HomeCirculars › RBI/2010-11/123

Export Write-offs: Surrender of Incentives Relaxed

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/123 · issued 22 Jul 2010 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI now allows AD banks to approve export write-offs without requiring surrender of most export incentives (except Duty Drawback), provided the write-off is merit-based and backed by a Foreign Mission certificate.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A forex & trade-finance officer in Mumbai receives a request from an exporter who shipped goods worth ₹10 lakh to a buyer in Dubai but never got paid. The exporter provides a certificate from the Indian Consulate in Dubai confirming the buyer cannot pay. The officer approves the write-off without asking the exporter to return the export incentive (like a tax refund) they had claimed, but still recovers the Duty Drawback amount of ₹50,000, as required by the new rule.

What changed

Previously, exporters had to surrender proportionate export incentives when their bills were written off. Now, for exports from August 27, 2009, under FTP 2009-14, AD banks need not insist on surrender of incentives (except Duty Drawback) if the write-off is approved on merits and a Foreign Mission certificate is produced.

What it means for you

Banks can process write-off requests more smoothly, reducing compliance burden for exporters. However, Duty Drawback amounts must still be recovered even if ECGC settles or RBI writes off. This aligns FEMA rules with FTP relaxations, but banks must verify conditions carefully.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks, Exporters availing Export Promotion Schemes under FTP 2009-14, Branches handling export bills and write-offs

❓ Common questions

Does this circular apply to self-write-off cases?

No, the relaxation does not apply to self-write-off cases; those remain subject to existing rules.

Is Duty Drawback covered under this relaxation?

No, Duty Drawback is governed by Customs Act, 1962, so the drawback amount must still be recovered even if write-off is allowed.

From which date are these relaxed conditions effective?

The relaxation applies to exports made on or after August 27, 2009.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/123 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.03 July 22, 2010 To All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Export of Goods and Services - Unrealised export bills – Write-off - Surrender of export incentives Attention of Authorised Dealer Category – I (AD Category –I) banks is invited to A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 12 dated September 09, 2000 , A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 30 dated April 04, 2001 ,  A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 61 dated December 14, 2002 , A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 40 dated December 05, 2003 and A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 33 dated February 28, 2007 , in terms of which the AD Category –I banks have been permitted to accede to the requests for "write-off" made by the exporters, subject to the conditions, inter alia, that the exporter had to surrender proportionate export incentives, if availed of, in respect of the relative shipments. 2 . It has since been announced in the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2009-14 and specified in Para. 2.25.4 of Handbook of Procedures – Vol. I (2009-2014) ( extracts annexed ), issued by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry that realisation of export proceeds shall not be insisted upon, under any of the Export Promotion Schemes under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), subject to the following conditions:- the write-off on the basis of merits is allowed by the Reserve Bank or by the AD Category – I banks on behalf of the Reserve Bank, as per the extant guidelines; the exporter produces a certificate from the Foreign Mission of India concerned, about the fact of non-recovery of export proceeds from the buyer; and this would not be applicable in self-write-off cases. The above relaxation is applicable for the exports made with effect from August 27, 2009. 3. It is clarified that since the Drawback scheme is governed by the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 and the Rules made there under, the provisions contained in para. 2.25.4 of the Handbook of Procedure – Vol. I. of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) (2009-2014) would not be applicable to the Duty Drawback scheme. Therefore, the drawback amount has to be recovered even if the claim is settled by the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Limited (ECGC) or the write –off is allowed by the Reserve Bank. 4. Accordingly, the AD Category –I banks are advised not to insist on the surrender of the proportionate export incentives, other than under the Duty Drawback scheme, if availed of, by the exporter under any of the Export Promotion Schemes under the FTP 2009-14, subject to the fulfilment of conditions as stated in Para 2 above. 5. AD – Category I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents and customers concerned. 6. The directions contained in this Circular have been issued under sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and is without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law. Yours faithfully, G. Jaganmohan Rao Chief General Manager Annex [Annex to A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.03 dated July 22, 2010] Extract of Para. 2.25.4 of the Handbook of Procedure – Vol. I – 2009 – 2014 of Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) ''Realization of export proceeds shall not be insisted under any of the Export Promotion Schemes under this Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), if the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) writes off the requirement of realization of export proceeds on merits and the exporter produces a certificate from the concerned Foreign Mission of India about the fact of non-recovery of export proceeds from the buyer. However, this would not be applicable in self-write off cases."
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/123 · issued 22 Jul 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Who does what — compliance checklist
🏦 Branch Manager
  • Communicate this relaxation to your exporter customers and relevant branches.
⚙️ Operations
  • Continue to recover Duty Drawback amounts in all write-off cases, even if ECGC settlement or RBI approval is obtained.
📜 Compliance
  • Update internal write-off policies to reflect that surrender of export incentives (except Duty Drawback) is not required when conditions in Para 2 are met.
  • Ensure exporters provide a certificate from the Indian Foreign Mission confirming non-recovery before approving write-off.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (AD Category-I banks, Exporters availing Export Promotion Schemes under FTP 2009-14, Branches handling export bills and write-offs), your first concrete step on “Export Write-offs: Surrender of Incentives Relaxed” is: “Update internal write-off policies to reflect that surrender of export incentives (except Duty Drawback) is not required when conditions in Para 2 are met.” (RBI issued this 22 Jul 2010).

  1. Circular: RBI/2010-11/123 -- Export Write-offs: Surrender of Incentives Relaxed
  2. Issued: 22 Jul 2010
  3. Action required: Update internal write-off policies to reflect that surrender of export incentives (except Duty Drawback) is not required when conditions in Para 2 are met.
  4. Action required: Ensure exporters provide a certificate from the Indian Foreign Mission confirming non-recovery before approving write-off.
  5. Action required: Continue to recover Duty Drawback amounts in all write-off cases, even if ECGC settlement or RBI approval is obtained.
  6. Action required: Communicate this relaxation to your exporter customers and relevant branches.
  7. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  8. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  9. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.

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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=5885&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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