The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has relaxed Export Declaration Form (EDF) compliance requirements for resident individuals exporting services to overseas clients, including freelancers and independent consultants. Under the revised rules, individuals will be considered to have submitted the EDF once they provide the required payment-related information to their authorised dealer banks.

The RBI notification issued on November 2 also introduces simplified reporting for other exporters receiving inward remittances of up to ₹10 lakh per transaction. The amendment has been made effective retrospectively from October 1, 2026.

Previously, service exporters were required to submit an EDF within 30 days from the end of the month in which an invoice was raised. The relaxation aims to reduce procedural difficulties, simplify export documentation and improve compliance for individuals earning income from international clients.