What is purpose code P1010?

Purpose code P1010 is the agricultural services code in RBI's group P10, Other Business Services. Its description gives examples: protection against insects and disease, increasing harvest yields and forestry services.⁵⁶

It is a niche code, but it is the closest match for agricultural experts and service providers working for clients abroad.

What does the P1010 purpose code cover?

The P1010 purpose code covers agricultural services such as protection against insects and disease, increasing harvest yields and forestry services. RBI's receipt purpose code list describes P1010 as: "Agricultural services like protection against insects & disease, increasing of harvest yields, forestry services."⁵⁶ DGFT's purpose code to SAC mapping reproduces the same wording.³ P1010 sits in group P10, "Other Business Services".⁵

The list comes from A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012, which 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.⁵⁶

An earlier RBI list, now marked "Withdrawn" on the RBI website, described P1010 as "Agricultural, mining and on-site processing services".² In the current list mining services are P1018.⁵

When should you use the P1010 purpose code?

Use the P1010 purpose code when a foreign client pays you for agricultural or forestry services, such as crop protection, yield improvement or plantation work.⁵ DGFT's mapping adds support services to crop production, animal husbandry, forestry and fishing.³

• Crop protection: Advice or services on protection against insects and disease match the P1010 description.⁵
• Yield improvement: Programmes to increase harvest yields match the description.⁵
• Forestry: Forestry services are named in the description, and DGFT maps forestry and logging support SACs to P1010.⁵³

If more than one description could fit, confirm P1010 with your bank before the payment is credited.⁵

Who uses the P1010 purpose code?

P1010 fits Indian exporters paid for agricultural or forestry services.⁵ DGFT's mapping links it to support services to crop production, animal husbandry, hunting, forestry and logging and fishing, landscape care, agricultural R&D and leasing of agricultural and other machinery.³

• Agronomists: Advisers on pest and disease control and crop management.
• Agritech firms: Providers of yield improvement programmes to growers abroad.
• Forestry companies: Firms managing plantation work for foreign clients.
• Machinery lessors: Lessors of agricultural machinery, where DGFT's leasing SACs apply.³

What transactions are covered under P1010?

Transactions covered under P1010 are fees for crop protection, yield improvement, forestry and related support services.⁵³ Each example below fits the description:

• Pest control advice: For example, an agronomist advises a farm in Africa on pest and disease control.
• Yield programme: For example, an agritech firm provides a yield improvement programme to growers abroad.
• Plantation work: For example, a forestry services company manages plantation work for a foreign client.
• Livestock support: For example, an Indian firm provides animal husbandry support services to a farm abroad, where DGFT's support SACs apply.³

Which SAC codes does DGFT map to the P1010 purpose code?

DGFT's purpose code to SAC mapping (Version 1.0, 10 November 2023) lists these Services Accounting Codes (SAC) against P1010, among others where noted:³

The mapping lists 11 more SAC codes against P1010, including agricultural and forestry support SACs 998611 to 998619; see the DGFT file for the full list.³

When you generate an electronic Bank Realisation Certificate (e-BRC) on the DGFT portal, DGFT says you must choose the SAC that corresponds to the purpose code on the remittance.⁴ The mapping is many-to-many, so the same SAC can appear against several purpose codes.³

When should you not use the P1010 purpose code?

Do not use the P1010 purpose code for agricultural research, mining services or sales of farm goods.⁵ Each case below names the code to compare:

• Agricultural research: Paid agricultural research that develops new knowledge or products may be described by P1008, "Research & Development services".⁵
• Mining services: Mining services such as on-site processing and analysis of ores are P1018.⁵
• General consultancy: General business consultancy is P1006.⁵
• Selling seeds or equipment: Selling seeds, fertiliser or equipment is an export of goods, which the P1010 services description does not cover.⁵

Where a payment sits on the line between two codes, the contract and invoice usually show which service the client is paying for, so keep them ready for the bank.

What documents are required for P1010?

