RBI
RBI Makes EDF Filing Mandatory for Service Exporters; Realisation Period Cut
27 October 2026 · Mint
Under the amended FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, effective 1 October 2026, service exporters must file an EDF declaration within 30 days from the end of the invoice month. The deadline for bringing export proceeds to India has also been shortened.
Points to Remember
- Service exporters must furnish an EDF to the specified authority declaring the full export value of services within 30 days from the end of the month in which the invoice is raised.
- First deadline: 30 November 2026 for invoices raised in October 2026; monthly invoices can be consolidated into a single EDF.
- Realisation period shortened from 15 to 9 months, and from 18 to 12 months where invoiced or settled in Indian rupees, effective 1 October 2026.
- Exporters of services other than software must submit EDF on or before the date of receiving payment; banks upload it to RBI's EDPMS against the exporter's PAN.
- Form details include SAC code, AD code, IEC, GSTIN, PAN, contract reference and net realisable value; Part 1 (general information) and Part 2B (export value of services) are to be completed.
Why it matters
Service exporters and freelancers receiving foreign remittances now face a 30-day EDF deadline and a shorter realisation window, so expect queries on EDPMS entries and documentation at your branch.
Part of the October 2026 digest.
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