Is my bank account ready for an income tax refund?
Log in free to the income tax e-filing website with your own PAN, see if your bank account is 'Validated' for refunds, and fix it if validation failed.
Free on the official page. Your own numbers only. We have no automated link to any government portal, use no private data services, and never store the result.
What you need
- Your own PAN (Permanent Account Number, the 10-character tax number, like ABCDE1234F). It is your user ID on the e-filing website.
- Your own e-filing password.
- Your bank account number and IFSC (the bank branch code, printed in the passbook or cheque book). The account must be in your name and your PAN must be linked to it at the bank.
- Your own phone, to get an OTP (a one-time code sent by SMS) when you add or re-validate an account. You type it yourself.
What to do on the official page
- Open the official income tax e-filing website: incometax.gov.in. It is free. Do not open links in SMS or emails that ask you to update your bank account for a refund.
- Click 'Login'. Type your PAN as the user ID and click 'Continue'. Type your password and click 'Continue'.
- On the dashboard, go to 'My Profile', then click 'My Bank Account'. The page 'My Bank Accounts' opens.
- The page has three tabs: 'Added Bank Accounts', 'Failed Bank Accounts' and 'Removed Bank Accounts'. Find your account and read the status written next to it.
- If your account is not there, click 'Add Bank Account'. Type the account number, choose 'Account Type' and 'Holder Type', and type the IFSC. The bank name and branch fill in by themselves.
- Click 'Proceed to E-Verify', choose 'E-Verify' and click 'Continue'. Type the OTP from your own phone yourself. Then check the status again in the 'Added Bank Accounts' tab.
What the result means
The portal shows: 'Validation in progress'
It means: Your request is sent and the bank has not answered yet.
What to do next: Wait. The tax website says the status changes within 10 to 12 working days. Check again then. You do not need to add the account again.
The portal shows: 'Validated'
It means: The bank confirmed the account. It can now get your income tax refund.
What to do next: Switch on 'Nominate for Refund' for this account and click 'Continue', so the refund goes here. The account must be a savings, current, cash credit, overdraft or NRO (non-resident ordinary) account.
The portal shows: 'Validated and EVC enabled'
It means: The account is confirmed, and you can also use it to get an EVC (electronic verification code, a code to confirm your return online).
What to do next: Nothing more is needed for the account. Make sure 'Nominate for Refund' is on if you want refunds here. Only one account can have EVC on at a time.
The portal shows: In 'Failed Bank Accounts': 'PAN-Bank Account-IFSC linkage failed', 'PAN not linked with bank account' or 'PAN mismatch'.
It means: The bank does not have your PAN, or has a different PAN, on this account.
What to do next: Go to your branch with your PAN card and ask them to link your correct PAN to the account. Then click 'Re-Validate' in the 'Failed Bank Accounts' tab and type the OTP yourself.
The portal shows: In 'Failed Bank Accounts': 'Name mismatch' or 'Account holder name invalid'.
It means: Your name at the bank is not the same as the name on your PAN.
What to do next: Ask your branch to change the name on the account to match your PAN. Then click 'Re-Validate', check the details and send the request again.
The portal shows: In 'Failed Bank Accounts': 'Bank Account Number mismatch', 'Account number does not exist' or 'Invalid account type'.
It means: A typing mistake: the account number or the account type you chose is wrong.
What to do next: Click 'Re-Validate', type the correct number from your passbook or choose the correct type, and send the request again.
The portal shows: In 'Failed Bank Accounts': 'Bank account closed / inactive', or the account is litigated, frozen or blocked.
It means: This account cannot take money now.
What to do next: Add a different working account in your own name. Ask your branch if you want to start the old account again.
The portal shows: 'Validation cannot be done'
It means: The tax department cannot check this account with this bank.
What to do next: Add an account at another bank that works with the e-filing website. If a refund is waiting, you can attach an ECS mandate form (a bank form for direct credit) when you raise a 'Refund Reissue' request.
Frequently asked questions
Is checking or validating my bank account free?
Yes. Logging in, adding a bank account and re-validating it are free on the income tax website. Nobody needs to pay an agent for it.
Why must my bank account be pre-validated?
The tax department sends a refund only to a validated account that you nominated for refund. If no account is validated, the refund fails.
My refund failed because of the bank account. What now?
First make an account show 'Validated' on this page and switch on 'Nominate for Refund'. Then ask for the refund again under 'Services' > 'Refund Reissue'. See our free refund status guide.
Can I add my wife's, husband's or child's account for my refund?
No. The account must be linked to your own PAN and the name must match your PAN, or validation fails. Use only your own account and your own login. FormSathi never looks up another person's PAN or bank details.
Where do I call if I am stuck?
Call the free e-filing helpline 1800 103 0025 or 1800 419 0025. For name or PAN problems at the bank, visit your own branch. Nobody genuine will ask for your password, OTP or bank PIN.
Other free checks
All checks
Income tax
- Find the TAN of whoever cut tax from your pay
- Find your own income tax Assessing Officer
- Check if an income tax notice is genuine
- See if your income tax payment reached the government
- Where is my income tax refund?
- See the tax cut on your PAN (Form 26AS and AIS)
PAN card
Money from schemes
- Aadhaar bank seeding status
- Is my Ayushman card ready?
- Ladki Bahin application status
- MahaDBT scholarship application status
- Where is my PM-Kisan money?
Aadhaar
- Download my e-Aadhaar
- Aadhaar PVC card order status
- Find my lost Aadhaar number or enrolment ID
- Aadhaar update status
Aadhaar safety
- Aadhaar authentication history (where your Aadhaar was used)
- Lock or unlock your Aadhaar biometrics (fingerprint, iris, face)
- Which mobile is linked to my Aadhaar
- Is my Aadhaar number valid
ID cards and documents
- Driving licence application status
- Passport application status
- Track my voter form (Form 6 / Form 8) application
- Download my digital voter ID card (e-EPIC)
- Find my name in the voter list
Work and jobs
- e-Shram card: check and download
- Where is my PF claim? Check your EPF withdrawal status
- Is my PF account (UAN) active, and how much is in it?
- PM Vishwakarma application status
Business
Sources (date read)
- My Bank Account user manual: tabs, status words, failure reasons and 'Re-Validate' (income tax e-filing) · 2026-11-04
- Refund Reissue user manual (income tax e-filing) · 2026-10-19
- How to log in to the e-filing portal: PAN as user ID, password (user manual) · 2026-10-27
- My Bank Account FAQs: the validation status is updated in your e-filing account within 10 to 12 working days · 2026-11-06
Updated: 2026-11-06