ITR Processing Delay 2025 - Common Reasons & Practical Steps to Fix (Latest Guide)

Thanks for sharing the same. 

ITR processing delays typically come down to a few fixable issues.

The most common causes in AY 2025-26:

1. AIS/TIS mismatch not responded to
If your return has an income or TDS figure that does not match AIS, the system flags it for manual review. Log in to the income tax portal, go to Annual Information Statement, and check if there is a mismatch. If there is one, you need to submit feedback marking each line as correct or incorrect. Until you respond, processing stalls.

2. Bank account not pre-validated
Refunds go only to pre-validated accounts linked to your Aadhaar. Check under My Profile > Bank Accounts on the portal. If the account shows as validation pending or failed, re-submit it.

3. Outstanding demand from a prior year
If there is an unresolved tax demand from AY 2021 or earlier, the refund for the current year gets adjusted automatically under Section 245. You will get a notice before the adjustment. Check under Pending Actions > Response to Outstanding Demand.

4. High-value transaction scrutiny
Returns with large capital gains, foreign income, or high-value property transactions sometimes go into a manual processing queue. This typically adds 30 to 60 days.

If none of these apply, file a grievance at the portal under Grievance > Submit Grievance mentioning the processing delay and your acknowledgement number.

This [ITR filing mistakes and refund delay guide](https://taxgarden.in/blog/common-itr-filing-mistakes-refund-delay-notices-ay-2026-27) covers all four scenarios with the exact portal steps.

ITR processing delays are common but most cases resolve within 30 to 60 days. Here is how to check status and take action if yours is stuck.

Step 1: Check current processing status on the IT portal at incometax.gov.in. Go to e-File, then Income Tax Returns, then View Filed Returns.

Key status meanings:
- Successfully Submitted: Filed but processing not started yet. Normal for up to 30 days after filing.
- Processing: CPC Bengaluru is actively working on it.
- Under Processing: Queued. Usually clears within 60 to 90 days.
- Defective: Section 139(9) notice issued. Check email and portal inbox immediately. You have 15 days to respond.

Step 2: If defective, login and go to Pending Actions, then Response to Outstanding Demand. Fix the defect and re-file.

Step 3: If more than 60 days have passed with no update, raise a grievance. Login at the portal, go to e-Nivaran and submit with your acknowledgment number. 

Step 4: If refund shows processed but not credited, check that your bank account is pre-validated and PAN-linked. Go to Profile, then Bank Account.

Large refunds (above 1 lakh) often go through additional verification where the portal asks you to confirm bank details or submit income documents.

This [income tax refund status guide](https://taxgarden.in/blog/income-tax-refund-status-check-online-ay-2026-27) covers the exact steps to check status, fix defective returns, and raise a grievance.