Hyderabad's service exporters file the same EDF as exporters anywhere in India, but where it goes depends on how each business is set up. IT and other service companies outside an SEZ file with their AD bank, software exporters can choose their AD bank or STPI, and units inside one of the city's SEZs file with the SEZ Development Commissioner. The deadline is the same for all: within 30 days from the end of the month in which the invoices were raised.
Key takeaways
- Hyderabad's exporters span IT services, SaaS, global capability centres (GCCs), engineering and life-sciences research services, among others.
- Filing route depends on SEZ status and service type, not on the city.
- Many GCCs bill a foreign parent on a cost-plus basis; those cross-charges are service exports declared on the EDF.
- Each bank publishes its own EDF acceptance policy; confirm the channel with your branch or RM.
- Build a fixed monthly routine around the 30-day deadline.
Who exports services from Hyderabad
The western IT corridor around HITEC City, Madhapur, Gachibowli and the Financial District is home to IT services firms, product companies and a large number of GCCs. The city is also known for life-sciences and pharma clusters, which bring contract research and analytical services. Alongside these are smaller agencies, design studios, consultancies and freelancers serving clients abroad.
| Exporter type | Typical set-up | Where the EDF goes |
|---|---|---|
| IT services company (non-SEZ) | DTA unit, bills foreign clients | AD bank |
| Software company registered with STPI | STP unit, outside SEZ | AD bank or STPI |
| IT/ITES unit inside an SEZ | SEZ unit | SEZ Development Commissioner |
| GCC billing foreign parent | Often SEZ or STP unit; sometimes DTA | Depends on unit status |
| Contract research / analytical services | DTA or SEZ | AD bank or Development Commissioner |
| Agencies, studios, consultancies | Usually DTA | AD bank |
If you are not sure whether your premises fall inside a notified SEZ, check your unit's approval documents; being in a tech park is not the same as being in an SEZ.
SEZ units: a different counter
Hyderabad has several IT and ITES SEZs. If your unit operates inside one, your EDF goes to the SEZ Development Commissioner, not to your bank. Your bank still receives the export proceeds and handles realisation matters, so keep both relationships in sync. Our article on SEZ units and the EDF explains the process.
GCCs and cross-charges
Many Hyderabad GCCs provide software development, analytics, finance operations or engineering services to their foreign parent or group companies, often billed on a cost-plus basis monthly or quarterly. Each such invoice is a service export and appears on the EDF for the month in which it is raised.
Points GCC finance teams should watch:
- the contract number and date in Part 2B should match the intra-group service agreement;
- if invoices are raised quarterly, there will be months without GCC invoices, but the realisation clock still runs nine months from each invoice date;
- intra-group GST questions, especially the "distinct person" condition in Section 2(6) of the IGST Act, need your CA's view.
Banks and channels
Hyderabad exporters bank with the full range of public, private and foreign banks. Whichever you use, the AD bank is normally the one receiving your export proceeds, and banks must publish their own EDF acceptance policies under Regulation 19. So the channel (branch submission, a designated email or a trade banking portal) varies.
Before your first filing, ask your branch or RM for the AD code and the accepted channel in writing. Our bank-specific generators, such as the SBI EDF form, pre-fill the bank name for most major banks; otherwise use the main EDF form generator.
A practical monthly routine
| Day of following month | Task |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | Close export invoicing for the previous month; freeze the invoice list |
| 4–8 | Prepare EDF: one row per invoice, consistent INR conversion |
| 9–12 | Internal review: AD code, totals, amount in words, Part 4 strike-outs |
| 13–15 | Authorised signatory signs; submit to AD bank (or STPI / Development Commissioner) |
| 30 | Statutory deadline |
| Ongoing | Match FIRAs, update EDF register, track realisation |
| Quarterly | Give ₹10 lakh realisation declaration for small invoices |
Our EDF due date calculator gives exact deadlines, including months like January when the deadline falls on 2 March.
A worked example
Deccan Byte Analytics Pvt Ltd, a 40-person analytics firm in Madhapur outside any SEZ, serves clients in the US and UK and is not registered with STPI. In November 2026 it raised six invoices worth USD 52,400 and GBP 9,800.
It prepares one EDF with six rows, SAC 998313 for IT consulting and support as agreed with its CA, mode of delivery Internet, and submits it to its AD bank by email on 12 December, as the bank's published policy allows. The deadline was 30 December 2026. Four invoices exceed ₹10 lakh, so Deccan Byte sends FIRAs and matching instructions as each payment lands; the two smaller ones go into its quarterly realisation declaration.
Its sister company, a GCC unit inside an SEZ, files its own EDF with the SEZ Development Commissioner. The two finance teams share one EDF register template so group reporting stays consistent.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. We have not listed office addresses or local statistics; check official sources for current details of STPI or SEZ offices.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Hyderabad IT companies file the EDF?
IT companies outside an SEZ file with their AD bank, and software exporters may alternatively file with STPI. Units inside an SEZ file with the SEZ Development Commissioner. The city does not change the route; your unit's status does.
Do GCCs in Hyderabad need to file the EDF for parent-company billing?
Yes. Invoices raised by an Indian GCC to its foreign parent or group companies for services are service exports and should appear on the EDF for the month they are raised, filed with the AD bank, STPI or Development Commissioner as applicable.
Is a company in a Hyderabad tech park automatically an SEZ unit?
No. Only units approved to operate inside a notified SEZ are SEZ units. Many tech parks are not SEZs, so check your unit's approval documents before deciding where to file.
What is the EDF deadline for Hyderabad exporters?
The same as everywhere in India: within 30 days from the end of the month in which the invoice was raised. October 2026 invoices are due by 30 November 2026, November invoices by 30 December 2026.
How do I find my bank branch's AD code in Hyderabad?
Ask your branch or relationship manager and keep the written reply. The AD code is different from your IFSC and SWIFT code and identifies the branch for export reporting.
Bottom line
For Hyderabad exporters, the key decision is the filing counter (bank, STPI or Development Commissioner), after which a fixed monthly routine keeps things easy. Prepare each month's declaration with our 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.