When TDS deducted through the year exceeds actual tax liability — common when deductions or investment declarations aren't fully accounted for — the excess is claimed back as a refund through the income tax return, not through the TDS system directly.
The most common cause of refund delay is a mismatch between TDS reported by the deductor and what appears in the taxpayer's Form 26AS — usually because the deductor's return wasn't filed correctly or on time. This is exactly why accurate, on-time filing on the deductor's side matters beyond their own compliance — it directly affects the deductee's refund timeline.
By filing an income tax return reporting total income and TDS deducted — any excess TDS over actual tax liability is refunded after processing.
The refund is validated against TDS credits reflected in Form 26AS/AIS, so any mismatch with the deductor's filed return can delay or reduce the refund.
Yes — if the deductor's TDS return is late or incorrect, the credit may not reflect properly in the deductee's Form 26AS, delaying their refund.
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