How long does it take to get ITR refund?

ITR refunds typically take 30-90 days after e-verification. As of March 26, 2026 (latest portal figures), around 26.7 lakh returns are pending. Thu Mar 26 saw very strong processing (+87,793), with other recent active days including Mar 24 (+17,379), Mar 25 (+10,552), and Mar 27 (+15,452).

How many ITR returns are pending processing?

As of March 26, 2026, approximately 26.7 lakh ITR returns are pending processing — calculated from 8.785 crore verified returns minus 8.517 crore processed returns.

When will ITR refund backlog clear?

At a moderate pace of ~30,000/day, the remaining 26.7 lakh backlog could clear by mid-June 2026. If stronger days near ~70,000/day repeat (like Mar 26’s +87,793), clearance could move into late April to early May 2026.

Why is my ITR refund delayed?

Common reasons for ITR refund delays include: not completing e-verification, discrepancies between filed return and Form 26AS/AIS data, bank account not pre-validated, or simply being in the processing queue. Check the e-Filing portal for any pending notices or actions required.

How to check ITR refund status?

You can check ITR refund status through: 1) e-Filing Portal (incometax.gov.in) - login and view filed returns, 2) NSDL website (tin.tin.nsdl.com) - enter PAN and assessment year, 3) Wait for SMS on your registered mobile number when refund is processed.

When Will You Get Your ITR Refund? What Data Tells Us

Published: February 10, 2026 Updated: March 28, 2026 5 min read

If you've filed your Income Tax Return and are waiting for your refund, you're probably wondering: how long will it take? We analyzed real-time data from the official Income Tax portal to give you a clear picture of current processing times and what to expect.

Current State of ITR Processing (Live Data)

As of 26 March 2026 (latest figures on the IT portal; article refreshed 28 Mar), here's the real picture:

26.7 Lakh

Returns Currently Pending Processing

This is calculated from official portal data: 8.785 Cr returns verified minus 8.517 Cr returns processed = 26.7 lakh pending — down from roughly 27.0 lakh a week earlier as processing outpaced new verifications.

Processing Update: Mar 26 Surge, Then Smaller Friday

After a quiet Monday snapshot, CPC logged four consecutive processing days, including the strongest recent throughput:

Recent Processing (daily totals):

• Feb 14: +6,96,962 returns processed (all-time record!)

• Feb 17: +1,85,968 returns processed

• Feb 23: +69,501 returns processed

• Feb 27: +47,288 returns processed

• Mar 5: +19,727 returns processed

• Mar 18: +73,229 returns processed

• Mar 19: +78,703 returns processed

• Mar 24: +17,379 returns processed

• Mar 25: +10,552 returns processed

• Mar 26: +87,793 returns processed (strongest recent day)

• Mar 27: +15,452 returns processed

The IT Department still holds the all-time one-day record of 6.97 lakh returns on Feb 14. Late March added a notable Mar 26 burst (+87.8K). Pending volume is now 26.7 lakh.

When Will the Backlog Clear? Our Projections

Based on current data, here are two scenarios:

Optimistic Scenario (Another burst like mid-February)

If the IT Department sees surge processing averaging ~70,000/day:

26.7 Lakh ÷ 70,000/day = ~38 days
Estimated clearance: Late April to early May 2026

Moderate Scenario (Returns to late-February pace)

If processing recovers to the late-February average of ~30,000/day:

26.7 Lakh ÷ 30,000/day = ~89 days
Estimated clearance: Mid-June 2026

Conservative Scenario (recent week average pace)

If processing averages ~26,000/day (roughly last Mon–Fri mean):

26.7 Lakh ÷ 26,000/day = ~103 days
Estimated clearance: Early July 2026

The realistic window is late April to mid-June 2026 depending on whether bursts like Mar 26 repeat. Daily data remains volatile, so treat this as directional, not guaranteed.

What Affects Your Refund Timeline?

Several factors determine how quickly you'll receive your refund:

1. E-Verification Status

Your return must be e-verified before processing begins. If you haven't e-verified yet, your refund is essentially on hold. E-verify immediately using:

Aadhaar OTP (fastest method)
Net banking
Bank account validation
Demat account validation

2. Type of Return

Simple returns (ITR-1 with just salary income) typically get processed faster than complex returns (ITR-2, ITR-3 with capital gains, business income, etc.).

3. Processing Queue

Returns are generally processed in the order they were filed and verified. Filing early in the season usually means faster processing.

4. Discrepancies

If there's a mismatch between your filed return and Form 26AS/AIS data, processing may be delayed for verification.

Pro Tip: Check your Form 26AS and AIS before filing to ensure all TDS and income details match. This significantly reduces processing delays.

Your Personal Timeline Expectations

Given the latest acceleration, here's what you can realistically expect:

Already e-verified before Feb 1: Your return should have been processed during the February burst. If not received, check for notices on the e-filing portal — there may be a discrepancy holding it up.
E-verified in February: The February burst cleared ~23.7 lakh returns and backlog is now ~26.7 lakh. Expect 6-12 weeks from your verification date, depending on complexity.
E-verified in March or later: You're in the queue. With recent stronger daily processing, a May-June 2026 outcome is reasonable if your return is straightforward.
Not yet e-verified: E-verify immediately — your timeline only starts after verification.

The IT Department cleared 23.7 lakh returns in February, and late March brought a strong Mar 26 (+87.8K) after several moderate days. If your return is verified and clean, your refund timeline improves when this kind of pace sustains.

How to Check Your Refund Status

You can track your refund status through multiple channels:

e-Filing Portal: Login to incometax.gov.in → View Filed Returns → Check Status
NSDL Website: Visit tin.tin.nsdl.com and enter your PAN and assessment year
SMS: Your registered mobile number will receive an SMS when the refund is processed

Track Real-Time Processing Trends

Want to see how many returns are being processed daily? Check our live dashboard for up-to-date statistics from the IT portal.

View Live Dashboard

What If Your Refund Is Delayed?

If it's been more than 60 days since e-verification and you haven't received your refund:

Check for notices: Login to the e-Filing portal and check if there are any outstanding notices or requests for information
Verify bank details: Ensure your bank account is pre-validated and linked to your PAN
Raise a grievance: Use the e-Nivaran portal on the IT website to raise a complaint
Contact CPC: Call the CPC helpline at 1800-103-0025 (toll-free)

Key Takeaways

Current pending backlog: 26.7 lakh returns (portal data 26 Mar 2026)
Recent momentum: +87,793 on Mar 26; also +17,379 (Mar 24), +10,552 (Mar 25), +15,452 (Mar 27)
Best case scenario: Backlog clears by late April to early May 2026
Moderate estimate: mid-June 2026 if pace settles near 30K/day
E-verify immediately to enter the processing queue
Keep your bank account pre-validated to avoid delays

Stay Updated: We update our dashboard daily with the latest processing statistics. Bookmark itrstats.in to track trends and estimate when the backlog might clear.