Export incentives are a vital tool for Indian exporters, helping to compensate for various embedded taxes and duties that would otherwise make their products uncompetitive. With the discontinuation of the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) and the introduction of the new Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) scheme, the process has become more automated and transparent.

However, even with a digital-first approach, it is possible for these valuable incentives to go unclaimed. This often happens when exporters miss a crucial step in the claim process. Here’s a detailed look at how to find a missed RoDTEP scroll and ensure you get the benefits you’re entitled to.

What Are Export Incentives?

Export incentives are financial benefits provided by the government to encourage exporters and make Indian goods more competitive in the global market. They help neutralize the additional costs that exporters face, such as embedded taxes, duties on raw materials, or higher logistics costs, which would otherwise reduce profitability and affect pricing in international markets.

These incentives are designed to:

• Offset taxes and duties paid during the production and supply chain
• Make Indian exports price-competitive compared to other countries
• Support exporters in expanding to new markets
• Boost overall foreign exchange earnings for the country

Common types of export incentives in India include:

• Duty Drawback: Refund of customs duty paid on imported inputs used in exported goods
  
• Advance Authorization: Duty-free import of inputs for making export products
  
• Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG): Concessional duty rates on capital goods used to produce export items
  
• RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products): Reimbursement of hidden or unrefunded taxes such as electricity duty, fuel tax, or mandi tax

Understanding the Shift to a Digital-First System

The transition from the MEIS scheme to RoDTEP marked a significant pivot in India’s export promotion strategy. The older MEIS system was criticized for not being compliant with World Trade Organization (WTO) norms, as it was considered a direct subsidy. RoDTEP, on the other hand, is designed to be a WTO-compliant scheme that directly refunds the duties and taxes incurred on inputs used in the export process, making it a genuine “remission.” This new structure is digital and aims for a seamless, paperless flow of benefits. This is why the initial declaration on the Shipping Bill is now more important than ever; it is the digital trigger that sets the entire, automated claims process in motion.

The Central Role of the Shipping Bill

For any exporter, the Shipping Bill is the most critical document in the entire lifecycle of an export transaction. It serves as both a customs declaration and a legal contract between the exporter and the Customs authorities. This document carries all the essential information about the goods being exported, including the value, the HS code, and, most importantly for incentives, the declaration of intent to claim schemes like RoDTEP. Any error or oversight on this single document, whether it’s a typo in the HS code or a missed declaration, can invalidate your claim and break the digital chain of custody before it even begins.

Why Incentives Go Unclaimed

The new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) emphasizes automation and ease of business. Under the RoDTEP scheme, the entire process from claim to credit is digitized. But if a claim is missed, it’s usually due to one of these common reasons:

• Failure to Declare: To begin the process, it is mandatory to explicitly state your intent to claim RoDTEP on the Shipping Bill. A simple oversight in ticking a box or making the correct declaration at the time of export can prevent the process from even starting.
  
• Documentation Errors: The RoDTEP benefit is tied to the correct Harmonized System (HS) code. An incorrect HS code on the Shipping Bill can cause a mismatch and prevent the claim from being processed. Minor clerical errors in other export documentation can also lead to rejection.
  
• Lack of Tracking: Once the claim is filed, exporters must actively monitor its status. Many businesses simply file the Shipping Bill and assume the process will be completed automatically, failing to track the progress on the official portal.

How to Track Missed Incentives

The key to tracking any unclaimed benefit lies in the official digital gateway for exports: the ICEGATE portal. This platform is the central hub where all Customs-related activities are managed and where your RoDTEP credit is ultimately made available.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Log in to ICEGATE: The first step is to log into your account on the ICEGATE portal using your Import-Export Code (IEC) and a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). Your dashboard will serve as the starting point for your investigation.
   
2. Check the Credit Ledger: On your account dashboard, navigate to the “Credit Ledger” tab. This is where your e-scrips are held. If your claim was processed successfully, the RoDTEP credits will be visible here. It’s a good practice to check this ledger regularly to ensure that all due credits have been received.
   
3. Find the RoDTEP Scroll: For every batch of processed claims, Customs generates a RoDTEP scroll listing all the individual Shipping Bills that have been deemed eligible for the benefit. This scroll is made available in your user account. If you suspect a claim was missed, you can search for the relevant Shipping Bill number within the available scrolls to see its status.
   
4. File a DGFT FTP Claim: If you have confirmed that a claim was never processed, you may need to escalate the issue. You will need to raise a formal DGFT FTP claim request. This usually involves contacting the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) with the details of your Shipping Bill and the discrepancy.

A Broader Perspective

While RoDTEP is a key focus, the principle of active tracking applies to other export promotion schemes as well. For example, schemes like Advance Authorization and the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme also have their own set of tracking mechanisms and compliance requirements.

These schemes require you to fulfill specific export obligations. Failure to do so or a delay in receiving payment can lead to the revocation of benefits. Therefore, maintaining detailed records and consistently checking the status of your claims on the relevant government portals is the only way to ensure that you don’t leave any money on the table.

In a system that prioritizes automation, the responsibility of tracking falls squarely on the exporter. Diligence, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to monitoring your digital accounts are essential to successfully claiming every incentive you have earned.

Conclusion

Unclaimed export incentives often slip through the cracks not because the system is flawed, but because exporters miss critical steps in documentation or tracking. With schemes like RoDTEP, everything is digitized, but automation doesn’t replace responsibility. Exporters must remain proactive, declaring incentives correctly at the Shipping Bill stage, maintaining error-free documentation, and consistently checking ICEGATE scrolls and ledgers. 

Beyond RoDTEP, the same diligence applies to schemes like Advance Authorization and EPCG. In short, every untracked scroll is potential money lost, while every carefully monitored claim strengthens an exporter’s competitiveness and financial health.

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