Pune's service exporters, from IT companies around Hinjewadi and Kharadi to engineering design houses and boutique agencies, file the EDF the same way exporters everywhere do: one form per month, listing every export invoice, submitted to the AD bank where the money lands, or to STPI for software, or to the SEZ Development Commissioner for SEZ units. What differs in Pune is the mix: many firms are software exporters with an STPI history, and quite a few operate from SEZ campuses.
Key takeaways
- Non-SEZ service exporters in Pune file with their AD bank; software exporters may choose the AD bank or STPI.
- Units inside an SEZ file with the SEZ Development Commissioner, not the bank.
- SOFTEX is gone from 1 October 2026. Software firms that used STPI for SOFTEX now declare on the single EDF.
- The EDF is due within 30 days from the end of the invoice month: October 2026 invoices by 30 November 2026.
- Pune's large engineering services sector should pay attention to SAC and purpose codes, which differ from IT.
Who exports services from Pune
Pune has long had a broad base of service exporters. Without putting numbers on it, the typical profiles are:
- IT services and product engineering firms, many in established IT parks and some in SEZs.
- Engineering design and R&D services, often linked to the automotive and manufacturing industries in and around the city.
- Global capability centres of multinational companies billing their parents.
- Digital agencies, design studios and content firms in the city's central and western areas.
- Freelancers and small proprietorships in software, design and writing.
Each of these files the same EDF, but the route and codes vary.
Which authority gets your EDF
| Your situation | File the EDF with | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IT or software exporter, not in an SEZ | AD bank or STPI | AD banks are now specified authorities on par with STPI; STPI certification is no longer mandatory |
| Non-software services, not in an SEZ | AD bank | Option to file on or before the payment date |
| Any unit inside an SEZ | SEZ Development Commissioner | Follow the DC office's process |
| 100% EOU | Discuss with your bank and CA | Category of exporter field 1.5 reflects EOU status |
| Individual freelancer | Check with your bank | RBI said on 7 October 2026 that individuals are not required to report; FAQs awaited |
If your firm has been STPI-registered for years, you can continue to use STPI for software EDFs or move to your AD bank. Many firms will find it simpler to file with the bank where the money lands, since that bank also matches the payment. Our article on STPI after SOFTEX explains what STPI still does. For SEZ units, see SEZ units and the EDF.
Banks Pune exporters use
Pune exporters bank with the full range of public sector, private and foreign banks. The EDF form is the same for all of them; what differs is each bank's published process for accepting EDFs. Before your first filing:
- Ask your branch for the AD code of the branch handling export transactions.
- Ask how the bank accepts EDFs (branch, email or online) and what attachments it wants.
- Keep the answers in your EDF register.
If your bank is one of the larger lenders, our bank-specific generators, such as the HDFC EDF form or SBI EDF form, pre-fill the bank name.
Codes for Pune's engineering services firms
Engineering design and R&D firms are a distinctive part of Pune's export base, and their codes differ from IT companies:
- Purpose code P1009 covers architectural, engineering and other technical services. P1008 covers R&D services. IT work uses P0802 or P0807.
- SAC codes for engineering services sit in a different group from IT codes. Confirm with your CA.
If your firm does both CAD/CAE design work and embedded software, you may need different codes for different invoices. Make sure the SAC on the invoice, the description in Part 2B and the purpose code on the FIRA tell the same story.
Worked example: a Pune engineering services firm
Deccan Drive Engineering Pvt Ltd, based in Pune but not in an SEZ, provides CAE simulation and design services to an automotive supplier in Germany and embedded software to a client in Sweden.
October 2026 invoices:
| Invoice | Client | Work | Currency | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DDE/EX/77 | German supplier | Crash simulation, project phase 2 | EUR | 24,000 |
| DDE/EX/78 | Swedish client | Embedded software, October | EUR | 9,500 |
Because one invoice is engineering services and the other is software, Deccan Drive tells its AD bank which is which and expects P1009 on the German receipt and P0802 or P0807 on the Swedish one. It files a single EDF with the AD bank, rather than splitting the software invoice to STPI, because the bank sees both payments anyway.
At an illustrative ₹92 per euro, the total is ₹22,08,000 + ₹8,74,000 = ₹30,82,000. Due by 30 November 2026. The German invoice is above ₹10 lakh and will need payment evidence for EDPMS closure; the Swedish one is below and can go on a periodic declaration.
A monthly routine for Pune exporters
- Last working day: raise all export invoices. Check the bank details printed on each.
- First week: fill and file the previous month's EDF with the correct authority. Save the acknowledgement.
- As payments arrive: collect FIRAs, check purpose codes, match to invoices.
- Monthly review: check open invoices against the 9-month realisation deadline.
- Quarterly: give the ₹10 lakh realisation declaration if your bank uses it.
The EDF is a FEMA declaration and does not change GST or income tax. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Pune IT companies file the EDF?
If not in an SEZ, with their AD bank or STPI. AD banks are specified authorities on par with STPI, and STPI certification is no longer mandatory. SEZ units file with the SEZ Development Commissioner.
Is SOFTEX still filed in Pune?
No. SOFTEX was discontinued under the 2026 Regulations, in force from 1 October 2026. Software exports are now declared on the same single EDF used for other services.
Which purpose code should Pune engineering design firms use?
Engineering design commonly uses P1009 (architectural, engineering and other technical services), and genuine R&D work may use P1008. Confirm with your bank and use codes that match your invoices.
Do Pune freelancers need to file the EDF?
RBI said on 7 October 2026 that individuals providing services abroad are not required to report, and promised FAQs. Until they arrive, check with your bank. Freelancers trading through a proprietorship or company should assume they are covered.
When are October 2026 invoices due?
By 30 November 2026, as the EDF must be filed within 30 days from the end of the invoice month. For non-software services, you may also file on or before the payment date.
Bottom line
Pune exporters share one form but take different routes: bank, STPI or SEZ office. Pick yours, then prepare each month's declaration on 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.