ITR Refunds Delayed: 6.3 Million Returns Stuck Amidst Strict Scrutiny

• Approximately 6.3 million Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for Assessment Year 2025–26 are still pending processing, causing anxiety among taxpayers.
• The delay is attributed to a deliberate, stringent scrutiny process involving advanced data analytics and risk-based flagging.
• Discrepancies with third-party data like TDS, AIS, or Form 26AS automatically flag returns, slowing down processing.
• CBDT's 'Nudge' campaign notifies taxpayers of discrepancies via SMS/email, holding refunds until corrections are made or revised returns filed.
• Late release of ITR forms/utilities (June-August) and backend technical glitches also contributed to processing delays.

Why It Matters: ITR refund delays are due to stricter scrutiny, not system failure, ensuring greater transparency.