How to check TDS refund status — Form 26AS / Income Tax (2026)

1. Login at incometax.gov.in.
2. Click e-File → View Form 26AS — opens TRACES portal in new tab.
3. Form 26AS shows TDS by quarter, by deductor (employer, bank, tenant, contract awarder).
4. Compare with your records — Form 16 from employer, TDS certificate from bank, etc.
5. For broader view: AIS — shows TDS + AIS reportable transactions (high-value, foreign, etc.).
6. If TDS missing: contact deductor (employer/bank) for revised TDS return Form 24Q/26Q.

What we hear from RTI Wiki users: Anita, a 33-year-old freelance designer, found her bank had deducted TDS on FD interest of Rs. 12,500 but it wasn't showing in Form 26AS even after 4 months. She filed an RTI to her bank's Branch Manager + CBDT TDS division asking (a) TDS deducted vs deposited, (b) reason for non-reflection in 26AS, © revised TDS return status. Bank found their TAN had a typo on the original return. Filed corrected; TDS reflected within 60 days; she included it in her IT return for full refund.

• Deductor (employer/bank) didn't file TDS return — quarter-end Form 24Q/26Q late. Fix: chase deductor; RTI to deductor's assessing officer.
• TAN typo in TDS return — credit can't map to your PAN. Fix: deductor files revised return.
• Wrong PAN mentioned by deductor — credit goes to someone else. Fix: deductor revises.
• Section mismatch — TDS reported under wrong section (e.g., 194A vs 194I). Fix: deductor revises.
• Threshold not met — small TDS (< Rs. 5,000 in some categories) may not be deposited if threshold not crossed. Verify.
• Lower deduction certificate issued by AO — TDS less than expected. Verify your application history.
• Year-of-credit issue — TDS shown in wrong AY. Match your accounting year.

• AIS (Annual Information Statement) is broader than 26AS — also shows high-value transactions (FD, mutual fund, real estate, foreign remittance) reported by third parties. Pre-filling your ITR uses AIS.
• Form 16/16A from deductor must match 26AS — discrepancy is auditable. Always reconcile before filing ITR.
• Form 26AS is updated 30-60 days after quarter-end TDS return. Q4 TDS appears typically in Jun-Jul.
• TIS (Taxpayer Information Summary) — simplified version of AIS. Easier reconciliation.
• TDS not deposited (deductor pocketed) — file complaint at TDS-CPC + RTI; deductor faces 3% penalty + prosecution.

TRACES (TDS): 1800-103-0344 · CPC: 1800-103-4455 · [email protected] · Twitter: @IncomeTaxIndia

The official SLA on this service is published. If your status is stuck beyond it, you have a statutory right under §6 RTI Act 2005 to demand information from the public authority. Reply mandatory in 30 days.

File an RTI to: CBDT TDS Cell + Deductor's Assessing Officer

Ask these 5 questions:

1. TDS deducted vs deposited reconciliation
2. revised TDS return status
3. officer-in-charge
4. deductor compliance history

→ Use our free AI RTI Drafter to generate a complete §6(1) application in 60 seconds. The Drafter pre-fills your name, address, fee statement, and the 5 questions above.

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Deductor (employer) didn't file the quarterly TDS return. Chase HR; if no action, RTI to deductor's AO.

60 days from quarter-end TDS return filing.

26AS = TDS history. AIS = 26AS + all reportable financial transactions (FD, MF, real estate, foreign remittance).

Risky — IT department disallows; revised return needed once 26AS is updated. Best to wait.

File complaint at TDS-CPC (1800-103-0344) + RTI to deductor's AO + Income Tax penalty proceedings.

To check status: use the official portal listed above with your reference number. SLA is published; if stuck beyond it, file a free RTI.

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Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.

TDS refund status check for 2026 — complete guide on tracking and claiming income tax refund:

