DGFT, Customs and Export Compliance Support Across India
A pending export IGST refund needs a close review. Check the Shipping Bills, export invoices, GSTR-1, and GSTR-3B. Also check EGM status, ICEGATE validations, the refund scroll, and bank-account status.
Dwarkadhish Overseas reviews why your refund is pending. We find any mismatches we can. We follow up where needed. We also match refund records against each Shipping Bill.
Eligibility
An exporter may be eligible for refund of IGST paid on exported goods when the applicable conditions are fulfilled.
These mainly cover:
The GST Portal sets two requirements for the goods-with-payment route. You need GSTR-1, with export details in Table 6A. You also need GSTR-3B for the relevant period.
IGST Refund
An IGST refund on exports is a refund of Integrated Goods and Services Tax. It applies to tax paid on eligible zero-rated export supplies.
Some exports of goods are made with IGST paid. For these, the Shipping Bill usually works as the refund application. You do not normally need a separate refund application for this route. This holds if you have correctly filed the required GST returns and export information.
Exporters should first identify the correct refund category.
Where goods are exported after payment of IGST:
Process
Check Status
You can follow an export IGST refund at every stage on ICEGATE. Each enquiry answers a different question. The validation enquiry tells you whether your GST and Customs data matched. The scroll enquiry tells you whether the refund has been sanctioned. The Shipping Bill enquiry shows where one bill stands. Pick the check that fits the stage your refund is stuck at.
To check IGST refund status online, you need an ICEGATE login linked to your IEC. Then follow these steps.
Results are shown Shipping Bill by Shipping Bill. An export IGST refund moves in a fixed order. First GSTN sends the data and Customs validates it as SB000. Then the bill is added to a scroll and paid through PFMS. The code or status shown against a bill tells you which step it is waiting on.
Many exporters search for their GST refund status on ICEGATE. Only IGST paid on exported goods can be tracked there. Refunds filed in RFD-01 are different. These cover service exports and ITC refunds under LUT. Track them on the GST Portal under Services, Refunds, Track Application Status.
The IGST validation enquiry is the first check to run. It shows whether the invoice data in your GSTR-1 matched the Shipping Bill filed with Customs. This is the IGST verification step, and the refund cannot move ahead until it passes.
SB000 means the record passed. Any other code from SB001 to SB006 means the refund is blocked until that error is fixed. The meaning and fix for each code is given in the error code list below.
A refund scroll is the list of Shipping Bills that Customs has cleared for payment. Once your bill appears on a sanctioned scroll, the refund is approved and is sent to your bank through PFMS.
Has a bill with SB000 stayed out of every scroll for two to three weeks? Check two things first. Is your bank account validated with PFMS? Is there an alert on your IEC? These are the most common reasons a validated bill is kept out of the scroll.
When you only need the status of one shipment, search by Shipping Bill number. It is quicker than going through a full scroll list.
Enter the Shipping Bill number and date exactly as printed on the bill. A wrong port code is the most common reason the search finds no record. Need the scroll number for a bill that is already paid? It is shown in the same result, next to the scroll date.
For Shipping Bills from earlier years, the scroll may not appear in the default date range. To check an old IGST scroll status, run the IGST Scroll Sanctioned Status enquiry again. Set the period to the month the goods were exported. You can also search the bill by its number and date in the Shipping Bill enquiry.
If an old bill still shows no scroll, it was never validated or it has moved to history (HIST). In both cases, raise a ticket with the ICEGATE helpdesk. You can also write to the refund section of the port. Share the Shipping Bill number, date and GSTIN. Most old pending refunds trace back to an uncorrected error code or a bank account that was never validated.
The status shown against a Shipping Bill tells you how far the refund has moved. Scroll generation at ICEGATE happens on its own for validated bills, so there is nothing to apply for. Here is what each common IGST scroll status means and what you should do.
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Validated (SB000), no scroll yet | GST and Customs data matched. The bill is waiting to be picked up in a refund scroll. | Wait for the next scroll. If 2 to 3 weeks pass, check your bank account validation and any IEC alert. |
| Temporary scroll generated | The Customs system has picked the bill for refund. The scroll is waiting for the officer to approve it. | No action needed. Check again after a few days. |
| Scroll generated (scroll sanctioned) | The Customs officer has approved the refund and a scroll number has been given. | Note the scroll number and date. Payment follows once PFMS processes it. |
| Scroll at PAO (response awaited) | The sanctioned scroll is with the Pay and Accounts Office (PAO) of Customs, which pays through PFMS. "Response awaited" means the payment result from PFMS or the bank has not come back yet. | Wait. If nothing changes in 3 to 4 weeks, check your bank details on ICEGATE. Then contact the refund section at the port. |
| PFMS rejected (payment failed) | The bank or PFMS rejected the credit, often because of a wrong account number, a changed IFSC or a name mismatch. | Correct and revalidate the bank account on ICEGATE. Customs can then re-scroll the bill. |
| HIST | The Shipping Bill record has moved to the history (archive) file of the Customs system. This usually happens once all processing is complete. | If the refund was paid, nothing to do. If not, write to the port refund section with the Shipping Bill number and date. |
Refund Services
We perform an initial review to identify:
We reconcile:
We compare GST return information with Customs data to identify:
We assist with identifying and resolving available validation errors, including:
We help identify whether the refund is pending because:
Filing or correcting the EGM may require action by the shipping line, airline, carrier or gateway Customs location.
