Claim or track your income tax refund after ITR processing when excess TDS has been paid.
Jurisdiction
All of India
Who applies
Any taxpayer who has paid excess tax (through TDS, advance tax, or self-assessment tax) and is owed a refund by the Income Tax Department after ITR processing
Typical time
20–45 days after ITR processing (intimation under Section 143(1)); tracking is instant online
Fee
Free
| # | Document | Type needed | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Filed ITR acknowledgement (ITR-V) | Download / Print | Confirms the ITR has been submitted and e-verified; required reference for refund tracking |
| 2 | Intimation under Section 143(1) | Download / Print | CPC-issued processing intimation that confirms refund amount and the Assessment Year for which refund is due |
| 3 | Pre-validated bank account details | Download / Print | Bank IFSC and account number must be pre-validated on the e-Filing portal to receive NECS refund credit |
| 4 | Form 26AS / AIS | Download / Print | Verify TDS credits that form the basis of the refund claim before and after ITR filing |
Original documents: Carry originals only for in-person visits — do not hand them over permanently unless explicitly required.
The refund process begins only after you have correctly filed your ITR and e-verified it within 30 days of filing. Ensure that all TDS entries from Form 16/16A and Form 26AS are correctly entered in the TDS schedule of the ITR. The refund amount will be computed by CPC based on the figures in the filed return. Errors in TDS entries or income details can reduce or eliminate the refund amount.
Log in to the e-Filing portal and go to 'My Profile > Bank Account'. Add your bank account by entering the account number and IFSC code, and validate it using OTP sent to your Aadhaar/PAN-linked mobile number. The account must be in your own name and must be an active savings or current account. The refund will be credited via NECS (National Electronic Clearing System) to this account. Without pre-validation, the refund cannot be processed.
After e-verification, CPC Bengaluru processes the ITR typically within 20–45 days. CPC checks the return for arithmetical errors and compares income and TDS with AIS data. On completion, an Intimation under Section 143(1) is sent to your registered email and is available on the e-Filing portal under 'e-File > Income Tax Returns > View Filed Returns > View Intimation'. This intimation states the refund amount, any demand raised, or adjustments made.
Track the refund status on the e-Filing portal under 'Services > Refund / Demand Status' or on the NSDL Refund Status page using your PAN, Assessment Year, and the refund sequence number. The status will show as 'Refund Issued' once the credit instruction has been sent to SBI (the refund bank). The status 'Refund not determined' means the return is still being processed; 'Refund failure' means a bank account issue.
If the refund status shows 'Failure' (due to incorrect account number, closed account, or account not linked to PAN), log in to the e-Filing portal and update the correct pre-validated bank account under 'My Profile'. Then raise a refund re-issue request by going to 'Services > Refund Reissue'. Submit the request with the correct bank details. If the refund is not credited even after a 'Refund Issued' status, contact SBI at refunds@sbi.co.in or raise a grievance on the portal.
Income Tax Department, Ministry of Finance
Step 3 — Automated processing and intimation
Processes the filed ITR, computes refund after reconciling TDS credits, issues Intimation u/s 143(1), and initiates refund credit instruction to SBI.
Income Tax Department, Ministry of Finance
Exceptional cases — large refunds or adjustment against outstanding demand
Reviews refund claims above a threshold value, authorises refunds where outstanding demands exist, and handles cases referred from CPC for manual scrutiny.
File and e-verify ITR, pre-validate bank account, track refund and demand status, and raise refund re-issue requests.
Alternative portal to track income tax refund status using PAN and Assessment Year without logging in.
An unverified ITR is not treated as filed; CPC will not process it and no refund will be initiated until the return is e-verified.
The bank account must be pre-validated on the e-Filing portal and must be in your own name; joint accounts or accounts linked to a different PAN will cause refund failure.
CPC can adjust any outstanding income tax demand from earlier years against your current year's refund without prior notice; check for outstanding demands on the portal before expecting the full refund.
The IT Department pays interest at 0.5% per month on the refund amount (if the return is filed on time); this interest income is taxable and must be declared in the next year's ITR.
Refund interest under Section 244A is paid only from 1 April of the Assessment Year; if the ITR is filed late, the interest clock starts from the date of filing, reducing the total interest received.