Haven't received your refund yet after filing your income tax return? Find out how much interest the government will pay you for the delay..

Income Tax Refund Delay: It's been weeks or months since you filed your Income Tax Return (ITR), but if the refund hasn't yet arrived in your account, don't worry. In fact, the government also pays interest in such cases. If your ITR was filed on time and the delay was due to the tax department, you are entitled to receive interest along with the refund.

When is interest accrued?
If you filed your ITR for the financial year 2024-25 by September 16, i.e., within the stipulated deadline, the government starts paying interest on your refund from April 1. This interest is calculated until the money reaches your bank account. This means that you are entitled to interest for the period of processing time.

However, if you filed your ITR after the deadline, the interest accrual starts not from April 1, but from the date you filed your return. This means that those filing late may suffer a slight loss in interest.

How much interest will be charged on a delayed refund?
Under Section 244A of the Income Tax Act, the government is required to pay interest on refunds. This interest is calculated at 0.5% per month or part of the month. Interest is calculated on the entire refund amount, including TDS, advance tax, or self-assessment tax.

When is interest not paid?
If the delay in an income tax refund is due to your fault, such as entering incorrect bank details, incomplete documents, or pending verification, interest is not paid. However, if the delay is due to the department, interest is guaranteed.

How to Check ITR Refund Status
If your refund hasn't arrived yet, you can check online within minutes to see where your money is stuck. Follow the steps below...

Go to the official website https://www.incometax.gov.in.
Log in by entering your PAN and password.

Click on e-File > Income Tax Returns > View Filed Returns.
Select the Assessment Year for which you claimed your refund.
Now click on "View Details" or "View Refund Status."
Here you will see the stage at which your refund has reached. If the refund has failed, you will find the "Refund Reissue" option on the portal. You can reissue the refund by clicking there.

If the refund still hasn't arrived, do this.

If the refund hasn't arrived even after the stipulated time, you can take some simple steps.

File a complaint in the "e-Nivaran/Grievance" section of the e-Filing portal.

If the bank details were incorrect, validate them and submit a "Refund Reissue Request."

If necessary, contact the Assessing Officer (AO) or CPC (Central Processing Centre).
Read the intimation notices you receive by email or on the portal carefully, as they often reveal the reason for the delay.
Keep these things in mind.

If you filed your ITR on time and correctly, you are guaranteed to receive interest on the delay from the government under Section 244A. However, if the mistake is yours, you will not receive the interest benefit. So, if your refund hasn't arrived yet, check your status instead of waiting. The government may not only refund you but also pay interest on it.

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