IJTIMES recognises that authors may, in certain circumstances, need to withdraw a manuscript after submission. This policy sets out the conditions under which an author-initiated withdrawal will be considered, the procedure to be followed at each stage of the editorial process, and the obligations that apply to authors and to the editorial office. It applies to all manuscripts submitted to the journal, regardless of article type.
⚖ Guiding Principles
The journal aligns its withdrawal practice with the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Withdrawal of a manuscript up to the point of formal acceptance is generally honoured, provided the request is properly made and documented. Withdrawal after formal acceptance is treated as exceptional. Authors are expected to act in good faith. Repeated withdrawal, withdrawal solely to pursue a higher-impact venue, or withdrawal to evade an editorial decision under appeal may be treated as a breach of publication ethics.
📝 Authority to Request Withdrawal
A withdrawal request must be initiated by the corresponding author, on behalf of and with the explicit written consent of every co-author listed on the manuscript. The request must include:
- A signed letter or individual email confirmations from each co-author, expressing agreement to the withdrawal;
- A clear statement of the reason or reasons for withdrawal;
- The manuscript ID, full title, and current editorial stage as known to the corresponding author.
Until the editorial office has received written consent from every listed co-author, the manuscript will remain active in the system.
🕐 Withdrawal at Different Editorial Stages
Before Formal Editorial Assessment
A manuscript that has been submitted but has not yet entered editorial assessment may be withdrawn at the corresponding author's request, subject to the consent requirement. No fee is payable.
During Editorial Assessment or Peer Review
A manuscript under editorial assessment, awaiting reviewer assignment, or under active peer review may be withdrawn subject to the consent requirement. Authors are urged to consider that the editor and reviewers have already invested unpaid time in evaluating the work. No fee is payable at this stage.
After a Revision Request, Before Resubmission
A manuscript for which a revision decision has been issued, but which has not yet been resubmitted, may be withdrawn subject to the consent requirement. No fee is payable. Failure to resubmit by the stated deadline, without a granted extension, is treated as a deemed withdrawal.
After Formal Acceptance
Withdrawal after a manuscript has been formally accepted is permitted but is treated as exceptional. The corresponding author must also provide a written justification addressed to the Editor-in-Chief. For manuscripts subject to an Article Processing Charge where the APC has already been invoiced, the APC remains payable. Waiver of the APC in such cases is at the sole discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.
After Publication
A request to withdraw a published article will not be processed as a withdrawal. The matter will be evaluated under the journal's Publication Ethics policy and handled as a retraction, correction, or expression of concern in line with COPE guidelines.
⚙ Procedure
The corresponding author should send the withdrawal request to editor@ijtimes.com. The request must satisfy the authority requirement above in full. On receipt of a complete request, the editorial office will:
- Acknowledge the request in writing within seven working days;
- Verify co-author consent;
- Confirm the editorial stage and apply the corresponding rules;
- Issue a written confirmation of withdrawal, or an explanation of why the request cannot be processed.
A manuscript is not considered withdrawn until the editorial office has issued written confirmation.
📋 Effects of Withdrawal
On confirmed withdrawal, the manuscript is closed in the submission system and marked as Withdrawn. Any peer-review correspondence and editorial records are retained internally. The authors are free to revise and submit the work elsewhere, subject to the obligations of disclosure that apply to any prior submission.
🚫 Withdrawal in Connection with Misconduct Inquiries
A withdrawal request will not be granted as a means of avoiding an ongoing or anticipated inquiry into research or publication misconduct. Where a concern of misconduct has been raised, the matter is handled under the Publication Ethics policy in accordance with COPE flowcharts.
📞 Contact
Questions regarding this policy may be addressed to the Editor-in-Chief at editor@ijtimes.com.
This policy is effective from 26 April 2026, It is reviewed periodically by the editorial board and may be updated to remain consistent with COPE guidance and with the journal's evolving editorial practice.