No refund on Income tax return 2025-26 until Income Tax Department completes

Despite over 85 lakh income tax returns being filed and more than 81 lakh verified so far this year, the Income Tax Department is withholding refunds on new ITRs. Officials say no refund will be issued until taxpayers’ past returns and pending assessments are thoroughly reviewed—a move aimed at curbing fake refund claims.The income tax returns (ITR) filing for AY 2025-26 started at the end of May this year, and so far, more than 75 lakh returns have been filed. Of these, about 71.1 lakh returns have been e-verified, according to the details shared by the I-T department on its official website. Earlier, the number of ITRs processed used to be updated regularly on the website, but now that data is no longer visible. Here’s a screengrab of the webpage where the section is now showing blank. The number of ITRs processed used to appear just below the number of ITRs verified.Your ITR processing and tax refunds may take time this year – know whyTax experts are of the view that the Income Tax Department will issue refunds only after it fully examines the assessment reports and old tax returns of the past years.