Many taxpayers are frustrated this year as Income Tax Refunds are still pending, even after filing ITRs months ago. Refund delays have become a common issue across the country, and understanding the reasons can help taxpayers take the right steps to speed up the process.
This article explains why refunds are pending, how to check the exact reason, and what you can do to get your refund released quickly.
1. Common Reasons for Refunds Pending
a) Return Not Yet Processed
The most common reason is that the ITR is still under processing. The Income Tax Department processes returns in batches, and depending on verification, matching, and backend checks, some returns take longer.
b) Mismatch in TDS/TCS or Income Details
If there is any mismatch between:
- Income declared
- TDS/TCS in Form 26AS
- AIS/TIS entries
your return may be kept on hold until the mismatch is resolved.
c) Bank Account Not Pre-Validated
Refunds are issued only to pre-validated and EVC-enabled bank accounts. If your bank is not validated, the refund cannot be issued.
d) CPC Processing Delays
Certain categories of returns, especially business income, capital gains, or returns with large refunds, undergo deeper scrutiny which causes delays at the CPC, Bengaluru.
e) Refund Adjustment Against Outstanding Demands
If there are any old tax demands, the department may adjust the refund after sending an intimation under Section 245. Until then, the refund will show as “pending”.
f) Return Sent for Higher-Level Review
High-value cases (e.g., high TDS refunds, foreign income, capital gains) may be flagged for risk management review, delaying the refund.
2. How to Check the Exact Reason for Refund Delay?
Step 1: Log in to the e-Filing portal
Go to:
http://www.incometax.gov.in → Login → e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns
Check the status of your ITR:
- Submitted → Not yet processed
- Processed with refund → Refund initiated
- Processed with demand → Refund adjusted
- Refund Failure → Bank account issue
Step 2: Check Refund Status on TIN-NSDL Portal
Visit https://tin.tin.nsdl.com/oltas/refund-status and enter your PAN + Assessment Year.
It will show:
- Refund sent
- Refund returned
- Refund pending with CPC
Step 3: Check Bank Pre-Validation
Go to:
Profile → My Bank Accounts → Status
Status must show:
✔ Validated
✔ EVC Enabled
3. What to Do If Refund Is Still Pending?
✔ Re-validate your bank account
Even if validated earlier, revalidation helps trigger fresh checks.
✔ Reply to any pending notices
Check Pending Actions → Worklist.
If CPC has asked for clarification, your refund won’t be processed until you respond.
✔ Correct AIS/TIS mismatches
Reconcile income/ TDS. If needed, file a revised return.
✔ Raise a grievance
Go to:
e-Filing Portal → Grievances → Submit Grievance
Choose category: Refund/ITR Processing Delay.
✔ Contact CPC Bengaluru
Call: 1800 103 4455 or 080-46605200
Email: refund@incometax.gov.in (only for refund failures).
✔ Wait if return is under review
High-value refunds may take 30–90 days extra depending on verification.
4. When to Expect Refunds? — Latest Trend (2025)
Based on the current processing trend:
- Simple salary returns → Refunds issued within 10–30 days
- Business & capital gains cases → 30–90 days
- High-value refunds (>₹50,000) → Additional review period
- Cases with mismatch notices → Depends on taxpayer’s reply
If no issues exist, most refunds are released within 1–2 weeks after processing.
5. Final Thoughts
Refund delays are usually caused by:
- Processing backlog
- Data mismatches
- Bank validation issues
- High-value risk checks
By ensuring accurate filing, clean AIS/TIS data, and validated bank details, you can significantly speed up your refund process.
If your refund is still pending after following these steps, submitting a grievance often results in quick action.
Stox N Tax 
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