A payment under P1010 needs the documents any export of services needs: an invoice, the Export Declaration Form (EDF), and the bank's inward remittance record that the e-BRC is generated from.⁷⁴ Under regulation 3(2) of the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 (the 2026 Regulations), an exporter of services files the EDF with the specified authority within 30 days from the end of the month in which the invoice was raised.⁷

For software, the specified authority can also be Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), and in a Special Economic Zone it is the Development Commissioner.⁷ Exporters of services other than software may file the EDF on or before the date payment is received instead.⁷

How do you declare the P1010 purpose code?

You declare the P1010 purpose code by telling your bank the purpose of the inward remittance, then making sure the same code carries through to the EDF and the e-BRC.⁴⁷ The steps below follow that order.

1. Match the work to the P1010 description: Compare what the foreign client pays for with the RBI description of P1010 and the neighbouring codes.⁵
2. Describe the service on the invoice: Describe the service on the export invoice in words that match the P1010 description, so the bank can see why the code fits.⁵
3. Give the bank the P1010 purpose code: Tell your bank that the purpose of the inward remittance is P1010 when the payment arrives, using the bank's own inward remittance process.⁴
4. File the Export Declaration Form: File the EDF with the specified authority within 30 days from the end of the month in which the invoice was raised, or for non-software services on or before the date payment is received.⁷
5. Check the IRM and generate the e-BRC: Check that the bank's inward remittance message shows P1010, then generate the e-BRC on the DGFT portal and choose the SAC that corresponds to P1010.⁴

DGFT's eBRC FAQs place e-BRC generation under Services, then eBRC, then Generating eBRC, after you register on the DGFT website and link your Importer Exporter Code (IEC).⁴

How does P1010 affect FIRA, GST and income tax?

The P1010 purpose code states the purpose of the payment on the bank's record; GST, realisation and income tax follow their own rules.⁴ The code matters most where the e-BRC and the SAC you choose must line up with it.⁴

• FIRA: Ask your bank for its inward remittance advice, often called a Foreign Inward Remittance Advice (FIRA), and check that it shows the same purpose code before you rely on it for GST or bank records.
• e-BRC: DGFT describes the e-BRC as its confirmation that the exporter has received payment for the export of goods or services, and says the SAC you choose must correspond to the purpose code.⁴
• GST: A supply is an export of services under section 2(6) of the IGST Act, 2017 when the supplier is in India, the recipient is outside India, the place of supply is outside India, payment is received in convertible foreign exchange (or in Indian rupees where RBI permits), and the two are not merely establishments of a distinct person.⁸ Export of services is a zero rated supply, and a registered person can supply under bond or Letter of Undertaking without paying integrated tax.⁹
• Realisation: Regulation 5(1) of the 2026 Regulations requires the value of exported services to be realised within nine months from the date of invoice, or twelve months where the export is invoiced or settled in Indian rupees.⁷
• Income tax: The sources on this page do not cover income tax, and how a receipt is taxed depends on your facts, so confirm it with a chartered accountant.

For the GST side in more depth, see purpose codes and GST on export of services.

What are the common mistakes with the P1010 purpose code?

The common mistakes with the P1010 purpose code are choosing it for work another code describes, and leaving a wrong code uncorrected after the bank has reported it.⁵⁴

• Using the earlier-list wording: Some websites still show mining under P1010, which was its meaning in an earlier, withdrawn RBI list; in the current list mining services are P1018.²⁵
• Leaving a wrong code in place: DGFT's eBRC FAQs say exporters must contact the bank to request a purpose code change, and that banks can amend the inward remittance message (IRM) they report to DGFT.⁴ Send the bank the remittance reference, the code used, the code you need and your invoice.
• Choosing a SAC that does not match: DGFT says exporters must choose the SAC that corresponds to the purpose code when generating an e-BRC.⁴

The full steps are in how to correct a purpose code after payment, and the effects are covered in what happens if you use the wrong purpose code.

Which purpose codes are related to P1010?

The purpose codes related to P1010 are the sector services codes below, from RBI's list.⁵⁶

To compare every receipt code, see the RBI purpose codes list for exporters, or shortlist codes for your work 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.