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Microlesson · 5-min read

RCM - Business Facilitator and Business Correspondent Services

## RCM on Business Facilitator (BF) & Business Correspondent (BC)

### The RCM Entries

ServiceRecipientMechanism
Services by Business Facilitator (BF)Banking CompanyRCM
Services by Agent of Business Correspondent (BC)Business CorrespondentRCM

### Combined Analysis with Exemption (Rural vs Urban Branch)

Service FlowRural Branch (Recipient)Urban Branch (Recipient)
BC → Banking CompanyExemptTaxable under FCM (by BC)
BF → Banking CompanyExemptTaxable under RCM (by Bank)
Agent of BC → BCExemptTaxable under RCM (by BC)
Agent of BF → BFExemptTaxable under FCM (by Agent)

### Key Distinction

  • BC services to banking company → FCM (when not exempt)
  • BF services to banking company → RCM (when not exempt)
  • The agent of BC follows RCM (because recipient is BC)
  • The agent of BF follows FCM

### Memory Aid

For Urban branch services: BF and Agent-of-BC are under RCM; BC and Agent-of-BF are under FCM.

Worked example

### Example 1

Example (BF): Mr. Shadow (BF) received ₹ 5 lacs from rural branch of Axis Bank and ₹ 3 lacs from urban branch of SBI Bank.

Analysis:

  • ₹ 5 lacs → Exempt (services to rural branch)
  • ₹ 3 lacs → RCM by SBI Bank (BF service to urban branch)

### Example 2

Example (BC and his Agent): Mr. Tinku (BC) provided services to Indore SBI branch (urban) for ₹ 2 lacs. He appointed Mr. Pinku as agent who provided services to Tinku for ₹ 1 lac.

Analysis:

  • ₹ 2 lacs (Tinku → SBI urban) → FCM by Tinku (BC services follow FCM)
  • ₹ 1 lac (Pinku → Tinku) → RCM by Tinku (Agent of BC services follow RCM)

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Confusing the mechanism for BC (FCM) versus BF (RCM) - they are opposite
  • Forgetting the rural branch exemption - services to rural branch are exempt regardless
  • Applying RCM on agent of BF services - the agent of BF works under FCM
Bare-Act text Entries 9 and 10 of Notification 13/2017-CT(R) · Notification No. 13/2017-CT(R) dated 28.06.2017 · click to expand
Services provided by business facilitator (BF) to a banking company; Services provided by an agent of business correspondent (BC) to business correspondent - tax shall be paid on reverse charge basis.
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