SoftEx is the FEMA declaration every Indian software exporter must file when software leaves the country electronically – the software world’s equivalent of a shipping bill. Miss it and your inward remittances sit unmatched in the banking system until the bank starts asking questions. This guide covers who files, the 30-day deadline, the bulk monthly route everyone actually uses, what happens when you don’t – and the biggest change in the regime’s history: from 1 October 2026 the SOFTEX form is abolished, replaced by a single monthly Export Declaration Form.
Who must file – and for what
| Question | Answer (current regime) |
|---|---|
| Who | Every exporter of software in non-physical form – STP units, SEZ units and ordinary (DTA) exporters alike. DTA exporters first need non-STP registration with STPI |
| Minimum value | None. The old USD 25,000 exemption was withdrawn in 2013 – a ₹40,000 freelance invoice is technically in scope |
| Covered exports | Offshore software development, electronically delivered products and licences; software royalty is declared in the SoftEx too |
| Not covered | Software on physical media (goes through customs with a shipping bill); pure non-IT services (no prescribed form – exported without declaration). SaaS/cloud subscriptions and pure ITeS/BPO sit in a grey zone – practice varies by STPI centre, so agree the treatment with your centre and bank |
| Certifier | STPI Director (STP/non-STP) or SEZ Development Commissioner (SEZ units) |
Deadline and the monthly bulk route
- File within 30 days of the invoice date – or, where you invoice through the month, within 30 days of the last invoice of that month;
- Since 2013 every exporter can file a bulk SoftEx: one form covering all invoices of a calendar month with an excel annexure listing each invoice – this monthly cycle is what virtually everyone runs;
- SoftEx numbers are generated online from the RBI site before filing;
- Filing happens on stpionline.stpi.in with invoices and the registered contract/MSA behind them.
The full lifecycle – from invoice to closed entry
- 1. Register with STPI (unit or non-STP) and register each export contract (free);
- 2. Generate SoftEx number(s) → file the monthly bulk form within the 30-day window;
- 3. STPI certifies the forms (arm’s-length invoicing certifies smoothly; related-party pricing must hold up to transfer-pricing scrutiny – see our safe harbour guide);
- 4. Certified form goes to your AD bank within 21 days of certification; the bank marks the export in EDPMS;
- 5. Remittance arrives → bank matches FIRC to SoftEx, closes the EDPMS entry and issues the eBRC;
- 6. Realisation must happen within 9 months of export (15 months under the new regime from October 2026).
What happens if you do not file
| Stage | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Unmatched remittances | Inward credits sit against no export entry – banks query, delay or refuse credit to your account |
| EDPMS ageing | Open entries past the realisation period flag the exporter; RBI caution-listing restricts future exports to advance-payment/LC terms (replaced from Oct 2026 by an automatic advance/LC rule for receivables unpaid beyond a year) |
| FEMA exposure | Contravention punishable under section 13 – up to 3x the amount involved – regularised in practice through LSF/compounding |
| Knock-on | GST refund complications, missing eBRCs, stuck diligence |
SOFTEX vs the new EDF – side by side
| Parameter | SOFTEX (to 30 Sep 2026) | EDF regime (from 1 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Form | SOFTEX (software-specific) | One EDF for goods, services and software |
| Frequency | Within 30 days of invoice / last monthly invoice | Monthly consolidated, within 30 days of month-end; multiple clients in one filing |
| Realisation period | 9 months | 15 months from invoice (18 for INR-settled); AD banks may extend |
| Small invoices | No threshold | Entries up to ₹10 lakh closable on self-declaration |
| Caution list | RBI caution-listing | Abolished – replaced by advance/LC-only rule for exporters with receivables unpaid beyond 1 year |
| Certification | STPI / SEZ DC | Specified authorities incl. Customs, AD banks, STPI, SEZ – operational circulars on the exact split still awaited |
Months of unfiled SoftEx – or none at all?
We regularise the backlog with STPI and the bank, set up the monthly cycle, and get EDPMS clean before the EDF transition.
Talk to My Cloud AccountantFrequently asked questions
Is SoftEx mandatory for small exporters and freelancers?
Yes – there is no minimum value since the USD 25,000 exemption was withdrawn in 2013. Every export of software in non-physical form is declarable, whoever makes it.
What is the SoftEx filing deadline?
30 days from the invoice date – or 30 days from the last invoice of the month where you file the bulk monthly form. From 1 October 2026, the new EDF is due within 30 days of each month-end.
Is SoftEx required for SaaS subscriptions?
The regulations predate SaaS and practice varies – many STPI centres certify recurring cloud licence fees through SoftEx, while pure hosted services are sometimes treated as service exports outside the form. Agree the classification with your jurisdictional STPI centre and AD bank rather than assuming.
Is SoftEx really being abolished?
Yes – FEMA 23(R)/2026-RB replaces it with a consolidated Export Declaration Form from 1 October 2026, filed monthly. The obligation to declare software exports continues; only the form and cadence change.
Based on the FEM (Export of Goods and Services) Regulations 2015, the RBI Master Direction on Export of Goods and Services, and the FEM (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations 2026 (effective 1 October 2026). Last reviewed: July 2026.