After filing their Income Tax Return (ITR), taxpayers eagerly wait for their refund. Many people receive the refund quickly, but sometimes it gets delayed or even fails. This often leaves taxpayers worried about why their money hasn’t arrived.
The Income Tax Department has clarified that if your refund has not been credited, you can submit a Refund Reissue Request. This facility is available online, so you don’t need to visit any office.
What to Do If Your Refund Fails?
Sometimes, the refund fails even when the taxpayer has not made any mistake. In such cases, the first step is to check your refund status on the e-filing portal. If the portal shows “Refund Failed,” you can immediately place a Refund Reissue Request.
Also Read-: There May Be Delay in ITR-2, ITR-3 Refund, Know Here When You Will Get ITR Refund?
Step-by-Step Process for Refund Reissue Request
If your refund has been stuck, you can easily submit a reissue request on the Income Tax Department’s website by following these steps:
- Log in to the Income Tax e-filing portal.
- Go to Services and select Refund Reissue.
- Click on Create Refund Reissue Request.
- Select the record for which you want to submit the request.
- Choose the bank account where you want the refund.
- If the account is not validated, complete the validation first.
- Click on Proceed to Verification.
- Complete e-verification using Aadhaar OTP, EVC, or DSC.
- Click Continue, and your request will be submitted successfully.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Refund?
According to the Income Tax Department, refunds are generally processed within 4–5 weeks. However, this is possible only if you have not just filed the ITR but also e-verified it. Without e-verification, the refund will not be released.
Why Can a Refund Fail?
There are several reasons why a refund may fail:
- Wrong account number entered
- Errors in IFSC code
- Bank account not validated
- Name mismatch between PAN and bank account
- PAN not linked with Aadhaar
Importance of PAN–Aadhaar Linking
Linking your PAN with Aadhaar is now mandatory. If this is not done, your refund may get blocked. Make sure to link PAN and Aadhaar before submitting a Refund Reissue Request.
Importance of E-Verification
E-Verification is the most important step in the refund process. Without it, your ITR is considered incomplete, and no refund will be issued. You can complete e-verification through Aadhaar OTP, Net Banking, EVC, or DSC.
Why Is Bank Account Validation Necessary?
If your bank account is not validated on the e-filing portal, the refund cannot be transferred to it. Always ensure that the bank account where you expect the refund is correct and validated.