When a foreign client pays into your ICICI Bank account, you need the bank's written proof of that inward remittance, usually called a FIRA (Foreign Inward Remittance Advice) or FIRC (Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate). Ask your ICICI Bank relationship manager or branch how it issues FIRA or FIRC for service export receipts, then check every one for the right amount, remitter and purpose code. That single document supports your EDF closure, your GST export claim and your year-end reconciliation.
Key takeaways
- FIRA and FIRC are both bank-issued proofs that foreign money came in, with details such as amount, currency, remitter and purpose code.
- You use them to close EDPMS entries on invoices above ₹10 lakh, and to support GST zero-rating and refund claims.
- ICICI Bank publishes its own process. Ask your RM or branch how to request FIRA or FIRC rather than following an unofficial guide.
- Check the purpose code on every certificate. A wrong code is far easier to fix in the first week than in the tenth month.
- File each FIRA next to its invoice and EDF. Matching is where most year-end pain comes from.
FIRA or FIRC: does the name matter?
In everyday use, exporters and banks use both terms. Broadly, a FIRA is an advice issued for an inward remittance, and a FIRC is a certificate. Banks use different names and formats for the document they issue, and some issue an advice by default and a certificate on request.
What matters for you is the content, not the label. You need a bank document that shows:
- your name and account;
- the remitter's name and country;
- the foreign currency amount and the rupee amount credited;
- the date of credit;
- the purpose code;
- a reference number.
If the document ICICI gives you shows all of that, it will usually serve your needs. If a CA, auditor or GST officer asks specifically for a FIRC, ask the bank whether it can issue one. Our explainer on FIRA versus FIRC covers the distinction in more depth.
What you use it for
| Purpose | Why the FIRA or FIRC matters |
|---|---|
| EDF / EDPMS closure | For invoices above ₹10 lakh, the bank closes the entry against invoice, payment evidence and matching instructions |
| ₹10 lakh declarations | Below ₹10 lakh, the bank may close on your declaration, but you should still hold proof of receipt |
| GST export conditions | Section 2(6) of the IGST Act requires payment in convertible foreign exchange (or INR where RBI permits) |
| GST refund claims | Proof of realisation supports refund applications |
| eBRC | Realisation matched in the bank and DGFT systems feeds the eBRC |
| Audit and income tax | Ties foreign receipts in your bank statement to specific invoices |
In short, one document does several jobs. That is why it is worth getting right.
How to ask ICICI Bank for it
We are not going to describe ICICI Bank menu paths, fees or turnaround times, because those are the bank's to publish and they change. The reliable route is:
- Ask your RM or branch once, in writing: "How do I receive FIRA or FIRC for inward remittances against export of services? Is it issued automatically, on request, or through net banking?"
- Note the answer in your process document so whoever does your monthly EDF knows it.
- For older remittances, send a formal request listing each credit's date, amount and reference. Our FIRC request letter has the right structure.
- For bulk requests at year end, give the bank a simple table rather than a paragraph of dates.
If you also need eBRCs, send a separate request; the eBRC request letter template is built for that.
What to check on every certificate
Open each FIRA or FIRC the day you get it and run through this list:
- Remitter name matches your client or its known payer entity. If someone else paid, check whether that counts as a third-party payment and whether it was declared on the EDF.
- Currency and amount match the invoice, allowing for any bank charges deducted abroad.
- Rupee amount and rate look sensible.
- Purpose code fits the service. P0802 for software consultancy or implementation, P0807 for off-site software exports, P1006 for business and management consultancy, P1007 for advertising and market research, and so on. These are examples; confirm the right code with ICICI.
- Your details are correct, including name and account.
If anything is wrong, raise it at once. A purpose code correction letter helps you put the request on record.
Worked example
Ridgeline Data Pvt Ltd, Noida, received three payments into its ICICI current account in January 2027 against its December 2026 EDF:
| Client | Invoice | Received | Purpose code on FIRA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olsen Logistics ApS | EUR 7,400 | EUR 7,385 | P0802 |
| Brightwater Inc | USD 12,600 | USD 12,575 | P1006 |
| Maple Grove Health | USD 3,900 | USD 3,875 | P0807 |
Ridgeline's finance lead checked each one. Olsen and Maple Grove matched the work. Brightwater's code, P1006, did not: the job was a software implementation, which Ridgeline's records tagged as P0802. She wrote to the RM within a week asking for a correction, attaching the invoice and contract.
Two of the three invoices were under ₹10 lakh, so Ridgeline included them in its quarterly realisation declaration. Brightwater's invoice, around ₹10.6 lakh, needed the invoice, FIRA and matching instructions to close the EDPMS entry. The small shortfalls were bank charges deducted abroad, which she noted against each row.
Keeping records sensibly
Create one folder per EDF month. Inside, keep the signed EDF, the invoices and each FIRA as it arrives, named with the invoice number. Update a running register with FIRA reference, date and purpose code. When the auditor or a GST refund officer asks for proof, you will have it in seconds.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice, and it does not describe any internal ICICI Bank process. ICICI Bank's published procedure and your RM's instructions apply.
Frequently asked questions
Does ICICI Bank issue FIRA automatically?
That depends on ICICI Bank's current process for your account type. Ask your RM or branch whether advices are issued automatically, through net banking, or on request, and how to obtain a certificate if you need one.
Is a FIRA enough for a GST refund on export of services?
A bank document proving receipt of foreign exchange is a key supporting record for the payment condition in Section 2(6) of the IGST Act. Whether the format you have is accepted for a particular refund claim is a question for your CA.
What should I do if the purpose code on my FIRA is wrong?
Write to the bank promptly with the invoice and a short explanation of the service, and ask for correction. Wrong codes can cause trouble later in EDPMS matching and with GST, so fix them early.
Do I need a FIRA for invoices under ₹10 lakh?
The bank may close EDPMS entries up to ₹10 lakh on your declaration of realisation, but you should still keep proof of receipt in your records. You will want it for GST, audit and any later query.
Can I get FIRAs for payments received months ago?
Usually you can request them retrospectively. Send the bank a list with dates, amounts and references, and ask how it handles bulk or historical requests.
Bottom line
A correct FIRA or FIRC from ICICI Bank closes your EDF entries, supports your GST position and makes audits painless. Ask your RM how ICICI issues them, check every one, and use the free FIRC request letter for anything that is missing.
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.