Export proceeds: realisation deadlines, EDPMS and extensions

Updated 2 Oct 2026

This guide is for exporters who need to know how long they have to bring export money into India, how their bank tracks each shipping bill in EDPMS, and what to do when a buyer pays late, pays less or does not pay. It reflects the new FEMA export and import regulations that took effect on 1 October 2026.

The rules from 1 October 2026

The Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 (notification FEMA 23(R)/2026-RB of 13 January 2026) replaced the 2015 export regulations and the old Master Direction on export from 1 October 2026. Before they started, an amendment of 22 September 2026 (FEMA 23(R)/(1)/2026-RB) cut the realisation periods in the new regulations from 15 to nine months, and from 18 to twelve months for rupee trade.

Type of export	Full value to be realised and repatriated within	Counted from
Goods	9 months	Date of shipment
Services	9 months	Date of invoice
Goods sold from an overseas warehouse	9 months	Date of sale from the warehouse
Goods or services invoiced or settled in Indian rupees	12 months	The same dates
Project exports	As per the contract's payment terms	-

Your authorised dealer (AD) bank can extend these periods if you ask, giving reasons, and it is satisfied with them.

Shipments made before 1 October 2026

The period changed several times in the past year. It was nine months until 13 November 2025, fifteen months for exports from 14 November 2025 (FEMA 23(R)/(7)/2025-RB), and nine months again from 5 June 2026 (FEMA 23(R)/(8)/2026-RB). For an older shipping bill, ask your AD bank which period it is applying.

How EDPMS tracks your shipments

The Export Data Processing and Monitoring System (EDPMS) is the RBI database that links each shipping bill to the money received against it.

When customs accepts your shipping bill on ICEGATE, its details flow to EDPMS against the AD bank code you registered with customs. At electronic (EDI) ports, the shipping bill also counts as your export declaration form (EDF).
Service exporters now also file an EDF with their AD bank, within 30 days from the end of the month in which the invoice is raised.
When the buyer pays, the AD bank verifies the transaction and marks the remittance against the shipping bills or invoices it pays. Tell the bank which shipping bills each payment covers, especially when one payment settles several shipments or arrives in parts.
The entry is closed when the full value is realised, or when the bank approves a reduction, write-off or set-off.

Advance payments and the later export must go through the same AD bank, unless your banks agree a documented transfer. Payments from a third party are possible if your AD bank is satisfied the transaction is genuine.

Small shipments: closing on your declaration

Where the shipping bill or service invoice is up to ₹10 lakh (or the foreign currency equivalent), the bank can close the EDPMS entry on your declaration that it has been realised, in full or otherwise. The same threshold lets you reduce the value, including for complete non-realisation, on your own declaration. Declarations can be submitted quarterly in bulk.

Getting an extension

Apply to your AD bank before the period runs out, not after.
Explain why the money is late and when you expect it: buyer correspondence, a revised payment schedule, a dispute, an ECGC claim or legal action.
The bank decides under its own board-approved policy, which the regulations require every AD bank to have. Ask for a copy of the relevant part.

If you hold ECGC cover, also get ECGC's approval before agreeing a later due date with the buyer.

Reduction, write-off and set-off

Reduction in value: for example a quality claim or short shipment. Above ₹10 lakh the AD bank processes it under its policy with supporting documents.
Write-off: for amounts that cannot be recovered, the bank will want evidence of what you did to recover them, such as an ECGC claim settlement, the buyer's insolvency, legal action or the fate of refused goods.
Set-off: your AD bank can set export receivables off against import payables to the same overseas party, or its group or associate companies, within the realisation period.

A reduction or write-off may have knock-on effects. Duty drawback can be recovered where proceeds are not realised (Rule 18 of the Drawback Rules, 2017), GST export refunds can be recovered under Rule 96B of the CGST Rules, and other benefits may also be affected. Check with your customs broker and GST adviser.

If proceeds stay unrealised

From 1 October 2026, if export proceeds remain unrealised more than one year after the due date, including any extension, you may make further exports only against full advance payment or an irrevocable letter of credit until the position is resolved. This replaces the old route of being placed on the RBI caution list. Exporters already on the caution list on 30 September 2026 remain under those orders until they are removed. Non-realisation without a valid reason can also be treated as a contravention of FEMA.

A monthly routine

Ask your AD bank for its statement of outstanding EDPMS entries every month and reconcile it with your own receivables.
Map every inward remittance to its shipping bills as soon as it arrives.
Flag any shipment approaching six months unpaid and decide whether to chase, seek an extension or make an ECGC declaration. The buyer risk desk tracks due dates.
Generate the e-BRC once money is realised.

Common mistakes

Agreeing credit terms longer than the realisation period allows.
Letting a buyer's payment arrive at a different bank from the one named on the shipping bill.
Not telling the bank which shipments a lump-sum payment covers, so entries stay open.
Applying for an extension after the deadline has passed.

Related on Exportsmitra

Sources

Last checked 1 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with your AD bank before you act.

Spotted something out of date? Tell us

Our guides are drafted with the help of AI and checked against official sources, but rules change often and mistakes can slip through. Please confirm with DGFT, CBIC, RBI, ECGC or your bank before you act. General information only, not legal or financial advice.