We review whether:
We assist in reviewing cases where:
We help review:
ICEGATE’s current IGST refund FAQ states that an alert or suspension against the IEC can prevent the refund from being processed until the relevant restriction is resolved.
Our scope may include:
Where an IGST refund has been withheld, flagged or transferred for officer verification, our team can review:
Certain refund alerts can result in IGST refunds being withheld and transmitted to the jurisdictional officer for verification or processing.
For eligible export of services with payment of IGST, we can assist with:
Where exports were made without payment of IGST under LUT, we can separately assist with:
This is a separate GST refund service and should not be presented as an automatic IGST refund through the Shipping Bill.
Checklist
The final checklist depends on the refund route and identified problem
Requirement
Required
Required
Required
Required
Required
Required
Required where available
Where generated
Required
Required
Where bank validation is involved
Where applicable
For troubleshooting
Where applicable
Where applicable
For EGM issues
Additional documents may include:
Our Process
Clear, structured and remote — from discovery to handover.
During the discovery call, we learn the key facts about your refund issue. This covers the refund period, the pending amount, and the number of Shipping Bills. It also covers your export locations. We also review any error codes you have. We check what action you have already taken to fix the issue
Our team checks the issue first. We find the exact spot that needs care. The cause can be a GST return mismatch, or a Shipping Bill error. It may also be an EGM issue, or an ICEGATE validation problem. We check other spots as well. This covers refund scroll issues and PFMS rejection. It also covers bank checks, IEC suspension, held-back refunds, and RFD-01 needs.
We provide a case-specific checklist and collect the available GST, Customs, Shipping Bill and bank records.
We prepare a Shipping Bill-wise reconciliation, identify the corrective action and undertake the agreed filing, amendment, communication or follow-up.
We share a clear update on your case. This covers your status, your fixed records, and any steps still open. We also share your refund facts. This means your refund amount, or your scroll status. We flag any case still open. This shows you what still needs action. Once the work is done, we send a final report. This gives you clean, ready records.
ICEGATE meaning
Successfully validated
Invalid Shipping Bill details
EGM not filed
GSTIN mismatch
Record already received and validated
Invalid invoice number
Gateway EGM not available
These meanings are listed in ICEGATE’s updated IGST Refund FAQ.
SB000 means one thing: the GST and Customs information has matched. The Shipping Bill has cleared the stated IGST check. But SB000 does not always mean the money has reached the exporter's bank account.
ICEGATE lists possible reasons for SB000 without payment. These include:
• Export made under LUT or Bond
• Refund amount below ₹1,000
• Bank account not validated with PFMS
• IEC alert or suspension
We check:
SB001 comes from a mismatch. GST sends the Shipping Bill number, Shipping Bill date, and port code. These do not match the Customs Shipping Bill data.
Possible causes:
Errors in invoice and Shipping Bill data can be fixed. Use the GSTR-1 correction facility for this, including Table 9A. Current GST rules apply.
We compare:
SB002 means that the Export General Manifest has not been filed. ICEGATE advises exporters to approach the shipping line, airline or carrier for filing of the applicable EGM.
Common reasons:
We assist with:
The GSTIN number in the Custom Shipping Bill does not match the GSTIN number of the export invoice or GSTIN return.
Commmon reasons:
According to ICEGATE, use of incorrect GSTIN in the Shipping Bill may lead to validation error and prevent the refund process
We look at:
SB004 usually means one thing. GSTN sent the Shipping Bill-invoice record twice, or more than once. ICEGATE says you usually need no action here. This applies if an earlier transmission already passed as SB000.
We check:
SB005 points to a mismatch. GST sends one invoice number. The Customs Shipping Bill shows a different one.
Common reasons:
ICEGATE says you can fix invoice errors, such as a wrong invoice number. Use the GSTR-1 amendment mechanism for this, such as Table 9A.
We compare:
SB006 means that the Gateway EGM is not available. This often happens in one case. Exports route from an ICD through a gateway sea port or airport. The gateway carrier information was not filed, or not sent correctly. ICEGATE advises exporters here. Contact the shipping line or carrier. Ask them to file the Gateway EGM electronically. Follow up with gateway-port Customs, where needed.
We identify:
Sometimes more than one validation error exists. If so, you may need to fix each error on its own. Only then can the refund move ahead.
Our reconciliation report finds every error against each Shipping Bill. It also assigns a fix for each one.
A Shipping Bill may enter a refund scroll fine. But it can still fail later, at the payment stage. ICEGATE's updated FAQ explains what happens next. After a PFMS rejection, that Shipping Bill may get marked as permanently cancelled. This applies only to that one payment attempt. The Customs officer can then re-scroll it, through the set system process.
