Income Tax Refund status check is an important process to ascertain whether one has received the refund amount sent by Income Tax Department or not. However, you will only receive this income tax refund after the tax department processes your ITR and confirms the same via an intimation notice.

It is worth noting that the bank account must be pre-validated on the government's new income tax e-filing portal and PAN must be linked with the bank account.

This year returns have to be filed for FY2020-21 for which the extended last date is currently December 31, 2021.

Income Tax Refund can be claimed when:

• You did not furnish all the investment proofs to your organization. As a result, the amount of taxes deducted by your employer exceeded your actual tax liability for the particular FY. 
• Excess TDS was deducted on your interest income from bank FDs or bonds.
• The advance tax paid by you on self-assessment exceeded your tax liability for the applicable FY as per the regular assessment.
• In case of double taxation

How to Claim Income Tax Refund?

Earlier, Income Tax Form 30 was required in order to claim an income tax refund. However, with e-transfer of refunds, it can now be claimed by simply filing the ITR, linking PAN with Aadhaar and validating the bank account. The ITR should further be verified, either physically or electronically within 120 days of filing. The excess tax for which a refund is claimed should be reflected in Form 26AS. Moreover, the refund is subject to verification by the Income Tax Department. It is credited only if the refund claim is found to be valid by the department.

Ways to check Income Tax refund status?

1. On the NSDL website

• Step 1: Go to the NSDL website to track refund.
• Step 2: The following web page will appear. Fill in the details, including PAN and AY and click ‘Proceed’.
• Step 3: Your income tax refund status will be displayed, as depicted in the following image.

2. On e-filing portal:

• Step 1: Log into the e-filing portal of Income Tax department by clicking here.
• Step 2: Select View Returns/ Forms.
• Step 3: Go to ‘My Account’ tab and select ‘Income Tax Returns’. Click submit.
• Step 4: Click on the acknowledgement number.
• Step 5: A page showing your return details along with income tax refund status will appear.