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Jan 12, 2026
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ITR refunds delay: Over 50 lakh taxpayers awaiting return processing; here’s the key reason refunds are stuck
Even after more than eight crore income tax returns (ITRs) being processed in AY 2025-26, over 50 lakh taxpayers are still waiting for their returns to be taken up — and for refunds to be released.
Data available with the Income-tax Department shows that as of January 11, around 8.8 crore ITRs have been filed for AY 2025–26. Of these, 8.68 crore returns have already been verified, and 8.15 crore returns have been processed. This leaves nearly 53 lakh returns still pending for processing, many of which are linked to refund claims.
So why is the process taking longer this year?
Key reason: Heightened scrutiny and risk-based checks
According to tax expert CA Dr Suresh Surana, the primary reason for the slowdown is tighter scrutiny by the tax department, especially in cases involving refunds.
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