What is a Payment Reference Number, and How Do You Track It?

From providing financial assistance to a friend to paying for the fruits you have bought, all require transferring money from one party to another. The best options we had before were cheques and cash. However, UPI has now made it simpler to transfer funds online. It’s popular because it is fast, available 24/7, convenient, and secure as you receive UPI transaction details after every payment.

What is UPI? It is a payment interface that allows instant money transfer online. The year 2024 witnessed UPI transactions of over ₹246.82 lakh crore. Over 1789 crore UPI transactions of ₹23.9 lakh crore took place in April 2025 alone. There are many who face payment failure or want to track the payment. Understand what is UPI, UPI payment reference number and how to track it.

What is UPI?

UPI stands for Unified Payment Interface, which users use to transfer money, pay bills, and manage accounts online in real-time. It’s a real-time payment system that enables instantaneous money transfers between bank accounts using smartphones.

Dr. Raghuram G Rajan launched the UPI pilot on 11th April 2016. Banks began to upload their UPI-enabled apps to the Google Play Store on 25th August 2016. UPI payment system streamlines payments just by using QR codes, virtual payment addresses (VPAs), or UPI-registered cellphone numbers. It completely eliminates the need to input specific bank information for every transaction.

What is a UPI Payment Reference Number?

A UPI payment reference number meaning refers to a Unique Transaction Reference number, which is your transaction’s identity in the digital world. It is commonly known as UTR, and every transaction has its own unique number. You can understand it as a transaction ID.

The app and system generate a unique 12-digit code every time you make a UPI payment or transfer. It helps banks to track and verify every transaction quickly. It also acts as a reference for both the sender and the recipient of the transaction.

Whether you are making a credit card payment or paying the electricity bill, every transaction has a unique UTR. UTR number in UPI directly appears within your UPI app, in a bank statement or SMS confirmation. Here is a sample of a UTR number:

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Where to Find UTR Number?

You can find a UTR in the UPI app, bank statement, and confirmation SMS. Here is where you can find UTR number:

• UPI App: You must first open the UPI application and then navigate through “transaction history” or “transaction details”. Select the transaction to check your UPI reference number.
• Bank Statement: You can find the UTR in the bank statement, as well. The number generally contains unique characters preceded by “UPI”.
• Confirmation SMS: The bank sends an SMS after a successful transaction. This message contains transaction details along with the UPI reference number.

Unique Transaction Number (UTR) seems relatively close to the Bank Reference Number (BRN). This is why you may think that they are the same, but they aren’t. The app assigns a unique UTR to every UPI transaction. Bank Reference Number is a more general word for a unique identification for every transaction pertaining to a bank account.

Where Can You Find the UPI Reference Number?

UPI offers an easy, safe, and convenient way to transfer money online. As convenient as it is, some transactions fail because of the network, server, or inaccurate information. In this case, it is really important to know how to find UPI reference number.

You can track UPI transaction on PhonePe, GPay or BHIM and know if it has passed or failed. You can find the UPI reference either through the transaction history or the passbook. All you need to do is click on the transaction details to get the reference number. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to find UPI reference numbers on top UPI apps:

Paytm

If you’ve made a payment using Paytm and need to track the transaction, here is how you can find the UPI reference number:

• Open the Paytm app on your smartphone.
• Tap on the ‘Balance & History’ icon right on the home screen.
• Scroll through your transaction history to locate the specific payment.
• Once you find it, tap on the transaction to view the full details.
• Look for the 12-digit UPI Reference Number (UTR).
• Use it to track and resolve any payment issues.

Google Pay (GPay)

Ever made a UPI payment using Google Pay and need to check its status? Follow these steps to locate it:

• Launch the Google Pay app on your phone.
• Go to the ‘Transaction History’ section from the home screen.
• Find and tap on the specific transaction you want to track.
• Inside the transaction details, you’ll see a 12-digit UPI reference number. 
• This is the Unique Transaction Reference (UTR) assigned to that payment.

PhonePe

When you complete a transaction on PhonePe and need to check your money status, follow these steps to track the UPI transaction in the PhonePe app:

• Open the PhonePe app and go to the ‘History’ section.
• Tap on the specific payment you want to check.
• Instantly, you’ll see the 12-digit UPI reference number displayed on your screen.

BHIM App

Here are the steps to find the UPI transaction number on the BHIM app:

• Open the BHIM app.
• Go to the transaction app.
• Find the transaction for which you are looking for the details.
• The BHIM app will show the reference number.

How to Track a UPI Transaction Using the Reference Number?

