ITR Filing 2026: Key Checks Before Filing for Refund

If you expect an income tax refund this year, there are important things to check before filing your return.

First, make sure your bank account is pre-validated on the income tax website.

This means the account should be active, and the details like account number, IFSC, and name should be correct.

Second, check that the tax deducted from your salary (Form 16) matches the records in Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS).

Any mistakes here can cause delays.

Also, ensure your PAN is linked with your Aadhaar card, as an unlinked PAN can cause problems.

Before filing, check if you have any unpaid taxes from previous years, as these might be deducted from your refund.

Finally, after filing, you must verify your return within 30 days.

If your refund is delayed, you can track it online.

If there are issues with your bank details, you can correct them and request a refund reissue.

If the tax department deducts your refund for old unpaid taxes, you can review the notice and respond if you disagree.

In some cases, you might even get interest on delayed refunds.