DGFT removes physical duty payment challan requirement for exporters

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has eliminated the requirement for exporters to submit physical duty payment challans when applying for Export Obligation Discharge Certificates (EODC). This change applies to the Advance Authorisation (AA) and Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) schemes.

Effective for voluntary duty payments made on or after August 1, 2026, the new process utilizes an API-based data exchange between the DGFT and ICEGATE. This integration allows duty payment data from Customs systems to be transmitted electronically to the DGFT workflow, enabling authenticated verification directly against the relevant authorisation.

Exporters will be able to view authenticated payment details on the DGFT Customer Portal to ensure correct mapping before filing applications. Similarly, DGFT Regional Authorities will access these records through the DGFT Back Office, removing the need for manual verification. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry expects this digital transition to shorten processing timelines, improve data accuracy, increase transparency, and reduce transaction costs and compliance burdens, particularly for MSME exporters.