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India’s FEMA export regulations, in force from 1 October 2026, require service exporters—including freelancers—to declare the full value of export services through an Export Declaration Form (EDF). The usual deadline is 30 days after the month in which the service invoice is raised. The rules also allow monthly consolidated filings, set different routes for software and Special Economic Zone exports, and provide separate deadlines for realising and repatriating export proceeds.
Who has to file an EDF for service exports?
The Reserve Bank of India’s Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, amended through 22 September 2026 and effective from 1 October 2026, require an exporter of services to furnish an EDF stating the full export value. The rule applies to service exporters such as freelancers and consultants as well as businesses; the regulation does not set out a separate freelancer exemption.
The regulation names the specified authority for the filing. It does not direct exporters to submit the declaration on an RBI portal.
When is the EDF due, and can invoices be combined?
The standard deadline is within 30 days from the end of the month in which the service invoice was raised. One EDF may cover all service exports invoiced during that month, including exports to multiple recipients; the regulation does not require a separate monthly form for every client.
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A non-software service exporter may instead furnish the EDF on or before receiving payment. An Authorised Dealer (AD) may extend the filing period if the exporter requests an extension and provides reasons the AD considers reasonable.
Which authority receives the declaration?
The specified authority depends on the service and where it is exported from:
| Export case | Specified authority under the regulation |
|---|---|
| Services other than software, exported from the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) | Authorised Dealer (AD) |
| Software, exported from the DTA | AD or Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) |
| Services exported from a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) | Development Commissioner |
Confirm the submission channel and any required supporting documents with the authority applicable to your case. The regulation identifies the authority but does not establish one uniform bank checklist or submission format.
What does the ₹10 lakh EDPMS rule mean?
After verifying that a transaction is genuine, the AD makes the relevant account credit or debit and simultaneously updates or closes the corresponding Export Data Processing and Monitoring System (EDPMS) entry. For a shipping bill or service invoice of up to ₹10 lakh, or its foreign-currency equivalent, an EDPMS entry may be closed based on the exporter’s declaration that payment has been realised in full or otherwise. An exporter may submit that declaration quarterly for bulk closure.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThis is an option for closing EDPMS entries. The regulation does not say that an invoice at or below ₹10 lakh is exempt from the EDF filing requirement.
How long do you have to receive and repatriate payment?
The general period to realise and repatriate the full export value of services is nine months from the invoice date. Where an export is invoiced or settled in Indian rupees, the period is twelve months from the invoice date. An AD may grant additional time on a reasoned request if satisfied with the explanation.
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Are RBI FAQs or uniform bank instructions confirmed?
The RBI regulation establishes the filing duties and deadlines above, but it does not confirm that FAQs will be released soon. Nor does it provide a complete bank-by-bank list of documents or a uniform submission format. India Today’s 6 October report discusses freelancers, consultants and IT exporters, but any claim about forthcoming FAQs should be treated as reporting rather than a confirmed announcement in the regulation. Read the report.
The earlier 2000 regulation’s declaration clarification is historical; it should not be relied on as the current rule, which is governed by the 2026 regulations.
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