Taxpayers seek clarity as income tax refund timelines stretch

Many taxpayers who filed their income tax returns months earlier continue to face delays in receiving refunds for AY 2025–26. The tax department has explained that extended verification checks, data mismatches, and pending bank validations are slowing processing times this year. Officials say most refunds are expected to be issued after system level reconciliations are completed, especially for cases requiring additional document review or mismatch resolution across employer, bank, and TDS records.