Noida's service exporters file the same EDF as everyone else in India — one form a month, within 30 days of month end, to the AD bank for most businesses, or to the SEZ Development Commissioner for units inside an SEZ. What makes Noida different is the mix: SEZ campuses next to ordinary office towers, software firms that used STPI for years, and groups with several entities in different buildings. Get the route right for each unit, and the monthly work is routine.
Key takeaways
- Non-SEZ service exporters in Noida file the EDF with their AD bank; software exporters may use the AD bank or STPI.
- Units inside an SEZ file with the SEZ Development Commissioner — check each unit's status, not the building's reputation.
- SOFTEX is gone from 1 October 2026; software exports now go on the single EDF.
- Groups with SEZ and non-SEZ units need separate EDFs per unit.
- Deadline: 30 days from the end of the invoice month — October 2026 invoices by 30 November 2026.
Who exports services from Noida
Noida and Greater Noida host a dense cluster of IT services firms, software product companies, customer-support and BPO operations, digital media and animation studios, and the India offices of foreign companies. Some work out of SEZ campuses; many more sit in office towers, co-working spaces and small sector offices across the city.
That range means "a Noida exporter" could be a 2,000-seat SEZ unit or a 6-person design studio above a market. Both file EDFs. The route differs.
Three routes, one city
| Your set-up | Where the EDF goes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-SEZ, services other than software | AD bank | Normally the bank receiving your foreign payments |
| Non-SEZ, software | AD bank or STPI | AD banks are now specified authorities on par with STPI; STPI certification no longer mandatory |
| Unit in an SEZ | SEZ Development Commissioner | Applies to SEZ units whatever the service |
Noida has an established SEZ presence and STPI has long operated in the region, so many local software firms have history with both. If your unit was registered with STPI under the old SOFTEX system, read our guide on STPI after SOFTEX before deciding whether to keep filing there or move to your AD bank.
Check the unit, not the building
A common Noida mistake: assuming that because your office is on a well-known tech campus, you're an SEZ unit. Some campuses contain both SEZ and non-SEZ space. Your status comes from your unit's approval, not the address. If you're not sure, your SEZ approval documents (or their absence) settle it. Field 1.5 of the EDF — category of exporter — must reflect this correctly.
Banks
Noida has branches of virtually every major public sector, private and foreign bank. Which one is your AD bank depends on where your export proceeds land, not on where your office is. If you receive in two banks, each needs an EDF for the invoices it realises.
Two practical points for Noida exporters:
- Ask which branch handles your export transactions. Your account may be at a sector branch while forex work is processed at a designated branch. Get the AD code for that branch.
- Ask for the bank's EDF submission channel. Every bank publishes its own policy. Don't rely on what a neighbouring firm does with a different bank.
The EDF form for your bank pre-fills bank details for most major banks — for example, the HDFC EDF form or the SBI EDF form.
Worked example: a Noida group with two units
Corvana Technologies Pvt Ltd has a 300-person unit in an SEZ and a 40-person product-design team in a non-SEZ office in another sector. In November 2026:
| Unit | Invoices | Total (approx.) | EDF goes to |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEZ unit — application maintenance for US clients | 6 | ₹1.42 crore | SEZ Development Commissioner |
| Non-SEZ unit — UX design for UK and German clients | 4 | ₹18.6 lakh | AD bank |
Corvana prepares two EDFs. The SEZ unit's form ticks "SEZ" in field 1.5; the non-SEZ unit's form ticks the category its bank prefers for non-zone exporters. Both are due 30 December 2026. Combining them on one form would put SEZ invoices in front of an authority that doesn't handle them, and vice versa.
A monthly routine for Noida exporters
| When | Task | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Last working day | Close invoicing; no backdating into the month | Billing |
| Days 1–5 | Export invoice list per unit; reconcile to GST data | Finance |
| Days 6–10 | Prepare EDF(s); check AD code, category, SAC per row | Finance |
| Days 11–14 | Authorised signatory signs Part 4 | Director/partner |
| By the 15th–20th | Submit to bank, STPI or Development Commissioner as applicable | Finance |
| Ongoing | Matching notes for combined or short payments | Finance |
| Quarterly | ₹10 lakh realisation declaration for small invoices; check open EDPMS entries | Finance |
Noida firms with many small invoices — customer-support vendors billing per seat, or studios billing per asset — benefit most from the quarterly declaration. For invoices up to ₹10 lakh, the bank may close EDPMS entries on your declaration that the money was realised.
GST and the EDF
The EDF is a FEMA declaration; it doesn't change your GST position. Export of services is zero-rated when the Section 2(6) IGST conditions are met. Most Noida exporters use an LUT on Form GST RFD-11 and print the LUT line on export invoices. SEZ units have their own GST considerations — ask your CA.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Noida SEZ units file the EDF?
With the SEZ Development Commissioner, not the AD bank. Check that your specific unit holds SEZ approval — being on a tech campus doesn't automatically make you an SEZ unit.
Can a Noida software company still file with STPI?
Yes. Software exporters outside an SEZ can file the EDF with the AD bank or STPI. Banks now count as specified authorities alongside STPI, and you no longer need STPI certification.
Which bank should a Noida exporter submit the EDF to?
The AD bank where your export proceeds are credited. Ask that bank which branch handles export transactions for your account and use that branch's AD code.
What is the EDF deadline for Noida exporters?
The same as everywhere in India: within 30 days from the end of the month in which the invoice was raised. Services other than software may also file on or before the payment date.
Do I need separate EDFs for my SEZ and non-SEZ units?
Yes. Each goes to a different authority — the Development Commissioner for the SEZ unit, the AD bank (or STPI for software) for the non-SEZ unit.
Bottom line
In Noida, the key EDF decision is the route for each unit — SEZ, AD bank or STPI — and the rest is a monthly habit. Prepare each unit's form in the free EDF form generator and submit by the 20th.
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.