Tender Refund not Processed: What to Do Next

Reviewed on: 2026-05-30.

If tender refund not processed, collect the account, application, transaction, policy, property, employee, pension, scholarship or bill reference and send one precise written complaint to the office that can correct the record or release the money. Ask for a written reason if the request is refused or kept pending. Escalate with the same evidence bundle to dealing assistant, drawing and disbursing officer, treasury, procurement officer and RTI route. Use RTI only for records held by a public authority: file movement, deficiency notes, dispatch records, sanction details, payment advice, inspection reports or reasons recorded on file.

Use the correct external forum. Use GeM or the other official source linked below where it fits the subject. For consumer-service disputes, consider National Consumer Helpline and e-Daakhil. For public departments, CPGRAMS, state grievance portals and RTI may help. For high-value or time-sensitive cases, take professional advice before limitation expires.

• GeM
• Central Public Procurement Portal
• MSME Samadhaan
• RTI Online

Preserve proof, write a dated complaint with reference numbers, and ask for a written decision or correction instead of relying on calls.

RTI can obtain public records and reasons. It does not itself order a private party to pay, but it can support a regulator, ombudsman, consumer or court complaint.

• /practical-guides/
• /practical-guides/category/government-payments/
• /practical-guides/fixed-deposit-lien-not-removed-after-settlement/
• /practical-guides/hospital-refuses-medical-records-reasonable-time/
• /practical-guides/life-insurance-maturity-payment-delayed/
• /practical-guides/employer-not-giving-salary-slip/

1. Step 1: What to do when tender refund (EMD/security deposit) is not processed? (a) Tender refund: (i) EMD — Earnest Money Deposit — paid with tender, (ii) security deposit — paid after contract award, (iii) refund: after tender loss/contract completion — department refunds, (b) key rules: (i) GFR 2017: EMD refund — within 30 days, (ii) security deposit refund — after completion + no-dues, (iii) interest: if delayed — as per GFR/contract, © common scenarios: (i) EMD not refunded — after tender loss, (ii) security deposit not refunded — after completion, (iii) partial refund — deductions made, (iv) refund delayed — months, (v) refund rejected — invalid reason, (d) rights: (i) contractor has right to EMD refund — after tender loss, (ii) right to security deposit refund — after completion, (iii) right to interest — if delayed, (e) authority: Department + Head of Department + Govt, (f) law: GFR 2017 + Contract Act + RTI Act 2005.

1. Step 2: Comparison table — tender refund scenarios. (a) EMD not refunded: (i) issue: EMD not refunded after tender loss, (ii) remedy: demand + RTI, (iii) timeline: 30 days, (iv) example: not refunded; demanded; refunded, (b) Security deposit: (i) issue: security deposit not refunded after completion, (ii) remedy: demand + no-dues + RTI, (iii) timeline: 30-60 days, (iv) example: not refunded; demanded; refunded, © Partial: (i) issue: partial refund — deductions made, (ii) remedy: demand reason + dispute, (iii) timeline: 30 days, (iv) example: partial; demanded; full refunded, (d) Delayed: (i) issue: refund delayed — months, (ii) remedy: demand + interest + RTI, (iii) timeline: 30 days, (iv) example: delayed; demanded; refunded + interest, (e) Rejected: (i) issue: refund rejected — invalid reason, (ii) remedy: legal notice + dispute, (iii) timeline: 30-60 days, (iv) example: rejected; legal notice; refunded. (Note: GFR 30-day refund. RTI for status. Interest on delay.)

1. Step 3: How to get tender refund. (a) Step 1: Demand refund — in writing, (b) Step 2: Submit no-dues certificate — if required, © Step 3: RTI for status — very effective, (d) Step 4: Demand interest — if delayed, (e) Step 5: Legal notice — if rejected, (f) Step 6: Keep tender documents + EMD receipt + correspondence.

1. Step 5: Practical tips. (a) demand refund in writing — after tender loss/completion, (b) GFR 30-day timeline — interest if delayed, © RTI for status — very effective, (d) no-dues certificate — submit if required, (e) Example: A contractor's EMD was not refunded for 3 months; filed RTI; refunded in 30 days with interest.

1. Step 6: Key provisions. (a) GFR 2017, (b) 30-day refund, © Interest on delay, (d) No-dues certificate, (e) RTI Act 2005.

See Tender Refund and PG Release and How to File RTI.