ITR refund status: Types of ITR statuses, what to do in case of delay, and more

The July 31 deadline for filing your ITR has passed and taxpayers can now file a belated return in compliance with the process. If you have already filed your ITR, here is what you should do next.

What is ITR status and why should you check it?

The ITR status shows the current stage of the income tax return you filed. It basically tells you the progress of your ITR. You can check your ITR status on incometax.gov.in. If your return filing has any discrepancies, the IT department will issue a notice regarding the same, requiring a response. You should check your ITR status for timely action and to ensure timely refunds for overpayment of taxes as well.

Types of ITR statuses

• Submitted and pending for e-verification: The process of ITR filing doesn’t end once you’ve submitted it. You must e-verify your ITR for it to be valid. This status means you’ve submitted your ITR but haven’t verified it yet. This verification must be done within 30 days of filing your ITR as per the new rule as opposed to the previous limit of 120 days.
• Successfully submitted and verified: This means that you’ve submitted and e-verified your ITR but the return is yet to be processed by the IT department.
• Processed: This means that the IT department has successfully processed your ITR.
• Defective: If your status says defective, it means that there is some discrepancy in the return due to a lack of necessary information or some other inconsistency. In this case, you will be notified under Section 139(9) and will be given a specific amount of time to make the changes.
• Case transferred to assessing officer: This status means that the Centralised Processing Center (CPC), which first processes all the online ITRs, has transferred your return to your jurisdictional Assessing Officer (AO) who will assess it for any intentional/unintentional errors. The AO might also contact you for any details or documents for verification by issuing a notice.

Do you need to login to see your ITR status?

No, you can check the status of your ITR without logging in as well. You can login with your registered mobile number or check your status with any valid number without logging in. In the latter case, you would need to enter the valid acknowledgement number that you received when you filed your ITR. You can check the status or your authorised representative/ERI (e-Return Intermediary) can do it on your behalf.

How long will it take for your ITR refund to be processed?

According to the ITR e-filing website, it usually takes four to five weeks for the refund to be credited to your account. If a taxpayer hasn’t received the refund within this duration, he/she is advised to check for discrepancies and if they received any notice from the IT department.

If your refund is delayed and you can’t pinpoint the reason for the same, you can:

• Contact the IT department: You can email the IT department at ask@incometax.gov.in or call their helpdesk at 1800-103-4455 for assistance regarding your refund.
• Visit the income tax office: If the delay persists, you can visit your local income tax office to ask for help directly. You are advised to take all the necessary documents with you.
• Submit a grievance: If you’re unable to resolve the issue even after reaching out to the IT department, you can submit a grievance online on the e-filing portal. You can go to the e-Nivaran section on the website and officially escalate your complaint.