After you filed your Income Tax Return (ITR), there is more to do. The entire ITR will be processed by the Income Tax Department and a status will be assigned based on whether it is accurately filed, verified, and matched against their records. It is very important to understand the various types of ITR status, as it will indicate whether your return is accepted, requires correction, or is under scrutiny.
The aim of this blog is to describe the different ITR statuses, what they mean, and what you may need to do (if anything).
Introduction
If your income crosses the prescribed limits, it doesn’t matter if you are a salaried person, a self-employed person or a business; every taxpayer is obliged to file an ITR in India. Filing an ITR is only the first step; what happens next depends on the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) of the ITD verifying your return.
The ITR status is simply a tracker of updates. Taxpayers can make sure their filing is moving along smoothly, or whether they have to take corrective measures if something goes wrong with their ITR filing, by regularly checking their status on the income tax e-filing portal.
ITR Status Types
1. Submitted but Not Verified
After the return is filed, it ultimately has to be verified online (i.e. e-verification via Aadhaar OTP, net banking, etc.) or by sending a physically signed copy of ITR-V and submitting it to CPC, Bengaluru.
- If it is not verified within 30 days, the return will be invalid.
- Action needed: Verify return as soon as possible.
2. Successfully Verified
When in this status, it indicates that your ITR is filed with appropriate verification, but it’s still subject to processing by CPC.
- Action required: None. Just wait for the CPC to process the return.
3. Processed
If your cumulated income, expenses, and eligible non-taxable income match the records and calculations with CPC, ITR will be shown as Processed in the ITR status.
- At this stage, this means your filing is complete and you will receive any refund scheduled (if applicable) in your bank account.
- Action required: None, unless you found discrepancies in the refund/tax payable.
4. Defective Return (u/s 139(9))
Sometimes, a return may be considered defective due to missing information, the wrong ITR form used, or mismatched details.
- The department will issue a notice to you under Section 139(9).
- Action to be taken – Correct and re-file within the appropriate time limits, usually 15 days.
5. Return Submitted and Under Processing
This means the CPC has received and verified your return but is still processing it.
- Action required: None. Just wait.
6. Return Processed with Demand Determined
Here, CPC finds that you still owe additional tax after processing your return.
- Action required: Pay the outstanding tax amount or file a rectification if you believe it’s an error.
7. Return Processed – Refund Determined
This status indicates that CPC has verified you are entitled to a refund.
- The refund will typically be credited within a few weeks.
- Action required: Make sure your banking information is pre-validated on the portal.
8. Return Processed – No Demand/No Refund
This means that your return was accepted, and there is no tax payable or refundable.
- Action required: None. This is the end of your filing cycle.
9. Rectification Processed
If you filed a request for rectification (under Section 154) to fix an earlier mistake, this status is to inform you that CPC has processed your rectification.
- Action required: You will want to check by reviewing whether the correction is what you were requesting.
10. Return Under Scrutiny / Assessment
In some cases, your return may be picked up for detailed scrutiny by the Assessing Officer.
- Reasons could be mismatched income, high-value transactions, or random selection.
- Action required: Respond to notices, submit documents, and cooperate with proceedings.
11. Invalid Return
If you fail to verify the return within 30 days of filing, or do not respond to notices regarding a defective return, your ITR will be treated as invalid.
- Legally, it will be considered as if you never filed.
- Action required: File a fresh return, possibly with late filing penalties.
How to Find Out Your ITR Status Online?
- Login to the Income Tax e-Filing Portal.
- Select e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns.
- Select the appropriate Assessment Year.
- You will see the status of your ITR against your filing.
Another option, without a login, is to check using PAN & acknowledgement number on the portal.
Why Should You Track ITR Status?
- To ensure timely action if defects or discrepancies arise
- To help avoid penalties & interest on unpaid taxes
- To ensure that you are updated on your refund progress
- To have evidence of compliance in case of disputes in the future.
Conclusion
The status of your ITR is kind of like a report card of your tax return. It can show you if your return has been accepted smoothly, requires corrections, or is under further review. There are simple statuses such as Verified and Processed, and also more severe ones like Defective Return or Scrutiny.
You can keep your filing experience simple and easy by frequently checking your ITR status page on the income tax portal and always correcting issues as quickly as possible. Always remember that on-time filing only is half of the battle; keeping track of your ITR issues and resolving them ensures that the entire compliance is complete.
Reference
The Income Tax Rules, 1962
The Income Tax Act of 1961
https://www.incometax.gov.in/
https://incometaxindia.gov.in/
