Tax · Guide

Income tax refund: how to check status and fix a delay

Short answer

Your refund is processed after you e-verify the return, and is paid only to a pre-validated bank account linked to your PAN. Check status on the e-filing portal under your filed returns. Most delays come from an unvalidated bank account, a return not e-verified, a TDS mismatch, or the refund being adjusted against an old demand.

A refund arises when tax deducted or paid during the year is more than the tax on your return. It is not automatic in the sense of arriving on a fixed date: it follows processing, and processing follows e-verification. Here is how to track it and what to do when it is stuck.

By FinancePaisa Editorial Team · Research & editorialUpdated 22 October 2026 · 3 min read

On this page (6 sections)

Refund status kaise check karein? How to check your refund status

Log in to the e-filing portal and open e-File > Income Tax Returns > View Filed Returns. Each year shows its stage: submitted, verified, processed, refund issued.
Read the intimation sent to your email after processing. It shows the refund determined, any adjustment, and the interest.
Check Form 26AS or AIS: the refund paid and its date appear there.
Once the refund is issued, the refund banker also sends you a credit advice by email or SMS.

Why is my income tax refund delayed?

Reason	What to do
Return not e-verified	E-verify with Aadhaar OTP or net banking. The return is processed only after this.
Bank account not pre-validated, or validation failed	Re-validate under Profile > My Bank Account and nominate it for refund. Then raise a refund reissue request.
Name or PAN mismatch with the bank	Update KYC at the bank so the name matches PAN, then re-validate.
TDS claimed is more than Form 26AS shows	Ask the deductor to correct their TDS return, or file a revised return with the right figure.
Refund adjusted against an outstanding demand	Check Pending Actions > Response to Outstanding Demand. Agree, disagree with reasons, or pay.
Return picked for further checks	Respond to any notice or communication in e-Proceedings.

Return not e-verified
What to do
E-verify with Aadhaar OTP or net banking. The return is processed only after this.
Bank account not pre-validated, or validation failed
What to do
Re-validate under Profile > My Bank Account and nominate it for refund. Then raise a refund reissue request.
Name or PAN mismatch with the bank
What to do
Update KYC at the bank so the name matches PAN, then re-validate.
TDS claimed is more than Form 26AS shows
What to do
Ask the deductor to correct their TDS return, or file a revised return with the right figure.
Refund adjusted against an outstanding demand
What to do
Check Pending Actions > Response to Outstanding Demand. Agree, disagree with reasons, or pay.
Return picked for further checks
What to do
Respond to any notice or communication in e-Proceedings.

How do I match a bank credit to my refund?

Banks write their own description for incoming government credits, so the narration on your statement varies. Match the amount and date with the refund shown in your intimation and in Form 26AS. If the portal shows the refund as paid and you cannot find it, the refund banker's credit advice shows the account it went to.

Do I get interest on a late refund?

Yes. Interest on refunds (244A of the 1961 Act) is 0.5% for each month. On a refund of Rs 20,000 that is Rs 100 a month. The period it is counted for depends on when you filed and when the refund is granted; the intimation shows the amount. The interest is taxable under income from other sources in the year you receive it.

Frequently asked questions

Refund kitne din mein aata hai? How long does a refund take?

There is no fixed number of days. Once a return is e-verified, many simple ITR-1 refunds are processed within weeks; returns with mismatches take longer. Track the stage on the e-filing portal.

Can I get my refund in a different bank account?

Yes, any savings or current account in your name that is pre-validated and nominated for refund on the e-filing portal.

My refund failed. What now?

Fix the cause shown on the portal, usually the bank account, then raise a refund reissue request under Services > Refund Reissue.

Is the refund itself taxable?

No. The refund is your own excess tax coming back. Only the interest paid with it is taxable.

Sources & references

Income Tax e-filing portal — Income Tax Department (checked 22 Oct 2026)
Income tax refund delay: tracking, causes and section 244A interest — TaxGuru (checked 22 Oct 2026)
Interest on income tax refund is taxable — TaxBuddy (checked 22 Oct 2026)
All I-T refunds to be put directly in bank accounts: CBDT — Business Today (checked 22 Oct 2026)

Rates, fees, eligibility, and product terms cited on this page reflect the sources above at the time of publication and may have changed since. Always verify directly with the lender or regulator.