GST Refund Claims (Form RFD-01): Exports, Inverted Duty & Excess Cash

जीएसटी रिफंड दावा प्रक्रिया (RFD-01)

Comprehensive guide to GST refund filing under Section 54 of the CGST Act: claiming refunds for zero-rated export of goods/services under LUT or payment of IGST, unutilized ITC due to Inverted Duty Structure, and online tracking of RFD-06 sanction orders.

Written by: Author Profile

Direct Tax & CA Review Panel

Chartered Accountancy Review Panel • Senior Direct Tax Review Desk

Reviewed & Fact-Checked by: Technical Review Panel

Tax Law & Dispute Review Desk

Tax Litigation & Legal Review Panel • Tax Appeal & Procedure Review Desk

Published: 1st April 2026•Last Updated: 15th August 2026•Last Reviewed: 15th August 2026

Key Statutory Highlights (FY 2026-27)

Refund categories: (1) Zero-rated export supplies under LUT/Bond without payment of IGST, (2) Inverted Duty Structure (input tax rate > output tax rate), (3) Excess balance in Electronic Cash Ledger.

Form GST RFD-01 must be filed electronically on the GST portal within 2 years from the 'relevant date'.

Provisional refund: 90% of export refund claim is sanctioned provisionally within 7 days in Form GST RFD-04.

Final sanction order issued within 60 days in Form GST RFD-06 with direct bank account credit via PFMS.

Statutory interest @ 6% p.a. payable by the department if refund is delayed beyond 60 days.

Who is Eligible & When Does it Apply?

Applicability #1

Exporters, SEZ units, manufacturers facing inverted duty rates, and taxpayers with surplus cash ledger balances.

Step-by-Step Procedure & Compliance Roadmap

Prepare Statement 1/2/3 Annexures

Collate shipping bills, BIRC/FIRC remittances, and export invoices.

File Application in Form GST RFD-01

Navigate to Services -> Refunds -> Application for Refund. Upload statements and debit credit ledger.

Receive Acknowledgement in Form RFD-02

Tax officer issues acknowledgement within 15 days or deficiency memo in RFD-03.

Sanction & Bank Credit in Form RFD-06

Refund is directly credited to your validated Aadhaar-linked bank account.

Mandatory Documents Checklist

Form GST RFD-01, Shipping Bills, Foreign Inward Remittance Certificates (FIRC), Inverted Duty calculation statement, CA Certificate (if claim > ₹2L)

Common Mistakes & Compliance Risks to Avoid

•Mismatched invoice numbers between GSTR-1 and ICEGATE shipping bills.

•Applying after the 2-year limitation period from relevant date.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to receive a GST refund in bank account?

For export refunds under LUT, provisional 90% refund is typically sanctioned within 7-10 working days. Final sanction and credit occurs within 30-60 days.

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🛡️ Educational Disclaimer: FinSetu India is an independent educational guidance and calculation platform. Content is published for general citizen awareness based on applicable laws as of FY 2026-27. We do not provide personalized legal/tax advice or file returns directly. Verify current applicable rules on official portals or consult a qualified Chartered Accountant / Tax Lawyer.