Taxpayers are reporting delays in receiving income tax refunds, with some waiting over five months after filing their returns. The Income Tax Department is scrutinizing returns more rigorously, issuing notices for mismatches between filings and documents like Form 26AS. Common reasons for delays include failure to verify the ITR, discrepancies in reported income, outstanding tax demands, or incorrect bank details. Taxpayers are advised to verify their ITRs and match their filings with official documents to resolve issues.