When you get a refund
A [refund](/glossary/refund) means TDS and advance tax exceeded final tax liability after e-verified ITR processing. Common for salaried employees with high Form 16 TDS and extra 80C at filing.
Refund is not guaranteed until CPC processes your return — ITD may adjust against outstanding demands.
How to check status
- Log in to incometax.gov.in
- e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns or Refund Status
- Note processing stage: received → processed → refund issued
Refund amount and interest u/s 244A (if applicable) appear after processing.
Typical timeline
| Stage | Indicative time |
|---|---|
| E-verify complete | Day 0 |
| CPC processing | 2–4 weeks (varies by season) |
| Refund to bank | Additional 1–2 weeks after processing |
Peak season (July–August) adds delay — not a product bug.
Why refunds delay
- TDS mismatch — claimed credit not in 26AS
- Bank account not pre-validated — update IFSC/account on portal
- Outstanding demand — refund offset
- Defective return notice — respond before refund
Negative payable vs refund
If computation shows payable, no refund until you pay and file correctly. Do not confuse AIS-added income with refund eligibility.
Match TDS first
Reconcile TDS schedule with Form 26AS before expecting refund — largest cause of "refund pending" holds.
LastMinute ITR shows estimated refund from your draft — final amount is always ITD's processed figure.