Income-tax returns, June 4 -- I asked ChatGPT the most common mistakes people could make when filing their returns in 2026. Here's the top 15 important checks it highlighted, including some that can delay your refund process.

What are the most common income tax return (ITR) filing mistakes people make? Highlight the important ones for taxpayers to remember in 2026. Can any mistake delay my refund?

Yes. Several common ITR mistakes can delay processing, trigger notices, or postpone your refund. For Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27 (income earned in FY 2025-26), the Income Tax Department relies heavily on automated matching of your return against AIS, Form 26AS, TDS records, and bank-account information, making accuracy more important than eve...