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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTrack a refund on the GST Portal at Services > Refunds > Track Application Status, using the filing year or your application reference number (ARN). If the portal shows the claim is sanctioned but the money has not arrived, check PFMS: GST Portal processing and payment-system bank validation are separate stages. For a deficiency or rejection notice, follow the form and deadline stated in the applicable rules rather than treating every delay as a rejected claim.
Track a GST refund by ARN or filing year
- Sign in to the GST Portal and open Services > Refunds > Track Application Status. Keep your refund application’s ARN and filing year handy. The GSTN advisory describes searching by filing year or entering the ARN. GSTN refund tracking advisory.
- Search and read the status shown. Identify the specific processing stage and whether the next action is yours or the officer’s. The tracker is intended to show where the application is pending.
- Save the ARN, status, relevant notices or orders, and dates for your records. This is practical recordkeeping, not a separate requirement stated in the advisory.
If the refund is sanctioned but not credited
A sanction shown in the GST process does not necessarily mean the funds have been credited. The GSTN advisory distinguishes the GST Portal’s application-processing status from PFMS bank-account validation and disbursal. Check PFMS when the claim has reached payment processing, and compare the account details used in the refund application and payment order with the details requested by the current portal workflow. The advisory notes that validation relates to the bank account listed in RFD-01 and that final disbursement after sanction depends on validation of the account specified in RFD-05. GSTN refund tracking advisory.
If validation is pending or fails, use the live GST Portal and PFMS instructions to identify and correct the account or payment issue. Do not assume the claim has been rejected merely because payment is delayed, or that a sanction alone confirms a successful credit.
What a delay means under the refund rules
Section 56 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act provides an ordinary delayed-refund interest rule for qualifying refunds ordered under section 54(5): if the refund is not made within 60 days from receipt of the application under section 54(1), interest may be payable from the day after that period, subject to the statutory conditions and the rate specified by government notification. The Act sets a ceiling of 6% for this ordinary case. Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, section 56.
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A separate ceiling of 9% applies to the specified case of a refund arising from an order of an adjudicating authority, appellate authority, tribunal, or court that has attained finality, when the refund is not made within 60 days after the consequential application. This is a distinct statutory situation, not a higher rate that automatically applies to any late refund. Check the applicable notification, refund category, relevant dates, and statutory conditions before concluding that interest is due. Portal delay alone does not establish entitlement.
How to respond to a deficiency memo or proposed rejection
RFD-03: deficiency memo
An RFD-03 deficiency memo is not itself a final rejection order. Read the memo for the deficiencies identified and follow the applicable rules and portal workflow; the rules may require a fresh application after you address them. CGST refund rules.
RFD-08: show-cause notice proposing rejection
If you receive an RFD-08 notice proposing rejection, the rules require you to reply in RFD-09 within 15 days of receiving the notice. Address each stated reason and the amount challenged, attach relevant supporting records, and keep proof that you filed the reply. The proper officer must consider the reply before issuing an RFD-06 order, which may sanction the refund in full or in part, or reject it. The rules also require a reasonable opportunity to be heard before a refund application is rejected. CGST refund rules, rule 92.
Read the specific notice carefully and act by its applicable deadline. If the claim is substantial, technically complex, or contested, consider getting help from a qualified Indian chartered accountant or GST practitioner; professional support does not guarantee a particular outcome.
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First confirm that you have a final order rejecting all or part of the refund, rather than an RFD-03 deficiency memo or an RFD-08 notice that is still awaiting a response. Inspect the order’s reasons, the date it was communicated, and whether it explains an adjustment against an outstanding demand or withholding under the applicable provisions. A reduced or unpaid amount may reflect an adjustment or withholding rather than a payment-system failure. CGST refund rules.
The GST Portal’s appeal FAQ gives a general period of three months from communication of an adjudicating authority’s decision or order, with a possible extension of up to one additional month if the Appellate Authority is satisfied that sufficient cause prevented timely filing. The FAQ concerns appeals against demand orders and does not by itself settle every refund-rejection appeal scenario, so confirm the applicable route, current requirements, documents, and any filing or pre-deposit conditions promptly. GST Portal appeal FAQ.
For certain rejected refund claims, the rules provide for re-credit of a debited amount to the electronic credit ledger through PMT-03. That treatment depends on the circumstances and the original claim; it does not mean every rejected claim results in a cash payment. CGST refund rules.
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| What you see | Where to check | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Application pending at a processing stage | GST Portal tracker; ARN and pending stage | Check whether the next action belongs to you or the officer, then follow any notice or portal instruction. GSTN advisory. |
| Refund sanctioned but payment pending | PFMS validation or disbursal status; account details in RFD-01 and RFD-05 | Resolve the validation or payment issue through the current official workflow. GSTN advisory. |
| RFD-03 deficiency memo | Memo and portal status | Address the specified deficiency and follow the applicable fresh-application procedure. CGST refund rules. |
| RFD-08 proposed-rejection notice | Notice reasons, amounts, receipt date, and response deadline | File a reasoned RFD-09 response within 15 days of receipt. CGST refund rules, rule 92. |
| RFD-06 rejection order | Order grounds, communication date, appeal route | Assess the applicable appeal route promptly; the general period stated in the GST Portal FAQ is three months, with limited possible condonation. GST Portal appeal FAQ. |
Portal labels, payment steps, notifications, rates, and rules can change. Confirm the live instructions and applicable law before acting. This article explains the general official process and is not individualized tax or legal advice.
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