What are the RBI purpose codes for receiving export of services payments?
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Short answer
RBI purpose codes for money received in India are five characters, "P" plus four digits.12 Service receipt codes sit in groups P02 to P16 of Annex I to A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012.1 Most freelancers and agencies use group P08 or P10.1 Banks report the purpose of every foreign exchange transaction under FETERS.24
| Applies to | Governed by | Deadline | Penalty | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Every foreign exchange receipt reported by an authorised dealer bank, including export of services receipts2 | RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012 and its Annex I; FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026124 | Not applicable | Not applicable | 28 October 2026 |
This page reproduces every receipt purpose code in groups P02 to P16 with its description as written in the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) list.1 Use it to look up a code your bank has assigned, or to shortlist codes before you ask your bank. For how to pick a code by type of work, see purpose codes for freelancers or the purpose code finder.
The descriptions below are those in Annex I to A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 of 29 February 2012, and they match HDFC Bank's reproduction for every code in these groups.13 Spelling and capitalisation follow the bank text, with dashes written as hyphens.3
What is the RBI purpose code list?
The RBI purpose code list is the classification that authorised dealer (AD) banks use to report every foreign exchange transaction to RBI under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Electronic Reporting System (FETERS).2
- Start date: Circular No. 84 introduced the revised list for transactions from 1 April 2012.2
- Every receipt coded: Circular No. 84 also ended consolidated reporting of small non-export receipts, so every receipt now carries a purpose code.2
- Still required: the FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 (the 2026 Regulations) still require AD banks to report all foreign trade transactions in FETERS.4
- Format: codes for money received start with P and codes for money paid start with S; the two digits after the letter are the purpose group, and the last two digits are the specific purpose.1
Who uses each RBI purpose code group?
Groups P08, P09, P10 and P11 cover almost all work billed by freelancers, agencies, consultants and IT companies.1 Group P01 is for exports of goods, except P0103, which covers advance receipts against export contracts and is discussed in purpose code for advance payment.1
| Group | RBI group name | Export income? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| P02 | Transport | Yes, for transport firms | Shipping, airline, logistics and courier firms |
| P03 | Travel | Yes, for travel receipts | Hotels, tour operators, hospitals and colleges receiving from foreign visitors |
| P05 | Construction | Yes, for construction firms | Construction and project companies |
| P06 | Insurance and Pension Services | Yes, for insurers | Insurers and pension funds |
| P07 | Financial Services | Yes, for financial firms | Banks, brokers, custodians |
| P08 | Telecommunication, Computer & Information Services | Yes | Developers, IT and SaaS firms, data processors, news agencies |
| P09 | Charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e | Yes | Licensors of software, content, designs, trademarks, franchises |
| P10 | Other Business Services | Yes | Consultants, marketers, lawyers, accountants, architects, engineers, researchers |
| P11 | Personal, Cultural & Recreational services | Yes | Video producers, entertainers, tutors, health professionals |
| P12 | Govt. not included elsewhere (G.n.i.e.) | No | Embassies and international institutions |
| P13 | Secondary Income | No | Personal transfers |
| P14 | Primary Income | No | Salary, interest, dividends |
| P15 | Others | Mostly no | Refunds, reversals, bidding receipts, deemed exports |
| P16 | Maintenance and repair services n.i.e | Yes, for repair firms | Ship and aircraft repair firms |
Group names are from the RBI list; the last two columns are our summary.13 There is no group P04 in the 2012 list.1
How do you find the right RBI purpose code for an export receipt?
You find the right RBI purpose code by matching the service on your invoice to the official description in the right group, then confirming it with your bank before the payment arrives.12
- Describe the service on the invoice: use what the client pays for, whatever your job title.
- Pick the purpose group: most service work sits in P08, P09, P10 or P11.1
- Match the RBI description: pick the code whose official description fits the service.1
- Check DGFT's e-BRC rules: for example, "Services > IT" accepts only P0802, P0803, P0807 and P0103.5
- Tell the bank before the payment arrives: the bank reports the code to RBI.2
Which RBI purpose codes are in groups P02 to P07?
