If you’ve been opening your bank app every morning hoping to see your ITR refund… only to find nothing there, you’re definitely not alone. Millions of taxpayers are in the same boat this year.
Here’s the thing—waiting for money that’s rightfully yours can feel frustrating, even a little unfair. I’ve been through that wait myself, and the anxiety is real.
But now there’s finally some clarity straight from the top.
During the India International Trade Fair (IITF), CBDT Chairman Ravi Agarwal explained what’s going on behind the scenes, why refunds are delayed, and—most importantly—when you can expect your refund to actually arrive.
Why Your ITR Refund 2025 Might Be Delayed
Think about it this way: the Income Tax Department has two top priorities—getting refunds out quickly and making sure no wrong claims slip through. And this year, they found a bit of a pattern.
Agarwal revealed that many taxpayers unknowingly filed incorrect deduction claims or mismatched refund requests. Because of that, the system has slowed down larger refunds for an extra layer of verification.
So here’s the simple breakdown:
- Small refunds → already being released
- Large refunds → under deeper scrutiny to avoid mistakes
It’s not a punishment. It’s just the department being extra cautious before releasing big amounts.
So… When Will Your ITR Refund Come?
Agarwal gave a pretty clear timeline:
“We expect to issue the remaining refunds this month or by December.”
That’s the closest we’ve come to an official assurance in weeks.
If your refund is still pending, there’s a high chance it will hit your account before December ends, provided your claim is clean and error-free.
This update comes as direct tax collections for FY 2025-26 have grown 6.99%, reaching over ₹12.92 lakh crore between April 1 and November 10—despite slow corporate tax performance and reduced refund payouts.
Two Advance Tax Installments Still Pending
Here’s a part most taxpayers overlook:
Refund delays are also linked to the revenue flow and advance tax schedule.
As of November 10:
- Refunds issued dropped 18%, now at ₹2.42 lakh crore
- Two advance tax installments for FY 2025-26 are still due
- Due date for filing audited returns for FY 2024-25 has been extended
Agarwal said they are aiming to achieve the year’s tax target by December 10, which aligns with the expected refund timeline.
New Income Tax Rules Coming in 2026
Another key takeaway:
The next set of income tax rules, effective April 1, 2026, will be notified by end of 2025 or January 2026.
Agarwal hinted that the new ITR forms will be built around “ease of doing business”—meaning simpler, clearer, and less confusing forms for taxpayers.
Honestly, that’s long overdue.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is my ITR refund taking so long in 2025?
Because the Income Tax Department is manually reviewing larger refunds due to incorrect claims found this year. Smaller refunds are being released, while bigger ones may take until December.
2. Will my refund definitely come by December?
The CBDT chairman stated that most remaining refunds should be issued this month or by December, unless your ITR has major discrepancies.
3. Do delayed refunds mean something is wrong with my return?
Not necessarily. Delays are happening nationwide. But you should still check your ITR status and verify that your bank details, deductions, and Form 26AS match.
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