Waiting for a TDS refund can feel like a long game of watch-and-wait, especially after you have put in the effort to file your returns on time. Simply put, a TDS refund is the government’s way of returning money that was over-deducted from your income throughout the year. Whether the tax came out of your monthly salary or your bank interest, Section 237 of the Income Tax Act ensures you get that extra bit back. For the 2025-26 period, the process is largely digital and quite fast, but you need to keep an eye on your status to make sure a small clerical error doesn't hold up your payment.

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Ways to Check Your Refund Status Online

In 2025, there are two official and highly trusted routes to see exactly where your money is. You can do this from your phone or laptop in just a few minutes.

1. The Income Tax E-Filing Portal

This is the most thorough way to check. It gives you a step-by-step timeline of your return journey..

Log in: Head to incometax.gov.in and sign in using your PAN and password.
Find Returns: Look for the e-File menu, pick Income Tax Returns, and click on View Filed Returns.
The 2025-26 Year: Find the record for the current assessment year and click View Details.
The Verdict: If the bar says Processed with Refund Due, the tax department has finished their work and passed the baton to the bank.

2. The NSDL (Protean) Tracking Tool

This is a no-login method that is perfect for a quick five-second update.

What to Provide

Action

Official Site

Visit the TIN-NSDL Refund Status page.

Your PAN

Enter your 10-digit Permanent Account Number.

Year

Choose 2025-26 from the list.

Final Step

Enter the Captcha and hit Proceed.

Decoding the Status Messages

Sometimes the status updates use tax-speak that can be a bit confusing. Here is what they actually mean for your wallet:

Refund Paid: Good news! The money has been sent. It might take 24–48 hours to reflect in your bank statement.
Refund Failure: The department tried to pay you, but your bank pushed it back. This usually happens if your bank account isn't validated.
Processed with No Refund: The department’s calculation matches yours, but it shows no extra tax was paid, so no money is coming back.
Under Processing: Sit tight. The Centralized Processing Centre (CPC) is still verifying your data.

Why is My Refund Stuck?

If your friends have received their refunds but you haven't, it might be due to one of these common reasons:

Verification Missing: If you forgot to e-verify your return using Aadhaar OTP within 30 days of filing, your return is considered invalid. The refund process won't even start.
Bank Validation: The government now only sends refunds to accounts that are pre-validated on the tax portal. If you changed your bank recently, you must update this online.
The AIS Mismatch: If your employer reported one figure and you filed another, the system will flag your return. The Annual Information Statement (AIS) is the gold standard the department uses to verify your claims.
Old Dues: If you had an unpaid tax demand from five years ago, the department can legally use your current refund to pay off that old debt.

Steps to Take if Your Refund Fails

Seeing a Refund Failure message isn't the end of the road. It’s actually quite easy to fix:

Sign in to your dashboard on the e-filing portal.
Check your Bank Account section under profile. Ensure the account you want is nominated for a refund and has a green Validated status.
Go to Services and select Refund Re-issue.
Create a new request, pick your validated account, and submit. You should see the money in roughly two weeks.

Conclusion

Tracking your TDS refund for the 2025-26 assessment year is mostly about staying alert and ensuring your digital profile is up to date. The system is designed to be efficient, but it relies on your bank details being 100% accurate and your return being verified on time. By checking your status once every two weeks after filing, you can catch errors early and ensure your overpaid tax comes back to you where it belongs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many days does a refund take in 2025?

Most simple returns are now processed in 20 to 45 days, though some people receive theirs in less than a week.

Can I track my refund without my password?

Yes, use the NSDL (Protean) portal. You only need your PAN and the correct assessment year.

Will the government pay me interest?

Yes, if your refund is delayed, you are entitled to 0.5% interest per month starting from April 1st, as per Section 244A.

Why did I get a smaller refund than I expected?

This usually happens if the department didn't accept one of your deductions or if they adjusted it against a past tax demand.

Is a joint account okay for a refund?

Yes, as long as your name is the primary name on that account and it is validated on the portal.

Who can I call if my refund is very late?

You can reach out to the CPC helpline at 1800-103-0025. They are generally very helpful with status queries.

Does Refund Paid mean it is in my bank?

It means the instruction was sent to the bank. It usually takes another day or two for the bank to actually credit the amount to your balance.

My bank account is closed. What do I do?

Don't worry. Just add your new account to your e-filing profile, validate it, and raise a Refund Re-issue Request.

Can I check my status via SMS?

While the department sends you an SMS when they process the refund, the most accurate live status is always found on the website.

Is the NSDL site as accurate as the Income Tax site?

Both are official. The e-filing site is better for seeing the why behind a status, while NSDL is better for a quick check.

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