Which purpose code should I use for online tutoring income from abroad?
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Short answer
The closest RBI code is usually P1107, "Educational services (e.g. fees received for correspondence courses offered to non-resident by Indian institutions)".1 The example in brackets mentions institutions, but the code itself is for educational services, so many tutors and course creators use it; confirm with your bank, because it reports the code to RBI and DGFT.12
A maths tutor in Lucknow teaching students in Dubai, a music teacher in Chennai with pupils in Canada, and a language coach selling courses to learners in Germany are all exporting educational services. The bank that receives their payments needs a purpose code to report each receipt.1
What does P1107 say?
RBI's receipt purpose code list, as reproduced by HDFC Bank, describes P1107 as "Educational services (e.g. fees received for correspondence courses offered to non-resident by Indian institutions)".1 It sits in the personal, cultural and recreational services group, next to codes such as P1101 for audio-visual services and P1109 for other personal, cultural and recreational services.1
The example in brackets refers to institutions and correspondence courses, which reflects when the list was written. The heading itself is "Educational services", and it is the only code in the list that names education.1 That is why it is the usual starting point for individual tutors and online course creators.
Which code fits which kind of teaching?
The table matches common teaching work to code descriptions in RBI's list.1
| Kind of work | Code to discuss with your bank | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One-to-one or group tutoring for students abroad | P1107 | Educational services |
| Selling recorded courses to learners abroad | P1107 | Educational services |
| Corporate training on management topics | P1107 or P1006 | Training versus business and management consultancy |
| Coding bootcamp content built for a software client | P0802 | Software consultancy/implementation |
The right code depends on what the invoice is for, so a tutor who also builds an app for a school would use different codes for each.
Why confirm with the bank?
The bank attaches the code when it reports the receipt, and that report feeds the inward remittance message used for e-BRCs. DGFT's rules let exporters attach only invoices whose SAC codes match the description of the service, so the code and your invoice need to agree.2 If the bank used the wrong code, DGFT's FAQs say the bank can amend the inward remittance message.3
Platforms usually ask for a code at onboarding; choose the educational code there too, rather than a personal one. The full code-by-profession table is in purpose codes for freelancers.
What else applies to a tutor's export income?
From 1 October 2026, tutors file an Export Declaration Form like any other service exporter, and must receive the money in India within nine months of the invoice date.4 See international payments for online tutors.
How did we verify this?
We checked this page against the sources below on 28 October 2026. Read our methodology or report an error.
- [1]HDFC Bank: Inward Remittance Purpose Codes (bank reproduction of the RBI purpose code list under A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 of 29 February 2012, checked 28 October 2026)
- [2]DGFT: eBRC generation rules, General Guidelines for Generating eBRC (checked 28 October 2026)
- [3]DGFT: FAQs (Self-Generation of eBRC), Version 1.0, March 2024, question 28
- [4]RBI: Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, Notification No. FEMA 23(R)/2026-RB, amended up to 22 September 2026 (regulations 3 and 5)
Frequently asked questions
Should a tutor use a personal code such as gifts or family maintenance?+
No. Fees for tutoring are payment for a service, and codes such as P1302 (personal gifts and donations) do not describe that.1
I train corporate teams abroad. Is that P1107 too?+
Possibly. Training can be an educational service, but workshops on management topics may sit closer to P1006, business and management consultancy.1 Ask your bank.
Do tutors need to file an EDF?+
Yes. From 1 October 2026 every exporter of services files an Export Declaration Form, and one EDF can cover all of a month's invoices.4
This page is general information for Indian service exporters, not tax or legal advice. Rules change and outcomes depend on your facts, so confirm with a chartered accountant before acting.
Keep reading
Which RBI purpose code should a freelancer or service exporter use?
Which RBI purpose code to use for software, design, video editing, marketing, writing, consulting, tutoring and bookkeeping exports, and how to fix errors.
Purpose codesWhat are the RBI purpose codes for receiving export of services payments?
Every RBI receipt purpose code in groups P02 to P16 with its exact description from Circular No. 84, and which kinds of Indian service exporters use each group.
ProfessionHow should online tutors and educators in India receive payments from students abroad?
How Indian online tutors and course creators get paid by students abroad: export status, in-person and event traps, purpose code P1107, EDF and income tax.
Purpose codesHow do you correct a wrong purpose code after a foreign payment has been credited?
Steps to change a wrong purpose code on a foreign payment already credited: ask the bank to amend the IRM, fix any e-BRC, and handle platform payouts like Upwork.