ITR Filing Support

Income Tax Return Filing Glitches: Common Problems, Practical Fixes and Safe Filing Tips

Updated on 8 June 2026 • 16 min read • WealthSure Tax Advisory Team

Income tax return filing glitches can be stressful, especially when the due date is near, a refund is expected, tax is payable, or the income tax portal shows mismatched information. For many Indian taxpayers, the issue is not only technical. A filing glitch may appear as a login failure, OTP delay, AIS mismatch, Form 26AS mismatch, JSON upload error, e-verification issue, bank validation failure, refund status confusion, or an unexpected tax demand after filing.

The good news is that most ITR filing glitches can be handled calmly if you understand whether the issue is technical, data-related, or process-related. A technical glitch may be solved by browser cleanup, retrying later, or using an official utility. A data mismatch needs careful reconciliation with Form 16, AIS, TIS, Form 26AS, bank statements, broker statements, and tax challans. A process error may require e-verification, revised return filing, rectification, or a response to an income tax communication.

This guide explains common income tax return filing glitches in India, why they happen, what you should do before clicking submit, when to wait, when not to wait, and when expert assistance may help. The goal is not to create panic. The goal is to help you file accurately, avoid avoidable mistakes, and protect your compliance record.

Because income tax portal screens, return utilities, e-verification rules, deadlines, and forms may change, always cross-check the latest process on the official Income Tax Department e-Filing portal. If your case includes capital gains, business income, professional income, foreign assets, NRI taxation, tax audit, crypto or virtual digital assets, high-value transactions, refund mismatch, or previous tax notices, consider expert review before filing.

Table of Contents

• What are income tax return filing glitches?
• Types of ITR filing glitches taxpayers face
• Common income tax portal glitches and quick fixes
• AIS, TIS and Form 26AS mismatch problems
• Wrong ITR form selection can look like a filing glitch
• E-verification and ITR-V glitches
• Refund, bank validation and processing glitches
• Glitches faced by salaried employees, freelancers, investors and NRIs
• Safe filing checklist before submission
• When should you take expert help?
• FAQs on income tax return filing glitches

What are income tax return filing glitches?

Income tax return filing glitches are issues that interrupt, delay, or complicate the ITR filing process. Some glitches are purely technical, such as the e-filing portal not loading, OTP not arriving, a session expiring repeatedly, or the return utility not validating. Other glitches are data-related, such as tax deducted at source not appearing correctly, AIS showing duplicate information, capital gains not matching broker statements, or the portal showing an unexpected tax payable amount.

For taxpayers, both types feel similar because the final result is the same: the return cannot be filed confidently. However, the solution depends on the nature of the problem. A browser issue may need a technical fix. A TDS mismatch may require checking Form 26AS, Form 16, Form 16A, and deductor reporting. A wrong form selection may require starting the return again with the correct form. An unverified return may need immediate e-verification within the permitted timeline.

Understanding the difference helps you avoid two common mistakes. First, do not assume every error is “just a portal issue.” Second, do not panic and file incorrect information only because the deadline is close. A wrong return can create more work later than a carefully reviewed return.

Types of ITR filing glitches taxpayers commonly face

Most income tax return filing glitches can be grouped into a few practical categories. This classification helps you decide what to do next instead of randomly trying different solutions.

Glitch Type	What It Looks Like	What You Should Do First
Login and OTP issue	Unable to log in, OTP not received, Aadhaar OTP delay, session expired	Check registered mobile/email, retry after some time, avoid repeated wrong attempts
Portal loading issue	Page freezes, return form not opening, button not responding	Clear cache, change browser, use stable internet, try non-peak hours
Prefill mismatch	Salary, TDS, interest, dividend or tax data not matching your records	Compare Form 16, AIS, TIS, Form 26AS and actual documents
Return utility error	Validation failed, JSON upload error, schedule incomplete	Update utility, fill mandatory schedules, review form instructions
Tax calculation issue	Unexpected tax payable or refund amount	Check regime selection, deductions, tax credits and income entries
E-verification issue	Return submitted but not verified, EVC not generated, Aadhaar OTP failed	Try another verification method and complete verification within the allowed timeline
Refund issue	Refund delayed, bank account not validated, refund failed	Validate bank account, check return processing status and tax credit match

Common income tax portal glitches and practical fixes

The official e-filing portal is designed to support online return filing, tax payment, e-verification, and return tracking. However, taxpayers may still face problems due to browser settings, internet instability, high filing traffic, incomplete profile details, expired sessions, incorrect credentials, or utility-related validation errors.