Groups P02 to P07 cover transport, travel, construction, insurance and financial services. Travel agencies, hospitals, logistics firms and financial firms use these groups more than freelancers and agencies do.1
Which codes are in RBI purpose code group P02, Transport?
Group P02 is used by shipping and airline companies, other transport operators, and courier and postal firms.1
| Code | Official description |
|---|---|
| P0201 | Receipts of surplus freight/passenger fare by Indian shipping companies operating abroad |
| P0202 | Receipts on account of operating expenses of Foreign shipping companies operating in India |
| P0205 | Receipts on account of operational leasing (with crew) - Shipping companies |
| P0207 | Receipts of surplus freight/passenger fare by Indian Airlines companies operating abroad. |
| P0208 | Receipt on account of operating expenses of Foreign Airlines companies operating in India |
| P0211 | Receipt on account of operational leasing (with crew) - Airlines companies |
| P0214 | Receipts on account of other transportation services (stevedoring, demurrage, port handling charges etc).(Shipping Companies) |
| P0215 | Receipts on account of other transportation services (stevedoring, demurrage, port handling charges etc).( Airlines companies) |
| P0216 | Receipts of freight fare -Shipping companies operating abroad |
| P0217 | Receipts of passenger fare by Indian Shipping companies operating abroad |
| P0218 | Other receipts by Shipping companies |
| P0219 | Receipts of freight fare by Indian Airlines companies operating abroad |
| P0220 | Receipts of passenger fare -Airlines |
| P0221 | Other receipts by Airlines companies |
| P0222 | Receipts on account of freights under other modes of transport (Internal Waterways, Roadways, Railways, Pipeline transports and Others) |
| P0223 | Receipts on account of passenger fare under other modes of transport (Internal Waterways, Roadways, Railways, Pipeline transports and Others) |
| P0224 | Postal & Courier services by Air |
| P0225 | Postal & Courier services by Sea |
| P0226 | Postal & Courier services by others |
Which codes are in RBI purpose code group P03, Travel?
Group P03 is used by hotels, travel agencies and destination management companies, hospitals and colleges receiving money from foreign visitors or students.1
| Code | Official description |
|---|---|
| P0301 | Purchases towards travel (Includes purchases of foreign TCs, currency notes etc over the counter, by hotels, Emporiums, institutions etc. as well as amount received by TT/SWIFT transfers or debit to Non-Resident account). |
| P0302 | Business travel |
| P0304 | Travel for medical treatment including TCs purchased by hospitals |
| P0305 | Travel for education including TCs purchased by educational institutions |
| P0306 | Other travel receipts |
| P0308 | Foreign Currencies/TCs surrendered by returning Indian tourists. |
Which codes are in RBI purpose code group P05, Construction?
Group P05 is used by construction and project-export companies.1
| Code | Official description |
|---|---|
| P0501 | Receipts on account of services relating to cost of construction of projects in India |
| P0502 | Receipts on account of construction works carried out abroad by Indian Companies |
Which codes are in RBI purpose code group P06, Insurance and Pension Services?
Group P06 is used by insurers, reinsurers, insurance intermediaries and pension funds.1
| Code | Official description |
|---|---|
| P0601 | Life Insurance premium except term insurance |
| P0602 | Freight insurance - relating to import & export of goods |
| P0603 | Other general insurance premium including reinsurance premium; and term life insurance premium |
| P0605 | Auxiliary services including commission on insurance |
| P0607 | Insurance claim Settlement of non-life insurance; and life insurance (only term insurance) |
| P0608 | Life insurance claim settlements (excluding term insurance) received by residents in India |
| P0609 | Standardised guarantee services |
| P0610 | Premium for pension funds |
| P0611 | Periodic pension entitlements e.g. monthly quarterly or yearly payments of pension amounts by Indian Pension Fund Companies. |
| P0612 | Invoking of standardised guarantees |
Which codes are in RBI purpose code group P07, Financial Services?
