IRCTC Cancellation Charges 2026 – Rules, Refund Policy & Fees

IRCTC Cancellation Charges, Rules, and Refund Policy

If you’ve booked a train ticket and need to cancel it, understanding the refund rules is essential. This section explains how refunds are calculated, what charges may apply depending on when you cancel, and the procedure to follow to receive your money back without hassle.

Cancellation Charges for Confirmed Tickets

The refund you receive depends on how early you cancel before the train's departure.

Cancellation Time	Charges Deducted
More than 48 hours before departure	Flat charge per passenger: Rs. 240 + GST (Executive Class) or Rs. 180 + GST (AC Chair Car)
Between 48 hours and 12 hours before departure	25% of fare + GST, subject to the minimum flat charges above
Between 12 hours and 4 hours before departure	50% of fare + GST, subject to the minimum flat charges above
Less than 4 hours before departure	No refund if the ticket is not cancelled or the TDR is not filed

Waitlisted Ticket: Cancellation Charges

If you cancel a waitlisted ticket up to 4 hours before departure, Rs. 20 + GST per passenger is deducted, and the rest is refunded.

If all passengers on the ticket remain on the waitlist after the chart is prepared, the ticket is automatically cancelled and a full refund is credited with no charges deducted.

Cancellation Charges for Partially Confirmed Tickets

Cancellation Time	Refund Policy	Charges / Conditions
Cancellation online up to 4 hours before departure	Full refund for all passengers	₹20 + GST per passenger will be deducted
Cancellation after chart preparation and up to 30 minutes before departure	Full refund for all passengers	No cancellation charge
Waitlisted passengers do not travel while others do	Refund process via TDR claim	Must obtain a certificate from the Ticket Checking Staff, file TDR online within 72 hours of actual arrival, and send the original certificate by post to IRCTC (Group General Manager/IT, Internet Ticketing Centre, IRCA Building, State Entry Road, New Delhi 110055)

All Passengers Still on Waitlist After Charting

If all passengers on a PNR remain on the waitlist even after the chart is prepared, the booking is automatically cancelled and the full fare is refunded with no deductions.

Train Fully Cancelled

If the entire train is cancelled (from source to destination), a full refund is automatically credited to your original payment account. You do not need to cancel the ticket or file a TDR.

Train Partially Cancelled, Diverted, or Short-Terminated

File a TDR online within 72 hours of the scheduled departure of the train from your boarding station.

Train Running More Than 3 Hours Late, and You Did Not Travel

You are eligible for a full refund with no cancellation charges if all of the following apply:

The train is running more than 3 hours late at your boarding station.
None of the passengers on the PNR travelled.
You filed a TDR online before the train actually departed.

Note: If you cancel the ticket or file the TDR after the train has already departed, no refund will be given.

TDR Filing Time Limits at a Glance

Here is when you need to file the TDR for the refund.

Reason	Time Limit to File TDR
Train late by more than 3 hours, passenger did not travel	Before actual departure from your boarding station
Wrong class attached, passenger travelled in lower class	Within 2 days (excluding day of certificate issue)
AC failure	Within 20 hours of actual arrival at the destination
All confirmed passengers did not travel	Up to 4 hours before scheduled departure
Train diverted, passenger did not travel	Within 72 hours of scheduled departure
Train diverted and did not touch your boarding station	Within 72 hours of scheduled departure
Train diverted and did not touch your destination	Within 72 hours of scheduled departure
Party partially confirmed or waitlisted, waitlisted passengers did not travel	Within 72 hours of actual arrival at destination
Party partially confirmed or waitlisted, all passengers did not travel	Up to 30 minutes before scheduled departure
Passenger travelled in a lower class	Within 2 days (excluding day of certificate issue)
Partial journey taken (partially used ticket)	Within 72 hours of scheduled departure from boarding station
Reservation given in lower class, passenger did not travel	Within 3 hours of actual departure from boarding station
Coach damaged, passenger did not travel	Within 3 hours of actual departure from boarding station
Train terminated before your destination	Within 72 hours of scheduled arrival at your destination

How to Cancel IRCTC Ticket?

To cancel railway tickets online on IRCTC, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Go to the official IRCTC website and log in using your registered username and password.
Step 2: Once logged in, navigate to the My Transactions section from the top menu.
Step 3: Under My Account, click on Booked Ticket History to view all your upcoming and recent bookings.
Step 4: Choose the ticket you wish to cancel and click the Cancel Ticket button next to it.
Step 5: A list of passengers on that booking will appear. Select the checkbox next to the name of the passenger(s) whose ticket you want to cancel.
Step 6: Click the Cancel Ticket button to proceed.
Step 7: A confirmation pop-up will appear on the screen. Review the cancellation details and click OK to confirm.
Step 8: Once confirmed, the screen will display the cancellation charges deducted and the net refund amount you will receive.
Step 9: A confirmation SMS will be sent to your registered mobile number, and a confirmation email will be sent to your registered email address for your records.

Frequently Asked Questions on IRCTC Ticket Cancellation Charges

How long does it take to get a refund from IRCTC?

Usually, refunds for e-tickets are deposited within 5-7 working days. In some cases, banks may take longer to process a refund. You may reach out to IRCTC with any queries.

Can I cancel my ticket after the chart preparation?

No. Once the chart has been prepared, train tickets cannot be cancelled. Under specific conditions, you may file a TDR to request a refund from IRCTC.

Are cancellation charges applied per ticket or per passenger?

Cancellation charges are calculated per passenger, not per ticket. This means the total deduction depends on the number of passengers included in the booking.

What is TDR, and when should I file it?

TDR stands for Ticket Deposit Receipt. It can be filed only when the passenger couldn't travel due to specific issues. TDR must be filed within the allotted time.

Is there any refund for Tatkal ticket cancellation?

No refund is provided for confirmed Tatkal tickets. For Tatkal tickets, refunds are only applicable to waitlisted tickets (if not confirmed in the chart) after clerkage deductions.

What happens if my train is cancelled?

If the train is cancelled by the railways, passengers are eligible for a full refund. E-tickets get automatic refunds without having to file a cancellation request.

IRCTC Cancellation Charges