What is SOFTEX?
SOFTEX was the dedicated declaration form for software exports under India's earlier export regulations. Software companies filed it, typically with STPI or the SEZ authorities, to declare off-site software exports so that the payment could be tracked. The Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, in force from 1 October 2026, removed it. Software exports are now declared on the same Export Declaration Form (EDF) used for goods and other services.
Why it matters for exporters
If your team was used to the SOFTEX routine, three things change. First, the form: you now fill the EDF, choosing "Software" in field 1.1 and listing each invoice as a row in Part 2B. Second, where you file: outside an SEZ, you may submit to your AD bank or to STPI, because AD banks are now "specified authorities" on par with STPI and STPI certification is no longer mandatory. SEZ units file with the Development Commissioner. Third, timing: the EDF is due within 30 days from the end of the invoice month, and one EDF can cover all invoices of that month.
The softer, "on or before payment" alternative applies to services other than software, so software exporters should work to the monthly deadline. Our EDF due date calculator gives the exact date.
Example
Cobalt Code Pvt Ltd, outside any SEZ, used to file SOFTEX forms with STPI. For its October 2026 invoices worth ₹18,40,000 to two US clients, it prepares one EDF marked "Software", lists both invoices in Part 2B and sends it to its AD bank by 30 November 2026.
Common confusion
Some teams assume old SOFTEX habits, such as per-invoice forms, still apply. They do not. Read SOFTEX is gone for the full transition, and confirm any open pre-October items with your bank.