Interest on refund where no claim is needed - Section 244

Interest on delayed tax refunds: government pays simple interest on overdue refunds after the prescribed three month period.

If a refund due under an order referred to in section 240 is not granted within three months from the end of the month in which the order is passed, the Central Government must pay simple interest at 15% per annum from the day after that three month period until the refund is granted. For amounts later found on appeal to be in excess of liability, the same rate applies from date of payment to refund (with separate treatment for instalments and a one month no interest period), and interest for withheld refunds under section 241 runs from after the three month expiry until grant.