Income Tax Department: Guidance on ITR notices and refund delays

Taxpayers filing income tax returns (ITR) for 2026 may encounter delays in refunds or receive notices from the income tax department. Experts note that receiving a notice is not necessarily an indication of wrongdoing, but rather a part of the routine verification process. The department increasingly utilizes data from the Annual Information Statement (AIS), Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS), and Form 26AS to identify discrepancies.

Common reasons for refund delays include a failure to e-verify the return within the required 30-day window or issues with bank account details. The income tax department advises that refund processing typically begins after e-verification and usually takes four to five weeks. Taxpayers are encouraged to ensure their bank accounts are pre-validated on the e-filing portal to avoid credit errors.