How to Check Your Income Tax Refund Status — Simple Steps

Waiting for a tax refund? It happens—the good news is, you can check the status easily online in India. Whether you got extra tax deducted, overpaid via TDS, or claimed a refund with your ITR, here’s how to follow your refund journey transparently.

Why You Might Be Getting a Refund And Steps to Follow

If you paid more tax than your actual liability (due to TDS, advance tax, etc.), you qualify for a refund. The tax department calculates this following your ITR filing and e-verification.

Two Primary Ways to Check Refund Status Online

• Via the Income-Tax Department’s e-Filing Portal
• Visit the e-Filing portal (e.g., incometax.gov.in).
• Log in using your PAN and password.
• Navigate to e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns.
• Click the relevant Assessment Year and you’ll see refund status.
• Via the TIN-NSDL Refund Status Portal - Visit tin.tin.nsdl.com/oltas/refund-status-pan.html.
• Enter your PAN, select the assessment year, enter the captcha and proceed.

Status appears as “Refund Paid”, “Refund Issued”, or “Refund Failure”, etc.

What Tax Refund Status Messages Mean 

Common refund status messages you might see:

• Refund Paid / Credited – The refund has been sent to your validated bank account.
• Refund Issued – The department has processed the refund; check your bank.
• Refund Failure / Unable to Credit – There’s an issue with bank details or account validation.
• Under Processing / No Result Found – The refund is still being processed.

What Causes Delays & How to Avoid Them

• Incorrect bank account / IFSC code – Pre-validate your account in the e-Filing portal.
• Pending e-verification of ITR – After filing, complete e-verification to start processing.
• Mismatch in Form 26AS/AIS-TDS records – Make sure your tax credits and TDS reflect correctly before filing.
• Filing close to the deadline – Early filing often results in quicker refunds.

If your refund is delayed beyond reasonable time, you may raise a grievance through “e-Filing → My Account → Service Request”.

Conclusion

A few minutes spent checking the status today can save you weeks of waiting and guesswork. Stay informed, stay confident, and let the process work for you.