Filing tax is a once-a-year thing but can be a hassle. What can add to the anxiety is if you haven’t received your refund even after a considerable time since filing your claim. In that case, you might want to check your income tax refund status for better clarity, isn’t it?

However, it can get a bit difficult if you do not know how to check your income tax refund status. To help you through this, we have provided a detailed explanation of the process and also a guide on various refund status meanings. Check them out!

Once you have filed your claim, you need to perform an income tax refund status check of the same. This is the only way to know the progress of your refund transfer. Now, there are 2 ways to go ahead with this process. You can check the return status both through the NSDL portal and the income tax e-filing website.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to perform each of the processes.

1. Through the NSDL website

Follow the given steps to check your income tax refund status at NSDL.

Step 1: Visit the TIN NSDL website for refund tracking.

Step 2: Scroll down to enter your PAN and select the assessment year. Enter the captcha code and click on “Proceed.”

Step 3: Next, you will be redirected to a page that will display a message depending on your income tax refund status on NSDL.

2. Through the income tax e-filing website

Alternatively, you can use the following steps to check your ITR status on the income tax e-filing website.

Step 1: Go to the official income tax e-filing website.

Step 2: On the top right-hand corner, click on “Login Here” to sign in to your account.

Step 3: On the next page, enter your user ID, password, and the given security code. Click on “Login.”

Step 4: Next, select “View Returns/Forms.”

Step 5: Enter your PAN, select “Income Tax Returns” from the drop-down menu beside “Select an Option,” and the correct assessment year. Right now, you will be checking income tax refund status for 2022-23. Hit “Submit.”

Step 6: You will be redirected to a new webpage displaying all details of your ITR filing. These include form type, filing type, acknowledgement number, and dates of every activity from the filing of ITR to completion of ITR processing. You will also be able to see the refund status on the income tax portal, payment mode, and reason for refund failure, if any. 

Now, there can be a variety of NSDL income tax refund status messages. It can be quite confusing for a lot of individuals to understand the progress of their refund if they do not know the exact meaning of each statement.

Here is a list comprising each income tax refund status that you might come across and their respective meanings.

• No demand, no refund: This means that the IT Department has deducted the correct amount of tax and does not owe you any refund.
• Refund paid: Your ITR filing has been processed, and refunds deposited in your bank account.
• Refund status not determined: The Income Tax Department has not processed your refund request.
• Refund unpaid: Your ITR has been processed but not yet credited to your refund.
• Refund returned: This means the IT Department had initiated the payment, but the transfer failed either due to wrong bank account details or address details provided.
• Refund sent out and determined by refund banker: Your ITR has been processed and sent to the refund banker for amount transfer.
• Processed through direct credit but failed: Direct credit of refund amount was initiated, but the transfer failed due to one of the following reasons.
  • Incorrect account details.
  • It is a PPF, FD, or loan account.
  • Account holder has expired.
  • Account is not operational.
  • It is an NRI account.
  • Account has been permanently closed.
• Refund processed through NEFT/NECS but failed: This status speaks for itself.
• Demand determined: Your refund claim has been rejected as you still have outstanding taxes to be paid.
• Adjusted against outstanding demand of previous year: The IT Department has adjusted your refund for the current assessment year against previous AY’s outstanding demand.
• Expired: You have received the refund cheque from the IT Department but haven’t submitted it to the bank within 90 days.

Refer to the following list to understand the steps you can take against any refund status.

• No demand, no refund: Cross-check your tax calculation and look for any deductions that you might have missed. If there has been a mistake on your part, file a rectified return.
• Refund paid: Confirm with your bank that the refund has been deposited.
• Refund status not determined: Recheck if your ITR was properly filed. If yes, then check the refund status again after some days.
• Refund unpaid: Check if you had entered the correct address and bank account details. If not, rectify these details and place a refund re-issue request.
• Refund returned: Again, check the bank account and address details you had provided. Correct if needed and apply for refund re-issue.
• Refund determined and sent out to the refund banker: Your refund will probably be credited to your account within a short while. All you have to do is wait.
• Processed through direct credit but failed: Check the account details you provided, correct them, and request for refund re-issue. 
• Refund processed through NEFT/NECS but failed: Check the account description, account number, and IFSC or MICR code you provided.
• Demand determined: Cross-check your tax calculation and e-filing record. If tax needs to be paid, complete payment within the provided deadline. If there is no error in your calculation, apply for rectification and provide all necessary documents and data to support your refund claim.
• Adjusted against outstanding demand of the previous year: There is no such known action that can be taken on your part since Section 245 grants the IT Department permission to carry this operation out.
• Expired: Go to the income tax e-filing portal and apply for a refund re-issue request.