49 lakh I-T refunds pending: Govt

The government on Tuesday said around 49 lakh cases of income tax refunds are pending with the revenue department.

"The total number of pending refund returns (up to January 2010 is 49 lakh. The statutory time limit to process the return and issue refund in financial year 2009-10 is March, 31, 2011," Minister of state for finance SS Palanimanickam informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

Normally after receipt of returns, processing of returns and issuance of refund is completed in due course, he said, addding however, difficulties are encountered in some cases due to various reasons like wrong permanent account number (PAN), illegible recording of address, incorrect particulars about bank account etc.

Pointing out that processing of refund is a continuous process, he said, the returns received during 2008-09 would be processed by March 31, 2010.

Guidelines have been issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to process all returns and issue refunds expeditiously.