Refund and Payment Policy – International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology (IJSMT)

1. General Policy

IJSMT operates on a non-refundable fee structure. All payments made to the journal are treated as final and are not eligible for return or reversal once processed.

This policy applies to all services offered by IJSMT.

2. Scope of Fees Covered

The non-refundable policy includes, but is not limited to:

• Article Processing Charges (APC)
• Manuscript submission and handling fees
• Peer review and editorial processing charges
• Fast-track or priority review services
• DOI registration and metadata processing
• Publication, archiving, and administrative services

3. Editorial Processing and Cost Allocation

Upon submission or payment, IJSMT immediately initiates multiple operational processes such as:

• Editorial assessment
• Peer review coordination
• Plagiarism and ethical screening
• Technical formatting and metadata preparation

As these services involve time, resources, and third-party systems, the associated costs cannot be reversed, irrespective of the publication outcome.

4. Manuscript Rejection or Editorial Decision

If a manuscript is declined at any stage—whether during initial screening or after peer review—the fees already paid remain applicable to the services rendered. Editorial decisions do not create any entitlement to reimbursement.

5. Author-Initiated Withdrawal

Requests for withdrawal made by authors at any stage of the publication process are considered voluntary. Fees paid prior to such requests remain valid for the work already undertaken by the journal.

6. Post-Acceptance and Publication

Once a manuscript has been accepted, scheduled, or published (online or otherwise), the transaction is deemed complete. Subsequent requests related to withdrawal, correction, or personal circumstances do not alter the fee status.

7. Payment Accuracy and Responsibility

Authors are responsible for:

• Verifying payment details
• Ensuring correct amounts are paid
• Avoiding duplicate or unintended transactions

Payments made in error or without completing submission formalities cannot be reversed once credited to IJSMT.

8. Timelines and Delays

Publication timelines provided by IJSMT are indicative. Variations due to peer review cycles, revision rounds, technical checks, or external factors do not affect the validity of payments already made.

9. Disputes and Payment Reversals

Initiating payment reversals or disputes through banks or payment gateways after agreeing to IJSMT policies may result in:

• Administrative closure of the manuscript
• Restriction on future submissions
• Formal documentation of the dispute

10. Policy Acknowledgement

By submitting a manuscript and completing payment, authors confirm that they have:

• Reviewed and understood this policy
• Accepted the terms governing journal services
• Agreed to the applicable fee structure

This policy forms an integral part of IJSMT’s Terms and Conditions.

11. Policy Authority

IJSMT reserves the right to update or interpret this policy in alignment with editorial standards, operational requirements, and regulatory expectations. The version available on the official website shall be considered final and binding.