Income Tax Refund – How To Check Income Tax Refund Status For FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26)?

Filed your Income Tax Return for FY 2024–25? Great! But now you’re wondering — when will the refund come?

Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Every year, many of us end up paying more tax than necessary — thanks to TDS, advance tax or just being extra cautious. The good news? The Income Tax Department returns the excess amount as a refund. This guide will help you understand how refunds work, how to check your refund status, and what to do if it’s delayed.

What is Income Tax Refund?

In simple terms, a tax refund is the money the government gives back when you’ve paid more tax than you should have.

Let’s say your employer deducted ₹1,00,000 as TDS, but after claiming deductions (like 80C, 80D, standard deduction), your actual tax liability turns out to be ₹75,000. That extra ₹25,000? You get it back — that’s your refund.

How Does a Refund Situation Arise?

Here are a few common reasons you might be eligible for a refund:

• Your employer/bank deducted more TDS than required
• You didn’t claim all eligible deductions during tax calculation
• You paid advance tax based on higher income estimates
• There’s a mismatch or delay in reported income details

Once you file your ITR and the system processes it, the extra amount (if any) is automatically sent to your bank account.

Is the Income Tax Refund Taxable?

The refund itself is not taxable — it’s just your own money being returned.

But there’s a small catch. If you receive interest on the refund (because the department took longer to process it), that interest amount is taxable under ‘Income from Other Sources’ next year.

So, if you get ₹10,500 instead of ₹10,000 — you’ll need to report that extra ₹500 while filing ITR next year.

Income Tax Refund – An Illustration

Let’s say Priya earns ₹10 lakhs annually. Her company deducts ₹1.1 lakh as TDS.

While filing her return, she claims:

₹50,000 standard deduction

After these, her tax liability drops to around ₹78,000. But she’s already paid ₹1.1 lakh in TDS — which means she’ll get a refund of ₹32,000.

₹1.5 lakh under 80C

₹25,000 under 80D

How to Claim an Income Tax Refund?

Good news — you don’t have to do anything extra. Just file your ITR properly:

• Report all your income correctly
• Claim all valid deductions
• Double-check TDS entries in Form 26AS and AIS
• Provide your correct bank account details
• E-verify your return within 30 days

Once done, sit back — the system takes care of the rest.

How to Check Your ITR Refund Status for AY 2025–26?

You can track your refund in two easy ways:

1. Through Income Tax Portal

• Go to www.incometax.gov.in
• Log in using your PAN and password
• Click on “e-File > Income Tax Returns > View Filed Returns”
• Select AY 2025–26
• You’ll see your refund status right there
  

2. Through NSDL Refund Tracker

• Visit tin.tin.nsdl.com/oltas/refundstatuslogin.html
• Enter your PAN and assessment year
• Check the status update

Why My Refund is Delayed?

Usually, refunds are processed within 15–45 days. But if yours is taking longer, here are a few possible reasons:

• You didn’t e-verify your ITR
• Incorrect bank account details
• Mismatch between your return and Form 26AS or AIS
• Your return is under review by the department
• High-volume processing time (especially July–August)

If it’s been over 45 days, you can raise a grievance on the portal.

What Does My Refund Status Mean? 

Here’s a quick decoder for the messages you may see:

How to Request for Refund Re-Issue?

If the refund failed or was sent to an old/inactive account, don’t panic. Here’s what to do:

1. Log in to incometax.gov.in
   
2. Go to Services > Refund Re-issue
   
3. Select the ITR you filed
   
4. Update your correct bank account details
   
5. Submit the request

Make sure your new account is linked to your PAN and pre-validated on the portal.

Time Duration for a Tax Refund

• Usually processed in 15–45 days post e-verification
• If you file early (April–May), you might get it within 10 days
• Late filers (close to deadline) may face longer waits

Mode of Receiving Refund

All refunds are credited directly to your bank account through NEFT or RTGS. Just ensure:

• The account is active and in your name
• It’s linked with your PAN
• It’s pre-validated on the portal

You’ll also receive an SMS and email notification once processed.

How to Claim Refund for Missed ITR Filing on Due Date?

Missed the 31st July deadline? You can still file a belated return until 31st December 2025.

Keep in mind:

• You may need to pay a late fee
• Refund processing might take a little longer
• Some benefits like loss carry-forward might not be available

Still — if you’re eligible for a refund, file it. It’s your money.

Income Tax Refund Helpline

Need assistance? Here’s who you can reach out to:

• Income Tax Department (CPC Bengaluru): 1800 103 445
• NSDL Refund Banker (SBI): 1800 22 0043

Email Contacts:

• refunds@incometax.gov.in – for ITR filing or processing issues
• itro@sbi.co.in – for refund credit problems

FAQ

1. How do I check the status of my ITR refund 2024–25?

Just log in to the income tax website and go to your filed returns. Or visit the NSDL refund tracker and enter your PAN and year. That’s it.

2. How long will it take for an ITR refund in 2024?

It usually takes 15 to 45 days after you verify your return. If you filed early, it may come sooner.

3. How many days will it take for the refund to be credited?

Once approved, the refund is mostly credited within a week. You’ll get a message when it’s done.

4. How do I check if I received a refund?

Check your bank account for any credit from the Income Tax Department. You can also check the portal — if it says “Refund Paid,” it’s already sent.

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