Why income tax refund delay

Income tax refund delays often occur due to discrepancies between your filing and official records. Common reasons include:

• Incorrect bank account details or failure to pre-validate your account on the e-filing portal.
• Mismatches between the data in your ITR and Form 26AS or the Annual Information Statement (AIS).
• Pending e-verification of your return, which is mandatory for processing.
• Selection of your return for deeper scrutiny or manual verification due to high-value claims or unusual deductions.
• Outstanding tax demands from previous years being adjusted against your current refund.