Why income tax refund is delayed

Income tax refunds in India are often delayed due to discrepancies between the filed return and departmental records. Common reasons include:

• Failure to e-verify the ITR within the mandatory 30-day window.
• Mismatches in income or TDS details compared to Form 26AS or AIS.
• Incorrect or unvalidated bank account details, such as a mismatched PAN or IFSC.
• Refund adjustments against outstanding tax demands from previous assessment years.
• Additional security checks or manual verification required for high-value refund claims.