Possible reasons:
We assist with:
Refund Pending
Filing GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B alone does not guarantee refund processing.
The refund may remain pending because of:
ICEGATE states that refund processing fails where the claim does not pass validation at GSTN or Customs.
Sometimes the validation enquiry shows nothing at all against a Shipping Bill. No SB code and no error. This usually means the invoice data from your GSTR-1 never reached ICEGATE. Customs cannot validate a record it has not received, so the refund does not even start.
Common causes:
How to fix it:
Bill-wise Report
Our Shipping Bill-wise report may contain:
Review
Verified
Verified
Verified
Matched
Matched
Reviewed
Reviewed
Reconciled
Reviewed
Identified
Reviewed
Reviewed
Reconciled
Calculated
Recommended
Possible deliverables: Pending Shipping Bill list, Error-code summary, Estimated pending amount, GST mismatch report, EGM issue list, Bank validation issue list, Corrective-action report, Refund-receipt reconciliation, Management summary.
The scope may include:
Price Model
A fixed professional fee based on the number of Shipping Bills.
A fixed fee based on the volume and period.
A case-specific professional fee.
Monthly or annual outsourcing fee.
Our professional charges cover only the agreed scope. Other costs are billed apart from this. These include government fees, statutory charges, travel, and third-party costs. They also include legal representation and any work outside the agreed scope.
Paying a professional fee does not guarantee government sanction. It also does not guarantee refund disbursement.
There is no single guaranteed completion period.
The total timeline can depend on:
ICEGATE gives exporters two pieces of advice. Check the Shipping Bill status after scroll generation. Approach the helpdesk if there is an unwarranted delay.
Dwarkadhish Overseas can give an estimated timeline for our own work. We can do this once we finish the initial assessment. But we cannot guarantee the processing time of GSTN, Customs, ICEGATE, PFMS, or another authority.
Why Dwarkadhish overseas
We do not only check the total refund. Every available Shipping Bill is reviewed separately
We compare GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, invoices, Shipping Bills and ICEGATE statuses.
Different errors require different corrective actions. Our process identifies the appropriate responsible party.
This depends on the issue. Follow-up may need us to coordinate with several agencies. These can include GSTN, ICEGATE, Customs, shipping lines, airlines, carriers, gateway ports, banks, and PFMS. Each agency may handle a different part of the process. Good coordination can help resolve issues smoothly.
Clients receive an organised pendency and action report instead of only verbal updates.
We can manage IGST refund reconciliation as part of Export Compliance Outsourcing.
Client Experiences
Pan India
Dwarkadhish Overseas provides remote IGST refund assessment, reconciliation and resolution support to exporters across India.
FAQ
An export IGST refund is the refund of Integrated GST. This tax is charged on exports of goods or services that qualify for export. Statutory guidelines govern this process.
No. The Shipping Bill usually works as the refund application. This applies once you meet the required conditions.
No IGST is paid on exports under LUT. So an exporter does not claim a refund of export IGST this way. You may claim eligible accumulated ITC separately, through RFD-01.
File the refund claim through Form GST RFD-01, on the GST Portal. This applies where you have paid IGST.
SB000 means the Shipping Bill has passed the stated GST-Customs validation.
A few reasons are common. These include PFMS bank validation, IEC alerts, or IEC suspension. They also include small refunds under ₹1,000, or exports made using LUT or Bond.
The SB001 code shows a mismatch. The Shipping Bill information from GST does not match the information in Customs.
Compare the Shipping Bill number, date, and port code. Then use the available GST amendment tool, based on what you find.
Log in to ICEGATE. Go to the IGST Validation Enquiry, under the Enquiries service.
There is no single guaranteed timeline. It depends on return filing, EGM, validations, scroll generation, bank validation, and departmental processing.
Log in to ICEGATE 2.0 and go to Dashboard, Services, Enquiries and then ICEGATE Enquiry Service. Use IGST Validation Enquiry to see the SB code for each Shipping Bill. Then use IGST Scroll Sanctioned Status to see if the refund has been approved. SB000 with a scroll number means your refund is on its way.
Use the Shipping Bill enquiry on ICEGATE. Enter the port code, Shipping Bill number and Shipping Bill date, fill in the captcha and submit. The result shows the scroll number, scroll date and current status of that bill. If no record comes up, check the port code first, as it is the most common mistake.
It means Customs has sanctioned your refund. The scroll has gone to its Pay and Accounts Office for payment through PFMS. "Response awaited" means the payment result from PFMS or your bank has not come back yet. Most cases clear on their own. If the status does not change for weeks, check your bank account validation.
HIST means the Shipping Bill record has been moved to the history file of the Customs system. This normally happens once all processing on the bill is complete. If your refund was already paid, no action is needed. If it was not paid, write to the refund section at the port with the Shipping Bill details.
For goods exported with payment of IGST, Customs processes the refund. The GST Portal only sends your GSTR-1 export data to ICEGATE, where it is matched with the Shipping Bill. For export of services, or an ITC refund under LUT, you file RFD-01. The GST department processes that claim.
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