1How do I check my income tax refund status?
Log in to the income tax e-filing portal and look under your filed returns — it shows whether the return is processed and the refund determined and issued. The return must be filed and e-verified first.
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ArticleIf you've paid more tax than you owe, a refund is due once your return is processed — and you can track it easily. Here's how to check your refund status and what to do if it's delayed.
Reviewed by CA Harika Chebolu, FCA · Last updated 2026-06-13
Quick answer
Track your refund on the income tax portal after your return is processed and e-verified. Here's how, and what the common delays mean.
A refund is only processed after your return is filed and e-verified, so complete both steps. Until the return is verified, processing doesn't begin and no refund status will show.
Log in to the income tax e-filing portal and look under your filed returns for the processing and refund status. It will show whether your return is processed, the refund determined, and whether it has been issued.
Refunds are credited to a pre-validated bank account linked to your PAN. If your account isn't validated, the refund can fail — so validate the correct account on the portal to avoid a failed or delayed credit.
Refunds can be delayed by a return still under processing, an AIS or 26AS mismatch, a pending response to a query, or an unvalidated bank account. The status message usually indicates the reason, which tells you what to fix.
After processing, you may receive an intimation (such as under section 143(1)) confirming the refund or flagging an adjustment. Read it, and if tax was adjusted against an old demand or a mismatch, respond as needed to release the refund.
Log in to the income tax e-filing portal and look under your filed returns — it shows whether the return is processed and the refund determined and issued. The return must be filed and e-verified first.
Common causes are a return still processing, an AIS/26AS mismatch, an unvalidated bank account, or a pending query. The status message usually shows the reason, which tells you what to fix.
Often because the bank account isn't pre-validated or the details are wrong. Refunds credit only to a pre-validated account linked to your PAN, so validate the correct account on the portal.
Refund stuck or delayed? Write to the firm and we'll find the cause and help release it.