The Exporter's DGFT Glossary: eBRC, IEC, AD Code, IRM and More

The certificates

eBRC

Electronic Bank Realisation Certificate. The digital proof, issued through the DGFT, that an export payment was received and realised in India. Since November 2023 it is self-certified by the exporter. See what an eBRC is and its full form and meaning.

BRC

Bank Realisation Certificate. The older paper certificate the eBRC replaced. Same meaning, superseded format. See eBRC vs the paper BRC.

FIRC

Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate. Broad proof that foreign money arrived, not tied to a specific export. Now mostly associated with capital account transactions. See FIRC vs eBRC.

eFIRC

The electronic Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate, the digital form in which FIRCs are issued and referenced today. Like a FIRC, it evidences that a foreign payment arrived; it does not tie the money to a specific export the way an eBRC does.

BRN

The Bank Realisation Number, the unique identifier on a generated eBRC. Schemes and banks quote the BRN when they reference your certificate, and it is the number you use to find a certificate again in the DGFT repositories.

FIRA

Foreign Inward Remittance Advice. The routine proof banks now provide for trade payments received, in place of a physical FIRC.

Registrations and codes

IEC

Importer Exporter Code. The DGFT registration every export document, certificate, and incentive claim hangs off. Keep its particulars current.

AD code

Authorised Dealer code. Your bank's code, registered at each port on ICEGATE, without which a shipping bill will not file. See AD code explained.

Purpose code

An RBI code on every inward remittance that describes what the money is for. Export of goods usually uses category 01. See purpose codes and currency codes.

Currency code

The ISO code for a currency, such as USD or EUR, used on remittances and filings. Use the code, not a symbol or a name.

The money trail

IRM

Inward Remittance Message. The bank record of a foreign payment arriving, carrying remitter, country, date, purpose code, currency, and amount. Banks transmit these to DGFT for self-certification. See IRM housekeeping.

Realisation

The foreign payment actually arriving and being accounted for by a bank. Incentives and FEMA both depend on it, and the eBRC is its proof.

EDPMS

Export Data Processing and Monitoring System. The RBI system that tracks exports from shipping bill to realisation. Customs forwards shipping bill data to it, and the bank closes the entry once the proceeds are realised.

Incentives and refunds

RoDTEP

Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products. India's WTO-compliant scheme that refunds embedded levies as e-scrips in your ICEGATE ledger, claimed against realised exports. See eBRC for RoDTEP and drawback.

Duty drawback

A customs scheme that returns certain duties paid on inputs used in exported goods. Like RoDTEP, it depends on realisation evidence.

LUT

Letter of Undertaking, filed in Form GST RFD-11, that lets you export without paying IGST and claim a refund of unutilised input tax credit. See eBRC for GST refund.

The documents

Shipping bill

The customs document filed when goods leave India. It proves the export happened, and it carries the intent to claim schemes such as RoDTEP.

SOFTEX

The form used to declare software and certain service exports, so those exports can be realised and certified like any other.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between IEC and AD code?

The IEC is your DGFT export registration, one per business. The AD code is your bank's code, registered at each port on ICEGATE. You need both to export.

What is EDPMS in simple terms?

EDPMS is the RBI's tracking system that follows an export from the shipping bill to the payment being realised, so banks and regulators can see which exports are still awaiting proceeds.

Where can I read more about the eBRC?

Start with what an eBRC is, then the eBRC playbook for how the certificate connects everything above.