Every year, millions of taxpayers file their income tax return hoping that the result will be to be refunded. However, one of the most frequent doubts is how to know if the Tax Agency owes money and when it will make the payment.
The Tax Agency (AEAT) offers different tools to check the status of tax files and to know if the refund has already been authorized, is still in the verification phase, or even if the money has already been transferred to the taxpayer's bank account.
How to check if the Tax Agency owes you a refund
The quickest way to know if there is a pending refund is to access the Electronic Headquarters of the Tax Agency or use the official AEAT application.
To consult the file, it will be necessary to identify oneself through one of the enabled systems, such as Cl@ve, digital certificate, electronic ID, or, when available, the reference number of the income tax campaign.
Once inside the file, the taxpayer will be able to know the updated status of their refund and check if the Tax Agency has already initiated the payment procedure.
What the statuses of the file mean
During the processing of a refund, the Tax Agency displays different messages that allow knowing in which phase the procedure is.
When the status "Your return is being processed" appears, it means that the Tax Agency has correctly received the return and is reviewing the information provided.
If the file indicates that "it is being verified", the Tax Agency is conducting additional checks. This message does not necessarily imply that there is a problem, but rather that the file requires a more detailed review before ordering payment.
On the other hand, the status "Your refund has been issued" confirms that the Tax Agency has already authorized the payment and ordered the bank transfer. From that moment, the money is usually credited within a few days, depending on the financial institution.
Finally, when the file shows "Your refund has been credited", it means that the payment has already been made.
How long the Tax Agency has to refund the money
The regulations of the Personal Income Tax (IRPF) establish that the Tax Agency generally has a maximum period of six months to process the refund.
This deadline begins to be counted from the last day of the Income campaign when the declaration is submitted within the voluntary period. If the declaration is submitted late, the six months are counted from the submission date.
In practice, many refunds are made quite earlier, although the waiting time may vary depending on the checks that the Administration must carry out.
What happens if the Tax Agency exceeds the legal deadline
If six months pass without the refund being made for reasons not attributable to the taxpayer, the Tax Agency must also pay the corresponding late interest.
One of the advantages for the citizen is that they do not need to request it expressly, since the Administration itself is obliged to include them ex officio when appropriate.
Can the Tax Agency withhold a refund?
Yes. Although the declaration results in a refund, there are situations in which the Tax Agency can offset that amount with outstanding tax debts or other obligations whose collection is legally provided for.
In these cases, the Tax Agency informs the taxpayer through the corresponding resolution, explaining the reason why the refund has not been fully paid.
What to do if the refund does not arrive
If the payment takes longer than expected, the first thing is to check the status of the file to see if the Tax Agency has requested additional documentation or has made any requirement.
It is also advisable to verify that the communicated IBAN is correct and to check the electronic notifications, as a pending incident may delay the refund.
In any case, the periodic consultation of the file allows knowing the exact situation of the procedure and detecting possible problems before they affect the collection.