1. Portal not opening or loading slowly

This is one of the most common complaints during peak filing periods. The page may load slowly, the return section may not open, or the taxpayer may be logged out unexpectedly. In many cases, this is temporary. However, repeated failures close to the due date can create filing risk.

Try these practical steps:

• Use a stable internet connection instead of switching networks repeatedly.
• Clear browser cache and cookies before logging in again.
• Use an updated browser and avoid multiple open filing tabs.
• Disable unnecessary browser extensions if buttons are not responding.
• Try filing during non-peak hours if the portal is overloaded.
• Keep screenshots of repeated error messages if the problem continues.

2. Login failure or password issue

Login glitches usually happen because of incorrect credentials, locked accounts, CAPTCHA mistakes, browser autofill errors, inactive registered contact details, or repeated unsuccessful attempts. Do not share your login credentials, OTP, password, or financial access details with unknown persons claiming to “fix” your tax filing issue.

If you cannot log in, check whether your PAN/user ID, password, CAPTCHA, and registered mobile/email details are correct. If you reset your password, save the new credentials securely. If you are using expert assistance, work only with a trusted provider and avoid sharing sensitive credentials casually over unsecured channels.

3. OTP not received or Aadhaar OTP failed

OTP-related issues may occur due to telecom delay, wrong registered mobile number, Aadhaar-mobile mismatch, email delay, or temporary authentication failure. This becomes especially important during e-verification because ITR filing is not complete unless the return is verified.

Try waiting briefly, resend OTP only when needed, check spam/junk folders for email OTPs, confirm mobile network availability, and use an alternate e-verification method if available. If Aadhaar OTP is not working, you may be able to use other permitted options such as EVC through bank account, demat account, net banking, or other available methods on the portal.

4. Session expired while filing

Session expiry is frustrating because you may lose unsaved information. This can happen when the portal remains inactive for too long, the internet connection drops, the browser tab is refreshed, or the taxpayer uses back/forward buttons repeatedly.

To reduce the risk, keep documents ready before you start, save draft progress wherever available, avoid leaving the return form idle, and do not open the same return in multiple tabs. For complex returns, prepare figures separately before entering them on the portal.

5. Return utility or JSON upload error

Some taxpayers use the offline utility, especially where return preparation is more detailed. The official portal provides downloadable utilities and upload options for eligible forms. Errors may occur when the utility is outdated, mandatory schedules are incomplete, JSON is generated incorrectly, or the selected assessment year/form does not match the uploaded file.

Before uploading, download the latest utility from the official portal, read the relevant instructions, validate the return inside the utility, generate the correct JSON, and upload it under the correct assessment year. If validation fails repeatedly, review the exact schedule causing the error rather than changing unrelated fields randomly.

AIS, TIS and Form 26AS mismatch problems

Not every filing glitch is technical. Many taxpayers get stuck because the data shown on the portal does not match their records. This is where AIS, TIS and Form 26AS become important.

AIS, or Annual Information Statement, provides a wider view of information reported for a taxpayer during a financial year. It may include income, tax details and financial transactions reported by different sources. TIS, or Taxpayer Information Summary, is a summarized view based on AIS information. Form 26AS is used to review tax credit details such as TDS, TCS and tax payments. Before filing your return, compare these records with your actual documents.

Common AIS-related glitches

• Interest income appears higher than expected.
• Dividend income appears even when not captured in personal records.
• Capital gains information differs from broker statements.
• Duplicate transactions appear in AIS.
• Reported income belongs to a joint account or shared transaction.
• TDS appears in Form 26AS but related income has not been considered.
• AIS shows information that the taxpayer believes is incorrect.

If AIS shows something that does not match your records, do not ignore it. Review the source of information, compare it with bank statements, Form 16, Form 16A, broker statements, mutual fund capital gains reports, and other records. Where the portal allows feedback on AIS information, use it carefully and keep documentation.

Form 26AS or TDS mismatch

A TDS mismatch can affect tax payable, refund, and return processing. For example, your employer may have deducted tax, but the TDS may not appear correctly due to a delay or correction pending in the employer’s TDS return. A client may have deducted TDS on professional fees, but the amount may not match your invoice records. A bank may deduct TDS on fixed deposit interest, but the income may not be reported correctly in your return.

Before filing, check whether the TDS belongs to you, whether it is linked to the correct PAN, whether the deductor details are correct, and whether the corresponding income is included in the return. Claiming TDS without reporting the related income can create mismatch risk.

