BATF stands for Bookkeeping, Accounting, Taxation and Financial crime compliance services. It is a dedicated GIFT City registration for firms delivering those services from the IFSC, largely to overseas clients.
What it is, in simple words
Think of it as an outsourcing and professional services licence. The unit does not manage money or carry risk; it performs finance and compliance work for clients outside India.
Who typically registers one
- Accounting and outsourcing firms serving overseas clients
- Tax practices building an offshore delivery centre
- Financial crime compliance, KYC and AML review teams
- Global capability arms of professional services groups
What a BATF unit can do
Bookkeeping and accounting, financial statement preparation and support, taxation services, and financial crime compliance work such as KYC reviews, transaction monitoring support and sanctions screening — delivered to permitted, largely non-resident client categories.
Why firms choose GIFT City
- India’s finance and compliance talent, billed in foreign currency
- A recognised regulatory home for outsourced finance work, which clients find reassuring
- A concessional tax framework for IFSC units
- SEZ infrastructure built for services delivery
Broad requirements at a glance
- A company, LLP or branch registered as a unit in the GIFT SEZ
- Registration under the IFSCA (Bookkeeping, Accounting, Taxation and Financial Crime Compliance Services) Regulations, 2024
- Qualified professionals, adequate infrastructure and data-protection arrangements
- Client categories restricted to those the regulations permit
Questions people usually ask
Can a BATF unit serve Indian clients? The framework is built for offshore clients; domestic work generally sits with an onshore entity.
Is an audit licence included? Statutory audit remains governed by the rules applicable to auditors; BATF covers the listed service lines.
Is it different from an ASP? Yes — BATF is a specific regulated services category with its own regulations, while ASP covers a broader set of support services.
Where to go next
Try our eligibility and fit check, read the detailed BATF entity guide, or look up registered units in the entity directory.
