In reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2478, the Government stated that, as on 31 March of FY 2023-24, FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26, refund claims pending under Central Tax formations for more than 60 days up to 90 days declined from 907 claims (₹274.24 crore) to 64 claims (₹163.60 crore), while claims pending for more than 90 days declined from 1,592 claims (₹695.84 crore) to 110 claims (₹64.10 crore).

In reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2478, the Government stated that, as on 31 March of FY 2023-24, FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26, refund claims pending under Central Tax formations for more than 60 days up to 90 days declined from 907 claims (₹274.24 crore) to 64 claims (₹163.60 crore), while claims pending for more than 90 days declined from 1,592 claims (₹695.84 crore) to 110 claims (₹64.10 crore). It stated that there were no refund claims pending for more than 60 or 90 days in the Visakhapatnam CGST Commissionerate during the last three years. Interest paid on delayed refunds across India totalled ₹16.60 crore during FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26. The Government stated that delays mainly arise due to delayed submission of documents or replies by taxpayers, requests to keep claims pending, and limited system-related issues. It further stated that export refunds paid through IGST are processed in a fully automated electronic mode, provisional refunds of 90% are provided for specified refund claims under the CGST Act, 2017, taxpayers can track refund status on the common portal, and the GST Council has made no recommendation for automatic interest payments or a public dashboard for individual refund claims.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2478
TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026/SHRAVANA 12,1948 (SAKA)

"DELAYED GST REFUNDS TO EXPORTERS AND MSMEs"

2478. Shri Sribharat Mathukumilli:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

a. the number and value of Goods and Service Tax (GST) refund claims pending for more than 60 and 90 days during the last three years, sector-wise and state-wise, including Andhra Pradesh:

b. the corresponding figures for Andhra Pradesh, particularly the Visakhapatnam Commissionerate, covering seafood, pharmaceutical, and engineering exporters and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs);

c. the amount of statutory interest payable and actually paid for delayed refunds, along with cases where such interest was denied:

(d) whether causes for delayed interests and procedural lapses, or departmental verification; and

e. whether the Government proposes to introduce automatic interest payments, risk-based provisional refunds and a public dashboard displaying the age of claims, disposal time along with the reasons for rejection?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

(SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a) and (b):

(i) The details of the pendency of refund claims under GST as on 31st March of each financial year under Central Tax formations, filed by the taxpayers are as under:

The state-wise bifurcation of the same is placed at Annexure-I.

(ii) For Visakhapatnam CGST Commissionerate there are no refund claims pending for more than 60 and 90 days during the last three years.

c. Interest paid on delayed refunds across India, is as under:

(Rs. in Crore)

(d) :

The delay in processing of refund claims is mainly on account of delayed submission of documents and delayed submission of replies by the taxpayers in response to the notices issued to them, and requests made by the taxpayers for keeping the refund claim pending for seeking time for submission of additional documents and details against show cause notices, if any, issued in respect of their refund claims, and in a limited number of cases system-related issues.

(e):

i. Refunds on account of export of goods made on payment of IGST, are processed in a fully automated electronic mode through Customs system without manual intervention through integration of the GST portal with the ICEGATE system of CBIC.

ii. The sanction of provisional refund of 90% of refund claim on the basis of data analysis and risk evaluation by the system is being given for the refunds claims on account of zero-rated supply under the provisions of the CGST Act, 2017 and rules made thereunder, within 7 days of the acknowledgement of refund application.

iii. The amendment has been made in the CGST Act, 2017 vide Finance Act, 2026 to provide for provisional refund of 90% of the claimed amount in case of refund of accumulated input tax credit on account of inverted duty structure, on similar lines as provided for zero rated supply of the refund claims.

iv. Facility has been provided to the registered taxpayers to track the status of their refund application on the common portal at every stage. The grounds of rejection of refund claims are communicated in a speaking order under provisions of CGST Act, 2017.

v. No recommendation has been made by the GST Council for introduction of automatic interest payments and for providing public dashboard regarding information about individual refund claims.

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Annexure-I

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