Income Tax Refund Delay: Need money for medical emergency; Frustrated Taxpayer writes to Govt

A concerned taxpayer named Rakesh Prasad used the former Twitter, i.e., the platform “X”, to contact the Income Tax Department in July 2025, in which he tagged the official accounts of the IT department and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, requesting them to urgently process his income tax refund. He indicated he had been waiting quite some time, and he needed the money. What started as a personal request resonated with many other taxpayers who were experiencing similar delays this assessment year.

In response, the official Income Tax India account replied to Rakesh, asking him to provide his details through a dedicated link. They assured him that their team would get in touch. This prompt response highlights that the department is keeping an eye on grievances raised on social media, but it also emphasises how reliant many taxpayers have become on these online channels for help.

@IncomeTaxIndia @nsitharaman @nsitharamanoffc dear Income tax cpc office kindly process the return quick & fast waiting for refund since long time need fund or urgent basis

— Rakesh Prasad (@RakeshPras99533) July 3, 2025

However, the case of Rakesh is not the only one. Thousands of taxpayers across India are still awaiting their income tax refunds after timely filing and e-verification. Among other reasons, the delays are due to increased scrutiny of returns, backend verification, and the ITR utilities being released late this year. Although the deadline for filing has been extended to September 15, many early filers have yet to receive their refunds. Typically, refunds are processed within 20 to 45 days after e-verification, but many are now waiting well beyond that timeframe.

This situation has raised concerns across the country, particularly among salaried individuals and small business owners, who rely on these refunds for cash flow. Taxpayers are advised to ensure that their bank and PAN details are correct, complete e-verification in 30 days from which the e-filed return was submitted, and contact the grievance redressal portal or CPC helpline, 1800 103 0025, if the refund is delayed beyond the usual time. The Income Tax Department is trying to resolve the backlog, but taxpayers will do well to stay informed and take action.