Group P07 is used by banks, brokers, investment banks and custodians.1
| Code | Official description |
|---|---|
| P0701 | Financial intermediation except investment banking - Bank charges, collection charges, LC charges, etc. |
| P0702 | Investment banking - brokerage, under writing commission etc. |
| P0703 | Auxiliary services - charges on operation & regulatory fees, custodial services, depository services etc. |
Which RBI purpose codes are in group P08, computer and information services?
Group P08 is used by software developers, IT services and SaaS companies, data-processing and back-office firms, IT support providers, news agencies and telecom operators.1 Single-code pages: P0801, P0802, P0803, P0804, P0805, P0806 and P0807.
| Code | Official description |
|---|---|
| P0801 | Hardware consultancy/implementation |
| P0802 | Software consultancy/implementation (other than those covered in SOFTEX form) |
| P0803 | Data base, data processing charges |
| P0804 | Repair and maintenance of computer and software |
| P0805 | News agency services |
| P0806 | Other information services- Subscription to newspapers, periodicals, etc. |
| P0807 | Off-site Software Exports |
| P0808 | Telecommunication services including electronic mail services and voice mail services |
| P0809 | Satellite services including space shuttle and rockets, etc. |
For the difference between the two software codes, see P0802 vs P0807.
Which RBI purpose codes are in group P09, intellectual property charges?
Group P09 is used by anyone paid for the right to use something they own: software licensors, photographers and illustrators licensing images, authors, musicians and film owners licensing content, and brand or franchise owners.1 See P0901 and P0902.
| Code | Official description |
|---|---|
| P0901 | Franchises services |
| P0902 | Receipts for use, through licensing arrangements, of produced originals or prototypes (such as manuscripts and films), patents, copyrights, trademarks, industrial processes, franchises etc. |
Which RBI purpose codes are in group P10, other business services?
Group P10 is the largest group for professional services: consultants, digital marketing and advertising agencies, lawyers, accountants and tax advisers, architects, engineers, researchers, market research firms and publishers.1 There is no P1001 or P1012 in the 2012 receipt list.1
| Code | Official description |
|---|---|
| P1002 | Trade related services - commission on exports / imports |
| P1003 | Operational leasing services (other than financial leasing) without operating crew, including charter hire- Airlines companies |
| P1004 | Legal services |
| P1005 | Accounting, auditing, book keeping services |
| P1006 | Business and management consultancy and public relations services |
| P1007 | Advertising, trade fair service |
| P1008 | Research & Development services |
| P1009 | Architectural services |
| P1010 | Agricultural services like protection against insects & disease, increasing of harvest yields, forestry services. |
| P1011 | Inward remittance for maintenance of offices in India |
| P1013 | Environmental Services |
| P1014 | Engineering Services |
| P1015 | Tax consulting services |
| P1016 | Market research and public opinion polling service |
| P1017 | Publishing and printing services |
| P1018 | Mining services like on-site processing services analysis of ores etc. |
| P1019 | Commission agent services |
| P1020 | Wholesale and retailing trade services. |
| P1021 | Operational leasing services (other than financial leasing) without operating crew, including charter hire- Shipping companies |
| P1022 | Other Technical Services including scientific/space services. |
| P1099 | Other services not included elsewhere |
Two pairs are often confused: P1003 and P1006, and P1007 against P1016 for marketing work, covered in purpose code for digital marketing services.1
Which RBI purpose codes are in group P11, personal, cultural and recreational services?
Group P11 is used by video and film producers, editors and animators, radio and podcast producers, entertainers, online educators and coaching institutes, and hospitals or doctors serving foreign patients remotely.1 See P1101.
| Code | Official description |
|---|---|
| P1101 | Audio-visual and related services like Motion picture and video tape production, distribution and projection services. |
| P1103 | Radio and television production, distribution and transmission services |
| P1104 | Entertainment services |
| P1105 | Museums, library and archival services |
| P1106 | Recreation and sporting activity services |
| P1107 | Educational services (e.g. fees received for correspondence courses offered to non-resident by Indian institutions) |
| P1108 | Health Service (Receipts on account of services provided by Indian hospitals, doctors, nurses, paramedical and similar services etc. rendered remotely or on-site) |
| P1109 | Other Personal, Cultural & Recreational services |
The 2012 list has no P1102.1
Which RBI purpose codes are in groups P12 to P16?
