Rockin' It Through the ITR Filing for AY 2025-26: A Guide to Checking Your Status and Swiping That Refund 💰
ITR processing for financial year 2025-26 and refund status inquiry: A brief guide
Yo, folks! The income tax return (ITR) filing for FY 2024-25 is hottest thing since slice bread, with around 48 lakh of them already filed and just about as many verified. The real deal now is that the Income Tax Department has kicked off the processing of returns, as demonstrated by the tax portal, which suggests that some ITRs have already been processed for the present assessment year. That means taxpayers eagerly awaiting their refunds will soon be served.
So, what's the skinny with this year's late start? Three main culprits came into play: a delay in launching ITR forms, tweaks to the e-filing utility, and the time needed to spiffy up tax deduction (TDS) data.
Interestingly, the Income Tax Department rolled out forms such as ITR-1 and ITR-4 at the end of April, with a 20-25 day delay. However, it took until the end of May for the online filing utility to be activated on the portal. Consequently, numerous taxpayers faced delays in filing their ITRs. With the last date for banks and employers to file TDS returns on 31 May 2025, important docs like AIS (Annual Information Statement) and 26AS could only be updated after that time. Thus, experts encouraged filing after 15 June 2025 to ensure error-free filing and no delays in the refund process.
Check This Out: [New Income Tax Provisions 2025: Your ITR under the microscope in these 5 situations!]
In a moment of relief for crores of taxpayers in the non-audit category, the Income Tax Department extended the deadline to file income tax returns by 45 days to 15 September 2025. Originally, the deadline was 31 July 2025.
How to Check Your ITR and Refund Statussies?
Now that the Income Tax Department has sprung into action on processing the income tax returns and issuing refunds, taxpayers who have submitted their ITRs must be itching for the government to deposit their tax refunds in their accounts ASAP. Let's walk you through checking the status of your refund.
Checking ITR Status
Income Tax Portal
- Portal Visit: Navigate to incometax.gov.in.
- Click 'ITR Status': Select 'Income Tax Return (ITR) Status' from the menu.
- Enter ACK and Mobile Number: Input your acknowledgment number and mobile number. A verification OTP will appear. Once entered, your status will be displayed.
Alternative Portal Access
- Portal Login: Head to the login page on incometax.gov.in.
- Check Status: Navigate to ‘e-File’ > ‘Income Tax Returns’ > ‘View Filed Returns’ to check the filing status.
Checking Refund Status
Income Tax Portal
- Portal Login: Pop over to incometax.gov.in and log in with your deets.
- Go to ‘e-File’ > ‘Income Tax Returns’ > ‘View Filed Returns’: Click on 'View Details' next to your return to peep the refund status.
NSDL Portal
- Website Hop: Visit the NSDL refund status page.
- Fill Out Form: Provide your PAN, Assessment Year, and Captcha on the form. Tap 'Proceed', and presto! Your refund status will pop up.
TRACES Portal
- Portal Login: Log in to incometax.gov.in.
- Form 26AS View: Make your way to ‘e-File’ > ‘Income Tax Returns’ > ‘View Form 26AS’. You will be redirected to the TRACES site.
- Select ‘View Tax Credit (Form 26AS)’: Glean your refund deets by picking the appropriate assessment year.
The department will also keep you updated via SMS and email as the refund process runs its course. Stay cool, folks!
Also Worth A Gander: [ITR Filing AY 2025-26: Go Offline with These Handy Tax Return Tools]
Will the Refund Process Be Delayed?
Based on the past few years' data, if your ITR is spot-on and no inquiry is needed, refunds usually land within 7 to 21 days. However, if TDS has been made between January and March 2025 and is just now being reported, it could take till the end of June for your refund to arrive.
Hurry Up and File!
For general taxpayers whose accounts are not audited, the deadline to file ITR is 31 July 2025. If you haven’t filed your ITR yet, come on, git 'er done! Otherwise, you might face trouble like late fees, interest, and penalties!
The Scoop:
This year's ITR filing got off to a later start, but it's now picking up steam. By July, a massive number of returns are predicted to be processed, and many refunds are expected to be paid out. If you've filed your ITR, double-check its status using our outlined methods. And if you haven't filed yet, get cracking!
Since the Income Tax Department is now processing the ITRs for AY 2025-26, personal-finance enthusiasts can check the status of their refund by logging into the income tax portal or the NSDL refund status page. Meanwhile, those interested in the Decentralized Finance (DeFi) market and its impact on personal-finance can explore the potential benefits of DeFi services in the finance sector, as the blockchain technology behind it offers many advantages such as increased efficiency and accessibility.
