With the Income Tax Return (ITR) filing deadline for AY 2025-26 now behind us, lakhs of taxpayers are eagerly waiting for their returns to be processed and refunds to be credited. The Income Tax Department has already started processing returns, but the timeline may vary depending on several factors.
Average Processing Time
- For AY 2025-26, the average ITR processing time has reduced significantly with the upgraded CPC (Centralized Processing Centre) system.
- Most returns are being processed within 10–15 days, while in some cases, refunds are being credited in as little as 3–7 days.
- However, complex cases or returns flagged for additional verification may take longer—up to 30–45 days.
Refund Timeline
- Once your ITR is successfully processed, the refund is generally issued within 5–7 working days.
- Refunds are directly credited to the bank account linked with your PAN and validated on the income tax portal.
- Make sure your bank account is pre-validated to avoid refund delays.
How to Check Refund Status
Taxpayers can track their refund status through two platforms:
- Income Tax e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in) → Go to “View Filed Returns” → Select AY 2025-26 → Check refund status.
- NSDL Refund Tracking Portal (tin.tin.nsdl.com) → Enter PAN and Assessment Year to see real-time refund updates.
⚠️ Reasons for Delay in Refund
Your refund may be delayed if:
- Bank account is not pre-validated or linked to PAN.
- Mismatch in TDS details (Form 26AS vs filed return).
- Incorrect bank account details entered during filing.
- Return selected for scrutiny or further verification.
📅 Important Note
- As per the Income Tax Department, all valid refunds for AY 2025-26 will be issued within the statutory timeline of 90 days from the filing deadline.
- Taxpayers who filed late may experience delays since returns are processed in batches.
✅ In summary: Most taxpayers for AY 2025-26 can expect their refunds within 1–3 weeks of filing, provided their bank account is validated and no discrepancies exist. For complex cases, the wait may be longer, but the department assures refunds within the statutory timeline.