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
Banks can now approve write-offs (cancelling unpaid export bills) without asking exporters to give back most export incentives (bonuses from the government), except Duty Drawback (a refund on import taxes paid for exported goods).
The write-off must be based on good reasons (merit-based) and the exporter must show a certificate from an Indian Foreign Mission (Indian embassy abroad) proving the money cannot be recovered from the foreign buyer.
This rule applies only to exports made on or after August 27, 2009, under the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14.
Even if the write-off is approved, the bank must still recover the Duty Drawback amount from the exporter, because that scheme is under a different law (Customs Act).
Self-write-offs (where the exporter decides to write off without a certificate) are not allowed under this relaxation.
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
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.
Continue to recover Duty Drawback amounts in all write-off cases, even if ECGC settlement or RBI approval is obtained.
Communicate this relaxation to your exporter customers and relevant branches.
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.
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).
Circular: RBI/2010-11/123 -- Export Write-offs: Surrender of Incentives Relaxed
Issued: 22 Jul 2010
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.
Action required: Ensure exporters provide a certificate from the Indian Foreign Mission confirming non-recovery before approving write-off.
Action required: Continue to recover Duty Drawback amounts in all write-off cases, even if ECGC settlement or RBI approval is obtained.
Action required: Communicate this relaxation to your exporter customers and relevant branches.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
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.
💬 Banker Discussion
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). 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.
Help us keep this accurate
Found an inaccuracy or have an improvement? Tell us. Every report is reviewed by our team before any change is made — nothing goes live unverified.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗
BANKPULSE · FREE DAILY BRIEF
Get RBI updates for your role
Every important RBI update, decoded in plain English — for your career, exams & financial awareness.
We collect only your email, name and role, used solely to send your brief — never sold or shared. Withdraw anytime via the unsubscribe link in any email. Independent platform, not affiliated with the RBI. Information, not legal advice.
REPORT AN ERROR · BETA
Spotted an error? Earn 500 BankPulse Credits
Help us stay accurate. If your correction is verified true and approved by our founder, you earn 500 BankPulse Credits — redeemable when the platform monetises.
Reviewed by a human before any credit is awarded. We never change the site from crowd input without verification.
WANT A NEW FEATURE · BETA
What would make BankPulse more useful for you?
Tell us what to build next — a tool, a data view, a role page, anything. We read every suggestion.
Thank you — your ideas directly shape what we build.