ITR Filing AY2025-26: Tax Return Filed in April, In How Many Days Will Tax Refund Come?

As the new financial year has begun, taxpayers are now thinking about when to submit their Income Tax Return (ITR) for the Assessment Year 2025-26. But before this can happen, the Income Tax Department needs to release the ITR forms for the current assessment year.

Seven distinct ITR forms were released in the month of April the previous year. Hence, it is anticipated that the tax department will soon likely release the ITR forms to make sure that the income tax return filing begins this month.

As per an expert, usually, these tools (utilities) are released step by step, starting in April. But people can start filing forms like ITR-1 and ITR-2 only after these tools are active on the income tax website.

The majority of salaried employees wait for their employers to release Form 16 to submit their annual tax return, however, this credential is not compulsory for the process of ITR filing. To check their taxable income and accurate tax liability, taxpayers can use several key documents accessible to them.

According to an expert, Form 16 is an essential document released by an employer that includes details such as salary paid to the employee and the tax deducted at source (TDS) during the period of the financial year. It assists salaried employees in forming and checking their Income Tax Return (ITR) correctly by merging their earnings and deductions in a single place, the expert said.

What documents must be used at the place of Form 16 for the process of ITR filing?

It is not compulsory to file an ITR, while Form 16 greatly impacts and untangles the process of filing a return, as per an expert. Salaried taxpayers can still submit their returns even in the absence of this, they must have necessary documents such as monthly salary slips, Form 26AS, Annual Information Statement (AIS), and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS), the expert added. “It is essential, however, that taxpayers maintain proper records of their income, deductions claimed under Chapter VI-A, and any tax payments made, to ensure that the return is filed correctly and is in line with the department’s records.”

When will the filing for income tax return begin?

As discussed in the beginning, however, the preparations for filing the return forms are under process, and one will be allowed to submit the ITR only once the online tool of forms such as ITR-1 and ITR-2 are switched on at the portal of tax. These tools are made available frequently in the first or second week of April. Till that moment, taxpayers will need to wait.

Will it be refunded in seven days?

Now, one question arises: If the ITR is submitted in April, will it be refunded within seven days, as claimed by the income tax department and the finance ministry?

The actual issuance of refunds depends on several factors. These include the accuracy of the return filed, whether the TDS and income details match those in Form 26AS and AIS, the promptness of e-verification by the taxpayer, and whether the return is selected for any further verification or processing.”

The additional condition is that the assessee’s bank account should be pre-validated and linked with the PAN. The salaried taxpayers generally get a refund within 7 days; the processing period may vary, and the time it takes can vary depending on each individual case.