RBI Annual Survey on Computer Software & ITES Exports: Comprehensive Filing Guide (Updated June 1, 2026)
The Reserve Bank of India has released revised instructions governing its Annual Survey on Computer Software and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) Exports, effective June 1, 2026. This survey is a mandatory statistical exercise undertaken by the RBI's Department of Statistics and Information Management, International Investment Position Division. It serves as a cornerstone for building India's external sector statistics and presenting the country's international financial transactions within a globally comparable framework.
This guide breaks down every aspect of the survey — from eligible entities and submission timelines to the newly introduced CIMS web portal, error code classifications, and specific reporting scenarios — to help entities comply without difficulty.
Overview and Purpose of the Survey
The RBI conducts this survey on an annual basis to gather comprehensive data from entities engaged in the export of computer software and IT-enabled services. The data collected as of end-March of the relevant financial year feeds into the compilation of India's Balance of Payments (BoP) statistics and International Investment Position (IIP) data.
Confidentiality Assurance: All entity-specific information submitted through this survey is kept strictly confidential. The RBI publishes only consolidated aggregate data in the public domain. No individual company's data is disclosed.
The survey results, once published, bolster international confidence in India's economic transparency and contribute to a globally harmonised statistical picture of the country's external financial exposures.
Who Must Participate?
Eligible Entities
The following categories of entities engaged in export of computer software and IT-enabled services are required to participate:
- Companies (public and private)
- Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
- Partnership Firms
- Proprietorship Concerns
All such entities that were active in software or ITES exports as of end-March of the relevant financial year must submit a response. Even if exports have ceased during the current reference period but were undertaken in a prior period, the entity must submit a NIL return for the current round.
Special Provisions for LLPs and Proprietorship Firms
Since the survey submission portal operates on a CIN (Company Identification Number) basis, LLPs and proprietorship firms — which do not possess a standard CIN — must obtain a dummy CIN from the RBI before filing. The process is as follows:
- Send a request email to itesquery@rbi.org.in to obtain a dummy CIN number.
- Once received, use this dummy CIN for both Excel-based and CIMS web-based submissions.
- If the entity already received a dummy CIN in a previous survey round, the same CIN must be reused in subsequent rounds.
Important: Dummy CIN numbers issued by the RBI are solely for ITES survey filing purposes and must not be used for any other regulatory or legal purpose.
Survey Timeline and Reference Period
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch Month | June (every year) |
| Survey Frequency | Annual |
| Reference Period | Immediately preceding financial year (April–March) |
| Submission Deadline | On or before July 15 of the survey year |
Unaudited Accounts
If an assessee's accounts have not been audited before the July 15 submission deadline, the survey schedule must still be submitted based on provisional/unaudited figures. Waiting for the audit to complete is not a valid reason for delayed submission.
Non-Standard Accounting Year
If an entity follows a different accounting year (e.g., January to December), it cannot report data as per its own closing period. The ITES survey mandates reporting for the standard reference period (end-March) based on the entity's internal assessment. No exceptions are permitted.
Filing Modes: Excel-Based vs. CIMS Web Portal
The RBI currently offers two filing systems. Entities may use either, but the transition is clearly underway toward the newer web-based platform.
Excel-Based Filing (Existing System)
The existing system requires submission of the survey schedule in Excel 97-2003 Workbook format (.xls). Entities must adhere to the following technical requirements: