What is eBRC? Complete Guide for Exporters in India
The Electronic Bank Realisation Certificate (eBRC) is a crucial digital document for exporters in India. It acts as proof that payment for export of goods or services has been received and is essential for claiming export incentives, GST refunds, and duty drawbacks.
Earlier, exporters had to rely on manual Bank Realisation Certificates (BRCs) issued by banks. With the introduction of the DGFT eBRC system and Export Data Processing and Monitoring System (EDPMS), the process is now fully digital, seamless, and aligned with the Digital India initiative.
eBRC Full Form & Meaning
- Full Form: Electronic Bank Realisation Certificate
- Meaning: A digital certificate, generated through the DGFT eBRC portal, confirming that an exporter has received payment via an Inward Remittance Message (IRM) from the buyer.
Key Related Terms
- IRM (Inward Remittance Message): Unique number generated by banks for each export payment. Basis for eBRC generation.
- ORM (Outward Remittance Message): For outward payments such as import settlements or export refunds.
- Purpose Code: RBI-assigned code that indicates the purpose of a remittance (e.g., export, consultancy, deemed export).
- Bank Unique Transaction ID: Technical reference used to track IRM bundles and amendments.
- SAC Code: Service Accounting Code; exporters must map Purpose Codes with SAC for service exports.
Importance of eBRC for Exporters
- Proof of Payment Realisation – Validates that export proceeds were received.
- Export Incentives under FTP – Mandatory for schemes like RoDTEP, SEIS, and RoSCTL.
- GST Refunds & Duty Drawbacks – Acts as proof of realization for tax refunds.
- Link with Shipping Bill – Ensures each shipping bill is matched with the corresponding IRM.
- Financial Compliance & Monitoring – Used by DGFT, banks, and RBI for tracking export data.
eBRC for Exporters – Goods vs Services
- Goods Exporters: eBRC is linked to the shipping bill filed with Customs and uploaded by banks into EDPMS. Mandatory for RoDTEP, duty drawback.
- Service Exporters: eBRC is linked to service invoices and required to claim incentives under SEIS (Service Exports from India Scheme) consultancy, IT services, etc..
Special Cases for eBRC Generation
- Deemed Exports: Exporters must use purpose code P1505 to generate eBRC.
- SOFTEX Exports (IT/Software Services): Must select the “IT” purpose code under “Service” category.
- Third-Party Exports: Exporters must select “Yes” if payment is received from a third party.
- Cross-Currency Transactions: eBRC can still be generated even if Shipping Bill and IRM currencies differ.
- Multiple Invoices under SOFTEX: Multiple eBRCs can be generated invoice-wise from one SOFTEX.
- Different AD Codes: eBRC can be issued even if the Shipping Bill AD code is different from the IRM AD code.
Common Errors in eBRC (and Fixes)
- IRM–Shipping Bill mismatch → Contact bank for correction.
- Wrong Purpose Code → Ask bank to amend IRM before generating eBRC.
- Partial Payments → Generate multiple eBRCs against each IRM.
- Foreign Buyer Charges Missing → Exporter can add charges manually in invoice details tab.
- Shipping Bill Not in EDPMS → Exporter can enter metadata manually and still generate eBRC.
Benefits of eBRC for Exporters in India
- Mandatory for DGFT incentives under Foreign Trade Policy.
- Required for GST refund claims on exports.
- Acts as proof of compliance in case of government audits.
- Facilitates digital trade documentation and aligns with Digital India Initiative.
eBRC vs BRC
| Feature | BRC (Old) | eBRC (New) |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Paper | Digital |
| Issued By | Bank | Exporter via DGFT portal |
| Verification | Manual | Online, real-time |
| Usage | Incentives only | Incentives, GST refunds, compliance |
| Control | Bank | Exporter (self-generation) |
BharathExim – AI Powered eBRC Solutions
At BharathExim, we go beyond just providing compliance information. We have built an AI-powered eBRC platform that integrates seamlessly with DGFT systems, EDPMS, and banks to simplify the end-to-end eBRC lifecycle for exporters.
Key Features of BharathExim AI-Powered eBRC
- ✅ Automated eBRC Retrieval – Our system directly fetches eBRC data from the DGFT eBRC portal using secure APIs.
- ✅ Smart Reconciliation – AI matches Inward Remittance Messages (IRM) with shipping bills automatically, reducing human errors.
- ✅ Error Detection & Correction – Instant alerts for mismatches (invoice, buyer name, IEC, amount), helping exporters fix issues proactively.
- ✅ Bulk eBRC Processing – No need to download eBRCs one by one – process hundreds of transactions in a single workflow.
- ✅ eBRC Self-Certification – Integrated digital signing enables exporters to certify eBRCs online without bank dependency.
- ✅ AI Dashboards & Reports – Real-time insights into pending, processed, and incentive-eligible eBRCs.
Why Exporters Prefer BharathExim for eBRC?
- ✅ DGFT Approved Integration for eBRC, EDPMS, and IRM processes.
- ✅ AI-First Approach: Our technology learns from past transactions and improves accuracy over time.
- ✅ Save Time & Costs – Eliminate repetitive manual checks, bank follow-ups, and delays in incentive claims.
- ✅ Error-Free Compliance – AI ensures 100% accuracy in eBRC generation, reducing rejections from DGFT or GST authorities.
- ✅ Faster Incentive Realization – Correctly processed eBRCs mean quicker GST refunds, MEIS/SEIS claims, RoDTEP, and duty drawback.
- ✅ Seamless Integration – Works smoothly with your existing ERP/accounting systems (SAP, Tally, Zoho, etc.).
- ✅ Regulatory Confidence – Approved under Digital India initiative, fully aligned with Foreign Trade Policy (FTP).
- ✅ Scalable for All Exporters – Whether you are an SME exporter or a large MNC, BharathExim adapts to your needs.
- ✅ 24/7 Digital Access – Track, download, and certify eBRCs anytime from the secure BharathExim platform.
- ✅ Secure & Always Accessible cloud-based solution.
- ✅ End-to-End Outsourcing: Exporters can outsource their eBRC process completely to BharathExim and focus on business growth.
- ✅ Dedicated Support Team: Compliance experts available to resolve DGFT/bank-related queries.
Smarter Compliance. Faster Incentives.
Want to simplify your eBRC process?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How to get eBRC?
Exporters can log in to the DGFT portal using their IEC and download eBRC.
2. How to generate eBRC?
Exporters can log in to the DGFT portal for the same or can use Bharathexim AI powered application for eBRC generation.
3. Is eBRC mandatory?
Yes, it is mandatory for claiming export incentives, GST refunds, and duty drawbacks.
4. What is the difference between eBRC and IRM?
IRM (Inward Remittance Message): Confirmation from the bank about receipt of payment. eBRC: Official certificate generated based on IRM, uploaded to DGFT.
5. Can I correct errors in eBRC?
Yes, but corrections must be requested from the issuing bank before re-upload.
6. Is eBRC required for service exporters?
Yes, eBRC is required for claiming SEIS benefits and proof of payment realization.
7. Can exporters cancel eBRC?
Yes, exporters can cancel DGFT-issued eBRCs, but not older bank-issued ones.
8. Can I generate eBRC if currency of Shipping Bill ≠ IRM?
Yes, DGFT allows cross-currency eBRC issuance.
9. How do I generate eBRC for deemed exports?
Select purpose code P1505 when generating.
10. Can multiple invoices be linked to one eBRC?
Yes, invoice-wise eBRC can be generated from a single SOFTEX.
11. What about software exports (SOFTEX)?
Use the IT purpose code under service exports.
Conclusion
The eBRC (Electronic Bank Realization Certificate) is the backbone of India’s digital trade compliance system. Whether you are a goods exporter or a service exporter, understanding the eBRC generation process, self-certification, and DGFT eBRC portal usage is essential to claim export incentives, GST refunds, and duty drawbacks.
With the Indian government’s push toward Digital India and initiatives like EDPMS, exporters can now manage the eBRC application online efficiently, ensuring transparency and faster trade documentation.
With BharathExim’s AI-powered eBRC solutions, exporters can take this a step further by automating bulk processes, ensuring error-free compliance, and realizing export incentives faster.