How to Check Your IRAS Tax Refund Status Online

A tax refund from IRAS occurs when you’ve paid more income tax than your final assessment requires—common after claiming personal reliefs or if your employer deducted excess tax through the auto-inclusion scheme. In 2024, IRAS processed refunds for about 780,000 individual taxpayers, with 9 in 10 refunds disbursed within 14 calendar days after the Notice of Assessment (NOA) was issued.

Prerequisites

You need a Singpass account to log in to myTax Portal (mytax.iras.gov.sg). Your tax return for the relevant Year of Assessment must have been filed and the NOA issued. Refund status is only visible after IRAS completes the assessment.

How to Check Refund Status

Log in to myTax Portal with Singpass. Go to Notices/Correspondence → Notices to view your NOA; the refund amount and payment method appear on the first page. Alternatively, use Account → Account Summary → View Account Details—a “Refund Status” field shows the current stage (Pending, Processing, Approved, or Disbursed). For joint assessments, the refund status is visible only to the primary taxpayer.

Understanding Refund Statuses

• Pending – Assessment not yet finalised; refund eligibility is still being determined.
• Processing – Refund is being prepared. Bank verification in progress.
• Approved – Payment has been scheduled and will be credited to your registered bank account or PayNow.
• Disbursed – Funds have been transferred. If nothing appears after 3 working days, check your bank account details.

Expected Refund Timelines

Most refunds are issued quickly once the NOA is generated. For e-filers in YA 2025, IRAS service standards show that 99% of electronic refunds are credited within 7 working days from the date the refund is approved. Actual timings depend on your payment mode:

• PayNow (via NRIC-linked bank account) – typically 5 working days after approval.
• GIRO bank account – 10–14 calendar days.
• Cheque – up to 3 weeks (only if no bank details are on file).

What to Do if Your Refund is Delayed

First, verify your bank details in myTax Portal: Account Summary → Update Bank Account. If PayNow is used, ensure your NRIC is linked to a bank account via internet banking. Delays longer than 3 weeks after the NOA date require action. Contact IRAS directly at 1800-356-8300 (individual income tax) or use the live chat on the IRAS website, available Monday to Friday 8am–5pm. Have your tax reference number ready.

Common Reasons for Refund Delays

Around 5% of refunds are held up by administrative issues. Typical causes:

• Incorrect bank details – wrong account number or bank code, expired GIRO arrangement.
• Outstanding tax debts – refund may be offset against unpaid taxes from earlier years.
• Return under review – if your tax filing is selected for audit, the refund is paused until the review concludes.
• No bank account registered – default payment is by cheque, which adds mailing time.

Updating your bank details promptly after filing minimizes delays.

FAQ

How do I know if I’m eligible for a tax refund?
After your assessment, if the tax payable is lower than the tax you’ve already paid (e.g., through employment deductions or previous instalments), IRAS will automatically process a refund. The NOA will state “Refund Amount” if you are eligible.

Can I change my refund payment method after filing?
Yes. Before the refund status moves to “Approved,” you can update your bank account or PayNow linkage under Account Summary in myTax Portal. Changes after approval may cause the payment to bounce and lead to further delay.

参考资料

• IRAS – Check Refund Status & Payment Mode (2025)
• IRAS – Service Standards for Tax Refunds, Year of Assessment 2025 (2024)
• IRAS – myTax Portal User Guide (2024)
• Singpass – Accessing Government Digital Services (2025)
• IRAS – Contact & Enquiries for Individual Income Tax (2025)

This information is accurate as of July 2025 and reflects IRAS processes for Year of Assessment 2025. Always verify with IRAS directly.