Filed your ITR but haven't received your refund yet? Here's how to quickly check your status.

ITR Refund: Several months have passed since the September 16 deadline for filing Income Tax Returns. Yet, many taxpayers are still waiting for their refunds. While the Income Tax Department has processed refunds for most people, millions of taxpayers are still waiting for their money. Due to this delay, people are constantly checking their status updates or cross-checking their submissions. But despite this, they haven't received their refund, or even a message. This is causing distress for many.

Why is there a delay in refunds?

Central Board of Direct Taxes Chairman Ravi Agarwal informed in November that the department is analyzing some refund claims that the system has flagged as 'high-value' or 'red-flagged' due to certain deduction claims. He also suggested that if there are any issues, taxpayers should file a 'revised return'.

The Income Tax Department only begins processing refunds after the ITR is e-verified. According to the Income Tax Department's website, after this step is completed, the refund is usually credited to the account within four to five weeks. If there is a delay in receiving the refund, there are some specific reasons. To understand this, it's important to know why the refund is being delayed.

An error in your bank account details can cause a delay in receiving the refund. If your provided account number or IFSC code is incorrect, you will face difficulties in receiving the money. Therefore, it is advisable to pre-validate your account so that the money is credited directly.

If your PAN and Aadhaar cards are not linked, or if there are discrepancies in your name or date of birth, this can also lead to a delay in receiving your refund. Additionally, a refund can be delayed if the information provided in the form does not match the information in Form 26AS or AIS.

Another major reason for refund delays is claiming incorrect deductions or credits in the ITR. If you have overstated deductions under Section 80C and the Income Tax Department suspects this, your refund may be withheld. In this situation, the payment remains on hold until the correct documents are received.

How to check your refund status?

• First, go to the Income Tax portal eportal.incometax.gov.in/iec/foservices/.
• Then, on the e-filing portal homepage, log in to your account using your registered user ID and password.
• After logging in, click on the 'e-File' tab at the top, then 'Income Tax Returns', and then 'View Filed Returns'.
• Select the correct assessment year and open the details. Here you can check the refund status for the desired year.