The Income Tax Department's own help page says a refund usually reaches the bank account in 4 to 5 weeks. For a large number of people who filed for AY 2026-27 (the money you earned in FY 2025-26), that window has long passed. Most delays have one of a handful of causes, and almost all of them are visible on the e-filing portal if you know where to look.
Source: Refund Status user manual, Income Tax Department e-filing portal
First, find out where your return actually is
- Log in at incometax.gov.in → e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns. Each return shows its stage.
- 'Submitted and verified' but not 'processed': the refund hasn't been worked out yet. The clock for processing runs from the day you e-verified, not the day you filed.
- 'Processed with refund due': the amount is fixed and sent to the refund banker. Track it under Services → Know your Refund Status.
- 'Processed with demand' or 'refund adjusted': read the intimation sent to your email. Part or all of the refund may have been set off against an older demand.
The six reasons refunds get stuck
- Not e-verified. An unverified return is treated as not filed. Verify within 30 days of filing (Aadhaar OTP is quickest); verifying late can mean the late date counts as the filing date.
- Bank account not pre-validated, or validation failed after a PAN–bank name mismatch, a closed account or a changed IFSC. The refund fails and waits. Re-validate the account under My Profile → My Bank Account, then raise a refund re-issue request.
- Mismatch between your return and Form 26AS / AIS / TDS certificates, for example TDS your employer or bank deducted but filed late. The return can't process until the figures agree.
- A past demand. Under section 245 the department can adjust this year's refund against an earlier outstanding demand, after sending you an intimation. Check the Pending Actions → Response to Outstanding Demand tab.
- Processing queue. Large refunds and returns picked for extra checks take longer; there is no published deadline short of the end of the processing window.
- PAN not linked to Aadhaar. An inoperative PAN means refunds are not issued until it's linked.
The interest you are owed for the wait
Under section 244A of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (which still governs returns for FY 2025-26), a refund carries simple interest of 0.5% for every month or part of a month. If you filed by the due date, the interest runs from 1 April of the assessment year to the date the refund is granted. If the refund is less than 10% of the tax determined, no interest is paid. The interest is added to the refund automatically; it is taxable income in the year you receive it.
A quick illustration: a ₹40,000 refund granted in November 2026 for AY 2026-27 covers April to November, eight months, so 4% interest, ₹1,600, comes with it, provided the return was filed on time and the 10% condition is met.
What to do, in order
- Confirm e-verification and the bank account's 'validated' tag first. These two fix the majority of stuck refunds.
- If the status says the refund failed, raise a Refund Re-issue Request (Services → Refund Reissue) after fixing the account.
- If the return is processed but you disagree with an adjustment or demand, respond on the portal within the time given in the intimation.
- If nothing has moved for well over the usual window, raise a grievance on the e-filing portal (e-Nivaran) with your acknowledgement number. Keep it factual and attach the status screenshot.
- Next year, cut the wait: check AIS and Form 26AS before filing, so your figures match the department's from day one.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does an ITR refund take?
- The Income Tax Department says a refund usually reaches the account in 4 to 5 weeks after the return is processed. Many take longer because of verification, bank validation or mismatch issues.
- Why is my ITR refund delayed?
- The common reasons are a return not e-verified, a bank account that isn't pre-validated, a mismatch with Form 26AS or AIS, an adjustment against an old demand, a PAN that isn't linked to Aadhaar, or a return picked for extra checks.
- Do I get interest on a delayed income tax refund?
- Yes. Under section 244A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, refunds carry 0.5% simple interest per month or part of a month, from 1 April of the assessment year if you filed by the due date. No interest if the refund is under 10% of the tax determined.
- What is a refund re-issue request?
- If a refund failed, usually because of a bank account problem, you fix the account on the portal and then ask for the refund to be sent again under Services → Refund Reissue.
- Can the department adjust my refund against an old demand?
- Yes, under section 245, after sending you an intimation. You can agree, disagree or say the demand is already paid on the portal.