How long does ITR processing take?

There is no fixed processing time you can rely on. The Income Tax Department processes returns on its own schedule, and it starts only after you e-verify. Once processed, you get an intimation under section 143(1) that shows the tax computed, and any refund or demand. TaxCare cannot promise a date, and we advise you to be wary of anyone who does.

The path from filing to processed

1. You file. You get an acknowledgement number.
2. You e-verify. This must be within 30 days of filing. Until then the return is not processed.
3. The department processes it. It checks your figures against its records, such as your AIS and Form 26AS or Form 168.
4. You receive the intimation. It says whether the department agrees with your return.
5. A refund is issued, if one is due.

What speeds it up

• E-verify right away. TaxCare offers an Aadhaar OTP in the same sitting.
• Match your figures to the department's records. Reconcile your return with the AIS and Form 26AS or Form 168 before you file.
• Correct bank details. A wrong or unvalidated account holds up a refund.
• Do not file twice. A second return causes confusion. If you need a correction, file a revised return.

What slows it down

• The return is not e-verified. This is the most common cause.
• Mismatch with the department's data. Your TDS, income or deductions differ from what the department holds. See TDS not showing in Form 26AS or Form 168.
• A defective return or a notice. If the department finds a defect, it sends a notice under section 139(9) by email or post, and you can see it on the portal. You get 15 days from receiving it, or the time the notice states, to fix the defect; if you do not, the return may be treated as invalid.
• An outstanding demand from another year. If you do not respond to an outstanding demand on the portal, it is confirmed and adjusted against your refund.
• Wrong ITR form. See which ITR form should I file.

Reading your intimation

When your return is processed, compare three things:

If the department's figures differ, you can respond or correct the return. A processed return can still be revised until 31 March after the tax year ends, from the tax year 2025-26, with a fee of ₹5,000 (₹1,000 if total income is up to ₹5,00,000) for a revision after 31 December.

The figures above are signed off for the tax year 2025-26. For the tax year 2026-27 they are provisional.

Interest on a late refund

If your refund is paid late, the department pays interest of 0.5% per month in TaxCare's rules for the tax year 2025-26. No interest is paid if the refund is less than 10% of the tax determined.

See income tax refund status and delays for more.

Should you wait or act?

Wait if your return is e-verified and only a short time has passed. Act if:

• the return is not e-verified, so verify now;
• you have received a notice, so read and reply;
• your bank details are wrong, so correct them;
• the intimation does not match your return, so decide whether to respond or revise.

How TaxCare helps

TaxCare prompts you to e-verify, tracks the return afterwards and keeps your filed ITR and acknowledgement in one place. It alerts you when an intimation or a refund credit is recorded. It does not process returns and cannot speed up the department. For a notice or a mismatch, you can book a Tax Expert. See pricing and Tax Experts.

This guide gives general information and is not professional tax advice.