Income tax refund not received? The 8 common reasons and how to fix each one
The most common reasons a refund doesn’t arrive are: the return is not e-verified, it is still being processed, your bank account is not pre-validated on the e-filing portal (or the name/IFSC doesn’t match), your PAN is inoperative, or the refund was adjusted against an old tax demand. Check Refund Status on incometax.gov.in; if it says “refund failed”, fix the bank details and raise a Refund Reissue request.
Key facts Last verified: 25 Sep 2026
| Item | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Refund status | e-Filing → Services → Know Your Refund Status (or login → e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns) | Income Tax Dept |
| Bank account | Must be pre-validated (and nominated for refund) on the portal | Income Tax Dept |
| E-verification | Return must be e-verified within 30 days of filing | Income Tax Dept |
| Inoperative PAN | No refund, no interest on refund for that period | Income Tax Dept |
| Helpline | 1800 103 0025 / 1800 419 0025 | Income Tax Dept |
The 8 common reasons and fixes
| # | Reason | How to check | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Return not e-verified | View Filed Returns shows “pending e-verification” | E-verify by Aadhaar OTP or net banking (with condonation if late) |
| 2 | Still under processing | Status “processing” | Wait; check the portal and email for any notice |
| 3 | Bank account not pre-validated | My Profile → Bank Account | Add/validate the account and nominate it for refund |
| 4 | Name/IFSC mismatch or account closed | Refund status shows “failed” | Update the account, then Refund Reissue request |
| 5 | PAN inoperative | Link Aadhaar Status | Pay ₹1,000 and link — how |
| 6 | Adjusted against old demand | Intimation under the old section 245 / pending actions | Agree or disagree online with the demand |
| 7 | AIS/26AS mismatch | Intimation shows lower refund | Check TDS credits; ask deductor to correct TDS return |
| 8 | Defective return notice | Pending actions → worklist | Respond within the time given |
Raise a refund reissue request
- Log in to incometax.gov.in → Services → Refund Reissue.
- Select the assessment/tax year for which the refund failed.
- Choose a pre-validated bank account and submit with Aadhaar OTP/EVC.
- The refund is usually reissued within a few weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my income tax refund not credited?
Usually because the return is not e-verified, still processing, the bank account is not pre-validated or has a name mismatch, the PAN is inoperative, or the refund was adjusted against an earlier demand.
How can I check my income tax refund status?
On incometax.gov.in, use Know Your Refund Status, or log in and open View Filed Returns for the year.
My refund failed. What should I do?
Pre-validate a correct bank account on the portal and raise a Refund Reissue request.
Will I get interest on a delayed refund?
Generally yes, as per the law — except for periods when your PAN was inoperative or the delay was caused by you.
Official links
Use only these government websites. HumainOne is not connected to any of them.
- Income Tax e-FilingRefund status, bank validation, reissue
- Income Tax helplinee-filing and refund queries
Disclaimer: HumainOne is an independent information website. We are not affiliated with UIDAI, the Income Tax Department, EPFO, NPCI, the Election Commission, the Government of Maharashtra or any government body. We do not accept applications, documents or fees. Information is checked against official sources on the date shown but rules change — always confirm on the official website before acting. Calculators give estimates, not official figures, and this is not tax or legal advice.