ITR refund not received? How to check status and why it gets delayed (November 2026)
Income tax refunds are up 25.91% to ₹3.08 lakh crore so far in 2026-27. How to check your ITR refund status, common reasons for delay and what to do.
Many taxpayers are still waiting for their refund for assessment year 2026-27. The latest income tax department figures, as reported by Moneycontrol on 11 November 2026, show that refunds worth ₹3,08,306.98 crore had been issued by 10 November 2026. That is 25.91% more than the ₹2,44,872.21 crore issued in the same period last year. Refunds to non-corporate taxpayers, which include individuals, were ₹1,38,771.22 crore, up 53.97%.
Over 8.36 crore returns have been filed for AY 2026-27 so far. Filing and e-verifying your return does not mean the refund arrives at once. The department has to process the return first.
How to check your refund status
- Log in to the income tax e-filing portal with your PAN.
- Go to e-File, then Income Tax Returns, then View Filed Returns.
- Open the return for AY 2026-27 and read the status. It can show that the return is under processing, that a notice needs your action, that a refund has been determined, or that a refund payment failed.
You can also check the message sent to your email and mobile after processing. Keep your bank account pre-validated on the portal, because the refund is paid only to that account.
Common reasons for a delay
- Not yet processed: the department matches your return with the tax already deducted or paid. Processing takes time, and a delay alone does not mean there is a problem.
- Mismatch in tax credits: if the TDS, TCS or advance tax in your return differs from Form 26AS, the AIS or the TIS, processing can slow down. Check these statements against your return.
- Bank account problem: a wrong, inactive or not pre-validated account can make the credit fail. Correct the details and ask for a refund reissue on the portal.
- Old tax demand: if a past year's demand is pending, the department can adjust your refund against it. Look in your account for demands and notices.
- Defective return or extra verification: reply to any notice within the time given.
What to do if the refund is stuck
If the return was filed correctly and nothing is pending on the portal, you do not need to revise it just because the refund is late. Raise a grievance on the portal or contact the Centralised Processing Centre if the delay is long or the portal shows an error. Respond first to any notice that is waiting for you.
If you have not filed yet, the belated return deadline for most individuals is 31 December 2026, with a late fee. Check the dates in the tax calendar and estimate your tax with the income tax calculator.
Sources: Moneycontrol: Direct tax refunds rise 25.91% to Rs 3.08 lakh crore, refund still pending? Here's what you should do, Income Tax Department: News and e-campaigns, Moneycontrol: November 2026 financial changes, ITR deadlines
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