Service exporters in Bhubaneswar file their monthly EDF with their AD bank, or with the SEZ Development Commissioner if their unit sits in an SEZ; software exporters outside an SEZ can choose the AD bank or STPI. The deadline is 30 days from the end of the month in which the invoices were raised, and one form covers all of a month's export invoices. For a city with a long-established software ecosystem and a growing startup scene, the main change is that SOFTEX is gone.
Key takeaways
- The EDF replaced SOFTEX from 1 October 2026; software and other services now use one form.
- Software exporters outside an SEZ can file with their AD bank or STPI; STPI certification is no longer mandatory.
- Units on SEZ campuses file with the SEZ Development Commissioner, not with their bank.
- Each bank publishes its own EDF acceptance process; ask your branch, whichever bank you use.
- Freelancers working as individuals should note RBI's 7 October 2026 statement and check with their bank.
Bhubaneswar's service exporters
Bhubaneswar has been a software destination for a long time, with an STPI presence and IT clusters such as the Infocity area in the city's north. Around that base, the export community has widened:
- IT services and product engineering teams, from large campuses to 20-person firms
- startups selling SaaS or development services to clients abroad
- engineering, GIS and mapping services
- digital agencies and content studios
- freelancers working for platforms and agencies overseas
We are not going to quote numbers or addresses. What matters is that each of these groups now handles the same monthly declaration, and some will be making the switch from SOFTEX habits.
Where each type of unit files
| Your unit | Export type | EDF goes to |
|---|---|---|
| Outside an SEZ | Software | AD bank or STPI |
| Outside an SEZ | Other services | AD bank |
| Inside an SEZ | Any services | SEZ Development Commissioner |
| Individual freelancer | Services in personal capacity | RBI says not required to report; confirm with bank |
Some IT campuses in and around Bhubaneswar operate within notified SEZs. If you are not sure whether your premises are in an SEZ, your lease, your unit approval or your admin team will know.
From SOFTEX to EDF: what changes locally
Software firms in Bhubaneswar that used SOFTEX through STPI now declare on the EDF under the FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026. In practice:
- One form, monthly. All software invoices for a month go on one EDF, one row each in Part 2B.
- Choice of authority. You may keep filing with STPI or move to your AD bank, which is now a specified authority on par with STPI.
- Same deadline everywhere. Within 30 days from the end of the invoice month.
- Matching happens at the bank. Whichever authority receives the EDF, your bank matches incoming payments in EDPMS.
If your foreign payments land at one bank and your team already deals with its trade desk, filing there keeps declaration and matching under one roof. If you still use STPI for other approvals, staying with STPI may feel natural. Pick one route per month so invoices are never declared twice. Our article on moving from SOFTEX to the EDF covers the transition in detail.
Banks and the AD code
Bhubaneswar exporters bank with a range of public and private sector banks. Whether yours is SBI, UCO Bank, a private bank or another AD bank, the routine is the same:
- Confirm that the branch receiving your foreign payments handles export transactions.
- Get the branch's AD code for field 1.6, in writing.
- Ask how the bank accepts EDFs: branch, email or online.
- Ask how it wants the ₹10 lakh realisation declaration for small invoices.
Our bank versions of the form, such as SBI and UCO Bank, set the bank name for you; the main EDF form generator works for every bank.
A Bhubaneswar example
Chilika Code Labs LLP, a 25-person development shop outside any SEZ, builds web and mobile apps for clients in the US, Netherlands and Australia. Its January 2027 invoices:
| Invoice | Client country | Description | Currency | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCL/26-27/151 | USA | Mobile app development, sprint 11 | USD | 9,600 |
| CCL/26-27/152 | Netherlands | Web platform maintenance, January | EUR | 4,300 |
| CCL/26-27/153 | Australia | MVP build, milestone 1 | AUD | 12,000 |
| CCL/26-27/154 | USA | QA and testing, January | USD | 2,800 |
The firm used to file SOFTEX through STPI. From October 2026 it files with its AD bank, where all its client payments arrive. Its January 2027 EDF lists all four rows and is due by 2 March 2027, because February 2027 has only 28 days. Mode of delivery: Internet. Type of export: Software. SAC codes: 998314 for development and 998313 for QA, as its CA advised.
Each invoice is below ₹10 lakh in rupee terms, so after payment Chilika closes them through a quarterly realisation declaration using our realisation declaration tool.
A monthly routine for small Bhubaneswar teams
Smaller firms often have one person handling accounts, GST and HR. A light routine keeps the EDF from slipping:
- First week: finalise last month's invoices and list export invoices separately.
- Second week: prepare and submit the EDF; save the acknowledgement.
- As payments arrive: download the FIRA, check the purpose code (for example P0802 or P0807 for software) and tick off the invoice in your register.
- End of quarter: send the realisation declaration for invoices up to ₹10 lakh.
- Every month: list invoices unpaid for more than six months and chase them.
Freelancers in Bhubaneswar
Many developers and designers in the city freelance for clients abroad, sometimes alongside a job. On 7 October 2026, RBI's Governor said individuals providing services abroad, including small software work, are not required to report, and RBI promised FAQs. The Regulations' text had not changed at the time, so check with your bank. If you have set up a proprietorship, LLP or company, assume the EDF applies.
Income tax and GST are separate from the EDF. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can Bhubaneswar software firms still file with STPI?
Yes. Software exporters outside an SEZ can file the EDF with either STPI or their AD bank. STPI certification is no longer mandatory, and SOFTEX has been replaced by the EDF.
Where do units on SEZ campuses in Bhubaneswar file?
With the SEZ Development Commissioner responsible for that zone. Ask the Development Commissioner's office how it accepts EDFs.
Is the EDF deadline different in Odisha?
No. The deadline is national: 30 days from the end of the invoice month. January 2027 invoices are due by 2 March 2027.
Which AD code do I use?
The AD code of the bank branch that handles export transactions for your account. Ask the branch to confirm it in writing; it is not the IFSC or SWIFT code.
Do freelancers in Bhubaneswar need to file the EDF?
RBI said on 7 October 2026 that individuals providing services abroad are not required to report, with FAQs to follow. Individuals should confirm with their bank; freelancers operating as a business should file.
Bottom line
For Bhubaneswar's exporters, the EDF mostly means swapping SOFTEX for a single monthly form and choosing whether to file with the bank or STPI. Decide once, then build each month's form with the free EDF form generator.
This guide is general information for Indian businesses, not legal or tax advice. Rules and bank processes change — confirm specifics with your AD bank or chartered accountant.