After presenting the income tax return, one of the most common inquiries among taxpayers is to know when the Tax Agency will refund the money if the result of the settlement is favorable. Although the Tax Agency has a legal deadline to make the payment, the status of the file can be checked at any time and allows knowing at what stage the refund is.
The State Agency for Tax Administration (AEAT) offers this service electronically, so any citizen can access their file and check if the refund is still under review, has been authorized, or has already been credited to the bank account provided during the filing of the return.
How to check the status of an income tax refund
The simplest way to know the status of a refund is to access the Electronic Headquarters of the Tax Agency or use the official AEAT application.
To check the file, it is necessary to identify oneself through one of the systems accepted by the Administration, such as Cl@ve, digital certificate, electronic ID, or the reference number of the return when this system is enabled.
Once identified, the taxpayer can access their return file and consult all the information related to the refund.
What the different statuses of the file mean
During the processing of a refund, the Tax Agency displays different messages that allow knowing the status of the procedure. When the file indicates that "your return is being processed", it means that the Tax Agency has correctly received the return and is reviewing the data provided by the taxpayer.
If the message changes to "your return is being checked", the Tax Agency is conducting additional verifications before resolving the file. This status does not necessarily imply that there is an error or an incident, but rather that the file requires a more detailed review. On the other hand, when the message "your refund has been issued" appears, it means that the AEAT has already authorized the payment and has ordered the bank transfer. Usually, the deposit is received in the account a few days later.
Finally, the status "your refund has been credited" confirms that the money has already been transferred to the taxpayer.
| Status of the file | What does it mean? | What should the taxpayer do? |
|---|---|---|
| Declaration submitted | The Tax Agency has correctly received the declaration. | Wait for the processing to begin. |
| Your declaration is being processed | The Treasury is reviewing the data of the declaration. | No action is necessary. |
| Your declaration is being checked | The AEAT is conducting additional verifications before resolving the file. | Check if there is any requirement or notification. |
| Your refund has been issued | The Tax Agency has ordered the bank transfer. | Wait for the deposit in the account. |
| Your refund has been credited | The amount has already been deposited in the bank account. | No action is necessary. |
| Compensated refund | The refund has been applied totally or partially to the payment of outstanding debts. | Consult the AEAT resolution if you do not agree. |
How long does the Treasury have to refund the money
The regulations of the Personal Income Tax (IRPF) grants the Tax Agency, in general, a maximum period of six months to process the refund.
When the declaration is submitted within the voluntary period of the Income campaign, that period begins to count from the last day set for submitting the declarations. If the taxpayer submits the declaration late, the counting starts from the date of submission.
In practice, many refunds are made before those six months elapse, although the period may vary depending on the verifications that the Administration must carry out.
What happens if the Treasury takes more than six months
If the refund is not made within the legal period for reasons not attributable to the taxpayer, the Tax Agency must also pay the corresponding late interest. The citizen does not need to request them expressly, as the Administration itself must incorporate them ex officio when appropriate.
What to do if the refund does not arrive
If the file remains unchanged for a prolonged period, it is advisable to check if the Tax Agency has sent any notification or requested additional documentation.
It is also recommended to verify that the bank account number provided during the submission of the declaration is correct, as any incident may delay the deposit.
In case there is a pending requirement, responding within the established deadline will avoid unnecessary delays in the processing of the refund.