Chennai's service exporters, from SaaS product companies and IT services firms along the OMR corridor to engineering design houses, medical-billing BPOs and SEZ units, all file the same monthly EDF under the 2026 Regulations. Where you send it depends on your set-up: your AD bank for most services, the AD bank or STPI for software, and the SEZ Development Commissioner if your unit sits inside an SEZ. The form, the 30-day deadline and the 9-month realisation rule are the same as anywhere else in India.
Key takeaways
- One EDF per month, due within 30 days from the end of the month in which you raised the invoices.
- Non-SEZ services firms file with their AD bank. Software firms outside an SEZ may choose the AD bank or STPI.
- SEZ units in and around Chennai file with the SEZ Development Commissioner, not the bank.
- Chennai exporters use a wide range of banks, including several with deep Tamil Nadu roots. The process is set by each bank, so ask yours.
- A fixed monthly routine, built around your book close, keeps the EDF to an hour or two.
The kinds of exporters in Chennai
Chennai's export services base is broad. A practical way to think about it is by where the work sits and what it is:
| Exporter type | Typical set-up | Usual EDF destination |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS and product companies | Private limited, often non-SEZ | AD bank or STPI (software) |
| IT services and consulting firms | Company or LLP; some with SEZ units | AD bank or STPI; SEZ units to Development Commissioner |
| Engineering and automotive design services | Company, often serving global OEMs | AD bank (or STPI if declared as software) |
| Healthcare BPO, medical coding and billing | Company or LLP | AD bank |
| Fintech and banking operations support | Company; GCC-style captives | AD bank, or Development Commissioner if in an SEZ |
| Agencies, studios and consultants | Proprietorship, LLP or small company | AD bank |
If you are a captive centre of a foreign group, our guide to EDF for global capability centres covers intra-group billing.
SEZ or not: check before you file
Chennai and its surroundings host a number of SEZs and IT parks. Being located in an IT park is not the same as being an SEZ unit. Your SEZ letter of approval, if you have one, tells you whether a particular unit is in an SEZ.
- SEZ unit: EDF to the SEZ Development Commissioner; field 1.5 shows SEZ.
- Non-SEZ office in an IT park: EDF to the AD bank (or STPI for software); field 1.5 is usually "Others".
Companies with both kinds of unit should prepare separate EDFs for each. Our SEZ units and the EDF guide explains why.
Banks Chennai exporters commonly use
Chennai businesses bank with the large private and public sector banks you would find anywhere, and also with banks headquartered or rooted in Tamil Nadu. Whatever your bank, the EDF form is identical; only the AD code and submission channel differ.
- Public sector banks with Chennai headquarters, such as Indian Bank and Indian Overseas Bank. If you bank with Indian Bank, the Indian Bank EDF form has the bank details ready.
- Private banks rooted in Tamil Nadu, such as City Union Bank, Karur Vysya Bank and Tamilnad Mercantile Bank.
- National private and public sector banks such as HDFC, ICICI, Axis and SBI, which have their own versions of the EDF generator too.
- Foreign banks, which some larger exporters and captive centres use.
Every bank must publish its own policy on how it accepts EDFs. Ask your branch or relationship manager whether it wants the form at the branch, by an email address it provides, or through a trade portal. We will not guess at local branch addresses or processes.
A practical monthly routine
Here is a routine that works for a mid-sized Chennai exporter. Adjust the dates to your own close.
| When | Task | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Last working day of the month | Raise all export invoices for the month | Billing team |
| Days 1–5 of next month | Close books; pull the export invoice list | Accounts |
| Days 5–10 | Prepare the EDF: Part 1, Part 2B rows, rupee total | Accounts or CA |
| Days 10–12 | Review and sign | Authorised signatory |
| Days 12–15 | Submit through the bank's channel (or STPI / Development Commissioner) | Accounts |
| Ongoing | Collect FIRAs, update realisation tracker | Accounts |
| Quarter-end | ₹10 lakh realisation declaration for small invoices | Accounts or CA |
Filing by mid-month leaves a cushion of two weeks before the 30-day deadline.
Example: an OMR SaaS company
Kaveri Stack Technologies Pvt Ltd, a non-SEZ SaaS company in Chennai, bills 14 overseas customers monthly in USD and EUR. In November 2026 it raises 16 invoices (two customers had add-ons). It chooses to file with its AD bank rather than STPI because the money lands there and the bank already issues its FIRAs.
The November EDF lists 16 rows in Part 2B, with field 1.1 as Software and 1.4 as Internet. It is due by 30 December 2026. Most invoices are under ₹10 lakh, so Kaveri Stack gives a quarterly realisation declaration for those and matches only its three large annual-licence invoices with FIRAs.
Common slips to avoid
- Using the IFSC as the AD code. The AD code is a separate code; ask your branch. Our AD code request letter helps.
- Mixing SEZ and non-SEZ invoices on one form.
- Forgetting small invoices. Every export invoice belongs on the EDF, regardless of size.
- Ignoring purpose codes on FIRAs. A wrong code is easy to fix in week one and painful at year-end.
The EDF is a FEMA declaration and does not change GST or income-tax obligations. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Chennai IT companies file the EDF?
Non-SEZ IT and software companies can file with their AD bank or with STPI, since AD banks are now on par with STPI for software. SEZ units file with the SEZ Development Commissioner. Services other than software outside an SEZ go to the AD bank.
Is there a special EDF process for Chennai?
No. The EDF, the deadline and the realisation rules are the same across India. What differs is your bank's submission channel and, for SEZ units, the Development Commissioner's process. Ask your bank or SEZ office directly.
My office is in an IT park. Am I an SEZ unit?
Not necessarily. Many IT parks are not SEZs, and some campuses have both SEZ and non-SEZ space. Check your approvals: an SEZ unit will have an SEZ letter of approval. File accordingly.
Which banks in Chennai accept EDFs?
Any AD Category-I bank where your export proceeds land must accept your EDF under its published policy. Chennai exporters use national banks as well as Tamil Nadu-rooted banks such as Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, City Union Bank, KVB and TMB.
When is the EDF due for invoices raised in November 2026?
By 30 December 2026, which is 30 days from the end of November. December 2026 invoices are due by 30 January 2027.
Bottom line
For Chennai exporters, the only local decision is where to file, which depends on your SEZ status and whether you export software. After that, a fixed monthly routine does the work. Prepare your declaration with the free EDF form generator, choosing your bank from the list.
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.