Nearly 24 lakh income tax returns (ITRs) for AY 2025-26 have remained pending for processing for over 90 days till 4th February 2026, the government told Parliament, triggering concerns among taxpayers — especially senior citizens — who have been waiting for their tax refunds for months. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the Finance Ministry clarified that these delays are largely linked to technology-driven risk analysis and compliance campaigns run by the Income Tax Department, and not due to any blanket action against honest taxpayers.