ITR Filing: How to check your refund status online

Published 15 July 2026 · general

How long does an income tax refund usually take? How to check your income tax refund status online ET Online View Filed Returns What do

How long does an income tax refund usually take? How to check your income tax refund status online ET Online View Filed Returns What do common ITR processing and refund statuses mean? Refund Issued Refund Failed Processed with Tax Demand due Under Verification Why do income tax refunds get delayed? What should taxpayers check after filing their ITR? Can the Income Tax Department adjust your refund against old tax demands? Filed your ITR but did not get your income tax refund yet? For many taxpayers, one of the most satisfying moments after filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) is seeing the refund credited to their bank account.However, not every tax refund is processed immediately.While some taxpayers get their refunds quickly others have to wait a little longer. However, there are some delays which may require taxpayer to act. Experts say there is usually no need to panic. Understanding your assessment or tax refund status and knowing when to act can help avoid unnecessary delays.Many taxpayers assume that filing and e-verifying an ITR guarantees a tax refund within a few days.In reality, refund timelines vary.Most refunds are processed within two to six weeks, provided the return has been correctly filed and e-verified, according to Abhishek Soni, CEO, Tax2win.“While some taxpayers may receive their refunds within a few days, this is not the norm", he says.If there is no update even after 30 to 45 days, taxpayers should log in to the Income Tax e-filing portal and check the refund status.The easiest way to track the status of your tax refund is through the Income Tax Department's e-filing portal.After logging in, taxpayers can navigate to 'e-File' > 'Income Tax Returns' > 'View Filed Returns' and select the relevant assessment year.The portal displays the current processing status of the ITR, including whether the refund has been issued, failed, is under verification or has been adjusted against an outstanding demandThe refund status shown on the portal reflects the stage at which the return is currently being processed.

Understanding these statuses can help taxpayers decide whether they simply need to wait or take corrective action.This status means the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) has processed the income tax return under Section 143(1), determined that a tax refund is payable and initiated the payment.Taxpayers should generally wait three to five working days for the amount to reach their bank account, according to Nikita Seth, Legal Associate, Jotwani Associates.A "Refund Issued" status only confirms that the refund has been processed. It does not necessarily mean the assessment process has concluded completely, explains Seth.If the refund still does not arrive, they should verify that the nominated bank account is active, pre-validated and correctly linked with their PAN. If necessary, a Refund Reissue Request can be submitted after confirming the bank account details.This status indicates that the Income Tax Department attempted to transfer the refund, but the payment could not be completed.This does not mean the taxpayer has lost the refund, according to Seth.Common reasons include an incorrect account number or IFSC, a closed or dormant bank account, failure to pre-validate the account, a mismatch between PAN and bank records, or not nominating the account for receiving refunds.Rather than filing the income tax return again, taxpayers should first update and pre-validate the correct bank account on the e-filing portal, nominate it for refunds and then submit a Refund Reissue Request."In practice, most refund failures arise because taxpayers update their bank account after filing but