Income tax refund: How soon after filing ITR can you expect your refund to be issued?

Income tax refund status: Have you filed your income tax return within the deadline? Were you eligible for a refund and are wondering when the amount will be credited in your bank account? The deadline for filing Income Tax Return (ITR) Forms 1 and 2 for Assessment Year AY 2026-27 (FY 2025-26) was July 31, 2026. According to a post by the Income Tax Department on X, more than 5.9 crore income tax returns were filed before the due date.With the filing window now closed for most salaried taxpayers, attention has shifted to income tax refunds. Taxpayers who have filed and successfully e-verified their returns are now awaiting the refund process. An income tax refund is issued by the Income Tax Department when the total tax paid by a taxpayer—through TDS, TCS, advance tax or self-assessment tax—exceeds the actual tax liability. The final tax payable is determined after considering all eligible deductions and exemptions during the assessment process.While refunds for error-free returns are usually issued relatively quickly, the actual timeline depends on factors such as successful e-verification, processing of the return and whether any discrepancies are identified.

When can taxpayers expect their income tax refund?

The Income Tax Department begins processing refunds only after a taxpayer completes e-verification of the return. According to the Income Tax Department’s website, “It takes 4-5 weeks for the refund to be credited to the account of a taxpayer. However, if refund is not received during this duration, the taxpayer must check for intimation regarding discrepancies in ITR; check email for any notification from the I-T Department regarding the refund. The taxpayer can also check refund status on e-filing as per the process detailed hereunder.”Chartered accountant Abhishek Soni told ET, “If you filed your ITR in the last week of July and e-verified it successfully, you can generally expect your tax refund within 2 to 6 weeks, depending on your return and verification status. For most taxpayers, this means the refund may be credited between mid-August and mid-September, provided there are no mismatches or additional checks required.”