ITR Refund Timeline Checker

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How it is calculated

A refund is only processed once the return is e-verified, so the clock runs from the verification date and not the filing date — which is why 'I filed six weeks ago' on its own means nothing. Clean returns are usually credited within about 7-15 days of verification; anything past roughly 90 days is worth escalating. Two causes stop the money while the return looks completely normal on the portal: an inoperative PAN, where a refund cannot be issued at all until Aadhaar is linked, and a Section 245 set-off, where an earlier year's demand quietly absorbs the refund instead of it being paid. The checker asks about both, along with bank pre-validation and any open notice, and reports the blockers in the order they actually bite so you fix the one that matters first.

Frequently asked questions

Does the refund clock start when I file or when I verify?

When you e-verify. A filed but unverified return is not processed at all, so the waiting time only begins on the verification date. If you verify after the 30-day window, the return is treated as filed on the verification date.

My return is processed but no money arrived. Why?

Usually one of two things. Either the credit failed because the bank account was not pre-validated, or the refund was adjusted against an earlier year's demand under Section 245. Check Pending Actions to Response to Outstanding Demand — if a demand is listed, the refund was set off rather than lost, and you can disagree if the demand is wrong.

Can an inoperative PAN stop my refund?

Yes. If your PAN is not linked to Aadhaar it becomes inoperative and no refund is issued while it stays that way, and that period earns no interest either. The return itself stays valid — link Aadhaar, wait for the status to update, then raise a refund reissue.

When should I raise a grievance instead of waiting?

Once everything on your side is clean — verified return, validated bank account, operative PAN, no pending demand or notice — and the refund is still not credited well past the usual window. Raise it with CPC quoting your acknowledgement number and verification date. Do not file a second return; it does not speed anything up.

Will I get interest for the delay?

Section 244A generally provides interest at 0.5% for every month or part of a month of delay, added automatically when the refund is processed. It does not accrue for any period of delay attributable to you, which is exactly what an unverified return, an inoperative PAN or an unanswered notice creates.

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