> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.hyperswitch.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.hyperswitch.io/integrations/prism/node/payment-service/refund.md).

# Refund

## Overview

The `refund` method returns funds to a customer's payment method after a successful payment. Use this for returns, cancellations after fulfillment, or goodwill adjustments.

**Business Use Case:** A customer returns an item they purchased. The original payment was already captured. You process a refund to return their money.

## Purpose

**Why use refund?**

| Scenario                                                        | Benefit |
| --------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
| **Product returns** - Refund customers for returned merchandise |         |
| **Service cancellation** - Refund for unrendered services       |         |
| **Goodwill gestures** - Partial refunds for service issues      |         |
| **Duplicate charges** - Correct accidental charges              |         |

## Request Fields

| Field                    | Type   | Required | Description                                     |
| ------------------------ | ------ | -------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| `merchantRefundId`       | string | Yes      | Your unique refund reference                    |
| `connectorTransactionId` | string | Yes      | The connector's transaction ID from the payment |
| `refundAmount`           | Money  | Yes      | Amount to refund (can be partial)               |
| `reason`                 | string | No       | Reason for refund                               |
| `metadata`               | object | No       | Additional data (max 20 keys)                   |

## Response Fields

| Field               | Type         | Description                                |
| ------------------- | ------------ | ------------------------------------------ |
| `merchantRefundId`  | string       | Your refund reference (echoed back)        |
| `connectorRefundId` | string       | Connector's refund ID (e.g., re\_xxx)      |
| `status`            | RefundStatus | Current status: PENDING, SUCCEEDED, FAILED |
| `refundAmount`      | Money        | Refund amount                              |
| `error`             | ErrorInfo    | Error details if status is FAILED          |
| `statusCode`        | number       | HTTP-style status code (200, 422, etc.)    |

## Example

### SDK Setup

```javascript
const { PaymentClient } = require('hyperswitch-prism');

const paymentClient = new PaymentClient({
    connector: 'stripe',
    apiKey: 'YOUR_API_KEY',
    environment: 'SANDBOX'
});
```

### Request

```javascript
const request = {
    merchantRefundId: "refund_001",
    connectorTransactionId: "pi_3Oxxx...",
    refundAmount: {
        minorAmount: 1000,
        currency: "USD"
    },
    reason: "Customer returned item"
};

const response = await paymentClient.refund(request);
```

### Response

```javascript
{
    merchantRefundId: "refund_001",
    connectorRefundId: "re_3Oxxx...",
    status: "PENDING",
    refundAmount: {
        minorAmount: 1000,
        currency: "USD"
    },
    statusCode: 200
}
```

## Refund vs Void vs Reverse

| Action      | When to Use                               | Timeline           |
| ----------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------ |
| **Void**    | Before capture, during authorization hold | Same day           |
| **Reverse** | After capture, before settlement          | Same day           |
| **Refund**  | After settlement                          | 5-10 business days |

## Next Steps

* [getRefund](/integrations/prism/node/refund-service/get.md) - Check refund status
* [capture](/integrations/prism/node/payment-service/capture.md) - Ensure payment is captured before refunding
* [void](/integrations/prism/node/payment-service/void.md) - Cancel if still in authorized state


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