Mismatch	Possible Reason	Safer Action
TDS missing	Deductor has not filed or corrected TDS return	Check with employer, bank, tenant or client before claiming
AIS income higher	Duplicate reporting, accrued interest, multiple sources or data timing	Compare with actual records and submit AIS feedback where appropriate
Capital gains mismatch	Different calculation method, missing cost, corporate actions or broker data issue	Use correct capital gains statement and verify holding period
Refund lower than expected	Tax credit mismatch, wrong regime, missing deduction or incorrect income entry	Review computation before submission or after intimation

Wrong ITR form selection can look like a filing glitch

Sometimes the portal is not the problem. The issue may be that the taxpayer selected a return form that does not match the income profile. A simple salaried taxpayer may be eligible for a simpler form, but a taxpayer with capital gains, business income, professional income, foreign assets, foreign income, directorship, unlisted shares, or other conditions may need a different form.

If the form does not show the schedule you need, or the portal does not allow you to enter a particular income type, do not force the entry into the wrong field. Review the applicable ITR form instructions. Filing the wrong form can lead to defective return issues, mismatch, correction work, or compliance risk.

E-verification and ITR-V glitches

Submitting the return is not the final step. The return must be verified. Many taxpayers believe their filing is complete because the return was uploaded successfully, but an unverified return can create serious issues. The official guidance states that the time limit for e-verification or submission of ITR-V is generally 30 days from the date of filing the return.

Common e-verification glitches

• Aadhaar OTP not received.
• Bank account EVC not generated.
• Demat EVC option not working.
• Net banking verification link not opening.
• Return submitted but verification pending.
• Taxpayer forgets to verify within the required timeline.

If one e-verification method does not work, check whether another available method can be used. Do not wait until the 30-day period is close to expiring. After verification, download and save the acknowledgement for your records.

Refund, bank validation and processing glitches

Refund-related glitches are common when taxpayers expect money back after filing. A refund may be delayed or fail due to bank validation issues, PAN-bank mismatch, incorrect account number, closed account, IFSC changes, return not verified, return not processed, tax credit mismatch, or additional review by the department.

Before filing, make sure the refund bank account is active, correctly entered, validated, and linked to the taxpayer’s PAN where required. After filing, track the return status and refund status through the official portal. If a refund fails, check whether bank revalidation or a refund reissue request is required through the official process.

Why refund can be delayed even after successful filing

• The return was submitted but not e-verified.
• The bank account was not validated or was inactive.
• TDS claimed does not match available tax credit records.
• AIS or income mismatch triggered additional checks.
• The return is still under processing.
• An intimation has been issued showing adjustment or demand.

Income tax return filing glitches by taxpayer profile

Different taxpayers face different filing problems. A salaried employee may struggle with Form 16 and AIS mismatch, while a freelancer may face TDS, expense, and presumptive taxation questions. An investor may face capital gains data mismatch. An NRI may face residential status and foreign disclosure issues.

For salaried employees

Salaried taxpayers often rely only on Form 16. This can create problems if they changed jobs, earned interest, received dividends, sold mutual funds, earned rental income, or have TDS from more than one source. If your prefilled salary does not match Form 16, check whether both employer records and portal data are updated.

Common glitches for salaried employees include:

• Previous employer income not included.
• HRA or deductions not reflected correctly.
• Old and new tax regime calculation mismatch.
• Bank interest missing from return.
• Refund amount lower than expected due to tax credit mismatch.

For freelancers and consultants

Freelancers and consultants may face glitches because professional receipts, TDS, and expenses are not always automatically organized. A client may deduct TDS, but the income must still be reported correctly. If presumptive taxation is used, eligibility and conditions should be checked carefully.

Common glitches for freelancers include:

• Form 16A or TDS mismatch with client payments.
• Confusion between gross receipts and net income.
• Expense claims without proper records.
• Wrong ITR form selection.
• Advance tax or self-assessment tax challan mismatch.

For investors with capital gains

Investors often face glitches when capital gains data does not match broker statements, mutual fund reports, or AIS. Differences can arise due to corporate actions, grandfathering, cost details, bonus shares, split shares, multiple purchase lots, intraday trades, futures and options, foreign securities, or unlisted shares.

Do not file capital gains based only on a casual profit/loss screenshot. Use complete capital gains statements and review short-term and long-term classification carefully.

