Income tax refund delay: 24.64 lakh returns pending as 8.80 crore ITRs filed for AY 2025-26

Out of 8.80 crore income tax returns filed for Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26, as many as 24.64 lakh returns have been pending for processing for over 90 days, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Chaudhary further noted that under the NUDGE campaign, 1.11 crore updated or revised ITRs were filed over the past two years, resulting in additional tax payments of Rs 6,976.50 crore.

Additionally, refund claims adjusted against reduced or additional tax payments in December 2025 amounted to Rs 1,834 crore.

The Non-Intrusive Usage of Data to Guide and Enable (NUDGE) campaign involves sending targeted communications to selected taxpayers, encouraging them to review and revise or update their already filed ITRs. Taxpayers are identified through advanced risk analysis that flags potential under-reporting of income or assets, or excess claims of deductions and exemptions.

Those selected under the campaign primarily include individuals who failed to disclose foreign assets or income, claimed incorrect deductions under sections such as 80G, 80GGC, or 80E, or availed of excess exemptions.