1. Step 1: What is a TDS refund? (a) the TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) — is the tax — deducted — by the deductor (employer, bank, tenant, etc.) — and deposited — with the government, (b) the TDS refund — is the excess tax — deducted — over the actual tax liability — of the assessee — which is refunded — by the Income Tax Department — after the assessment, © the common scenarios — for the TDS refund: (i) the employer — deducts more TDS — because of the wrong tax computation — or the non-declaration of the investments, (ii) the bank — deducts TDS — on the FD interest — but the total income — is below the taxable limit, (iii) the tenant — deducts TDS — on the rent — but the total income — is below the taxable limit, (iv) the TDS — is deducted — under the wrong section — or the wrong PAN.
2. Step 2: How to check TDS refund status 2026. (a) online — through the Income Tax portal: (i) visit incometax.gov.in — and login — with the PAN — and the password, (ii) go to “e-File” > “Income Tax Returns” > “View Filed Returns”, (iii) check the status — of the ITR — and the refund, (iv) the refund status — shows: (a) “Refund Issued” — with the refund amount — and the date, (b) “Refund Processing” — if the refund is being processed, © “Refund Failed” — with the reason — like the wrong bank account — or the IFSC, (d) “No Refund Due” — if no refund — is due, (b) online — through the TDS portal: (i) visit traces.gov.in — and login, (ii) check the Form 26AS — for the TDS credit — and the refund status, © online — through the NSDL portal: (i) visit tin.tin.nsdl.com > “Refund Status”, (ii) enter the PAN — and the assessment year, (iii) the status — is displayed — with the reason — if the refund failed.
3. Step 3: Common TDS refund issues and solutions. (a) refund not received: (i) check the ITR status — on the income tax portal, (ii) check the bank account — and the IFSC — for the correctness, (iii) check the Aadhaar-bank linking — for the DBT, (iv) check the Form 26AS — for the TDS credit, (b) refund failed: (i) the common reasons: (a) the wrong bank account — or the IFSC, (b) the bank account — not linked — to the PAN, © the bank account — not active — or the frozen, (ii) the solution: (a) update the bank account — on the income tax portal, (b) submit the refund re-issue request — on the portal, © the refund — is re-issued — within 30-60 days, © refund less than expected: (i) check the Form 26AS — for the TDS credit — and the mismatch, (ii) check the ITR — for the computation — and the errors, (iii) file a rectification — under Section 154 — if there is a mistake, (d) interest on refund: (i) the Income Tax Department — pays interest — on the refund — under Section 244A — at 0.5% per month — from the date of the filing — to the date of the refund, (ii) if the interest — is not paid — file a rectification.
4. Step 4: File RTI on TDS refund. File RTI with the Income Tax Department (or the CPC) asking for: (a) the refund: “Provide the refund status — for the PAN [number] — for the assessment year [year] — including: (i) the ITR acknowledgment number, (ii) the refund amount, (iii) the refund date — if issued, (iv) the reason for the delay — if not issued”, (b) the Form 26AS: “Provide the Form 26AS — for the PAN [number] — for the financial year [year] — including: (i) the TDS entries, (ii) the TDS amounts, (iii) the deductor details”, © the rectification: “Provide the rectification status — for the PAN [number] — for the assessment year [year] — reference number [number] — including: (i) the rectification date, (ii) the outcome, (iii) the revised refund — if any”, (d) the interest: “Provide the interest — on the refund — for the PAN [number] — for the assessment year [year] — including: (i) the interest amount, (ii) the calculation, (iii) the date of payment — if paid”, (e) the grievance: “Provide the grievance status — for the complaint — filed on [date] — reference number [number] — including: (i) the complaint details, (ii) the action taken, (iii) the resolution”.
5. Step 5: The Income Tax Department as a public authority. (a) the Income Tax Department — is a public authority — under the RTI Act, (b) the CPIO — is at the headquarters — in New Delhi — and the PIOs — are at the regional offices — and the CPC (Central Processing Center) at Bangalore, © the RTI application — can be filed: (i) online — on the income tax portal — or the Department of Posts — portal, (ii) by post — to the CPIO, Income Tax Department, New Delhi, (iii) the application fee — is Rs 10 — by the IPO — or the online payment.
6. Step 6: How to claim TDS refund. (a) file the ITR: (i) file the income tax return — for the relevant financial year — on the income tax portal, (ii) claim the refund — in the ITR — by showing the TDS — and the tax liability, (b) verify the ITR: (i) verify the ITR — by sending the ITR-V — to the CPC Bangalore — or by the Aadhaar OTP — or the net banking, (ii) the ITR — is processed — after the verification, © the processing: (i) the CPC — processes the ITR — and issues the intimation — under Section 143(1), (ii) the intimation — shows the refund — or the demand — and the TDS credit, (d) the refund: (i) the refund — is credited — to the bank account — through the ECS — or the cheque, (ii) the refund — is usually issued — within 30-60 days — of the ITR processing.
7. Step 7: Practical tips. (a) file the ITR early (file the ITR — early — to get the refund — early), (b) check the Form 26AS (check the Form 26AS — before filing the ITR — to ensure — that all the TDS — is credited), © link the PAN and the bank (link the PAN — to the bank account — for the refund credit), (d) file RTI (if the refund — is delayed — or failed — file RTI — with the Income Tax Department — to get the status — and the reason), (e) Example: A salaried employee — filed the ITR — claiming the Rs 15,000 refund — but the refund — was not issued — for 6 months — he filed RTI — with the CPC — the RTI reply showed — that the bank account — was wrong — he updated the bank account — and submitted the refund re-issue request — and the refund — was credited — within 30 days.

See TDS Refund Status and RBI NEFT RTGS.