Nearly 2.7 million refunds delayed beyond 90 days, average 35 days
Getting your tax refund took longer this year, an average of 35 days, the slowest in three years.
The CBDT says this is still within official limits, but nearly 2.7 million income tax refund applications were delayed beyond 90 days because of a crackdown on fake deductions.
Parliamentary panel pushes AI for refunds
Refunds usually show up about a month after you e-verify your return, but from July 2025, stricter checks kicked in after some high-profile fraud cases (like the Biryani case).
The CBDT asked folks to double-check and revise their claims, which reduced refund claims by ₹2,000 crore through revised and updated returns.
To speed things up going forward, a parliamentary panel is pushing for AI tools that can quickly spot genuine claims, so most people won't have to wait as long.