frustrating, especially when you’ve carefully planned your investments and savings to maximize your tax benefits. Filing your income tax returns (ITRs) early is crucial for a quicker refund, as the tax department’s workload increases over time, potentially causing delays. For the financial year 2022-23, over 6.5 crore ITRs were filed by the due date of 31st July, yet many taxpayers are still awaiting their refunds. Various factors can contribute to these delays, leaving taxpayers in a state of anticipation. One of the ways to resolve an ITR refund delay is to contact the Income Tax Department with your PAN and the assessment year to request a refund re-issue. This guide explains the reasons for the ITR refund delay and provides actionable solutions to ensure you receive your refund promptly.

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What is an Income tax Refund?

An income tax refund arises when the total tax you’ve paid throughout the year exceeds your actual tax liability. This can happen for various reasons, such as having too much TDS from your salary or interest income or TCS being deducted from specific transactions. To claim this excess amount, you need to do an income tax return (ITR) filing with the income tax department. This document details your income sources, TDS, TCS, or advance tax. If the ITR shows that the total tax paid is more than your actual payable amount, the income tax department will initiate a refund process. Let’s say you’ve paid Rs. 80,000 in TDS throughout the 2023-2024 financial year (AY 2024-2025). Upon filing her ITR, you found the actual tax liability is only Rs. 60,000. In this scenario, you will be eligible for a tax refund of Rs. 20,000 from the income tax department.

What is the Ideal time for ITR Refund?

There isn’t a single “ideal” time for receiving an ITR refund as it depends on processing by the income tax department. However, taxpayers can expect the refund within 4-5 weeks after their ITR is successfully e-verified. It’s crucial to ensure your ITR is accurate and error-free to avoid delays. If the timeframe has passed and you haven’t received your refund, check the Income Tax Department portal for any communications regarding discrepancies or missing information.

What are the reasons for the ITR Refund Delay?

There are many reasons that cause the ITR refund delay. Here are some of the common reasons for delayed income tax refunds,

• Processing Time: Tax departments experience peak seasons with a high volume of returns. If you filed recently, it might just be a waiting game for your return to be processed and the refund issued.
• Errors on Your Return: Double-check your return for accuracy to avoid delays. This includes your Social Security number (PAN in India), income amounts, and deductions claimed.
• Mismatch in Form 26AS: This form acts as a record of your tax payments. Ensure the TDS information you entered in your ITR matches what’s reflected on Form 26AS.
• Incomplete Documentation: Certain deductions or credits might require additional documentation for verification. Delays can occur until these documents are provided.
• Back Taxes or Debt Owed: Outstanding debts to the government can be offset against your refund. The department can withhold all or a portion of your refund to settle these debts.
• Changes in Bank Account: Incorrect bank account information, such as a wrong account number or a name mismatch with the Income Tax Portal, can delay or return your refund. Double-check your bank details for accuracy.
• Return Under Scrutiny: The Income Tax Department may select returns for further assessment, which can delay your refund, but only until their review is complete.
• Mail Delivery Delays: If you opted for a paper check, postal service issues or an incorrect mailing address can cause delays.
• Offline Return Filing: Filing offline can take longer for the department to process your return and refund compared to online filing.
• Identity Theft or Fraud: If someone files a tax return using your information, it can delay your refund while the issue is resolved.
• False Claim Discovered: If the tax department identifies an error in your return, such as an overstated refund due to false claims, they will demand repayment of the wrongly issued amount, along with potential penalties and interest. This can not only impact your current refund but also lead to increased scrutiny of your future tax filings and delays in receiving refunds in subsequent years.

What can be done if an ITR refund is not received?

As discussed, there are many reasons for the ITR refund delay, but it can be solved.  If you haven’t received your expected refund, a mismatch of details might be the problem. Here’s how to resolve this issue:

1. Double-check Account Information

• Review your details: Start by carefully examining the bank account number and IFSC code you entered during tax return filing.
• Match with bank: Ensure these details precisely match your actual bank account information.
• Bank confirmation: Contact your bank to verify your account is active and free of restrictions. Additionally, confirm if your account is pre-validated in your Income Tax portal.

2. Contact the Income Tax Department

If the information seems accurate, request a refund and re-issue it to the income tax department. Be prepared to provide the following details when contacting them:

• PAN (Permanent Account Number)
• Assessment year
• Refund amount

Here’s a step-by-step guide on raising a refund re-issue request through the e-filing portal:

1. Visit the Income Tax e-filing portal and log in to your account.
2. Navigate to the “My Account” section.
3. Select “Refund Re-issue” and then click on “Create Refund Reissue Request.”
4. Fill out the required details, including your PAN, assessment year, and refund amount.
5. Complete the e-verification process.
6. Submit the refund re-issue request.

If the ITR refund payment is delayed due to the issues at the Income tax department, you are eligible to receive an interest on refund, according to Section 244A of the Income Tax Act. The government is obligated to pay interest on refunds that are equal to or greater than 10% of the tax paid. The interest rate is 0.5% per annum from April 1st until the date the refund is credited, provided your returns are filed before the deadline. However, no interest will be paid on refunds less than 10% of the tax amount.

How do you check the Income tax refund status?

There are two ways to check the status of your income tax refund conveniently:

1. Through the Income Tax e-filing portal:

• Log in to your account on the Income Tax e-filing portal using your credentials.
• Navigate to “e-File” > “Income Tax Returns” > “View Filed Returns.“
• Locate the assessment year for which you want to check the refund status (e.g., 2024-25). You can view details by clicking “View details”.
• The status window will display information, including whether your refund is “Processed with refund due.” Processing typically takes 20-45 days, followed by the refund issuance.

2. Through the NSDL website:

• Visit the TIN NSDL website.
• Enter your PAN, the relevant assessment year, and the captcha code.
• The website will display your refund status once you submit this information.

Conclusion

In conclusion, resolving an ITR refund delay involves understanding the various reasons behind the delay and taking proactive steps to address them. Ensure that your income tax return is accurate and complete, check for any mismatches in Form 26AS, and verify your bank account details. If your refund is still delayed, contact the Income Tax Department with your PAN and assessment year to request a refund re-issue. Regularly check the status of your refund through the Income Tax e-filing portal or the NSDL website. By following these steps, you can speed up the process and receive your refund promptly.

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