Why this result?
Rule Applied: 25% of fare per passenger (minimum charge ₹180) + 5% GST.
*Note: IRCTC convenience fee (₹15–₹30) and PG charges are non-refundable. Calculation based on published Railway rules.
How Are IRCTC Cancellation Charges Calculated?
For standard confirmed reserved tickets, Indian Railways and IRCTC determine cancellation deductions through a graduated four-tier time window based on the time remaining between cancellation and scheduled train departure.
If a confirmed ticket is cancelled more than 48 hours before scheduled train departure time, a flat minimum clerkage charge is deducted per passenger based on the booked class. 5% GST is added to the clerkage for AC classes.
If cancelled between 48 hours and 12 hours before scheduled departure, 25% of the base fare is deducted per passenger, subject to the minimum class clerkage floor. 5% GST applies to the deduction on AC classes.
If cancelled between 12 hours and 4 hours before departure (and before first chart preparation), 50% of the base fare is deducted per passenger, subject to the minimum class clerkage floor (+ 5% GST on AC).
Normal online cancellation refund is not available once a train is within 4 hours of scheduled departure or after chart preparation. If an eligible disruption applies (e.g. train delayed > 3 hours), passengers may file an online TDR.
IRCTC Cancellation Charges by Class
The table below lists the minimum flat cancellation charges per passenger for tickets cancelled more than 48 hours before departure. Under published railway rules, 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) is added to the cancellation charge for air-conditioned classes. GST is not added to the cancellation charge for non-AC classes.
| Class Code | Class Name | Base Minimum Clerkage | GST on Cancellation | Effective Minimum Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1A / EC | AC First Class / Executive Chair Car (Vande Bharat) | ₹240 | ₹12 (5%) | ₹252 |
| 2A | AC 2-Tier | ₹200 | ₹10 (5%) | ₹210 |
| 3A / 3E / CC | AC 3-Tier, 3E Economy, AC Chair Car | ₹180 | ₹9 (5%) | ₹189 |
| FC | First Class (Non-AC) | ₹120 | ₹0 (GST not added) | ₹120 |
| SL | Sleeper Class | ₹120 | ₹0 (GST not added) | ₹120 |
| 2S | Second Sitting (Reserved) | ₹60 | ₹0 (GST not added) | ₹60 |
| RAC / WL | RAC & Waitlisted (Cancelled ≥ 30m prior) | ₹60 | ₹3 (AC) / ₹0 (Non-AC) | ₹60 (Non-AC) / ₹63 (AC) |
What Happens If I Cancel an RAC Ticket?
Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) tickets follow standard clerkage rules rather than percentage-based deductions:
- Cancelled at least 30 minutes before departure: Full ticket fare is refunded minus flat clerkage of ₹60 per passenger for non-AC classes, or ₹63 per passenger (₹60 clerkage + 5% GST) for AC classes.
- Cancelled within 30 minutes of departure: Normal refund is not available under standard railway cancellation rules.
Note: The 30-minute cutoff applies strictly to RAC and waitlisted passengers. Unlike confirmed tickets that have a 4-hour cutoff, RAC tickets can be cancelled online up to 30 minutes prior to scheduled train departure.
What Happens to a Fully Waitlisted E-Ticket?
If an online e-ticket remains fully waitlisted after final chart preparation:
- Passenger names are automatically dropped from the reservation chart.
- The e-ticket is not valid for boarding the train.
- No cancellation charge is deducted under current IRCTC refund rules. Full fare is automatically refunded back to the original payment source (debit card, credit card, UPI, or net banking) used during booking.
You do not need to manually cancel an e-ticket that remains fully waitlisted after chart preparation; IRCTC initiates the refund process automatically.
Can I Cancel a Confirmed Tatkal Ticket?
Under standard Indian Railways rules, normal cancellation of a confirmed Tatkal ticket does not grant a refund (100% fare forfeiture).
However, special refund conditions apply where full refund of fare (minus clerkage) is admissible via an Online Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) filed before train departure under the following circumstances:
- The train is delayed by more than 3 hours at your booked boarding station.
- The train is cancelled or diverted by Indian Railways onto an alternate route not preferred by the passenger.
- The railway is unable to provide booked accommodation, or lower class accommodation is provided.
Note: For waitlisted Tatkal tickets, standard RAC/WL rules apply: flat clerkage of ₹60 (+ 5% GST on AC) is deducted if cancelled at least 30 minutes before departure.
