GST · RFD-01 · Zero-rated / Inverted duty

GST Refund Calculator

Work out your eligible GST refund for exports, inverted duty structure or an excess cash-ledger balance — live, with the exact statutory formula applied.

Category
GST
Takes about
2 min
Updated
Sep 2026
  • Free — no sign-up
  • Instant, on-screen results
  • Built by our CA · CS team
  • Rules cited on the page
Start calculating
Calculator

Enter your figures — the result on the right updates as you type.

Full breakdown below ↓
🔁 Refund type
Ground of refund
🚢 Accumulated ITC on zero-rated supply
Turnover of zero-rated supply Exports / SEZ under LUT
Net ITC ITC availed on inputs & input services
Adjusted total turnover Total turnover less exempt
Rule 89(4): Refund = (Zero-rated turnover × Net ITC) ÷ Adjusted total turnover. Adjusted total turnover excludes the value of exempt supplies and the turnover on which a separate refund is claimed.

Refund computation

Rule 89(4)
◆ Expert Review

Get your GST refund (RFD-01) filed by a CA

We compute your eligible refund, prepare the statements and file RFD-01 with correct annexures.

✓ We'll contact you shortly!

Disclaimer: Indicative estimate based on the figures you enter. Actual eligible refund depends on reconciliation of GSTR-2B, exempt turnover, capital-goods ITC exclusion and departmental verification. Formulae per CGST Rule 89 and Section 54.

When can you claim a GST refund

A refund arises whenever tax paid or input tax credit (ITC) accumulates in your favour and cannot be set off against output tax. The three most common grounds — exports, inverted duty and excess cash — are calculated differently. Pick the right ground above and enter your figures.

Export / zero-rated · LUT

Accumulated ITC on exports

Exports and SEZ supplies made under a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) carry no output GST, so the ITC on your inputs piles up. Rule 89(4) lets you refund that unutilised ITC in proportion to your zero-rated turnover.

Inverted duty structure

Inputs taxed higher than outputs

When your inputs attract a higher GST rate than your finished goods (e.g. 18% inputs → 5% output), credit accumulates. Rule 89(5) refunds the excess ITC on inputs only — input services and capital goods are excluded.

Excess cash ledger

Money over-deposited

Any balance you deposited into the electronic cash ledger that was not used to pay tax, interest or penalty can be claimed back in full — a straightforward Section 54 refund with no formula.

The refund formulas

These are the statutory formulas the calculator applies. The maximum refund is always capped by the balance actually lying in your electronic credit / cash ledger.

Rule 89(4) · Zero-rated (LUT)

Export refund of accumulated ITC

Refund = (Turnover of zero-rated supply × Net ITC) ÷ Adjusted Total Turnover

Example: zero-rated turnover ₹50,00,000, Net ITC ₹9,00,000, adjusted total turnover ₹60,00,000 → Refund = (50,00,000 × 9,00,000 ÷ 60,00,000) = ₹7,50,000.

Rule 89(5) · Inverted duty

Refund of ITC on inverted-rated supply

Max Refund = (Turnover of inverted-rated supply × Net ITC ÷ Adjusted Total Turnover) − Tax payable on such inverted-rated supply

Net ITC here means ITC availed on inputs (goods) only. The amended CBIC formula reduces the entitlement by the output tax already payable on the inverted supplies.

Section 54 · Excess cash

Excess electronic cash ledger balance

Refund = Excess balance in electronic cash ledger

No apportionment — the surplus you deposited but never used is refunded rupee-for-rupee.

Documents & the 2-year time limit

Every GST refund is filed in Form RFD-01 on the GST portal, and must be filed within two years from the relevant date (e.g. date of export, date of payment). Miss the window and the claim lapses.

RFD-01
Online refund application form on the GST portal
2 years
Time limit from the relevant date to file the claim
Stmt 3 / 3A
Statement of invoices for zero-rated / export refunds
15 days
Officer acknowledges the claim in RFD-02 (deficiency in RFD-03)

Adjusted total turnover

Total turnover in the state / UT in the tax period, excluding the value of exempt supplies (other than zero-rated) and turnover on which a separate refund is claimed. It is the denominator in the export and inverted formulas.

Net ITC

Input tax credit availed during the period on inputs and input services (for exports) or inputs only (for inverted duty). It excludes ITC on capital goods and any credit not appearing in your GSTR-2B.

Relevant date

The reference point for the 2-year clock — the date goods leave India for export of goods, the date of receipt of payment for export of services, or the date of tax payment for excess-cash claims.

LUT (Letter of Undertaking)

A bond in Form GST RFD-11 that lets exporters ship without paying IGST. Filing an LUT is what causes ITC to accumulate and makes the Rule 89(4) refund route available.

Questions people ask

Short answers on GST Refund Calculator. Tap a question to open it.

01In what situations can GST be refunded?

Exports and supplies to SEZ, whether with payment of IGST or under a LUT with accumulated credit; an inverted duty structure where inputs are taxed higher than outputs; excess balance in the electronic cash ledger; tax paid under the wrong head; and deemed exports.

02How is the refund on zero-rated supplies under LUT calculated?

Refund = net input tax credit × turnover of zero-rated supply of goods and services ÷ adjusted total turnover. The formula is in Rule 89(4), and net ITC excludes credit on capital goods.

03How is an inverted duty refund different?

Rule 89(5) uses a different formula that allows refund only of the credit attributable to inputs, not input services or capital goods, and reduces the result by the output tax payable on the inverted supply.

04What is the time limit for a refund claim?

Two years from the relevant date defined in section 54 — for exports, generally the date the goods leave India or the date payment is received for services.

05How long does the department take to refund?

A provisional refund of 90% is to be granted within seven days of acknowledgement for zero-rated claims, with the final order within 60 days. Interest at 6% applies if the refund is delayed beyond 60 days.

Disclaimer: This tool gives indicative results for general guidance only and is not professional advice. Please verify with a qualified CA before acting on the numbers.