The Income-Tax Department is closely reviewing high-value refund claims flagged for potential discrepancies. While smaller refunds are already being processed, CBDT Chairman Ravi Agrawal has assured taxpayers that legitimate high-value payouts will be cleared by December 2025. Refund claims worth ₹2.42 lakh crore have been filed till November 10, showing an 18% drop from last year. The department has also increased appeal disposals by 40% and remains confident of meeting its ₹25.20 lakh crore direct tax collection target for FY26, supported by 6.99% growth. Leveraging AI-powered tools, the CBDT is enhancing compliance, monitoring taxpayer behavior, and identifying potential evasion