---
title: returnDeclineRequest - GraphQL Admin
description: >-
  Declines a return on an order.

  When a return is declined, each `ReturnLineItem.fulfillmentLineItem` can be
  associated to a new return.

  Use the `ReturnCreate` or `ReturnRequest` mutation to initiate a new return.
api_version: 2026-01
api_name: admin
type: mutation
api_type: graphql
source_url:
  html: >-
    https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/mutations/returnDeclineRequest
  md: >-
    https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/mutations/returnDeclineRequest.md
---

# return​Decline​Request

mutation

Requires `write_returns` access scope or `write_marketplace_returns` access scope.

Declines a return on an order. When a return is declined, each `ReturnLineItem.fulfillmentLineItem` can be associated to a new return. Use the `ReturnCreate` or `ReturnRequest` mutation to initiate a new return.

## Arguments

* input

  [Return​Decline​Request​Input!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/input-objects/ReturnDeclineRequestInput)

  required

  The input fields for declining a customer's return request.

***

## Return​Decline​Request​Payload returns

* return

  [Return](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/Return)

  The declined return.

* user​Errors

  [\[Return​User​Error!\]!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/ReturnUserError)

  non-null

  The list of errors that occurred from executing the mutation.

***

## Examples

* ### Cannot decline a return that has been refunded

  #### Description

  Mutation fails if the return was already refunded.

  #### Query

  ```graphql
  mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) {
    returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) {
      return {
        id
        status
      }
      userErrors {
        code
        field
        message
      }
    }
  }
  ```

  #### Variables

  ```json
  {
    "input": {
      "id": "gid://shopify/Return/491427904",
      "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
    }
  }
  ```

  #### cURL

  ```bash
  curl -X POST \
  https://your-development-store.myshopify.com/admin/api/2026-01/graphql.json \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -H 'X-Shopify-Access-Token: {access_token}' \
  -d '{
  "query": "mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) { returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) { return { id status } userErrors { code field message } } }",
   "variables": {
      "input": {
        "id": "gid://shopify/Return/491427904",
        "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
      }
    }
  }'
  ```

  #### React Router

  ```javascript
  import { authenticate } from "../shopify.server";

  export const loader = async ({request}) => {
    const { admin } = await authenticate.admin(request);
    const response = await admin.graphql(
      `#graphql
    mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) {
      returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) {
        return {
          id
          status
        }
        userErrors {
          code
          field
          message
        }
      }
    }`,
    {
      variables: {
          "input": {
              "id": "gid://shopify/Return/491427904",
              "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
          }
      },
    },
    );
    const json = await response.json();
    return json.data;
  }
  ```

  #### Ruby

  ```ruby
  session = ShopifyAPI::Auth::Session.new(
    shop: "your-development-store.myshopify.com",
    access_token: access_token
  )
  client = ShopifyAPI::Clients::Graphql::Admin.new(
    session: session
  )

  query = <<~QUERY
    mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) {
      returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) {
        return {
          id
          status
        }
        userErrors {
          code
          field
          message
        }
      }
    }
  QUERY

  variables = {
    "input": {
      "id": "gid://shopify/Return/491427904",
      "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
    }
  }

  response = client.query(query: query, variables: variables)
  ```

  #### Node.js

  ```javascript
  const client = new shopify.clients.Graphql({session});
  const data = await client.query({
    data: {
      "query": `mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) {
        returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) {
          return {
            id
            status
          }
          userErrors {
            code
            field
            message
          }
        }
      }`,
      "variables": {
          "input": {
              "id": "gid://shopify/Return/491427904",
              "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
          }
      },
    },
  });
  ```

  #### Response

  ```json
  {
    "returnDeclineRequest": {
      "return": null,
      "userErrors": [
        {
          "code": "INVALID_STATE",
          "field": [
            "input",
            "id"
          ],
          "message": "Return is not declinable. Only non-refunded returns with status REQUESTED can be declined."
        }
      ]
    }
  }
  ```

* ### Cannot decline a return with an invalid status

  #### Description

  Mutation fails if the return status is \`OPEN\`.

  #### Query

  ```graphql
  mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) {
    returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) {
      return {
        id
        status
      }
      userErrors {
        code
        field
        message
      }
    }
  }
  ```

  #### Variables

  ```json
  {
    "input": {
      "id": "gid://shopify/Return/945000954",
      "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
    }
  }
  ```

  #### cURL

  ```bash
  curl -X POST \
  https://your-development-store.myshopify.com/admin/api/2026-01/graphql.json \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -H 'X-Shopify-Access-Token: {access_token}' \
  -d '{
  "query": "mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) { returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) { return { id status } userErrors { code field message } } }",
   "variables": {
      "input": {
        "id": "gid://shopify/Return/945000954",
        "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
      }
    }
  }'
  ```

  #### React Router

  ```javascript
  import { authenticate } from "../shopify.server";

  export const loader = async ({request}) => {
    const { admin } = await authenticate.admin(request);
    const response = await admin.graphql(
      `#graphql
    mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) {
      returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) {
        return {
          id
          status
        }
        userErrors {
          code
          field
          message
        }
      }
    }`,
    {
      variables: {
          "input": {
              "id": "gid://shopify/Return/945000954",
              "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
          }
      },
    },
    );
    const json = await response.json();
    return json.data;
  }
  ```

