TDS Refund: How to Claim, Check Status and Resolve Delays

For most individual taxpayers, a TDS refund is claimed through the ITR for the relevant tax period. Follow these steps:

1. Collect your tax records. Keep your TDS certificates and relevant income records ready. For applicable tax periods, review Form 26AS and other available tax statements.
2. Calculate your total income. Include income from all relevant sources, such as salary, interest, rent or professional receipts.
3. Calculate your final tax liability. Apply the tax rules, deductions and reliefs that are available to you for the relevant period.
4. File the correct ITR. Use the return form applicable to your income and tax period. Report the income and claim the eligible tax credits accurately.
5. Enter your bank details. Select an eligible bank account for the refund and check that the details are correct.
6. Submit and e-verify your ITR. A filed return must be verified before refund processing can begin.
7. Track the refund. Check the return and refund status on the official Income Tax e-filing portal.

Official portal: Income Tax Department e-filing portal.

Which tax law applies to your return?

The transition to the Income-tax Act, 2025 means it is important to select the correct tax period on the portal.

• Income earned up to 31 March 2026: Returns for these earlier periods continue to follow the applicable provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961. For example, income earned during FY 2025–26 is reported for Assessment Year 2026–27.
• Income earned from 1 April 2026 onwards: The Income-tax Act, 2025 applies to Tax Year 2026–27 and subsequent tax years, subject to the relevant transitional provisions.

Do not select a tax year or assessment year based only on the date you file your return. Choose the period that corresponds to the income being reported.

You can check the progress of a refund through the official e-filing portal:

1. Visit the Income Tax Department e-filing portal and log in.
2. Open e-File.
3. Select Income Tax Returns, followed by View Filed Returns.
4. Choose the relevant assessment year or tax period, as applicable.
5. Select View Details to review the return and refund status.

The status may indicate that the return is still being processed, the refund has been issued, the refund has failed or the refund has been adjusted. Read any accompanying message carefully because it may explain whether you need to take further action.

You can also use the department’s refund status guidance.

The precise wording shown on the portal may vary. The following table explains common outcomes and the action to consider.

If the Income Tax Department has issued a refund but the payment failed, you may be able to request a reissue through the e-filing portal. This is different from claiming a new refund or correcting the tax calculation in your return.

To raise a refund reissue request:

1. Log in to the Income Tax Department e-filing portal.
2. Open Services and select Refund Reissue.
3. Choose Create Refund Reissue Request.
4. Select the record for which the refund payment failed and continue.
5. Select a validated bank account for the refund. If necessary, add and validate an eligible account first.
6. Complete the required e-verification.
7. Save the transaction ID and check the request status on the portal.

Before submitting the request, check that the bank account is active, the account-holder details match the required records and the IFSC code is correct. The portal’s refund reissue user manual provides the official steps.

The time required to receive a refund varies with the return, tax credits, verification and any additional checks required. The Income Tax Department states that refunds are usually credited in around 4–5 weeks after e-verification, but this is a general indication, not a guaranteed deadline.

If the refund has not arrived, check the portal for the latest status and any message or intimation. Also confirm that your ITR was e-verified and that your bank account is validated and eligible to receive the refund.

Avoid relying on a fixed number of days quoted by unofficial websites. A return requiring further review or correction may take longer than a straightforward return.

Interest may be payable on an eligible income tax refund under the applicable tax law. However, it is not correct to assume that every refund delay automatically attracts interest or that every taxpayer receives the same amount.

Eligibility, the period for which interest is calculated and the applicable rate depend on the relevant provisions and the facts of the case. The provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961 may continue to govern earlier tax periods, while the Income-tax Act, 2025 applies to tax years beginning on or after 1 April 2026, subject to transitional rules.

Check the refund calculation and applicable legal provisions if you believe interest should have been included.

A refund may take longer or fail to reach your account for several reasons:

• The ITR has not been e-verified: Refund processing generally begins only after verification.
• The return is still being processed: The department may need more time to complete checks.
• Tax records do not match: The TDS claimed in the return may differ from the information available to the department.
• Bank details are incorrect: An invalid IFSC code, closed account or mismatch in account-holder details can prevent payment.
• The bank account is not pre-validated: The portal requires an eligible, validated account for refund credit.
• An outstanding demand exists: The department may adjust the refund in accordance with the applicable rules.
• Further information is required: A notice or other communication may require a response before the matter can be resolved.

How can you avoid common refund errors?

Before filing your return, take the following steps:

• Reconcile income and TDS amounts with the relevant certificates and tax statements.
• Select the correct ITR form and tax period.
• Report all applicable income rather than reporting only the income on which TDS was deducted.
• Claim only deductions, exemptions and reliefs that apply to your circumstances and the relevant tax period.
• Check that your PAN and bank details are accurate and that the selected bank account is pre-validated.
• E-verify the return within the applicable time limit.
• Read any intimation or notice from the department and respond within the specified period.

These checks can reduce avoidable errors, although they cannot guarantee a particular refund date.

If the refund remains pending beyond the expected processing period, follow a structured approach:

1. Check the refund status. Review the return’s lifecycle and any reason displayed on the portal.
2. Review your email and portal notifications. Look for an intimation, adjustment notice or request for additional information.
3. Check your tax credits. Confirm that the TDS claimed in your ITR is supported by the relevant tax records.
4. Verify your bank account. Check account validation, the account number, IFSC code and account-holder details.
5. Take the action appropriate to the status. A failed payment may require a refund reissue request; a mismatch or processing issue may require a different response.
6. Raise a grievance if necessary. If the issue remains unresolved, use the official portal’s grievance facility or the department’s published help channels.

Keep copies of your ITR acknowledgment, relevant TDS certificates, tax statements, bank details and any communications received. These can help when explaining the issue or responding to a request from the department.

Also read: What is Form 10E

If A TDS refund may be available when the total tax deducted or paid exceeds your final income tax liability. To claim it, file the correct ITR, report your income and tax credits accurately, and complete e-verification. You can then use the Income Tax Department’s portal to track the return, understand any adjustment or payment failure, and request a refund reissue where eligible.

Checking your tax records and bank details before filing can help prevent avoidable errors. Because tax procedures depend on the period in which the income was earned, make sure you follow the rules and forms applicable to the relevant tax year.

Also Read: Penalty for Late Filing of TDS Returns