Frequently Asked Questions about Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS)
Q. 1 What is SEIS?
Ans.: SEIS Scheme, under the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, provides for a mechanism under which service providers who had provided any of the eligible notified services in a financial year are entitled to certain benefits. Benefits are in the nature of duty-free credit scrip which can be used for payment of basic customs duty and certain other duties. These scrips are also freely transferable.
Q. 2 Who is eligible for Service Exports from India Scheme?
Ans.:
Service Eligible: Only Services rendered under
Mode I: Cross Border Trade i.e. Supply of service from India to any other country, and
Mode II: Consumption abroad i.e. Supply of service from India to service consumers of any other country.
Services not Eligible: Supply of a Service through
Mode III: Commercial Presence i.e. Supply of service from India through Commercial Presence in any other Country and
Mode IV: Presence of Natural persons in any other country – not eligible for a reward under this scheme.
Other categories of ineligible services may be found in Public Notice 45 dated 05.12.2017.
To be eligible under this Scheme, the service provider shall have minimum net free foreign exchange earnings of $15,000 in the preceding financial year in case of other than an individual service provider and sole proprietorships.
For Individual Service Providers and Sole Proprietorships, such minimum net free foreign exchange earnings criteria are $10,000 in the preceding financial year.
To claim the incentives, the service provider is required to have an active IEC Code at the time of rendering such services.
In case the IEC holder is a manufacturer of goods as well as a service provider, then the foreign exchange earnings and Total Expenses/ payment/ remittances to be considered for the service provider only.
Q. 3 Are all the SEIS Services eligible for SEIS benefits?
Ans.: Only services that are notified and listed in Appendix 3D are eligible for the SEIS.
Q. 4 What is the entitlement value of the SEIS benefits?
Ans.: The rate of reward is based on Net foreign Exchange earned and is listed in Appendix 3D.
Q. 5 Can we submit our SEIS Claims for previous financial years?
Ans.: For a service rendered in year 0, claims can be filed up to 31st March of Year 3. However, if submitted after 31st March of Year 1, a certain late cut/penalty is applicable on the total entitlement.
Q. 6 Are payments in Indian rupees eligible?
Ans.: Yes, payments received in Indian Rupees on specified services, shall be treated as receipt in deemed foreign exchange for services as listed in Appendix 3E. (Public notice 46 dated 05.12.2017 may be seen)
Q. 7 What are the prerequisites of filing an application for the Service Exports from India Scheme?
Ans.: • Importer/Exporter needs to register on DGFT Website by login on https://www.dgft.gov.in/
• Link the existing IEC (For more details please see IEC section FAQ)
• Register the DSC or Register for Aadhaar E-sign under My Dashboard > View and Register Digital Signatures Token
• Then Importer/Exporter may apply for Service Exports from India Scheme under Services > SEIS.
Q. 8 What is the application fee for the Fresh Application of Service Exports from India Scheme?
Ans.: Application fees for SEIS is as per appendix 2K (https://www.dgft.gov.in/CP/?opt=appendices). Please note that this amount shall change in the future as per the DGFT notification.
Q. 9 I don’t have DSC/e-Sign. Can I submit the application?
Ans.: DSC/e-Sign is mandatory for the application submission. You cannot submit the application without DSC/e-Sign. However, you can make a draft of the application.
Q. 10 How many times I can apply for the SEIS scheme in one financial year?
Ans.: Application for one financial year can be made only once by one IEC holder. In case of the wrong submission to any RA, a request to the Policy 3 Section in DGFT HQs is required to be made, so that the IEC is enabled to apply again. However, the utmost caution should be exercised while filling an application, so that it is not submitted to the wrong jurisdictional RA. Policy circular 25 DTED 01.07.2019 may be referred to (https://content.dgft.gov.in/Website/Policy%20Circular%20No.%2025.pdf)
Q. 11 My application is PRC-approved. How will I mention the PRC application number?
Ans.: In case you have a Policy relaxation committee or other approvals you can mention details under the PRC details section while submitting your application.
Q. 12 What are the mandatory documents for filling of the SEIS application?
Ans.: ANF 3B and accompanying CA/CS Certificate is mandatory for SEIS application. However, you may attach any other supporting document to your application by selecting other options in the attachment.
Q. 13 How many invoices can be attached to a single SEIS Application?
Ans.: There is no limit on the number of invoices in a single application.
Q. 14 Where will I get notified for my application of the Service Exports from India Scheme?
Ans.: Service Exports from India Scheme notification goes on Email ID and Mobile Number registered under IEC.
