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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(RTI fee refund,Section 7(6) RTI,additional fee not demanded,RTI fee waiver,PIO fee dispute)
+metatag-description=(When does the RTI Act 2005 require fee refund or zero-cost supply? Section 7(5) BPL exemption, Section 7(6) free supply if PIO delays. 2026 citizen guide.)}}
+====== Refund of RTI fees — when can you claim it? ======
+{{ :social:auto:explanations-refund-fees.png?direct&1200 |Refund of RTI fees — when can you claim it? — RTI Wiki}}
+<WRAP center round info 95%>
+**Quick Reply:** When does the RTI Act 2005 require fee refund or zero-cost supply? Section 7(5) BPL exemption, Section 7(6) free supply if PIO delays. 2026 citizen guide.
+</WRAP>
+**The Right to Information Act, 2005 has two fee-relief mechanisms: §7(5) BPL exemption (zero application fee for Below Poverty Line applicants) and §7(6) free-supply rule (if the PIO does not demand additional fee within 30 days, all information must be supplied free of charge). This page is the full explainer.**
+===== Section 7(5) — BPL exemption =====
+  * **Zero application fee** for any applicant who attaches a BPL certificate (or equivalent state-issued poverty certificate, e.g., yellow ration card in some states).
+  * No additional fee for photocopies, inspection, CDs, or any other format.
+  * The PIO **cannot demand** any fee from a verified BPL applicant.
+===== Section 7(6) — free supply if PIO delays =====
+  * **§7(6)**: "Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (5), the person making request for the information shall be provided the information free of charge where a public authority fails to comply with the time limits specified in sub-section (1)."
+  * Plain-English: If the PIO does not reply within **30 days** under §7(1), AND does not demand additional fee within those 30 days, the information must be supplied **free of charge** when eventually disclosed.
+  * The PIO cannot retroactively charge ₹2 per page for photocopies after Day 30.
+===== When you can claim a fee refund =====
+  - **You paid the application fee, and the PIO refused based on §8 exemption** — application fee is **NOT refundable**. The §6 fee is for processing, not for the outcome.
+  - **You paid additional fee for photocopies, but PIO eventually refused** — claim refund of the additional fee.
+  - **You paid additional fee, but PIO supplied less than what you paid for** — claim pro-rata refund.
+  - **PIO did not reply within 30 days, and demanded fee on Day 35** — invoke §7(6) and refuse to pay; file §19(1) First Appeal.
+===== How to claim a refund =====
+  - **Step 1** — write a polite letter to the PIO citing §7(5) or §7(6) and requesting refund.
+  - **Step 2** — if no response in 15 days, file §19(1) First Appeal grouping the refund issue with the underlying RTI denial.
+  - **Step 3** — at the FAA + IC level, the §19(8)(b) compensation provision can be invoked for any "loss or detriment".
+  - **Step 4** — for prolonged delay, parallel CPGRAMS at pgportal.gov.in.
+===== Common mistakes =====
+  * **Claiming refund for application fee on bad-RTI grounds** — the ₹10 application fee is not refundable just because your RTI was poorly drafted. It pays for processing.
+  * **Not invoking §7(6) when PIO delayed** — many citizens pay the additional fee on Day 40 even though the PIO had not demanded it within Day 30. You should refuse and cite §7(6).
+  * **Not claiming compensation under §19(8)(b)** — IC can award you actual costs + compensation for "loss or detriment".
+===== Citations and sources =====
+  * **Right to Information Act, 2005**, §7(1), §7(5), §7(6), §19(8)(b). [[:act|Full text]].
+  * **Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI** (2019) 9 SCC 199 — IC accountability for compensation orders.
+  * State RTI Rules — fee schedule by state at [[:rules|state RTI rules]].
+===== Related on RTI Wiki =====
+  * [[:rti-fees-by-state|State-wise fee chart]]
+  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/fee-calculator.html|Fee Calculator tool]]
+  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/first-appeal-app.html|First Appeal Builder]]
+  * [[:cases|Case-law database]]
+  * [[:act|RTI Act, 2005]]
+//Last reviewed: 4 May 2026.//
+{{tag>fee-refund section-7-5 section-7-6 bpl-exemption pio-fee-dispute 2026}}