EDF, SOFTEX, FIRA and eBRC explained
Four documents follow every export payment, and they get mixed up because three of them have four-letter names. Each one answers a different question at a different point in the process. This is what each does, who gives it to you, and when.
The four documents
| Document | What it does | Who provides it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDF | Declares the export and its value to the RBI | You, to your AD bank | Monthly for services, within 30 days of month end |
| SOFTEX | The old software export declaration, retired for exports from 1 October 2026 | You, through STPI or an SEZ | Only for exports made before 1 October 2026 |
| FIRA | Proves a foreign payment reached your account | Your bank or payment provider | When the money arrives |
| eBRC | Certifies that export proceeds were realised | Generated on the DGFT portal after your bank closes the EDPMS entry | After realisation |
The EDF says what you exported. The FIRA proves payment came in. The eBRC confirms the realisation is complete. SOFTEX is history.
What changed on 1 October 2026
Under FEMA 23(R)/2026-RB, one Export Declaration Form covers goods, software and services. Service exporters, freelancers included, file one EDF a month with their AD bank. The realisation period for services is 9 months from the invoice date, or 12 months if invoiced in rupees, under the 22 September 2026 amendment. The EDF guide covers who files, what goes in the form and the deadline table.
How they connect
- You invoice. The EDF declares it the following month.
- The bank opens an EDPMS entry against your PAN with the invoice value.
- The client pays. The FIRA records it, with the purpose code.
- The bank matches the FIRA to the entry and closes it.
- The eBRC is generated on the DGFT portal, which is what a GST refund claim or an export incentive runs on.
An unmatched entry stays open, which is covered in the EDPMS caution list guide.
What this means for agencies and SaaS companies
A monthly declaration turns reconciliation from a year-end chore into a routine. Each invoice needs a matching payment record. If you bill on milestones, the 9-month clock runs from the invoice date, so avoid raising invoices long before delivery. If you bill many small subscriptions, one monthly form covers them all.
Payments arriving in foreign currency with a FIRA are the easiest to match, because the document records the amount, the currency and the purpose code. A bare rupee credit leaves you rebuilding that evidence later.
A monthly routine
- List every export invoice raised during the month.
- Match each to its FIRA and note any unpaid.
- File the EDF with your bank within the deadline.
- Keep the eBRC and FIRAs for any GST refund or incentive claim, covered in how SaaS exporters claim GST refunds.
DashX issues a FIRA on every payment and keeps it with the transaction record, so the monthly match starts from a list. This article is general education and not legal advice. Confirm details with your bank or CA.
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