Q. 15 What do I do if I don’t receive any update on my application?
Ans.: Firstly, please ensure that the application is still not in your drafts. Next, you may check the status under the “My Dashboard >>Submitted Applications” tab.
Even then, if your query hasn’t been resolved, please contact the DGFT helpdesk (1800111550) for support.
Q. 16 How will I get to know that whether my payment is Successful or Unsuccessful?
Ans.: Once the payment is processed, you will get the e-payment receipt which shows the transaction status. The application status can be tracked using ‘Track Status’ and Receipt could again be printed.
You can also check the status of your payment through Services >> View IEC Related Details >> Payment Status for an Application by providing the application reference number and IEC code.
Q. 17 How do I withdraw my application?
Ans.: You can withdraw the application within 2 days of submission under my dashboard >> submitted the application >> type of scheme “SEIS” >> type of sub-scheme “Apply for SEIS – ANF 3D” >> Search >> Actions >> Withdraw application.
Q. 18 Will I receive a refund for the application fee payment if I withdraw the application after submission?
Ans.: There is no provision for a refund in case you withdraw your application
Q. 19 What will I do if my application is communicated to be deficient?
Ans.: DGFT Officer shall mark your application as deficient if any deficiency is found in the application. You can respond to the deficiency of your application under my dashboard >> submitted application >> type of scheme “SEIS “>> type of sub-scheme “Apply for SEIS – ANF 3D” >> Search >> Action button >> Respond to Deficiency.
You can view the reason for the deficiency and deficiency letter against your application in the submitted application.
You can make the amendment in the application or you can respond to deficiency with remarks and supporting documents.
Q. 20 Where I can see the status of my submitted applications?
Ans.: You can see the status of your submitted application under My Dashboard >> Submitted Applications >> Type of Scheme as “SEIS” >> Type of Sub Scheme as “Apply for SEIS” and click on the Search button. You will get all the submitted applications.
Q. 21 Where can I take the print of the submitted application?
Ans.: You can take the print of your submitted application under My Dashboard >> Submitted Applications >> Type of Scheme as “SEIS” >> Type of Sub Scheme as “Apply for SEIS” and click on the Search button. You will get all the submitted applications.
Click on the Action button and print.
Q. 22 Where can I check the progress of my submitted application?
Ans.: You can check the progress of your submitted application under My Dashboard >> Submitted Applications >> Type of Scheme as “SEIS” >> Type of Sub Scheme as “Apply for SEIS” and click on the Search button. You will get all the submitted applications.
Click on Action >> View Life Cycle to get the progress on your submitted application.
Q. 23 Where can I get the approval or rejection letter for my submitted application?
Ans.: You can see the approval/rejection letter issued against your submitted application under My Dashboard >> Submitted Applications >> Type of Scheme as “SEIS” >> Type of Sub Scheme as “Apply for SEIS” and click on the Search button. You will get all the submitted applications.
Click on Action >> View Approved/Rejection Letter.
Q. 24 Where can I see scrip issued against my application?
Ans.: You can see the scrip issued against your submitted application under Services >>SEIS>>View and Print Scrip. Search scrip using different parameters available under this node.
You can also view the scrip using My Dashboard >> My Authorizations.
Q. 25 Where can I raise an amendment request for certain details as printed on my scrip?
Ans.: You can raise an amendment request for the scrip under Services >> SEIS >>Amendment of Scrip Issued. Search scrip using different parameters available under this node and click on the Amendment of Scrip button.
Q. 26 Under what circumstances can an amendment request be made for my scrip?
Ans.: For the following reasons only, one can submit an amendment request of scrip: –
• Extension of validity Period.
• Change in Entity Name
• Change in Entity Address
For the change in the entity name, IEC should be modified before raising this request and the same must appear at the time of raising the request.
Q. 27 Where can I View SEIS rates for any service?
Ans.: You can see SEIS rates for any service under Services >> SEIS >> View SEIS Rates. Enter Provisional CPC code and Service name to view rates for the service.
Q. 28 How to Record Scrip Transfer & View Scrip Ownership?
Ans.: You can refer below URL to the step by step guide mentioned for Record Scrip Transfer & View Scrip Ownership.
https://content.dgft.gov.in/Website/Scrip%20Management%20User%20Manual%20-%20v1.0.pdf
You can also refer to the frequently asked questions related to Record Scrip Transfer & View Scrip Ownership using the below URL.
https://content.dgft.gov.in/Website/Scrip%20Management%20FAQs%20v1.0.pdf