Groups P12 to P16 mostly describe receipts other than service exports, and exporters meet them when a payment is coded wrongly or when money comes back.1 Groups P13 and P14 describe personal transfers and income; a client payment coded under them does not describe an export.1
Which codes are in RBI purpose code group P12, Government not included elsewhere?
Group P12 is used by foreign embassies and international institutions in India.1
| Code | Official description |
|---|---|
| P1201 | Maintenance of foreign embassies in India |
| P1203 | Maintenance of international institutions such as offices of IMF mission, World Bank, UNICEF etc. in India. |
Which codes are in RBI purpose code group P13, Secondary Income?
Group P13 is used by individuals receiving family support or gifts, charities and religious bodies. See P1301.1
| Code | Official description |
|---|---|
| P1301 | Inward remittance from Indian non-residents towards family maintenance and savings |
| P1302 | Personal gifts and donations |
| P1303 | Donations to religious and charitable institutions in India |
| P1304 | Grants and donations to governments and charitable institutions established by the governments |
| P1306 | Receipts / Refund of taxes |
| P1307 | Receipts on account of migrant transfers including Personal Effects |
Which codes are in RBI purpose code group P14, Primary Income?
Group P14 is used by residents paid a salary by a foreign employer, and companies receiving interest, profits or dividends from abroad. See P1401.1
| Code | Official description |
|---|---|
| P1401 | Compensation of employees |
| P1403 | Inward remittance towards interest on loans extended to non-residents (ST/MT/LT loans) |
| P1405 | Inward remittance towards interest receipts of ADs on their own account (on investments.) |
| P1408 | Inward remittance of profit by branches of Indian FDI Enterprises (including bank branches) operating abroad. |
| P1409 | Inward remittance of dividends (on equity and investment fund shares) by Indian FDI Enterprises, other than branches, operating abroad |
| P1410 | Inward remittance on account of interest payment by Indian FDI enterprises operating abroad to their Parent company in India. |
| P1411 | Inward remittance of interest income on account of Portfolio Investment made abroad by India |
| P1412 | Inward remittance of dividends on account of Portfolio Investment made abroad by India on equity and investment fund shares |
| P1499 | Other income receipts |
Which codes are in RBI purpose code group P15, Others?
Group P15 is used by importers receiving refunds, anyone receiving a reversal of a wrong entry, bidders, and SEZ or domestic suppliers making deemed exports. See P1501.1
| Code | Official description |
|---|---|
| P1501 | Refunds / rebates on account of imports |
| P1502 | Reversal of wrong entries, refunds of amount remitted for non-imports |
| P1503 | Remittances (receipts) by residents under international bidding process. |
| P1505 | Deemed Exports ( exports between SEZ, EPZs and Domestic Tariff Areas) |
Which codes are in RBI purpose code group P16, Maintenance and repair services?
Group P16 is used by firms repairing ships, aircraft and similar craft for foreign owners.1
| Code | Official description |
|---|---|
| P1601 | Receipts on account of maintenance and repair services rendered for Vessels, Ships, Boats, Warships, etc. |
| P1602 | Receipts of maintenance and repair services rendered for aircrafts, Space shuttles, Rockets, military aircrafts, etc. |
What happens if you choose the wrong RBI purpose code?
If you choose the wrong RBI purpose code, the receipt may not fit the e-BRC you need, because the purpose code travels with the bank's inward remittance message to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and DGFT's e-BRC rules accept only certain codes.5
- Goods codes: no e-BRC can be generated for P0101 or P0108.5
- IT category: "Services > IT" accepts only P0802, P0803, P0807 and P0103.5
See purpose codes and GST on export of services and, if a code is already wrong, how to correct a purpose code after payment.
