The 60-day standard
The law requires a refund to be sanctioned within 60 days of a complete RFD-01 application. If the department exceeds that, it owes interest on the delayed amount. The clock starts from a complete application, so a deficiency memo resets it.
Faster for exporters
For zero-rated export refunds, a provisional refund of 90% can be granted soon after filing, with the remaining 10% after verification — easing exporters’ working capital. IGST-paid export refunds are often processed automatically against the shipping bill. Confirm the current provisional-refund rules.
A worked example
Example: an exporter files a clean ITC-accumulation refund — it receives the provisional 90% within a couple of weeks and the balance once checked. A poorly-documented claim, by contrast, draws a deficiency memo and starts again, stretching to months. The single biggest speed factor is a complete, well-supported application. Our team prepares refunds to minimise queries.