A FIRA or FIRC from Kotak Mahindra Bank is the bank's own confirmation that a foreign payment reached your account, showing who sent it, how much arrived and under which purpose code. For a service exporter it is the single most useful piece of evidence you hold: it supports EDPMS closure for larger invoices, GST refund claims and eBRC generation. Kotak, like every bank, sets its own way of issuing it, so the practical route is to ask your relationship manager or home branch how they want requests made.
Key takeaways
- FIRA (advice) and FIRC (certificate) both evidence an inward foreign remittance. Banks use the terms differently; ask Kotak which document it issues for your account.
- You need it for every foreign credit, not only large ones. It is easier to collect monthly than at year-end.
- Check the remitter name, amount, currency, date and purpose code the moment you receive it.
- For invoices above ₹10 lakh, payment evidence such as a FIRA is part of what the bank needs to close the EDPMS entry.
- If the purpose code is wrong, ask Kotak to correct it promptly, in writing.
FIRA or FIRC: what you will actually receive
The terms get used loosely. A Foreign Inward Remittance Advice is the bank's advice of a specific credit. A Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate is a more formal certificate, sometimes issued on request. In practice, many exporters use whichever document their bank provides as standard proof. Our explainer on FIRA vs FIRC covers the distinction.
For your purposes, the question to ask Kotak is simple: "What document do you issue as evidence of an inward remittance for export of services, and does it show the purpose code?"
Where Kotak's FIRA gets used
| Use | Why the FIRA matters |
|---|---|
| EDPMS closure for invoices above ₹10 lakh | Payment evidence plus invoice plus matching instructions |
| Realisation tracking for smaller invoices | Supports your ₹10 lakh declaration if the bank asks |
| GST refund on exports (where IGST was paid) | Evidence that payment came in convertible foreign exchange |
| eBRC | Realisation matched in EDPMS and DGFT systems leads to the eBRC |
| Income-tax and audit | Ties foreign income to bank credits |
| Client disputes | Proves what and when the client paid |
How to request it from Kotak
We will not describe menus or fees we cannot verify. Kotak may issue advices automatically, make them available through its business banking, or provide them on request. Your RM will know which applies to your account. A sensible approach:
- Ask once, in writing, how Kotak issues FIRAs for your account and whether they can be sent automatically for every foreign credit.
- If requests are needed, send them monthly for all credits of the month, not one by one. Our FIRC request letter has a table format for several remittances.
- Include identifying details for each credit: date, amount, currency, remitter name and the bank's transaction reference from your statement.
- Ask about charges, if any, so they do not surprise you on the statement.
- File each document against the invoice it settles.
Example of a monthly request
Kestrel Bay Consulting LLP, a Kotak customer in Mumbai, received three credits in November 2026:
| Date | Remitter | Currency & amount | Kotak reference | Invoice settled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06 Nov 2026 | Aldgate Partners Ltd | GBP 4,750 | From statement | KBC/26/071 |
| 19 Nov 2026 | Summit Forge LLC | USD 12,300 | From statement | KBC/26/066 |
| 27 Nov 2026 | Summit Forge LLC | USD 1,800 | From statement | KBC/26/074 (part) |
Kestrel Bay sends one letter listing all three on 2 December and asks for FIRAs showing purpose code P1006 (business and management consultancy), which is the code it expects for its work. It still asks the bank to confirm the code is appropriate.
What to check on every Kotak FIRA
A mistake caught in the first week costs an email. A mistake caught at audit costs weeks.
- Beneficiary name: your legal entity name, exactly as registered.
- Remitter name and country: should match the client on the invoice. If someone else paid, you may have a third-party payment to explain on the EDF.
- Currency and amount: the amount credited, and ideally the amount remitted, so bank charges deducted abroad are visible.
- Date of credit: used for realisation tracking.
- Purpose code: should describe your actual service, such as P0802 or P0807 for software, P1006 for consultancy, P1007 for advertising and market research. Always confirm the code with the bank.
- Rupee value and rate: useful for your books.
If the purpose code is wrong, use our purpose code correction letter and attach the invoice so the bank can see the nature of the service.
Linking the FIRA to your EDF
The EDF and the FIRA are separate documents doing separate jobs. The EDF declares the export; the FIRA proves the money arrived. They meet in EDPMS, where Kotak matches realisation against the EDF entry.
For Kestrel Bay, invoice KBC/26/074 is part-paid by the USD 1,800 credit. The FIRA for that credit goes in the invoice's folder, and the balance stays open until it arrives, within 9 months from the invoice date. Where invoices are up to ₹10 lakh, Kotak may close the entry on Kestrel Bay's periodic declaration of realisation; the FIRA is still the evidence behind that declaration. Our Kotak EDF guide covers the filing side.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Kotak's own published processes take precedence.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a FIRC from Kotak Mahindra Bank?
Ask your relationship manager or home branch how Kotak issues FIRAs or FIRCs for your account. It may be automatic, available through business banking or issued on request. Send requests monthly with the date, amount, currency, remitter and reference for each credit.
Is a Kotak FIRA enough for GST refund on export of services?
A FIRA or bank advice is commonly used as evidence that payment was received in convertible foreign exchange, which is one of the export conditions. Refund rules have their own documentation requirements, so confirm with your CA what else the refund application needs.
What should I do if the purpose code on my Kotak FIRA is wrong?
Write to the bank promptly asking for correction, attaching the invoice and a short description of the service. A wrong code can cause problems with GST refunds and realisation matching later, so do not leave it until year-end.
Do I need a FIRA for invoices under ₹10 lakh?
For invoices up to ₹10 lakh, the bank may close the EDPMS entry on your declaration that the money has been realised. You should still keep the FIRA or bank advice as evidence behind that declaration, and for GST and audit purposes.
Does Kotak charge for issuing a FIRC?
Charges, if any, depend on Kotak's current schedule and your account type. Ask your RM or check the bank's published schedule of charges before requesting certificates in bulk.
Bottom line
Collect a Kotak FIRA for every foreign credit, check it the day it arrives and file it against its invoice. That one habit keeps EDPMS, GST and audit work simple. Use the free FIRC request letter to ask for a month's advices in one go, and the Kotak EDF form to prepare your declaration.
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.