Short answer. File one EDF for the month within 30 days from the end of the month in which the invoice was raised. October 2026 invoices are due by 30 November 2026. The cycle runs on invoice date, not payment date. Software exporters cannot wait for payment; other service exporters may file on or before the payment date instead. Not sure if a specific invoice is in scope? Run the free EDF checker.
Due-date calculator
Pick the invoice month. The calculator adds 30 calendar days to the last day of that month and tells you the standard EDF deadline. Toggle software if your work falls under the broad software definition.
Find your EDF due date
Payment-date filing is available for other service exporters. Toggle software above if that path applies to you.
Pre-filled for October 2026. Runs entirely in this page — no data leaves your browser.
The 30-day rule (not “one month”)
Under the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, service exporters generally file the EDF within 30 days from the end of the month in which the invoice was raised. Counting 30 calendar days from month-end — rather than sliding one calendar month — is what creates the traps people miss:
- November invoices → 30 December, not 31 December.
- January 2027 invoices → 2 March 2027, because February 2027 has 28 days (31 Jan + 30 days lands on 2 Mar).
One EDF can cover all service export invoices of a calendar month. The cycle runs on invoice date, not payment date. A September invoice paid in October sits under the old rules; an October invoice paid in January still belongs on the October EDF.
After you submit, the bank has five working days to enter a services EDF in RBI's Export Data Processing and Monitoring System (EDPMS). Keep the acknowledgement and follow up if the entry does not appear.
Month-by-month calendar (Oct 2026 – Sep 2027)
Each due date is the last day of the invoice month plus 30 calendar days.
| Invoices dated in | Month-end | EDF due by |
|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 | 30 Nov 2026 |
| November 2026 | 30 Nov 2026 | 30 Dec 2026 |
| December 2026 | 31 Dec 2026 | 30 Jan 2027 |
| January 2027 | 31 Jan 2027 | 2 Mar 2027 (Feb has 28 days) |
| February 2027 | 28 Feb 2027 | 30 Mar 2027 |
| March 2027 | 31 Mar 2027 | 30 Apr 2027 |
| April 2027 | 30 Apr 2027 | 30 May 2027 |
| May 2027 | 31 May 2027 | 30 Jun 2027 |
| June 2027 | 30 Jun 2027 | 30 Jul 2027 |
| July 2027 | 31 Jul 2027 | 30 Aug 2027 |
| August 2027 | 31 Aug 2027 | 30 Sep 2027 |
| September 2027 | 30 Sep 2027 | 30 Oct 2027 |
Put a recurring reminder a week before each due date. If your bank wants the file earlier for processing, treat the bank's cut-off as the real deadline.
[Disclaimer] Bank-specific channels, cut-offs and handling charges vary. Confirm the format and last submission time with your AD bank's forex desk before each month's filing.
After you file
Submission is only half the job. Keep the acknowledgement, then check that the bank has entered the EDF in EDPMS within its five working days. If an invoice later needs an amendment (wrong amount, client name or purpose code), raise it with the same desk that accepted the original file — do not wait until realisation. Match each remittance back to its Part 2B row when money lands so closures stay clean.
Worked examples
Illustrative examples, not real data.
1. Mid-month invoice still uses month-end
Riya raises INV-412 on 12 October 2026 for USD 2,400. The filing clock does not start on 12 Oct. It starts at month-end: 31 Oct + 30 days = 30 November 2026. She can file earlier in November; she cannot treat mid-month as a shorter window.
2. The November → 30 December trap
Three invoices dated 4, 18 and 29 November 2026 go on one November EDF. Month-end is 30 Nov. Adding 30 days lands on 30 December 2026, not New Year's Eve. Teams that plan around "end of next month" miss this by a day.
3. The January → 2 March trap
January 2027 invoices: month-end is 31 January. Adding 30 days crosses a non-leap February and lands on 2 March 2027. Mark that date now if you bill in January.
4. Mixed-month invoices need separate EDFs
A studio raises INV-A on 28 October and INV-B on 3 November. These are two calendar months, so they need two EDFs: an October filing due 30 Nov, and a November filing due 30 Dec. Do not merge them onto one form just because both clients pay in December.
