You filed your return, verified it, and the refund has not come. Most delayed refunds are stuck for one of a few fixable reasons, and the e-filing portal usually tells you which one if you know where to look. This guide covers the normal timeline, the eight common causes, the exact steps to fix each, and the interest you are owed for the wait.
The Income Tax Department’s own refund guidance says it takes about 4 to 5 weeks after your return is processed for the refund to reach your bank account. Simple returns with no mismatches are often quicker. Returns that need extra checks take longer.
The clock starts only after you e-verify. An unverified return is not processed at all. The legal outer limit is nine months from the end of the financial year in which you filed. For a return filed in FY 2026-27 that is 31 December 2027, but that is a ceiling, not a normal wait.
So if it has been less than five weeks since you verified, check your status and wait. If it has been longer, work through the list below.
| Reason | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Return not e-verified | The most common cause. The return is filed but never processed. | E-verify now using Aadhaar OTP, net banking or a pre-validated bank account. If the 30-day window has passed, verify anyway and use the condonation request if you have a genuine reason for the delay. |
| 2. Bank account not pre-validated | The refund has nowhere valid to go. | Open Profile, then My Bank Accounts, and confirm the account shows as validated and is marked for refund. |
| 3. Name mismatch or closed account | The bank name differs from your PAN, or the account or IFSC has changed. | Correct the details, then raise a refund re-issue request under Services. |
| 4. PAN not linked to Aadhaar | An inoperative PAN blocks the refund. | Link PAN to Aadhaar. No interest accrues for the period the PAN stays inoperative. |
| 5. Mismatch with AIS or Form 26AS | Interest, dividends or TDS in your records do not match what you reported. | Check Pending Actions for a proposal to adjust your return and respond within the time given, usually 30 days. |
| 6. Defective return notice | The return has an error that stops processing. | Respond to the notice and correct the return before its deadline. |
| 7. Adjusted against an old demand | The department sets your refund off against tax it says you owe from another year. | Check Pending Actions for the outstanding demand. Pay it, or file a disagreement if it is wrong. |
| 8. Selected for review | Large refund claims or unusual patterns can trigger a check. | Watch the e-Proceedings tab for a notice and reply with your documents before the due date. |
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Submitted | Filed but not yet e-verified |
| e-Verified | Verified and waiting in the processing queue |
| Return under processing | The department is checking your return |
| Processed with refund due | Refund approved, payment is being sent |
| Refund paid | Credited to your bank account |
| Refund failed | The transfer did not go through, usually a bank detail problem. Raise a re-issue request |
| No demand, no refund | Tax paid matches tax due, so nothing is payable either way |
| Demand determined | You owe more tax. Read the intimation |
Check your status under View Filed Returns on the e-filing portal. Also open Pending Actions and e-Proceedings. A notice sitting there is often the real reason.
Most delays are cleared at step 2 or 3. If the return was processed and a refund is shown as due but nothing arrives, the bank details are almost always the problem.
Often yes. Under Section 244A you earn simple interest of 0.5% for every month or part of a month. For a return filed by the due date, it runs from 1 April of the assessment year until the refund is paid. For a late return, it runs from the date you filed.
Example: a refund of ₹60,000 on an on-time return, paid in November 2026, covers eight months (April to November). That is 8 × 0.5% × ₹60,000 = ₹2,400.
You do not get interest when the refund is less than 10% of the tax determined, for any months when your PAN was inoperative, or for delay the department attributes to you. The interest itself is taxable as income from other sources in the year you receive it.
How many days does an income tax refund take?
The department’s guidance says about 4 to 5 weeks after processing. Simple returns can be faster, and returns with mismatches or notices take longer.
Why is my refund still under processing?
Common reasons are an unverified return, a mismatch with AIS or Form 26AS, or a pending notice. Check Pending Actions and e-Proceedings first.
Will I get interest if my refund is delayed?
Yes, at 0.5% per month under Section 244A, unless the delay is your fault, your PAN was inoperative, or the refund is under 10% of the tax determined.
My refund failed. What now?
Correct and validate your bank details, then raise a refund re-issue request under Services on the e-filing portal.
Can the department adjust my refund against old tax dues?
Yes, but it must tell you in writing first. Respond to the outstanding demand under Pending Actions, or file a disagreement if you think it is wrong.
What is the maximum time the department can take?
Nine months from the end of the financial year in which you filed. Most returns are processed much sooner.
Sources: Income Tax Department e-filing portal refund guidance; Section 244A and Section 143(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 as summarised by TaxGuru and TaxSocial. Verified October 2026. Portal menu names can change, so confirm on the official e-filing site before acting.
