ITR Refund Delay Alert: Government Reveals 24.64 Lakh Returns Still Pending

ITR refund status has become a big concern for taxpayers after the government confirmed that 24.64 lakh income tax returns are still pending for more than 90 days. Due to this, many people are facing ITR refund delay for Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26.

24.64 Lakh ITRs Still Not Processed

The government said in Parliament that 8.79 crore Income Tax Returns were filed till February 4, 2026. But out of these, about 24.64 lakh returns have not been processed for more than 90 days.

So, many people are still waiting for their refund and checking their ITR refund status again and again.

Why Is There an ITR Refund Delay?

The government did not explain the exact reason for every pending return, but major refunds can get delayed due to:

• Your bank account details may be wrong.
• Your income details may not match with Form 16 or AIS.
• You may have claimed wrong deductions.
• Your return may not be verified yet.

Your case may be under checking (scrutiny) by the Income Tax Department.

If any details are incorrect, the refund process may take more time.

Government’s NUDGE Campaign Increased Tax Collection

The Finance Ministry also gave details about the NUDGE campaign (Non-Intrusive Usage of Data to Guide and Enable).

In the last two years:

• 1.11 crore people filed updated or revised returns
• ₹6,976.50 crore extra tax was collected
• ₹1,834 crore refund claims were adjusted in December 2025

The total revenue impact of this campaign was ₹8,810.59 crore.

Under this campaign, the Income Tax Department sends messages to taxpayers if it finds possible mistakes like under-reporting income or claiming extra deductions.

What Should You Do If Your Refund Is Delayed?

If you are facing ITR refund delay, follow these steps:

• Check your ITR refund status on the official income tax website
• Make sure your bank account is pre validated
• Complete return verification (Aadhaar OTP, net banking, etc.)
• Respond quickly to any notice from the department

More than 24.64 lakh income tax returns have been pending for over 90 days, so many taxpayers are still waiting to get their refund money. If you are also waiting, you should regularly check your ITR refund status online. Make sure all your details like bank account number and personal information are correct to avoid any further ITR refund delay.

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