What Happens After Chart Preparation?
Chart preparation represents the formal cutoff for regular passenger cancellations:
- Normal Online Cancellation Closes: Once Chart 1 is finalized (typically 4 hours before departure, or by 08:00 PM the previous evening for morning departures), IRCTC disables regular online cancellation for confirmed passengers.
- Special Refund / Online TDR: If a qualifying railway disruption occurs, passengers can file an online TDR before train departure to claim an eligible refund.
- Mixed PNR Concession: If the PNR contains both confirmed and waitlisted passengers and the full ticket is cancelled after first charting up to 30 minutes prior to departure, confirmed seats incur ₹0 cancellation charge under IRCTC refund rules.
Vande Bharat Sleeper & Amrit Bharat II Cancellation Rules
Applicable Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II services follow distinct cancellation and refund cutoff windows separate from the standard 48/12/4-hour schedule:
Subject to the class minimum clerkage floor (+ 5% GST for AC).
Subject to the class minimum clerkage floor (+ 5% GST for AC).
Normal online cancellation closes 8 hours before scheduled departure.
Frequently Asked Questions on Railway Ticket Refunds
How are IRCTC ticket cancellation charges calculated?▾
For confirmed tickets, Indian Railways applies time-tiered rules: more than 48 hours before departure incurs flat minimum clerkage (₹60 to ₹240 depending on class, plus 5% GST for AC); between 48 and 12 hours incurs 25% of the fare (subject to the class minimum clerkage floor); and between 12 and 4 hours (before chart preparation) incurs 50% of the fare. Within 4 hours or after chart preparation, normal cancellation is closed.
What are the minimum cancellation charges by class for tickets cancelled > 48 hours prior?▾
Flat minimum charges per passenger: ₹240 for AC First (1A) and Executive Chair Car (EC); ₹200 for AC 2-Tier (2A); ₹180 for AC 3-Tier (3A), 3E Economy, and AC Chair Car (CC); ₹120 for First Class Non-AC (FC); ₹120 for Sleeper Class (SL); and ₹60 for Second Sitting Reserved (2S). A 5% GST applies to clerkage for air-conditioned classes.
What happens if I cancel an RAC ticket?▾
RAC and waitlisted tickets cancelled at least 30 minutes before scheduled train departure receive a full refund of fare minus flat clerkage of ₹60 per passenger for Non-AC classes and ₹63 (₹60 + 5% GST) for AC classes. If cancelled within 30 minutes of departure, no normal refund is available.
What happens to a fully waitlisted e-ticket after chart preparation?▾
If an online e-ticket remains fully waitlisted after final chart preparation, passenger names are dropped automatically from the reservation chart. Under IRCTC rules, the full fare is refunded automatically to the original payment source without any cancellation charge deducted.
Can I cancel a confirmed Tatkal ticket and get a refund?▾
Normal cancellation of a confirmed Tatkal ticket does not provide any refund. However, you can file an online TDR via IRCTC before train departure to claim a refund if the train is cancelled by Railways, runs late by more than 3 hours at your boarding station, or is diverted.
What happens to ticket cancellation after chart preparation?▾
Once reservation Chart 1 is finalized, normal online cancellation is no longer available on IRCTC. However, if an eligible railway disruption occurs (such as train running late > 3 hours, train cancelled, or accommodation not provided), passengers can file an online Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) through IRCTC before train departure.
What are the special cancellation rules for Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat II?▾
Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat II services follow distinct cancellation windows: more than 72 hours before departure incurs a 25% cancellation charge; between 72 hours and 8 hours incurs a 50% cancellation charge; and within 8 hours of scheduled departure, no normal cancellation refund is available.
What is the refund rule for mixed PNRs with confirmed and waitlisted passengers?▾
Under published IRCTC rules (effective January 2026), if an entire party/family e-ticket with mixed confirmed and RAC/WL status is cancelled, confirmed passengers incur a reduced charge of only ₹20 (+ 5% GST on AC) when cancelled before charting up to 4 hours prior, and zero cancellation charge (₹0) when cancelled after first charting up to 30 minutes before departure.
Why are IRCTC convenience fees not included in the refund estimate?▾
The convenience fee charged by IRCTC at checkout and bank payment gateway processing fees are separate transaction charges and are not included in the railway fare refund estimate.