Part 2B is the heart of the EDF for anyone who exports services: it is the table where each invoice you raised in the month becomes one row, with the recipient, country, invoice number, currency, amount, net realisable value, description, SAC code and contract reference. Get Part 2B right and the rest of the form mostly follows from it. Get it wrong and your bank will struggle to match the money when it arrives.
Key takeaways
- One invoice equals one row in Part 2B, even if three invoices go to the same client.
- Part 2A is for goods. Services exporters leave it blank and use Part 2B only.
- Net realisable value (NRV) is what you actually expect to receive, not always the face value of the invoice.
- The SAC code and the description should describe the same service. Mismatches invite questions.
- The total of Part 2B should tie back to the rupee total you show in field 1.22 of Part 1.
Where Part 2B sits in the form
The EDF is the form in the Annex to the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, in force from 1 October 2026. It has five parts. Part 1 captures general information about you and the export. Part 2A is a goods table. Part 2B is the services table. Part 3 deals with exports by post or courier, which rarely applies to services. Part 4 is your declaration, and Part 5 is for the bank or specified authority.
Because one EDF can cover all your service exports for a month to one or more recipients, Part 2B can run to a single row or to forty. The structure stays the same either way. If you are new to the overall form, read the full EDF guide first and come back to this column-by-column view.
The columns, one at a time
Here is what each column asks for, with a sample entry from a fictional exporter, Nimbus Labs Pvt Ltd, which builds software for a client in Germany.
| Column | What to enter | Sample entry |
|---|---|---|
| Sr. no. | Running number for the row | 1 |
| Service recipient name & address | Legal name and address of the foreign client, as on the invoice | Kranich Software GmbH, Berlin |
| Country | Country where the recipient is located | Germany |
| Invoice no. | Exactly as printed on your invoice | NL/EXP/2026-27/041 |
| Invoice date | Date printed on the invoice | 14-10-2026 |
| Currency | Currency of the invoice | EUR |
| Amount | Invoice value in that currency | 8,400.00 |
| Net realisable value | Amount you expect to actually receive | 8,400.00 |
| Description of services | Plain description of the work | Custom software development, October sprint |
| SAC code | Six-digit GST services code | 998314 |
| Contract no. & date | Master agreement or SOW reference | MSA-KS-2025-03 dated 02-06-2025 |
| Remarks | Anything the bank should know | Retainer, monthly billing |
Recipient, country and invoice details
Copy these straight from the invoice. Do not shorten the client's name to the nickname your team uses. If the invoice says "Kranich Software GmbH", the EDF should not say "Kranich". The country is where the recipient is located, which normally matches the country in field 1.17 of Part 1. If one EDF covers clients in three countries, each row carries its own country.
Currency and amount
Enter the invoice currency and the invoice amount in that currency. Do not convert to rupees in this column. The rupee figure belongs in field 1.22 of Part 1. If you invoice in Indian rupees (permitted in some cases), enter INR here. Remember that the realisation period is 9 months from the invoice date for services, and 12 months where the invoice is in rupees.
Net realisable value
NRV is the amount you expect to receive in your account. For most invoices it equals the invoice amount. It differs when you know in advance that something will reduce what arrives, for example an agreed discount or a commission payable to an overseas agent that is part of the deal. Bank charges deducted by intermediary banks are a grey area; many exporters keep NRV equal to invoice value and explain short receipts later. See our explainer on net realisable value and ask your bank how they prefer to see it.
Description and SAC code
Write a description a stranger could understand. "Services" is too vague. "Monthly SEO and paid-media management" is clear. The SAC code should match the description. Common codes include 998313 for IT consulting and support, 998314 for IT design and development, 998361 for advertising and 998311 for management consulting. Confirm the right code with your CA, or use the SAC code finder to narrow it down.
Contract number and date
If you work under a master services agreement, a statement of work or even a signed proposal, quote it here. If there is truly no written contract, some exporters write "Email acceptance dated..." and keep the email on file. Ask your bank whether they accept that.
Remarks
Use remarks sparingly and usefully: "Advance received on 05-10-2026", "Milestone 2 of 4", "Paid by parent company on behalf of recipient". If a third party will pay, also fill fields 1.15 and 1.16 in Part 1.
A worked example with three invoices
Suppose Asha Design Studio LLP raises three export invoices in November 2026:
- A brand identity project for a UK client, GBP 3,200.
- A monthly retainer for a US client, USD 2,500.
- A second US invoice to the same client for extra illustrations, USD 600.
Part 2B gets three rows, not two. The two US invoices stay separate because they have different numbers and dates. Suppose the studio converts at the rates it used in its books: GBP 3,200 at ₹110 is ₹3,52,000, USD 2,500 at ₹84 is ₹2,10,000 and USD 600 at ₹84 is ₹50,400. Field 1.22 then shows ₹6,12,400 (Rupees Six Lakh Twelve Thousand Four Hundred only). Our amount in words tool handles the words part if you need it. Which exchange rate to use is a separate question your bank or CA should settle; consistency matters more than precision to the paisa.
Because the invoices are dated in November 2026, the EDF is due by 30 December 2026.
Mistakes that come up again and again
- Merging invoices. Two invoices to one client still need two rows. Banks match payments invoice by invoice.
- Rupee amounts in the amount column. The amount column is in the invoice currency.
- Blank SAC. It looks like an incomplete form. Fill it.
- Description that contradicts the SAC. "Legal advisory" with 998314 will raise eyebrows.
- Missing credit notes. If you issued a credit note before filing, reflect the reduced value and say so in remarks.
- Dates in different formats. Pick DD-MM-YYYY and use it throughout.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Your AD bank's own policy on accepting EDFs governs the finer points.
Frequently asked questions
Do I fill Part 2A as well as Part 2B?
No. Part 2A is for goods and services exporters leave it blank. Fill Part 1, Part 2B and Part 4, and leave Part 5 for the bank. Part 3 covers post or courier exports and is usually not applicable to services.
Can one row cover several invoices to the same client?
No. Each invoice is its own row in Part 2B. Banks match foreign inward remittances to specific invoices, so merging rows makes it harder for them to close entries in EDPMS later.
What if the client pays less than the invoice because of bank charges?
Many exporters keep NRV equal to the invoice value and explain the short receipt when the money arrives. Some banks prefer NRV to reflect expected deductions. Ask your bank which approach it follows and stay consistent.
Is the SAC code compulsory in Part 2B?
The column is part of the form, so you should fill it. Use the same SAC you put on your GST invoice. If you are unsure which code fits, confirm with your CA before filing.
What goes in contract number if I have no formal contract?
Quote whatever written acceptance exists, such as a signed proposal or a purchase order. If you only have email confirmation, mention it and keep a copy. Your bank may ask for it, so check their preference.
Bottom line
Part 2B is a row-per-invoice table, and the cleaner your invoices are, the easier it is to fill. Our free EDF form generator lays out Part 2B for you, totals it and carries the rupee figure into Part 1, so you only enter each invoice once.
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.