More than 1.3 lakh taxpayers are currently waiting for their income tax refunds, not because of scrutiny or errors but due to something as basic as an inoperative PAN, Parliament was informed recently by the government. The Finance Ministry informed that refunds worth over Rs 340 crore have been withheld in such cases, highlighting how a simple compliance lapse can delay taxpayers’ money. The details were shared in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, making it clear that PAN-Aadhaar linking is now critical for smooth tax processing.