RTI Application for Income Tax Refund Status: Sample and Appeal Wording (2026)

• Your return has been processed but the refund is not credited
• You have received a Section 245 intimation and want the demand-adjustment record
• You suspect your refund has been silently adjusted against an old demand
• The status on the e-filing portal has been frozen for months

• If you have not yet filed the return or e-verified it
• If the assessment is under appeal (the records may be limited under Section 8(1)(h))
• If you want the PIO to recompute your tax liability (PIO supplies records, not adjudication)

To,
The Public Information Officer
Income Tax Department / CPC
[Address as applicable]

Sub: Request for information under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005,
     regarding pending income-tax refund for AY ____________.

Sir / Madam,

I filed my income-tax return for the assessment year ____________
on ____________. PAN: ____________. The return claims a refund of
Rs ____________. The refund has not been credited to the bank
account on record. I seek the following information.

Information sought:

[1] Current status of my refund claim for AY ____________, including
    intimation under Section 143(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, if
    issued.

[2] Certified copy of any communication sent to me from CPC,
    jurisdictional Assessing Officer, or Centralised Verification
    Centre on the said return.

[3] Reasons in writing for non-issuance of refund and the steps, if
    any, pending in the system to release the refund.

[4] Date on which the refund is expected to be credited to the
    bank account on record.

[5] Names, designations and office addresses of officers responsible
    for processing refunds in this assessment circle.

[6] Whether any outstanding demand has been adjusted under
    Section 245 against this refund. If so, certified copy of the
    Section 245 intimation and the demand-adjustment record.

[7] Names of officers whose assistance is sought by the PIO under
    Section 5(4) of the RTI Act.

Application fee of Rs 10 is enclosed (IPO No. ____________).
Please send the reply to the address below by registered post or
email.

Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
[Name, PAN, address]
[Phone, email]
[Date]

[Date]
To,
The First Appellate Authority
[Public Authority Name]
[Address]

Sub: First appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, against
     the order of the PIO dated [____] / against deemed refusal
     under Section 7(2), in respect of my RTI dated [____].

Sir / Madam,

1. I had filed an RTI application dated [____] seeking the
   information described in the enclosure (Annexure A).
2. The PIO has [refused / not replied / partly replied] vide letter
   dated [____]. The reply does not satisfy the requirements of
   Sections 7(8) and 8 of the RTI Act, 2005, for the reasons set
   out below.
3. Grounds of appeal:
   (a) The reply does not record reasons for refusal, contrary to
       Section 7(8) and Section 19(5).
   (b) The PIO has not applied Section 8(2) public-interest
       balancing.
   (c) Severable parts under Section 10 have not been supplied.
   (d) [add specific factual grounds].
4. Prayer: I pray that the FAA may be pleased to direct the PIO to
   supply the information sought, free of cost under Section 7(6),
   and to record findings on PIO conduct.

Yours faithfully,
[Name and signature]
[Address, phone, email]

The PIO at CPC Bengaluru is the first port of call for processed-return refund issues. For pre-processing or jurisdictional issues, the PIO of the relevant Range or Assessing Officer is appropriate. Most CBDT formations publish the PIO list on their website.

RTI will release the records: the Section 245 intimation, the outstanding demand particulars, and the adjustment order. Once the records are in your hands, you can file a rectification under Section 154 or pursue grievance redressal.

Rs 10 application fee under Central RTI Rules. No fee for the first appeal. BPL applicants are exempt on furnishing the certificate.

• Guide for RTI applicants
• All sample RTI applications
• AI RTI Drafter
• PIO RTI Reply Guide
• FAA guide
• PIO reply after DPDP Rules 2025
• RTI for complaint status
• Section 7 reply timelines

1. The Right to Information Act, 2005 (Sections 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 19)
2. The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2012
3. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, Section 44(3)
4. Income Tax e-filing portal, https://incometax.gov.in
5. Central Board of Direct Taxes, RTI page, https://incometaxindia.gov.in
6. Central Processing Centre Bengaluru, refund status helpline, https://tin.tin.nsdl.com
7. Central Information Commission orders on income-tax refund at https://cic.gov.in

Last reviewed: 9 May 2026. Sources verified: statutory references and portal links cross-checked on 9 May 2026.