ITR Processing Weekly Update
Last updated: March 20, 2026 (Week of Mar 16 – Mar 20)
This week (Mar 16–20): ~1.73 lakh returns processed; backlog is 27.0 lakh after a flat Mar 20 update. Best day: Thu Mar 19 (+78,703).
TL;DR
- Processing improved sharply — ~1,73,437 returns cleared this week
- Best single day: Mar 19 (Thu) with +78,703
- Backlog is now 27.0 lakh after a slight uptick on Mar 20
- Processing (~1.73L) outpaced new verifications (~59.5K)
- If this pace holds, full clearance could happen by late April to early May 2026
The Numbers Don't Lie
Processing picked up with two strong back-to-back days (Mar 18 and Mar 19), then paused in the latest snapshot. Here is the day-by-day picture for Mar 16-20:
| Date | Returns Processed | Vibe Check |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 16 (Mon) | 0 | No update |
| Mar 17 (Tue) | +21,505 | Moderate |
| Mar 18 (Wed) | +73,229 | Strong day |
| Mar 19 (Thu) | +78,703 | Best day this week |
| Mar 20 (Fri) | 0 | No net addition |
The week total: ~1,73,437 returns processed. New e-verifications rose by ~59,644. The latest day saw zero net processed addition, so backlog now stands at 27.0 lakh.
What Does This Mean For You?
If you're waiting for your refund, here's the updated picture:
When Will Everyone Get Their Refund?
With backlog at 27.0 lakh and day-to-day volatility still high, projections stay directional:
Optimistic (another burst like Feb 14 returns):
27.0 lakh ÷ 70,000/day = ~39 days → late April 2026
Moderate (late-Feb pace of ~30K/day):
27.0 lakh ÷ 30,000/day = ~90 days → mid-June 2026
Conservative (current week pace averages ~25K/day):
27.0 lakh ÷ 25,000/day = ~108 days → early July 2026
The realistic range now looks like late April to mid-June if throughput stays healthy. Daily additions still swing, but the direction this week is clearly better.
Other Numbers From This Week
Other metrics for Mar 16-20:
| Metric | Weekly Change (Mar 16-20) |
|---|---|
| New Registered Users | +53,705 |
| Returns Filed | +59,958 |
| Returns Verified | +59,644 |
| Returns Processed | +173,437 |
Processing (1,73,437) still exceeds new verifications (59,644) for the current week window. But the latest snapshot was flat on processed count, so short-term queue movement remains uneven.
What To Do If You're Still Waiting
- Check your e-verification status - Your return won't be processed until it's verified
- Make sure your bank account is pre-validated - This can cause delays at the last step
- Check for notices - Login to the e-filing portal and see if there are any pending actions
- Be patient - last two completed processing days were strong, even though today's net addition is zero
Pro tip: If it's been more than 60 days since you e-verified and still no refund, raise a grievance on the e-Nivaran portal. With the current moderate pace, don't wait too long.
What We're Watching Next Week
- Can throughput stay above 50K/day after this week's surge?
- Can backlog move below 26 lakh next?
- March 31 is the advance tax due date — will that pull IT Department attention away from ITR processing?
- With the filing season closing in (July 2026 deadline), are older FY 2024-25 returns getting priority?
The February surge cleared ~23.7 lakh returns. This week still shows strong cumulative processing (~1.73 lakh), while today's snapshot is flat and backlog is 27.0 lakh. We update daily on the dashboard.
Track Live Processing Stats
See today's numbers and daily trends on our dashboard.
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