Every taxpayer carefully plans their investments and savings to try and maximise their tax savings each year. Most people choose to purchase investment products like Unit-Linked Insurance Plans to enjoy tax savings of up to INR 1,50,000 per year.
When you file your Income Tax Returns (ITR) every year, you may find out that you have paid extra tax during the year. If this is the case, you should receive an income tax refund. But, receiving the refund can take some time. You can use the income tax portal to track your income tax refund status online. If it is delayed for too long, you can try a few different things to expedite the process.
What Can I Do If I Haven’t Received the Income Tax Refund Amount?
If you have not received your refund yet, you can:
1. Log in to the e-filing portal using your user ID, password and date of birth.
2. Select the View e-Filed Returns/Forms option from the drop-down menu and then click Submit.
3. Select the acknowledgement number for the year for which the refund is awaited. Remember, the assessment year and financial year are two different things. While checking for a refund status for the financial year 2021-2022, you must click on the assessment year 2022-2023.
4. The portal will show you the refund status. They will also let you know if the refund payment has failed and why.
What Are the Possible Income Tax Refund Status Updates
Your refund status could be any of the following:
- Refund paid
- Not determined
- No e-Filing completed for this assessment year
- Refund unpaid
- Demand determined
- Contact Jurisdictional Assessing Officer
What to Do If Your Income Tax Refund Has Not Reached You
Depending on why your refund has not yet been processed, you may have to take a different course of action.
Reason: IT Department Requires Additional Information
Action: Contact your assessing officer via telephone or post. Submit the additional documents required. But, make sure you receive an acknowledgement from the officer that he or she received the file.
Reason: Refund Request Rejected Due to Taxes Owed
Action: Sometimes, there may be a calculation error. If you receive a notice from the Income Tax department with an outstanding tax amount, you need to act quickly. Double-check your documents and calculate your tax liability once more. If the figures you disclosed in your ITR are correct, you must file a rectification return . If you do have an outstanding tax amount, ensure you pay it within the time limit mentioned in the notice.
Reason: Refund Request Found to Be Incorrect
Action: The Income Tax department may send you a notice saying that they believe your ITR calculations are incorrect. They will provide details supporting their claim. Once you receive the notice, you can opt to file a rectification return.
Reason: Forgot the Add a Valid Deduction
Action: Sometimes, you may notice an error after you submit your documents. If the Income Tax department has not processed your return yet, you can revise your returns.
Reason: Bank Account Details Have Changed
Action: People may opt to move from one bank to another or may close one account and open another. If your bank details have changed since you filed your income tax returns, you will have to raise a ‘refund re-issue’ request.The following steps to be followed to raise Refund Re-issue Request:
1. login to e-filing portal using your user id, password and date of birth
2. click on ‘my account’ menu and click ‘service request’ link.
3. select the ‘request type’ as ‘new request’ and select the ‘request category’ as ‘refund reissue’. click ‘submit’.
4. details such as pan, return type, assessment year (a.y), acknowledgement no, communication reference number, reason for refund failure and response are displayed.
5. select the bank account to which the tax refund is to be credited and click ‘continue’
Note: if there are no pre validated bank accounts, then you are directed to pre validate bank account screen. In this screen you should enter all relevant details of the bank account where you intend to receive refund and click on ‘pre validate’ button to proceed with the request submission. After this account is pre-validated by the concerned bank, the bank account will be automatically considered for refund re-issue. this account will now be displayed under pre-validated bank accounts in the e-filing portal.
6. e-verify using an Electronic Verification Code (EVC) or Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) to complete the process.
Reason: Delay at the Bank or with Processing
Action: Sometimes, the Income Tax department may take a little time to process your return. To ensure the fault does not lie with you, double-check that you have sent your ITR-V within 120 days of completing the e-filing process. If you have not done this yet, you must revise your returns and send a new acknowledgement to the CPC.
Reason: Filed the Forms Physically
Action: When you opt to file your income tax returns physically instead of online, your income tax refund may get delayed. Give the department time to process your physical paperwork before taking any further action.
Frequently Asked Questions About Income Tax Refund Status
Q: Why is my income tax refund delayed?
A: Your income tax refund may get delayed due to a number of reasons. You can check the status of the refund on the income tax e-filing portal to understand more.
Q: When will I receive my income tax refund?
A: Typically, the refund gets issued within 45 days after the Income Tax department processes the return.
Q: My refund went to my old account. Can I still receive it?
A: Yes. Start by ensuring that you update all your personal and bank details on the income tax portal as soon as possible. Next, you can raise a new service request on the portal. Select the refund reissue option and pre validate bank account details
Q: My income tax refund has not been processed. Can I escalate the issue?
A: Although you filed your ITR on time, you may not receive your refund immediately. The first issue might be that your ITR has not been verified yet. Ensure you sent the ITR-V within 120 days of completing the e-filing process. If your ITR is verified, you can follow up with the CPC by calling their helpline number 1800 103 4455. The helpline number should be manned from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Unit Linked Insurance products do not offer any liquidity during the first five years of the contract. The policyholders will not be able to surrender or withdraw the monies invested in Unit Linked Insurance Products completely or partially till the end of fifth year.