Filing ITR Too Early? It Could Delay Your Refund and Trigger Tax Notice

Taxpayers, take note, the next two months are going to be extremely important for income tax filing. While many people rush to submit their Income Tax Return (ITR) as early as possible, filing too soon may actually create unnecessary problems instead of helping you get a faster refund.

A large number of salaried employees believe that early filing guarantees quick processing and speedy refunds. But tax experts warn that filing your ITR before June 15 could lead to mismatches, refund delays, and even notices from the Income Tax Department.

Why Filing Before June 15 Can Be Risky

The biggest reason is Form 16. For salaried employees, Form 16 is one of the most important documents required for filing an ITR. It contains complete details of salary paid and tax deducted during the financial year.

Companies are required to file their TDS returns for the last quarter of the financial year by May 31. Only after this process is completed can employers issue Form 16 to employees, usually by June 15.

If you file your return in May without Form 16, you may end up using estimated figures based on salary slips or incomplete information.