The Income Tax Return (ITR) filing for the financial year 2024-25 (assessment year 2025-26) has now gained momentum. As of June 18, nearly 35 lakh ITRs have been filed and over 32 lakh returns have been verified. But this figure constitutes less than 4% of income tax return filers, indicating that most assesses are likely to file their returns in the coming weeks and months.

The Income Tax Department last month extended the last date for filing ITR to 15 September 2025. The advantage of this change is that the processing of refund will be delayed, due to which the interest on the refund will increase. Tax experts say that due to this, taxpayers are likely to get about 33% more interest.

Now the question arises that how can you get maximum refund? For this, it is important to keep in mind some very simple but effective things:

1. File ITR on time and with correct information

First of all, understand that if you want your refund to come on time and without any hassle, then it is very important to fill ITR on time and with complete care.

Bank account number, IFSC code, PAN, Aadhaar, mobile number and email – do not forget to fill all these correctly.

Even a small typing mistake can cause delay or cancellation of your refund.

And yes, the sooner you file the return, the sooner the processing will start.

2. Take full advantage of the interest received on refund

Many people do not know that if the Income Tax Department processes your refund late, then it also gives you interest at the rate of 0.5% per month. Due to the extension of the deadline this year, this interest can be up to 33% higher on an average than before. That is, the later the refund is processed, the more interest will be credited to your account.

But remember—this interest is also taxable. Therefore, it is important to declare it in your next ITR, otherwise a follow-up notice may come.

3. Do smart planning for tax savings

If you rely only on standard deduction every year, you may miss out on many important tax exemptions.

Claim Section 80C, 80D, and HRA.

Take advantage of schemes like health insurance premium, children’s tuition fees, home loan principal and PPF.

If you are living on rent, then definitely take HRA deduction.

Proper tax planning will reduce your tax liability and increase refund.

4. Do track the status online

After filing ITR, do not forget to check the status of the refund.

You can know the status of the refund by logging on to the income tax portal and going to “View Returns/Forms”.

Apart from this, information is also available in the “Know Your Refund Status” section on the NSDL website.

With regular tracking, you will get information about any error or delay in time.

5. Avoid cyber fraud – Beware of fake refund messages

These days, a lot of fake messages and emails are being sent in the name of income tax refund.

Messages like “Your refund of Rs 50,000 is on hold, click immediately” can be a complete fraud.

The Income Tax Department never sends WhatsApp or third-party links for refunds.

If you receive any suspicious message or email, report it immediately to cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930.

6. Optimise return forms and options

Keep your income category in mind while choosing the ITR form. Choosing the wrong form can delay processing. Also, if you are in the new tax system and are not claiming deductions, evaluate the old system — you may get a better refund there.

Government and experts’ stance

The government has always maintained that taxpayers should get refunds on time, so that the confidence of taxpayers remains intact. The refund gets processed within an average duration of 4–5 weeks, which last year’s ITR trends suggest.

Summing up…

This year refunds can increase not only by filing early, but also by smart planning, correct deduction claims, and digital alertness. If you have not filed ITR yet, now is the time – do it right and do not miss the opportunity to increase your refund.