CA for Exporters — IEC to LUT, GST Refunds and FEMA

For exporters

Ship zero-rated, get your refunds moving, and keep RBI and your AD bank satisfied — one desk

Exporters lose money in three quiet places: IGST paid that should never have been blocked, ITC refunds that sit unfiled, and EDPMS entries left open until the bank starts asking questions. We run all three ends.

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This page is for goods and services exporters — merchant or manufacturer, SaaS or freelanced services abroad — who want the GST, DGFT and FEMA ends handled by one desk that sees the whole chain.

Your export compliance flow, mapped

Step	What it involves	How we handle it
1. Set up	IEC from DGFT, AD code registration at each port, GST registration (mandatory for exports — turnover threshold does not save you)	IEC & AD code · GST registration
2. Ship tax-free	LUT (RFD-11) filed and renewed every financial year so you invoice without charging IGST	LUT & refunds desk
3. Get cash back	Accumulated ITC refunds via RFD-01 under the LUT route, or IGST-paid route reconciled against shipping bills — mismatches are where refunds stall	Refund applications · GST compliance
4. Stay FEMA-clean	Realize proceeds within the RBI window (generally nine months); close shipping bills in EDPMS/eBRC; FLA return by 15 July if you carry foreign shareholding	FLA return filing
5. Pay abroad correctly	Foreign agent commissions, software, services — Section 195 TDS calls and 15CA/15CB certification before the bank remits	15CA/15CB certification
6. Books that survive scrutiny	Forex gain/loss accounting, shipping-bill-wise trails, Udyam benefits where you qualify	Bookkeeping · MSME / Udyam advisory

The services exporters use most

IEC & AD code LUT & GST refunds GST registration GST compliance retainer 15CA/15CB certification FLA return (RBI)Export bookkeeping MSME / Udyam advisory

Check it yourself first — free tools

GST Registration Checker — exports make it mandatory; see why
Compliance Calendar FY 2026-27 — your export-year date list
TDS Rate Finder — Section 195 calls on foreign payments

Exporter reading from our insights desk

Frequently asked questions

My turnover is below ₹20 lakh — do I still need GST registration to export?

Yes. Exports are zero-rated inter-state supplies, and Section 24 makes registration mandatory for inter-state suppliers irrespective of turnover. The good news: with an LUT you export without charging IGST, and the registration becomes the gateway to refunds of the input tax you pay on purchases.

LUT route or IGST-refund route — which is better for cash flow?

Under the LUT route you never pay IGST on the export invoice, and you claim accumulated input credit back through RFD-01 — nothing gets blocked. Under the IGST-paid route you pay tax upfront and the refund flows from the shipping-bill match — automatic when data is clean, but your working capital waits in the meantime. Most MSME exporters are better served by LUT plus a disciplined refund pipeline; we run the reconciliation that keeps either route moving.

What if my export proceeds are not realized within the RBI window?

The realization window is generally nine months from export. Unrealized shipping bills sit open in EDPMS, and a pile-up can lead to bank follow-ups and caution-listing exposure — which then hurts every future shipment. On the GST side, exports made under LUT can be questioned where proceeds never arrive. The fix is monitoring: we track open bills, chase eBRC closure, and route genuine delays through your AD bank for extension.

When do I need Form 15CA/15CB?

When you remit to a non-resident — foreign agent commission, software licences, marketing services, platform fees — the bank asks for 15CA, and in most taxable cases a CA-certified 15CB confirming the TDS position under Section 195 and the DTAA. Some payments fall in the Rule 37BB exemption list and need less; we map each remittance type once, and repeats become routine.

CA Somesh Chandak & Associates, Thane. Content is general guidance, not an opinion on your specific facts — timelines quoted are statutory or portal processing frames. Speak to us before acting.

What's Included

IEC, AD code and GST set up correctly the first time
LUT filed and renewed — ship without blocking IGST
ITC refund applications with shipping-bill reconciliation
EDPMS/eBRC tracking and FEMA realization discipline
15CA/15CB certification for foreign payments

Our Process

Setup review

IEC, AD codes, GST profile and LUT status checked against how you actually ship and bill.

Refund pipeline

Pending ITC identified, RFD-01 applications prepared with reconciled annexures, follow-through till credit.

Monthly cadence

Returns, refund tracker and EDPMS open-bill report on a fixed monthly rhythm.

FEMA & bank closure

eBRC closure, FLA filing where applicable, and 15CA/CB as remittances arise.

Get Started

Have questions about this service? Contact us for a free consultation.

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