  #### Ruby

  ```ruby
  session = ShopifyAPI::Auth::Session.new(
    shop: "your-development-store.myshopify.com",
    access_token: access_token
  )
  client = ShopifyAPI::Clients::Graphql::Admin.new(
    session: session
  )

  query = <<~QUERY
    mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) {
      returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) {
        return {
          id
          status
        }
        userErrors {
          code
          field
          message
        }
      }
    }
  QUERY

  variables = {
    "input": {
      "id": "gid://shopify/Return/945000954",
      "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
    }
  }

  response = client.query(query: query, variables: variables)
  ```

  #### Node.js

  ```javascript
  const client = new shopify.clients.Graphql({session});
  const data = await client.query({
    data: {
      "query": `mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) {
        returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) {
          return {
            id
            status
          }
          userErrors {
            code
            field
            message
          }
        }
      }`,
      "variables": {
          "input": {
              "id": "gid://shopify/Return/945000954",
              "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
          }
      },
    },
  });
  ```

  #### Response

  ```json
  {
    "returnDeclineRequest": {
      "return": null,
      "userErrors": [
        {
          "code": "INVALID_STATE",
          "field": [
            "input",
            "id"
          ],
          "message": "Return is not declinable. Only non-refunded returns with status REQUESTED can be declined."
        }
      ]
    }
  }
  ```

* ### Decline a return

  #### Description

  Decline a return for the order.

  #### Query

  ```graphql
  mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) {
    returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) {
      return {
        id
        status
        decline {
          reason
        }
        returnLineItems(first: 1) {
          edges {
            node {
              id
            }
          }
        }
        order {
          id
        }
      }
      userErrors {
        code
        field
        message
      }
    }
  }
  ```

  #### Variables

  ```json
  {
    "input": {
      "id": "gid://shopify/Return/945000960",
      "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
    }
  }
  ```

  #### cURL

  ```bash
  curl -X POST \
  https://your-development-store.myshopify.com/admin/api/2026-01/graphql.json \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -H 'X-Shopify-Access-Token: {access_token}' \
  -d '{
  "query": "mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) { returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) { return { id status decline { reason } returnLineItems(first: 1) { edges { node { id } } } order { id } } userErrors { code field message } } }",
   "variables": {
      "input": {
        "id": "gid://shopify/Return/945000960",
        "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
      }
    }
  }'
  ```

  #### React Router

  ```javascript
  import { authenticate } from "../shopify.server";

  export const loader = async ({request}) => {
    const { admin } = await authenticate.admin(request);
    const response = await admin.graphql(
      `#graphql
    mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) {
      returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) {
        return {
          id
          status
          decline {
            reason
          }
          returnLineItems(first: 1) {
            edges {
              node {
                id
              }
            }
          }
          order {
            id
          }
        }
        userErrors {
          code
          field
          message
        }
      }
    }`,
    {
      variables: {
          "input": {
              "id": "gid://shopify/Return/945000960",
              "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
          }
      },
    },
    );
    const json = await response.json();
    return json.data;
  }
  ```

  #### Ruby

  ```ruby
  session = ShopifyAPI::Auth::Session.new(
    shop: "your-development-store.myshopify.com",
    access_token: access_token
  )
  client = ShopifyAPI::Clients::Graphql::Admin.new(
    session: session
  )

  query = <<~QUERY
    mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) {
      returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) {
        return {
          id
          status
          decline {
            reason
          }
          returnLineItems(first: 1) {
            edges {
              node {
                id
              }
            }
          }
          order {
            id
          }
        }
        userErrors {
          code
          field
          message
        }
      }
    }
  QUERY

  variables = {
    "input": {
      "id": "gid://shopify/Return/945000960",
      "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
    }
  }

  response = client.query(query: query, variables: variables)
  ```

  #### Node.js

  ```javascript
  const client = new shopify.clients.Graphql({session});
  const data = await client.query({
    data: {
      "query": `mutation ReturnDeclineRequest($input: ReturnDeclineRequestInput!) {
        returnDeclineRequest(input: $input) {
          return {
            id
            status
            decline {
              reason
            }
            returnLineItems(first: 1) {
              edges {
                node {
                  id
                }
              }
            }
            order {
              id
            }
          }
          userErrors {
            code
            field
            message
          }
        }
      }`,
      "variables": {
          "input": {
              "id": "gid://shopify/Return/945000960",
              "declineReason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
          }
      },
    },
  });
  ```

  #### Response

  ```json
  {
    "returnDeclineRequest": {
      "return": {
        "id": "gid://shopify/Return/945000960",
        "status": "DECLINED",
        "decline": {
          "reason": "RETURN_PERIOD_ENDED"
        },
        "returnLineItems": {
          "edges": [
            {
              "node": {
                "id": "gid://shopify/ReturnLineItem/677614677"
              }
            }
          ]
        },
        "order": {
          "id": "gid://shopify/Order/625362839"
        }
      },
      "userErrors": []
    }
  }
  ```

* ### returnDeclineRequest reference