You filed on time, the portal says the return was submitted, and the refund still has not arrived. In the overwhelming majority of cases the cause is mundane and fixable — an unverified return or a bank account that was never pre-validated. Here is how to check where yours actually is, and what to do about each outcome.
How to check your refund status
- Log in to incometax.gov.in with your PAN.
- Go to e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns.
- Find the relevant assessment year — for FY 2025-26 that is AY 2026-27 — and open it.
- The status line tells you where you are in the pipeline, and once processing is complete you can download the intimation under Section 143(1) which states the refund determined.
What each status actually means
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Submitted, pending e-verification | The return is not yet legally filed | E-verify immediately via Aadhaar OTP, net banking or bank EVC |
| Successfully e-verified | Filed and queued for processing at CPC | Wait — this is the normal state before processing |
| Processed with refund due | CPC has agreed a refund is payable | Nothing; credit usually follows within days |
| Refund issued | Sent to your bank | Check the account; allow a few working days |
| Refund failed | The bank credit was rejected | Fix and pre-validate the bank account, then raise a refund reissue |
| Processed with demand due | CPC disagrees with your computation | Read the 143(1) intimation carefully before paying anything |
The six reasons refunds actually fail
- The return was never e-verified. By far the most common. Thirty days from submission, then the return is treated as never filed.
- Bank account not pre-validated. Refunds are only issued to accounts pre-validated on the portal, under Profile → My Bank Account. Validate the account you actually want the money in, and mark it for refund.
- Name mismatch. The name on the bank account must match the name against your PAN. Even a middle-name difference can cause rejection.
- Closed or dormant account. People frequently give an old salary account they no longer operate.
- Adjusted against an earlier demand. Under Section 245 the department can offset your refund against an old outstanding demand, after intimating you.
- TDS credit disallowed. If you claimed TDS that does not appear in your Form 26AS, CPC will not allow it — which can turn an expected refund into a demand.
Raising a refund reissue request
If the status shows the refund failed, you do not need to file again:
- First fix the underlying problem — usually adding and pre-validating a working bank account under Profile → My Bank Account.
- Go to Services → Refund Reissue and create a new request.
- Select the assessment year and the pre-validated account you want the refund credited to.
- Verify the request with Aadhaar OTP or EVC and submit. The refund is then re-attempted.
Interest on delayed refunds
You are not simply expected to absorb a delay. Under Section 244A, interest is generally payable at 0.5% per month on refunds where the refund is at least 10% of the tax determined, usually computed from 1 April of the assessment year when the return was filed on time. One detail people miss: that interest is itself taxable, and must be reported as income from other sources in the year you receive it.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an ITR refund take?
Most refunds are issued within roughly four to five weeks of e-verification, and simple salaried returns are often processed considerably faster. The clock starts when you e-verify, not when you submit — an unverified return is not treated as filed at all, so it sits untouched.
How do I check my income tax refund status?
Log in to incometax.gov.in, open 'e-File' then 'Income Tax Returns' then 'View Filed Returns', and check the status against the relevant assessment year. Once processed, the intimation under Section 143(1) will show whether a refund was determined, and the refund status line shows whether it has been issued, is in process, or has failed.
Why has my refund not been credited?
The most common causes are: the return was never e-verified; the bank account is not pre-validated on the portal; the name on the bank account does not match your PAN; the account is closed or dormant; or the refund was adjusted against an outstanding demand from an earlier year under Section 245.
What is a refund reissue request?
If a refund fails — typically because of a bank account problem — you can request it again without refiling. On the portal go to 'Services' then 'Refund Reissue', create a request, select or add a pre-validated bank account, and verify it. The refund is then re-attempted to the corrected account.
Do I get interest on a delayed refund?
Yes. Under Section 244A, interest is generally payable at 0.5% per month on refunds where the amount is at least 10% of the tax determined. Interest is normally computed from 1 April of the assessment year where the return was filed on time. Any interest paid to you is itself taxable as income from other sources.
Can my refund be adjusted against old dues?
Yes. Under Section 245 the department can set off a refund against an outstanding demand from a previous year, but it must give you prior intimation and an opportunity to respond. If you disagree with the old demand, respond on the portal under 'Response to Outstanding Demand' before the adjustment is finalised.
Official sources
Every figure and rule in this guide is checked against the official government sources below. Always confirm for your own situation before filing.