For NRIs and taxpayers with foreign income

NRI taxpayers may face filing glitches due to residential status, Indian income, TDS on NRO accounts, DTAA considerations, foreign asset disclosure, and bank validation issues. Filing a simple return without checking residential status can create reporting errors.

If you are an NRI, returning Indian, or resident with foreign assets, take extra care before filing. Foreign income and foreign asset reporting errors can be more serious than ordinary data mismatches.

For small business owners and professionals

Business owners and professionals may face issues with books of account, GST reconciliation, TDS/TCS, advance tax, depreciation, partner remuneration, presumptive taxation, audit applicability, and expense classification. These are not merely portal glitches. They require correct accounting and tax treatment before filing.

What to do when the portal shows an unexpected tax payable amount

An unexpected tax payable amount can feel like a filing glitch, but it may be caused by missing TDS, wrong tax regime, unreported income, deduction disallowance, self-assessment tax not entered, advance tax not reflected, or incorrect income classification.

Before paying or submitting, check the following:

• Is the correct assessment year selected?
• Is the correct tax regime selected?
• Is income from all employers included only once?
• Are deductions entered under the correct regime?
• Are TDS, TCS, advance tax and self-assessment tax correctly reflected?
• Is bank interest, dividend, rent or capital gains entered correctly?
• Is surcharge, cess, interest or fee being applied correctly?

If tax is genuinely payable, pay it through the proper channel and verify challan details before submitting the return. If the amount is due to a data error, resolve the mismatch before filing where possible.

What to do if the return is filed with an error

If you discover an error after filing, do not ignore it. Depending on the issue and applicable timeline, you may need to file a revised return, respond to an intimation, submit a rectification request, or consult a tax expert. The correct action depends on whether the error is in income reporting, deduction claim, tax credit, bank details, ITR form selection, or return processing.

Common post-filing errors include:

• Missed income from interest, dividend, rent or capital gains.
• Wrong bank account selected for refund.
• Incorrect deduction claimed.
• Tax credit mismatch ignored before filing.
• Return submitted but not verified.
• Wrong ITR form selected.
• Incorrect residential status selected.

A revised return can help correct certain mistakes within the permitted timeline. However, some issues require more careful handling, especially if an intimation or notice has already been issued.

Safe filing checklist to avoid income tax return filing glitches

The best way to manage ITR filing glitches is to prevent them before they happen. Use this checklist before submitting your income tax return.

Decision guide: should you retry, wait, revise or ask an expert?

Situation	Likely Action	Expert Help Needed?
Portal page not loading	Clear cache, change browser, retry later	Usually not needed unless deadline is near
OTP not received	Check registered details, retry, use alternate verification option	Helpful if verification deadline is close
AIS mismatch	Compare records and submit feedback where appropriate	Recommended if mismatch is material
TDS missing	Check deductor reporting and Form 26AS	Recommended if refund or tax credit is affected
Wrong ITR form selected	Review eligibility and choose correct form	Recommended for capital gains, business, NRI or foreign income
Return filed with mistake	Evaluate revised return, rectification or response option	Recommended
Notice or intimation received	Read carefully and compare with filed return	Strongly recommended

When should you take expert help?

Simple technical glitches can often be solved with basic troubleshooting. But expert help becomes valuable when the issue involves tax interpretation, data reconciliation, complex income, or a possible compliance risk.

Consider expert assistance if you have:

• Large AIS, TIS or Form 26AS mismatch.
• Capital gains from shares, mutual funds, property or foreign assets.
• Freelance, consulting, professional or business income.
• Income from multiple employers.
• NRI taxation or residential status confusion.
• Foreign income or foreign asset disclosure requirement.
• Crypto or virtual digital asset transactions.
• High refund claim or refund failure.
• Previous tax notices, defective return or demand issue.
• Confusion about revised return, updated return or rectification.

At WealthSure, the approach is not only to file the return but to review the story behind the numbers. That includes income sources, tax credits, applicable form, regime comparison, refund eligibility, mismatch risk, and future tax planning opportunities.

How WealthSure helps with ITR filing glitches

WealthSure is a fintech-powered financial solutions platform that helps individuals, salaried professionals, freelancers, investors, NRIs, small business owners, and professionals manage tax filing and broader financial needs with clarity. As an Authorised Tax Return Preparer and e-Return Intermediary, WealthSure focuses on accurate filing, practical guidance, and compliance-led support.

