A FIRA or FIRC from HDFC Bank is the bank's written proof that a specific foreign payment reached your account, for a stated amount, on a stated date, under a stated purpose code. If your export receipts land at HDFC Bank, that document is your main evidence of realisation, and you will use it to close export entries in EDPMS, support GST export claims and settle any later query. The way to get it is simple: ask HDFC Bank through your relationship manager, branch or whichever channel the bank offers for your account type.
Key takeaways
- FIRA (Foreign Inward Remittance Advice) and FIRC (Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate) both confirm an inward foreign payment; banks use the terms in slightly different ways.
- You need one for invoices above ₹10 lakh to close EDPMS entries, and it helps with GST refund claims and audits.
- Request it from HDFC Bank through your RM, branch or the channel the bank publishes. We do not list menu paths or fees because they change.
- Check the amount, currency, date, remitter name, purpose code and your account details on every certificate.
- Ask for corrections quickly, especially for wrong purpose codes.
FIRA or FIRC: does the name matter?
In everyday use, exporters say "FIRC" for any document that proves an inward remittance. Strictly, a FIRA is an advice confirming the credit, and a FIRC is a certificate, sometimes issued on request for a payment or a period. What matters in practice is that the document comes from your bank, identifies the remittance and shows the purpose code. Our explainer on FIRA vs FIRC covers the distinction.
When you ask HDFC Bank, describe what you need it for ("proof of inward remittance for export of services, for EDF matching and GST records"). The bank can then give you the right document.
What you will use it for
| Use | Why the FIRA/FIRC matters | When |
|---|---|---|
| Closing EDPMS entries above ₹10 lakh | The bank needs payment evidence plus your matching instructions | After each large payment |
| Periodic ₹10 lakh declarations | Not attached, but the reference number helps the bank match | Quarterly or as agreed |
| GST export records and refunds | Supports that payment came in convertible foreign exchange | Monthly or at refund time |
| Bank charge explanations | Shows the amount actually credited | When payment arrives short |
| Audits and tax assessments | Ties receipts to invoices | Year end |
Under the 2026 export regulations, every services invoice must be realised within 9 months of its date (12 months for rupee invoices). The FIRA is how you prove that it was.
How to request it from HDFC Bank
Banks publish their own processes and change them from time to time, so the most reliable approach is to ask your relationship manager or branch which channel applies to your account. Options at banks generally include an online request, a request through your RM or a written request at the branch.
If you need to put it in writing, include:
- your account name and number;
- the remittance date, amount and currency;
- the remitter's name and the remittance reference, if you have it;
- the period, if you want certificates for several payments;
- the reason, such as EDF matching or GST records.
Our FIRC request letter has these fields ready. Sign it as the authorised signatory on the account.
What to check on every HDFC Bank FIRA
A FIRA with a mistake is worse than no FIRA, because it creates a record that contradicts your invoice. Check these the day you receive it.
- Beneficiary name and account number. Must be your business and the account the money landed in.
- Remitter name and country. Should be your client, or a payer you can explain (a parent company, or a payment provider).
- Foreign currency and amount. Compare against what the client sent. A lower figure usually means charges deducted abroad.
- Rupee amount and rate. Useful for your books and GST records.
- Date of credit. Needed to show realisation within 9 months of the invoice date.
- Purpose code. Must fit your service. Software consultancy is P0802; off-site software exports P0807; business and management consulting P1006; advertising and market research P1007. Confirm the right code with the bank.
For a field-by-field walkthrough, see how to read a FIRA.
A worked example
Brightline Research LLP, a Pune market research firm, banks with HDFC Bank. It invoiced a Dutch client EUR 11,600 on 9 October 2026, around ₹10.7 lakh at the rate it used, so above the ₹10 lakh line. The client paid on 25 November.
Brightline asked its RM for a FIRA for that remittance. When it arrived, the purpose code read P1006 (business and management consultancy). Brightline's work was market research, which falls under P1007. The finance manager wrote to the bank the same week asking for the purpose code to be corrected, attaching the invoice and contract summary. With the corrected FIRA, Brightline sent the bank its matching instructions to close the EDPMS entry for that invoice.
Had it waited until year end, the mismatch would have sat in the records for months. If you face the same issue, our purpose code correction letter is a quick start.
Common problems and fixes
- Remittance received but no FIRA issued: ask your RM or branch; some documents are issued only on request.
- Payment came through a platform: the remitter on the FIRA may be the platform or its partner bank. Keep the platform's statement linking that payout to your client invoice.
- Several invoices paid together: one FIRA may cover a lump sum. Write a matching note listing each invoice and amount.
- Amount short: keep the SWIFT message or payment advice showing charges deducted abroad.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. HDFC Bank's current process and your CA's guidance prevail for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a FIRC from HDFC Bank?
Ask your relationship manager or branch which channel applies to your account, and request the certificate for the specific remittance or period. Give the remittance date, amount, currency and remitter name, and state that it is for export of services.
Is the FIRA needed to file the EDF?
No. The EDF is filed within 30 days from the end of the invoice month, often before payment arrives. The FIRA comes later, to prove realisation and help the bank close EDPMS entries.
What if the purpose code on my HDFC Bank FIRA is wrong?
Write to the bank promptly asking for a correction, with the invoice and a short description of the service. Early corrections are much easier than fixing records months later.
Do I need a FIRA for invoices under ₹10 lakh?
For invoices up to ₹10 lakh, the bank may close EDPMS entries on your declaration of realisation. Keep the FIRAs anyway, since you will need them for GST records and if the bank or a tax authority asks.
Bottom line
Treat every HDFC Bank FIRA as a compliance document: request it, check six fields and fix errors within days. It is the piece that turns an open export entry into a closed one. If you bank with HDFC Bank, pair it with our pre-filled HDFC Bank EDF form each month.
This guide is general information for Indian businesses, not legal or tax advice. Rules and bank processes change — confirm specifics with your AD bank or chartered accountant.