What is purpose code P0805?

Purpose code P0805 is the news agency code in RBI's computer and information services group, P08. Its description is short: "News agency services".⁴⁵ It is meant for businesses that supply news to media outlets abroad.

What does the P0805 purpose code cover?

The P0805 purpose code covers receipts for news agency services supplied to buyers abroad.⁴⁵

• Official description: "News agency services".⁴⁵
• BOP group: P08, "Telecommunication, Computer & Information Services".⁴
• Direction: receipt, meaning money coming into India.¹
• Source list: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012 told banks to report all foreign exchange transactions under a revised purpose code list from April 2012.¹

RBI's annex PDF showed a captcha page when this page was checked, so the wording above is quoted from the HDFC Bank and DBS Bank India reproductions, which match each other word for word.⁴⁵

When should you use the P0805 purpose code?

Use the P0805 purpose code when a foreign media buyer pays you for news agency services.⁴ DGFT's mapping links it to "News agency services to newspapers and periodicals" and "News agency services to audiovisual media".²

• News feeds: you supply a regular news service to outlets abroad.
• News pictures or footage: you supply news photos or video to foreign media.

For individual commissioned articles, compare publishing and licensing codes first.

Who uses the P0805 purpose code?

The P0805 purpose code is used by Indian news agencies, and businesses operating like them, paid by foreign media for news.⁴

• Wire services: sell news feeds to publishers abroad.
• Photo agencies: supply news pictures to foreign newspapers.
• Video news agencies: supply footage to overseas broadcasters.

These users all supply news to media buyers outside India.

What transactions are covered under P0805?

Transactions covered under P0805 are payments for news agency services.⁴

• Wire feed: For example, an Indian wire service sells a news feed to publishers in the Gulf.
• News photos: For example, a photo agency supplies news pictures to foreign newspapers.
• News footage: For example, a video news agency supplies footage to an overseas broadcaster.
• Regional bureau service: For example, an agency supplies daily India coverage to a news website abroad.

Each example is a supply of news to a media buyer.

When should you not use the P0805 purpose code?

Do not use the P0805 purpose code when the work is not a supply of news to media.⁴⁵

• Subscriptions to your own publication: use P0806.⁴
• Publishing and printing work: use P1017, "Publishing and printing services".⁴
• Licensing manuscripts or films: use P0902.⁴
• Radio and television production: use P1103, "Radio and television production, distribution and transmission services".⁴

Compare these descriptions before choosing.

What documents are required for P0805?

No RBI document lists papers specific to P0805; your bank's own policy sets them. The FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 require each bank to have a policy and standard operating procedure listing documents, timelines and charges, published on its website.⁶

• Invoice: a service description and Services Accounting Code (SAC) that match the P0805 description. DGFT says you must choose the SAC that corresponds to the purpose code when you generate an electronic Bank Realisation Certificate (e-BRC).³
• Export Declaration Form (EDF): from 1 October 2026 every exporter of services gives an EDF to the specified authority, usually the AD bank, within 30 days from the end of the month of invoicing.⁶
• Bank record: the bank's credit advice or Foreign Inward Remittance Advice (FIRA) showing the code it reported.

DGFT's purpose code to SAC mapping (Version 1.0, 10 November 2023) lists these SACs against P0805:²

The mapping is many-to-many, so the same SAC can appear against several purpose codes.²

How do you declare the P0805 purpose code?

You declare the P0805 purpose code by telling your bank the purpose when the payment arrives, then using the matching SAC for the e-BRC.¹³

1. Match the work to the description: Compare what the client pays for with the RBI description of P0805, "News agency services", and with the codes listed under related codes below.⁴
2. Put the matching SAC on the invoice: Use a SAC that DGFT's mapping lists against P0805, so the invoice can later be linked to the payment on the DGFT portal.²
3. Tell the bank or payer the code: Give P0805 to your bank, or to the platform or payer that asks for a purpose, before the money is credited.¹
4. Check the credit advice: Check that the bank's credit advice or FIRA shows P0805, and ask the bank to amend it straight away if it does not.³
5. Generate the e-BRC: On the DGFT portal, link the bank's inward remittance message (IRM) to your invoice and choose the SAC that corresponds to P0805.⁹³

Banks report the code they record, so the code on the bank's record is the one that counts.

How does the P0805 purpose code affect FIRA, GST and income tax?

The P0805 purpose code is a reporting code under RBI's FETERS reporting, and its main practical effect is on the e-BRC you can generate.¹⁹

• FIRA and e-BRC: the e-BRC is now self-generated by the exporter on the DGFT portal from the inward remittance message (IRM) data the bank sends, and DGFT says you choose the SAC that corresponds to the purpose code on the remittance.⁹³ Check that the bank's FIRA or credit advice shows P0805 before you use it as payment evidence.
• GST: a supply is an export of services only when all five conditions of section 2(6) of the IGST Act are met: supplier in India, recipient outside India, place of supply outside India, payment in convertible foreign exchange (or in rupees where RBI permits), and supplier and recipient not merely establishments of a distinct person.⁷ For a GST refund on exported services, rule 89(2)(c) of the CGST Rules asks for a statement of invoices with the relevant Bank Realisation Certificates or Foreign Inward Remittance Certificates.⁸
• Income tax: the Income-tax Act, 2025 has applied from 1 April 2026, and tax year 2026-27 runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.¹⁰ Income tax is worked out on the income under that Act.

How GST and income tax apply depends on your contract and facts, so confirm with a chartered accountant.

What are the common mistakes with the P0805 purpose code?

The common mistakes with the P0805 purpose code come from treating any writing for foreign media as news agency work.⁴

• Using P0805 for one-off features: a freelance writer paid for one feature is not obviously supplying news agency services; compare P1017 and P0902.⁴
• Using P0805 for subscriptions: subscription income is described by P0806.⁴
• Using P0805 for TV production: radio and television production is P1103.⁴
• SAC outside the mapping: DGFT says you must choose the SAC that corresponds to the purpose code on the remittance.³

To fix a wrong code, ask the bank that credited the payment. DGFT's eBRC FAQs say exporters must contact the bank to request a purpose code change, and that banks can amend the IRM they report to DGFT.³ The full steps are in how to correct a purpose code after payment.

Which purpose codes are related to P0805?

The codes closest to P0805 are listed below with their official RBI descriptions.⁴⁵

To compare every receipt code, see the RBI purpose codes list for exporters, or shortlist codes with the purpose code finder. Where a payment could fit more than one description, confirm the code with your bank or a chartered accountant before the money is credited.