Waiting for Tax Refund after Filing ITR but didn’t get it? Here’s How to Request a Reissue
Even if you’ve filed an income tax return (ITR) on time, there’s no guarantee that a tax refund will arrive right away. The tax refund process has several steps. If any of these steps go wrong, it can delay your refund. If your tax refund is stuck for a long time you might need to request a reissuance of a refund. If that doesn’t help, you can file a complaint with the tax department.
When Can You Get a Tax Refund?
You’re eligible for a tax refund if the tax you’ve already paid like through TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) or self-assessment, is more than the tax you actually owe. The tax department calculates final tax liability after considering all deductions and exemptions.
What to Do If Your Tax Refund is Stuck?
Just because you filed an ITR doesn’t mean you’ll get a tax refund immediately. First tax department processes ITR. Then you receive intimation under Section 143(1) showing tax calculation. If a refund is due, it will be mentioned here along with any interest.
Typically taxpayers receive their refund within 4-5 weeks of processing. If you haven’t received your refund by then, it’s time to take action. The delay could be due to an error on your part or an issue within a tax department.
How to Request a Refund Reissue?
One solution is to request a refund reissue. This is when you ask the tax department to issue your refund again if it wasn’t processed correctly or if you didn’t receive it.
Here are some common reasons you might need to request a refund reissue:
- Incorrect bank details such as wrong account number, MICR Code, IFSC Code etc.
- Your bank account isn’t pre-validated on the e-filing portal.
- Your account’s KYC is incomplete.
- You provided details for accounts other than current or savings accounts.
- The account description is incorrect.
When to Request a Refund Reissue or File a Complaint?
If your tax refund is stuck, you have two options. First, check if there’s an issue on your end like incorrect bank details and request a refund reissue. If you can’t find a problem or if a refund is delayed for no apparent reason, you can file a complaint with the tax department’s grievance cell.
If your refund status says “Refund failure” due to wrong bank details or technical issues you should request a refund reissue. If you’ve done this and haven’t heard back, or if the refund amount seems wrong you should file a complaint.
Keep an eye on your email and SMS for updates from the tax department. You can also check the status of your tax refund on the ITR e-filing website.
Steps to Raise a Refund Reissue Request
1. Login: Go to the ITR e-filing portal and log in using your credentials.
2. Find Refund Reissue Option: Click the ‘Services’ tab and select ‘Refund Reissue’.
3. Create Request: On the new page click ‘Create Refund Reissue Request’. Choose the ITR you need a refund for and select the bank account to receive a refund. If the account isn’t validated, you’ll need to validate it first.
4. Verification: Choose the verification method – Aadhaar OTP EVC, or DSC and proceed.
These steps will help you ensure your tax refund gets reissued correctly.