Depending on your situation, WealthSure can help you with:

• ITR form selection based on income profile.
• AIS, TIS and Form 26AS review.
• Salary, freelance, professional and business income reporting.
• Capital gains tax reporting for shares, mutual funds and property.
• Old vs new tax regime comparison.
• Refund and tax credit mismatch review.
• Revised return and updated return guidance.
• Income tax notice response support.
• NRI tax filing and foreign income review.
• Tax planning and financial advisory beyond filing.

The objective is simple: reduce confusion, avoid careless mistakes, and help you move from tax filing stress to financial confidence.

FAQs on income tax return filing glitches

1. What are income tax return filing glitches?

Income tax return filing glitches are technical, data-related, or process-related issues that stop taxpayers from filing, submitting, verifying, or tracking their ITR smoothly. These may include portal slowdown, login errors, OTP failure, AIS mismatch, tax credit mismatch, wrong form selection, JSON upload errors, refund failures, and e-verification problems.

2. Why does the income tax portal become slow during ITR filing?

The portal may feel slow during peak filing periods because many taxpayers are logging in, preparing returns, downloading forms, uploading utilities, or verifying returns at the same time. Browser cache, unstable internet, or device issues can also make the experience worse.

3. What should I do if I cannot log in to the e-filing portal?

Check your PAN or user ID, password, CAPTCHA, and registered mobile/email details. Clear browser cache, use an updated browser, and avoid repeated wrong attempts. If required, reset your password through the official process.

4. Is AIS mismatch a serious issue?

AIS mismatch should be reviewed carefully. It may be due to duplicate reporting, timing differences, incorrect reporting, or missing records in your own documents. Compare AIS with Form 16, Form 26AS, bank statements, broker reports, and actual income records before filing.

5. Can I file ITR if TDS is not showing in Form 26AS?

You should first check why the TDS is missing. The deductor may not have filed or corrected the TDS statement, or the tax may have been reported under the wrong PAN. Claiming tax credit without proper reflection can create refund or mismatch issues.

6. What if the portal shows unexpected tax payable?

Review your income entries, tax regime, deductions, TDS, TCS, advance tax, self-assessment tax, and challan details. An unexpected tax payable amount may be due to missing tax credit, wrong regime selection, missing deduction, or unreported income.

7. What happens if I submit ITR but do not e-verify it?

ITR filing is not complete unless the return is verified. Official guidance generally provides a 30-day timeline for e-verification or ITR-V submission from the date of filing. Complete verification as soon as possible after submission.

8. Can I use the offline utility if online filing is not working?

For eligible forms and situations, the official portal provides offline utilities that can be downloaded, filled, validated, and uploaded as JSON. Use only the latest official utility for the relevant assessment year and form.

9. Why is my refund delayed even after filing ITR?

Refund delay may happen because the return is not e-verified, the return is still processing, the bank account is not validated, there is tax credit mismatch, or the department has made an adjustment after processing.

10. Can I revise my return if I filed it incorrectly because of a glitch?

If a mistake is discovered after filing, a revised return may be possible within the permitted timeline, subject to applicable rules. For serious mismatch, wrong form selection, missed income, or notice-related issues, expert guidance is recommended.

11. Should I wait for portal glitches to resolve near the due date?

Do not wait passively when the due date is near. Try practical troubleshooting, keep screenshots of errors, use available official alternatives where applicable, and seek professional help if the issue involves data mismatch, tax payable, or complex income.

12. Is it safe to take help from a tax filing expert?

Yes, if the expert or platform is trusted, transparent, and compliance-focused. Avoid sharing passwords, OTPs, or sensitive data with unknown persons. Work with a reliable provider that explains the return, computation, and filing status clearly.

Conclusion

Income tax return filing glitches can happen for many reasons, but they should not lead to careless filing. The safest approach is to identify whether the issue is technical, data-related, or process-related. Technical glitches may need browser cleanup, retrying later, or using official utilities. Data glitches require reconciliation with AIS, TIS, Form 26AS, Form 16, bank statements, broker reports, and challans. Process glitches may require correct form selection, timely e-verification, revised return filing, or professional support.

Filing your ITR is not only about completing a portal form. It is about reporting income correctly, claiming valid tax credits, choosing the right tax regime, avoiding mismatch, and keeping your compliance record clean. If you are unsure, do not guess. Review the official portal, check your documents, and consider expert assistance before submission.

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute tax, legal, financial or professional advice. Income tax rules, forms, due dates, e-verification timelines, return utilities, deductions, exemptions, portal processes and compliance requirements may change. Please verify the latest information on the official Income Tax Department website or consult a qualified tax professional before filing your return or making tax decisions.