IRCTC is the online platform to book or cancel train ticket in India. Indian railway changes rules of ticket booking and cancellations to meet its expenses and give better facility in railway. It has increased the IRCTC cancellation charges of tickets and specified various rules for Refund of booked tickets. The increase in service tax has also affected the train ticket charges. Cancellation charges have increased not only for confirmed ticket (e.g SL,1A,2A, 3A) but also for the Waitlisted/RAC tickets. IRCTC takes Non-refundable Service charges for every ticket. The IRCTC cancellation charges are categorically explained below.

Cancellation charges for Fully Waitlisted / RAC Tickets

Fully Waitlisted/ RAC e-tickets which are booked from irctc online platform are automatically cancelled after chart preparation and the amount is refunded to same account from which it was booked.  For Waitlisted/ RAC tickets cancellation charges include fixed Clerkage charges per passenger and non-refundable Service charges and applicable service tax. i,e

Total Charges = Clerkage charge x Nos of Passenger+Service Charge+Service tax

IRCTC railway Service charges is taken during ticket booking and this charges is non-refundable after ticket cancellation also. (Pls note that to promote digital payments, there is No Service charge applicable till 30 June 2017, Step taken after demonetization drive in country)

Service tax on service charge per ticket

After inclusion of Swach Bharat Cess (0.5%) and Krishi Kalyan Cess (0.5%) the service tax has increased to 15% (w.e.f 01.06.2016) the service tax is applicable on service charge  per ticket.

Suppose for Sleeper Class the Service tax would be 20 x 15%= Rs. 3

and, for all other classes the Service tax would be 40 x 15%= Rs. 6

Examples of IRCTC online Cancellation charges

IRCTC Cancellation charges for General Class (unreserved) of one passenger= Clerkage (Rs.30)+ Service charge (Rs. 20)+ S.T (Rs. 3)= Rs.53

Similarly for 3 passenger fully Waitlisted / RAC General Class Ticket=30 x 3+20+3=Rs.113

IRCTC Cancellation charges for AC classes of one passenger= Clerkage (Rs.60)+ Service charge (Rs. 40)+ S.T (Rs. 6)= Rs. 106

Similarly for 3 passenger fully Waitlisted / RAC  AC Class Ticket=60 x 3+40+6=Rs.226

Cancellation charges for Confirmed Tickets

IRCTC cancellation charges for Confirmed Tickets is based on the time of cancellation and status of the tickets.

A) If the ticket is cancelled more than forty eight hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train, a minimum per passenger cancellation charges shall be deducted at the flat rate:-

Read Cancellation charges of Flight tickets

B) If the ticket is cancelled between forty eight hours and upto twelve hours before the scheduled departure of the train.

25%(twenty five) percent of fare subject the minimum of the cancellation charge referred to in clause (A) + Service Charge (including service tax)

C) If the ticket is cancelled within twelve hours before the scheduled departure of the train and upto four hours before the scheduled departure of the train irrespective of distance.

50%(Fifty) percent of fare subject to a minimum of the cancellation charge referred clause (A)

D) No refund of fare shall be admissible on the ticket having confirmed reservation in case ticket is not cancelled or TDR not filed online upto four hours before the scheduled departure of the train

Cancellation charges for Partially Confirmed Tickets

Partially confirmed tickets in which some passengers have confirmed seats while others  remains Waitlisted / RAC are not automatically cancelled, therefore these tickets are cancelled online or online TDR is filed within 30 minute of train departure schedule. Following two cases are valid for getting the refund.

A) If e-ticket issued for travel of more than one passenger, some passengers have confirmed reservation and others are on RAC or waiting list, full refund of fare, less clerkage and Service charge (+S.T) , shall be admissible for confirmed passengers also subject to the condition that the ticket shall be cancelled online or online TDR shall be filed for all the passengers upto thirty minutes before the scheduled departure of the train. i.e

If ticket cancelled before  30 minutes of scheduled departure of train.

Cancellation charges = Clerkage for each passenger+ Service charge including Service tax

B) In case of party e-ticket or family e-ticket issued for travel of more than one passenger, some passengers have confirmed reservation and others are on the list of RAC or waiting list, then in case of passengers or RAC or waiting list not travelling, a certificate shall be obtained from the ticket checking staff to that effect and refund of fare shall be processed online through TDR, indicating the details of the certificate issued by ticket checking staff and the online TDR shall be filed upto seventy two hours of actual arrival of the train at passengers’ destination and the original certificate issued by ticket checking staff shall be sent through post to Group General Manager/IT, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd., Internet Ticketing Centre, IRCA Building, State Entry Road, New Delhi – 110055.