Why Your Income Tax Refund Is Stuck: 5 Mistakes You Should Check Now

If your income tax refund hasn’t shown up yet, don’t worry; you’re in the same boat as many others. A lot of people are experiencing delays, even though the tax department has already processed most of the smaller refund requests.

While some delays are due to routine checks, especially for larger refunds, the majority of slowdowns are actually caused by small, fixable mistakes made while filing the return.

The Income Tax Department has time until December 31, 2026, to process the income tax returns filed for the financial year 2025-26 under Section 143(1). The department will check whether all the details you’ve provided in your return, such as income, deductions, and taxes paid, are correct.

However, Section 245(2) says that if there are any pending tax demands from previous years, the Income Tax Department may hold back any refunds due to you until they verify those old tax demands. But many delays came from mistakes made by taxpayers themselves.

Five Common Mistakes

The following are five common ITR errors that often slow down refunds, and know how to correct them before it’s too late.

1. ITR not verified within the deadline

If you don’t verify your Income Tax Return (ITR) within 30 days of filing, it won’t be treated as a valid return. This means the tax department will not process it, which can delay your refund. If you verify it after the deadline, the ITR may be treated as a belated return, which can also slow down the refund process. So, timely verification is important to avoid delays.

Anyone who has missed the deadline must verify their return before December 31, 2025.

2. Bank Account Not updated

The tax department only sends refunds to bank accounts that are linked to your PAN and marked as active and verified on the Income Tax e-filing portal. If you close your bank account or the bank changes details such as the new IFSC code, your refund may fail because the old information is no longer valid.

You must update your bank details on the e-filing website and make sure the account is properly validated to avoid such a situation.

3. Ignoring Notices for Defective Returns

The tax department sends a notice under Section 139(9) if they identify an error in a return. If you don’t correct the mistake within the given time, your return is treated as if you never filed it. Even replying late can slow things down. So it’s important to respond quickly, either by correcting the error or explaining why you think there is no mistake. So, your refund isn’t delayed.

4. Claims that appear doubtful to the system

Refunds sometimes get delayed when the tax department feels that the deductions or exemptions claimed look suspicious. The department also asks the taxpayer to recheck or correct the return in such cases. Many times, the claims are actually genuine, but mistakes happen because employers stop accepting proof early or due to changes in tax rules. Sending documents on time can prevent such problems.

5. Mismatch in TDS Details

If the person who deducted the tax doesn’t deposit it properly or files the TDS return inaccurately, the tax credit won’t show up in your records. Many people file their returns without checking their AIS and miss these errors.

By reviewing your AIS carefully, informing the deductor to fix any mistakes, and submitting a rectification request when required, you can avoid long delays in getting your refund.

Most refund delays can be avoided by staying careful, keeping your bank details updated, verifying your return quickly, fixing any errors, and checking your AIS before filing. These small steps make sure you get your tax refund faster, without losing interest or waiting for months.