UPI reference number allows you to find out what happened when you send money online, but the receiver doesn’t get it, or the app says “pending”. The 12-digit UPI reference number can help sort out the situation fast. Here are three easy ways how to track UPI transactions:

Using Your UPI App

• Open your UPI app like PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, or BHIM.
• Go to ‘Transaction History’ or ‘Passbook’.
• Click on the payment that didn’t go through or is pending.
• You’ll see a 12-digit UPI reference number and the payment status (Successful, Failed, or Pending).

When the UPI transaction is not received, showing as failed or pending, move to the next step.

Contact Your Bank

• Call your bank’s customer care or visit a nearby branch.
• Give them your UPI reference number, date, and amount.
• They will help you check the status and fix the issue if needed.

Using the NPCI UPI Portal

• Go to the portal: https://www.npci.org.in/user-complaint-status
• Fill in your reference number and transaction details.
• You can also track the status of your complaint here.

Common UPI Transaction Issues and How the Reference Number Helps

From network error to the bank’s server, there are many factors that result in the UPI transaction issues. Here are the common problems under which UPI transactions fail:

• Not Enough Money in Your Account: If you try to send more money than what’s available in your bank account, the transaction will fail. Always make sure you have enough balance before making a payment.
• Technical Issues: Sometimes, the app or bank’s servers face technical problems or server issues. This can cause delays or failed transactions. The system usually fixes the issue quickly, as it’s only temporary.
• Wrong UPI PIN: Your UPI PIN is your password for making payments. If you enter the wrong PIN several times, the system blocks your account for some time and prevents the payment from going through.
• Bank Server Issues: Sometimes, money not received in UPI can happen because the bank’s server is down or under maintenance. This means the system is temporarily not working, causing the payment to fail. Once resolved, your money is refunded.
• Payment App Compatibility: Sometimes, UPI payments can fail if the sender and receiver are using different UPI apps that don’t work well together. For example, if one person uses GPay and the other uses a lesser-known app, the payment might not work well.

You can check the reference number for UPI fund transfer in your UPI app. It is helpful to track the transaction and can be shared with your bank or customer support to solve the issue faster.

How Long Does It Take to Resolve a UPI Transaction Issue?

The UPI reference number makes it easy to track the status of your transaction. In case the payment fails, you can find UPI complaint resolution through the app. For example, you can click on the transaction and then Contact PhonePe Support to find quick help.

The UPI customer support will help you resolve your issues. However, if it doesn’t, you can wait for the UPI app to refund the money. Generally, the UPI refund time varies from T+3 to T+5 days. UPI reference number plays a crucial role here, as well, as it helps you track UPI transactions.

• For person-to-person (P2P) payments: The banks return the money by the next working day (T+2).
• For merchant payments (P2M): The bank processes the refund within five working days (T+5).

The essence of UPI complaint resolution is your UPI reference number UPI. With this 12-digit ID, your bank can quickly trace the path of the payment and take action. If you don’t get a timely resolution, escalate the issue through your UPI app, your bank, or the NPCI portal. Here is a summary statement on the UPI transaction issue resolution timelines:

Issue Type	Standard Resolution
P2P	Auto-reversed within T+2 working day
P2M	Refund within T+5 working days
Credit to Beneficiary	Usually resolved within T+2 working days
Amount Debited but not reflected	Typically fixed within 2–5 working days

Tips to Avoid UPI Transaction Errors

It is essential to be mindful and vigilant of your UPI transactions. Being active helps you to avoid common UPI transaction issues. Here are the quick tips to avoid UPI issues:

• Check Internet Stability: A weak internet connection can interrupt your transaction. Make payments in places where the signal is strong to avoid delays or failed payments.
• Update the UPI App: Always use the latest version of your UPI app. Updates fix bugs and improve security. An outdated app can cause errors or stuck payments.
• Double-check UPI ID: Before sending money or completing the transaction, take a few extra seconds to recheck the UPI ID or scan the QR code properly. A small mistake in UPI transaction can send money to the wrong person. UPI payments are hard to reverse.
• Maintain a Sufficient Bank Balance: If your bank account doesn’t have enough money, your UPI transaction can fail. Check your balance before paying to avoid trouble.
• Protect Your UPI PIN: Never share your UPI PIN. Stay alert against fake links, messages, or calls asking for your details.

Always keep the UPI payment reference number for the fund transfer after every payment. It helps you track the transaction in case anything goes wrong.

Conclusion

Your UPI payment reference number is more than just a string of digits. It’s your safety net in digital payments. It is crucial to raise complaints or seek support for tracking UPI transactions. As important as knowing how to track UPI payments is, it’s equally important to keep your UPI safe, as UPI fraud cases surged by 85% in FY24. You can keep it safe by not sharing OTP or PIN with anyone.

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FAQs about UPI Payment Reference Number