An income tax refund is the amount paid by the income tax department when the amount paid in taxes (through TDS, TCS, Advance Tax, or Self-Assessment Tax) exceeds the actual amount due after all deductions and exemptions are considered.
When to Expect The Refund?
- Refund processing by the tax department begins only after your return is e-verified.
- It typically takes 4-5 weeks for the refund to be credited to your bank account
| Also Know – ITR Refund Time For AY 2025-26 |
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Go to the e-Filing portal homepage.
Step 2: Enter the user ID and password.
- For individual users, if PAN is not linked with the Aadhaar, you will see a pop-up message that your PAN is made inoperative as it is not linked with your Aadhaar.
- To link the PAN with Aadhaar, click on Link Now button else click Continue.
Step 3: Go to e-File tab > Income Tax Returns > View Filed Returns.
Step 4: Now you can check the refund status for the desired Assessment year.
- Click on View Details; here you can also check the life cycle of filed ITR.
| Also Know – ITR Processing Time For AY 2025-26 |
Refund Status
Status 1: When a refund is issued
This status means that the refund has been successfully processed and the funds have been returned to the original payment method.
Status 2: When a refund is partially adjusted
It means that only a portion of the original refund amount has been processed or approved, while the remaining balance may still be pending, cancelled, or adjusted due to various reasons.
Status 3: When full refund adjusted
It means that the entire refund amount has been processed, but adjustments (such as fees, deductions, or corrections) were applied before the final amount was issued.
Status 4: When refund is failed
It means the refund process could not be completed successfully. The money has not been returned to the customer, and further action is required to resolve the issue.
Common Reasons for User Frustration
Several reasons can cause a refund to fail that can cause frustration, especially when their refund does not process smoothly:
- PAN is inoperative PAN if not linked with Aadhaar.
- Bank account is not pre-validated.
- Name mentioned in bank account does not match your PAN card details.
- Invalid IFSC code.
FAQs
If your refund isn’t received within 4-5 weeks, you should check for intimations regarding discrepancies in your ITR, check your email for any notifications from the IT department, or you can check the refund status on the e-filing portal.
To check your refund status, you need a valid User ID and Password, your PAN must be linked with your Aadhaar number, and you must have filed an ITR claiming a refund.
You can contact the e-filing and Centralized Processing Center at 1800-425-2229 or 080-43456700 for refund-related queries or modifications. You can send a mail with your refund query to refunds@incometax.gov.in.
