Your income tax refund status is shown on the e-filing portal: sign in with your PAN, open e-File, pick Income Tax Returns and choose View Filed Returns, and the latest entry shows whether the refund was issued, failed or adjusted. A quick status without signing in is also available on the home page using the acknowledgement number.
A refund arises when TDS, advance tax or self-assessment tax is more than the tax worked out on your return. The department pays it only after the return is e-verified and processed. This hub covers the status checks, the meaning of each message, interest on late refunds and links to every ITR guide on the site.
Quick facts
Where
e-filing portal, View Filed ReturnsNeeds
E-verified return and a pre-validated bank accountPaid by
Direct credit to the bank account in the returnInterest
0.5% a month under section 244AProcessing limit
9 months from the end of the FY in which the return was filedFailed refund
Request reissue under Services
How to check ITR refund status after signing in
- Go to the official e-filing site and sign in with your PAN or Aadhaar.
- Open e-File > Income Tax Returns > View Filed Returns.
- Find the return for AY 2026-27. The card shows the timeline: filed, verified, processed, refund issued.
- Click View Details to see the refund amount, the date sent and the bank account used.
- If it says refund failed, note the reason given and follow the fix in the table below.
Sign-in help is on our portal login guide.
ITR status check without logging in
On the home page you will find an Income Tax Return (ITR) Status service. Enter the 15-digit acknowledgement number from your ITR-V and a mobile number; an OTP is sent and the current stage appears. This shows the stage of the return but not bank details, so use the logged-in view to see where money was sent.
Some people still look for an ITR status check by PAN card number alone. The portal does not give refund details on PAN without a sign-in or OTP, which protects your data. Avoid any site that offers a PAN-only lookup.
What each income tax refund status means
| Status shown | Meaning | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Return submitted and verified | Waiting in the processing queue | Nothing yet; check again in a few weeks |
| Processed with refund due | The intimation confirms a refund; payment is being prepared | Wait for the credit; check the bank account is validated |
| Refund issued | Money sent to your bank | Check the account in View Details; credit can take a few days |
| Refund failure | Bank rejected the credit, often a closed account or name mismatch | Validate a working account and raise a refund reissue request |
| Adjusted against demand | Refund used to clear an older tax demand under section 245 | Check the demand; respond in Pending Actions if you disagree |
| Processed, no demand no refund | Tax paid equals tax due as per processing | Compare the intimation with your return to see what was reduced |
Interest on income tax refund
Under section 244A you earn interest at 0.5% a month on the refund. If the return was filed by its due date, interest is counted from 1 April of the assessment year up to the date the refund is granted. If filed late, it starts from the filing date. Any part month is rounded up to a whole month. No interest is paid if the refund is less than 10% of the tax due.
Interest worked out. Sameer files his AY 2026-27 return on 10 July and claims ₹24,000. The refund is granted on 18 November. Months counted: April to November, which is 8 months. Interest: 0.5% × 8 × ₹24,000 = ₹960, so ₹24,960 is credited. The ₹960 is taxable income of tax year 2026-27, when he receives it.
ITR processing time and why it varies
Simple returns with salary income and matching TDS are often processed within weeks of e-verification. Returns with large refunds, deductions that do not match AIS, business income or many TDS entries take longer and can be picked for extra checks. Under section 143(1), the department may take up to nine months after the financial year of filing ends to process the return.
If processing is taking very long, see why refunds get delayed. A revised return resets the queue: the department processes the latest valid return, so revise only when needed.
Fixing a refund that failed
- Sign in and open My Profile > My Bank Account.
- Add or re-validate an account in your own name, with the PAN linked and the IFSC correct. Mark it for refund.
- Wait for the validation result, usually shown within a few days.
- Go to Services > Refund Reissue, select the AY 2026-27 return and the validated account, and submit with e-verification.
If the reissue also fails, raise a grievance under Grievances > Submit Grievance on the portal.
All pages in our ITR group
| Page | What it answers |
|---|---|
| Refund delayed | Reasons a refund sits unpaid, with fixes |
| Section 143(1) intimation | The processing letter that confirms the refund figure |
| E-verification | No processing starts until this is done |
| AIS and 26AS | TDS credits that decide the refund amount |
| Signing in | Reaching View Filed Returns on the portal |
| PDF password | Opening the intimation that shows the refund |
| Helpline numbers | Who to ring when the refund fails |
| Filing steps | Claiming the refund correctly in the first place |
| Form selection | A wrong form can hold up processing |
| Deadlines | Filing on time protects refund interest |
| 234F fee | Late fees deducted from what comes back |
| ITR-U | Why an updated return cannot raise a refund |
| ITR-1 Sahaj | Salary refunds, usually processed fastest |
| ITR-2 | Refunds where capital gains are reported |
| ITR-3 | Business refunds after TDS by clients |
| ITR-4 Sugam | Presumptive filers whose TDS exceeds tax |
| ITR-5 to ITR-7 | Refunds for firms, companies and trusts |
| Salaried ITR | Getting back excess TDS from salary |
| Express ITR | Simple returns that tend to clear quickly |
| What is ITR | Why only a return can unlock a refund |
This page explains how refunds are tracked; it cannot see your file or speed it up. Processing practice shifts each season, so check messages on the portal itself, or take a chartered accountant's help for a stuck case.
Sources we checked
- Income-tax Act, 1961, section 143(1)
- Income-tax Act, 1961, section 244A
- Income-tax Act, 1961, section 245
- E-filing portal, refund reissue user manual
Frequently asked questions
How to check income tax refund status online?
Log on to the e-filing portal, choose View Filed Returns under e-File and Income Tax Returns, and open the AY 2026-27 entry. The status and refund details appear there.
Can I do an itr refund status check by PAN number?
Only after signing in with your PAN as user ID. The pre-login ITR status service uses the acknowledgement number and a mobile OTP instead.
What does itr refund status processed no payment mean?
Processing is complete, but no refund has reached you. Either the refund is still being paid, it failed at the bank, or it was adjusted against an older demand. Open View Details to see which.
Do I get interest on a delayed income tax refund?
Yes, 0.5% a month under section 244A, counted from 1 April of the assessment year if you filed on time. The interest is taxable in the year received.
How long does itr processing take before income tax refunds are paid?
Simple returns often clear in weeks after e-verification. By law, processing must finish within nine months once the financial year of filing is over.