ITR refund stuck? Learn why your refund isn't coming. These mistakes can lead to money being stuck! Check your status in just 1 minute..

Have you filed your Income Tax Return (ITR) but haven't received your refund yet? If so, there's no need to worry. Sometimes the Income Tax Department issues a refund, but due to minor errors, it doesn't reach your bank account. The tax department advises people every year that if they haven't received their refund within 4-5 weeks, they should first check their ITR filing and bank details.

An ITR refund is essentially the amount you paid in excess taxes during the year, such as TDS, advance tax, or self-assessment tax. When the Income Tax Department investigates and determines that you paid an excess tax, the amount is returned to your account. However, if your refund is delayed or hasn't arrived yet, there could be a few common reasons.

Common Reasons for Delay in ITR Refunds
First, let's understand why refunds get stuck...

The most common reason is the lack of e-verification. If you don't e-verify your ITR after filing, your return processing won't begin. Without verification, the ITR is considered incomplete. Another major mistake is providing incorrect bank details. If your bank account isn't pre-validated, your IFSC code is incorrect, or your bank account is closed, the refund won't be credited to your account. The third reason is that your PAN and Aadhaar aren't linked. If the two aren't linked, your PAN may be "inoperative," and the refund will fail. Sometimes, mismatches in Form 26AS, AIS, or ITR data also delay refunds. If there is a discrepancy between the income details you provide and the TDS data, the department first verifies them. In some cases, refund adjustments (Section 245) also occur, meaning if you have any old tax dues, the department adjusts the refund amount against that. If your refund amount is large, the department performs additional verification, which can delay processing. Finally, technical or administrative delays can also cause refunds to be delayed, such as issues with the CPC or bank server.
How to Check Your ITR Refund Status Online
If you want to know where your refund is stuck, you can do it yourself in minutes.

Check your refund status through the Income Tax e-Filing Portal
Go to incometax.gov.in.
Log in by entering your PAN and password.
Click e-File > Income Tax Returns > View Filed Returns.
Select the Assessment Year (AY) for which you claimed your refund.
Now click on “View Details” or “View Refund Status.” Here, you will also see the stage at which the refund has reached.
If the refund has failed, the portal will display the “Refund Reissue” option. You can reissue the refund by clicking on it.
Check Refund Status from the NSDL/TIN Portal
If your refund has been sent from the department to your bank, you can check the status by entering your PAN and Assessment Year on the NSDL website.

When does your ITR refund arrive? (Expected ITR Refund Timeline)
Typically, the refund is credited to your bank account within 4 to 5 weeks. Sometimes, if the case is simple, it can be received within 7 to 21 working days. If there is a delay, the department also charges taxpayers interest at the rate of 0.5% per month.

What to do if your refund hasn't arrived?
If your money hasn't arrived even after the stipulated time, you can take some simple steps:

File a complaint in the "e-Nivaran/Grievance" section of the e-Filing portal.

If your bank details were incorrect, validate your bank account and submit a "Refund Reissue Request."

Contact the Assessing Officer (AO) or CPC (Central Processing Center) if necessary.

Continue to check your Intimation Notices (ITIs) on the portal or email.

Delays in ITR refunds are common, but most of them are due to minor mistakes you made, such as incorrect bank details, PAN-Aadhaar linking, or forgetting to e-verify. Therefore, the next time you file your ITR, pay special attention to these things. If your refund has not arrived yet, track the status using the methods mentioned above. Perhaps your stuck refund amount will be credited to your account in just one click.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from NDTV India. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.