Which RBI rule sets the purpose codes?
RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012 sets the purpose codes, and the 2026 Regulations keep the FETERS reporting that uses them.24
| Rule | Date | Plain meaning | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84, Compilation of R-Returns: Reporting under FETERS | 29 February 2012 | Revised purpose code list for transactions from 1 April 2012; ended consolidated reporting of small non-export receipts2 | Understanding where the codes come from |
| Annex I to Circular No. 84, Part B | 29 February 2012 | The receipt purpose codes, starting with P1 | Looking up an official description |
| FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, regulation 18(2) | Amended up to 22 September 2026 | AD banks report all foreign trade transactions in FETERS4 | Confirming the reporting duty still applies |
What are the common mistakes with RBI purpose code lists?
The common mistakes with RBI purpose code lists come from using an older list that gives the same code a different description.16
- Older bank lists: Nordea's India list, for example, has no P0807, describes P1005 as including tax consultancy and P1009 as "Architectural, engineering and other technical services", and still lists P1590 for "Receipts below $10,000".6
- What the 2012 annex says: tax consulting is P1015, engineering is P1014, and Circular No. 84 discontinued consolidated reporting of non-export receipts below ₹5 lakh from 1 April 2012.12
- Looking for a P04 or P1102 code: neither exists in the 2012 list.1
- Using P13 or P14 for client income: those groups describe transfers and income.1
Note: If your bank uses a description that differs from this page, ask which list it applies. The bank reports the code to RBI.2
How did we verify this?
We checked this page against the sources below on 30 October 2026. Read our methodology or report an error.
- [1]RBI: Annex I to A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012, Purpose Codes for Reporting under FETERS, Part B (receipt purposes)
- [2]RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012, Compilation of R-Returns: Reporting under FETERS
- [3]HDFC Bank: Inward Remittance Purpose Codes (bank reproduction of the RBI list, used as a cross-check)
- [4]RBI: Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, amended up to 22 September 2026, regulation 18(2)
- [5]DGFT: eBRC generation rules, General Guidelines for Generating eBRC (last updated 26 March 2024)
- [6]Nordea: Purpose of Payment (PoP) codes for India (bank reproduction of an older list, cited only to show the differences)
Frequently asked questions
Where is the official list of RBI purpose codes published?+
The official list of RBI purpose codes is Annex I to RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012.12 Part B of the annex lists receipt purposes, the codes starting with P. Bank reproductions such as HDFC Bank's match it for groups P02 to P16.3
Is there an RBI purpose code group P04?+
The 2012 RBI receipt list has no group P04.1 Postal and courier services sit in group P02, Transport, as P0224 to P0226, and telecommunication services sit in group P08 as P0808. If a bank or website shows a P04 code, it is reproducing an older classification, so ask the bank which list it applies.
Which RBI purpose code group is for freelancers?+
RBI's purpose code list has no freelancer group.1 Most freelance and agency work falls in group P08, computer and information services, or group P10, other business services, while media, education and creative licensing work falls in group P09 or P11. The code follows the service on the invoice.
Why do different banks show different descriptions for the same purpose code?+
Some lists online reproduce a classification older than the 2012 annex, so the same code can carry a different description.16 For example, the 2012 list has P0807 for off-site software exports, which an older Nordea list does not include. Ask your bank which list it applies if its wording differs.
Are RBI purpose code groups P13 and P14 used for export income?+
RBI purpose code groups P13 and P14 do not describe export income. Group P13, Secondary Income, covers transfers such as family maintenance and gifts, and group P14, Primary Income, covers employee compensation, interest and dividends.1 A client payment for an exported service fits a service code in groups P08 to P11 instead.
What do the letters and digits in an RBI purpose code mean?+
Codes for money received start with P and codes for money paid start with S.1 The two digits after the letter are the purpose group, such as 08 for computer and information services, and the last two digits are the specific purpose. P0802, for example, is group P08, software consultancy or implementation.
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
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