Applying for your income tax return is meant to be a straightforward process if done online. However, sometimes there can be a hitch and this has left so many taxpayers fuming and wondering when they will be paid their refunds or even if their tax return application was processed. Managing these delays involves the ability to wait, understand the potential causes, and know the appropriate actions. Here are the procedures you need to follow in case of delay in the income tax return online application process.
1. Common Causes of Delays
An important step in dealing with the problem of delay in processing your tax return application is to find out the reasons for the delay. Some common reasons include:
- Incomplete or Incorrect Information: Among the top reasons for delay, one can identify the submission of incomplete and/or inaccurate information. Slight mistakes like those in the personal details, income details, or tax deductions lead to the income tax return online application being retrieved for further scrutiny, which leads to delays.
- System Overload: This makes it difficult for tax authorities to process many tax returns during concentration periods, such as filing season, hence the need to offload some of the burden.
- Verification Processes: However, if your income tax return online application has been selected for further scrutiny or audit, this is going to take time. This can occur when tax figures appear suspicious compared to prior returns or if the authorities wish to confirm certain deductions.
- Bank Account or Payment Issues: Having the wrong bank details will cause a delay in the processing of your tax refund since the tax authority will have to reach out to you for correction of the details.
2. Steps to Address Delays
If you are experiencing some challenges with your income tax return online application, there are some measures that you can take to address the problem.
- Double-check Your Information: One of the most effective methods of avoiding and managing delays is to carefully check all the information provided in the tax return application before submission. Make sure every detail filled in the schedule including the personal details, income, and deductions are correct. If a notification about an issue appears in your account, you should log in and fix the mistakes immediately.
- Track the Status of Your Return: Many online tax software come with options enabling users to monitor the status of their tax return application. Ensure to check your return frequently so that you are aware of any changes. If there is a hold-up, the platform will in most cases inform you of the cause and can guide you on the steps to follow next.
- Contact Tax Authorities: In case you have submitted your income tax return online application and it has been pending for a longer time and you have yet to receive any message to that effect, then it is high time that you visit your tax office. They will be able to offer further information on the cause of the delay and guide on the next course of action. You should prepare your tax identification number as well as the details of your return when you make the call.
- Resolve Outstanding Tax Issues: This implies that if you have back taxes to file or there are other unsorted issues with your tax account. This may slow down the processing of your tax return application. In case of any issues relating to tax, it is important to resolve them as soon as possible to prevent any inconveniences.
- Be Patient During Peak Season: This is particularly the case when there is a peak in the number of applications for income tax returns online such as at the close of a particular tax year. If you have filed your return correctly and have yet to receive any message regarding problems then often it is just a case of waiting for the system to update.
Key Takeaways
It is possible to have to wait for some time for the online application of the income tax return, this, however, is not a rare experience. Knowing the possible causes and performing the necessary actions to manage and fix these problems can help to deal with these delays. Be very careful with your tax return application, keep checking on its status, and be patient particularly when many people are filing theirs.
