How Long Does a GST Refund Actually Take?
GSTZone Desk · Updated 2026
Short answer
By law, the department must acknowledge your application within 15 days, provisionally sanction 90% of a zero-rated (export/SEZ) refund within 7 days, and issue the final order within 60 days of a complete application — with 6% annual interest owed to you if they’re late.
In detail
Refunds have a legally binding clock attached, even though real-world experience often runs longer. Form RFD-02 (acknowledgment) is meant to come within 15 days of filing, confirming your application is complete and under process.
For zero-rated supplies specifically (exports and SEZ supplies), the law goes further and requires at least 90% of the claimed amount to be sanctioned provisionally within 7 days, precisely so exporters aren’t starved of working capital while the full claim is scrutinised. The remaining balance, and the final order for other refund types, is due within 60 days of a complete application.
If the department genuinely misses the 60-day mark, you’re entitled to interest on the delayed amount — 6% per annum as standard, rising to 9% if the delay follows an appellate authority’s order that had already ruled in your favour.
GSTZone tip
File a genuinely complete application the first time — missing documents or an unclear calculation is the single biggest reason the 60-day clock effectively restarts, since the clock counts from a COMPLETE application, not your first submission attempt.
Related questions
Does the interest apply automatically, or do I have to claim it?+
In practice, it’s worth tracking the timeline yourself and specifically flagging the delay when following up — while the entitlement exists in law, actively raising it tends to get it processed faster than waiting for it to be added automatically.
What if the officer raises a deficiency memo instead of processing it?+
A deficiency memo (Form RFD-03) effectively resets the clock — you’ll need to refile with the missing information, and the 60-day period runs again from that fresh, complete submission.
Want the law itself?
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