Software vs other services
Both paths share the same standard 30-day deadline. The difference is whether you may file on the payment date instead.
| Software exporters | Other service exporters | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard deadline | 30 days from month-end | 30 days from month-end |
| File on or before payment date | Not available | Available as an alternative |
| Extension on a reasoned request to the AD bank | Yes | Yes |
| Where to file (typical) | AD bank or STPI (outside SEZ); SEZ units with the Development Commissioner | AD bank |
"Software" is defined broadly: programs, databases, drawings, designs, audio or video signals, and information delivered on a non-physical medium. Designers, editors and anyone shipping digital files can land on the software side. See Softex vs EDF — software definition.
[Disclaimer] Edge cases (mixed design-plus-consulting invoices, usage-based SaaS, embedded firmware) depend on how your bank classifies the export. Confirm the software path with the AD bank or STPI before relying on the payment-date option.
If you miss the deadline / asking for an extension
- Before the deadline: write to your AD bank with reasons and ask for an extension. Sitewide framing treats this as a Regulation 3(2)(c)-style request; get the bank's confirmation in writing.
- After the deadline: still file as soon as you can and keep a record of when and why. Leaving the gap open is worse than a late filing.
- Late fee: the regulations set no specific late fee for an EDF. Banks may still apply their usual handling charges. FEMA's general penalty provisions sit behind every requirement, and contraventions can be compounded through RBI.
[Disclaimer] The exact Regulation 3(2)(c) citation for filing-period extensions has not been re-checked against the notified PDF in this draft. CA to confirm the cite and wording before publish. Ask the bank for its extension process rather than relying on this page alone.
Individuals on personal-nature contracts may fall outside the reporting requirement after RBI's 7 October 2026 remarks — see EDF for freelancers. That carve-out does not change due dates for exporters who remain in scope.
Part 4 date vs the filing deadline
Part 4 of the EDF asks for the date by which you expect the money to come in. That is a realisation expectation, separate from the filing deadline:
- Filing deadline = 30 days from invoice month-end (or payment date, if you are not software and choose that path).
- Part 4 date = when you expect proceeds, ordinarily within the realisation window (9 months from invoice date, or 12 months if raised or settled in rupees, after the 22 September 2026 amendment).
Do not put the filing-due date into Part 4 by mistake. If several invoices share one EDF, follow your bank's guidance on which realisation date to enter — the field-by-field how-to covers Part 4 logic in more detail.
One short clarification on amounts: ₹10 lakh is a closure rule, not a filing threshold. Small invoices still go on the monthly EDF if you are in scope; the self-declaration only eases closing the EDPMS entry after payment. A dedicated ₹10 lakh guide is coming soon.
If you only need a yes/no on whether one invoice must be declared at all, use the EDF checker first, then come back here for the deadline once you know you are filing.
FAQs
When is the EDF due for October 2026 invoices?
Within 30 days from 31 October 2026 — that is, by 30 November 2026.
Is the deadline one calendar month after the invoice?
No. It is 30 days from the end of the invoice month. November invoices are due on 30 December; January 2027 invoices on 2 March 2027.
Does the cycle run on invoice date or payment date?
Invoice date. One EDF covers every service export invoice dated in that calendar month, even if payment arrives later.
Can software exporters file when payment arrives?
No. That option is only for exporters of services other than software. Software exporters must meet the 30-day deadline.
What if I miss the filing deadline?
Ask the AD bank for an extension before it passes if you can. There is no specific EDF late fee in the regulations, but FEMA's general penalties still apply. File late rather than not at all.
Is the Part 4 date the same as the filing deadline?
No. Part 4 is your realisation expectation — when you expect the money — not the date the EDF itself must be filed.
Is ₹10 lakh a threshold below which I don't file?
No. It only simplifies closure after payment. If you are in scope, small invoices still go on the monthly EDF.
Next step
Use the calculator above for your next invoice month, then confirm your bank's channel and cut-off this week so October filings are ready well before 30 November 2026.
Sources and limits
Based on the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 (Notification FEMA 23(R)/2026-RB), notified 13 January 2026 and amended 22 September 2026, and on the sitewide reading of the 30-day filing window, software vs other-services paths, bank EDPMS entry timing and ₹10 lakh closure used across the pillar, how to file and Softex vs EDF. This is a guide, not legal advice. Confirm your due date, format, channel and any extension with your AD bank or a CA before you file.