

As per the prevailing RBI Master Circular No. RBI/2013-14/14 dated 1st July 2013, RBI Circular No.80 dated 15th February 2012 and RBI Circular No.43 dated 13th September 2013, any company that does IT/ITES exports through Data communication links needs to submit the Softex Form for certification. For getting the Softex certification by STPI (which is the Designated Authority), the companies have to become STP members by either registering under the STP scheme or as NON-STP unit with STPI. Nevertheless, the companies registered under the STP scheme will have other benefits apart from getting their Software Exports certified.
Any company/partnership firm/proprietorship which is into the development of Export-oriented Computer Software/IT Enabled Services can register itself as NON-STP unit under STPI to avail Softex certification. In order to become a NON-STP unit under STPI, the company has to get register itself with STPI on submission of application form along with the supporting documents, to the jurisdictional Director, STPI along with applicable processing fee of Rs.1000 in the form of demand draft in favour of the Director STPI.
A letter of permission for Non-STP registration is issued for a period of 3 years. During the last three months before the expiry of LOP, NON-STP registered unit should approach Director STPI for the renewal of LOP. There shall be no charges for renewal of LOP.
Non-STP units should register each of their export contracts before the submission of Softex against that contract. The unit also needs to submit its projected imports during the next financial year as well as applicable STPI service charges.
The company registered under STPI as NON-STP unit will be issued a Registration Certificate with a validity of 3 years by the respective jurisdictional STPI Director. Renewal of registration will have to be applied three months before the expiry of the registration.
Once NON-STP units get registered with STPI, they will be entitled to submission of Softex for certification as per prevailing guidelines of RBI. However, Non-STP units should also register each of their export contracts before the submission of Softex against that contract.
| Export Turnover | Annual Service Charge |
|---|---|
Exports up to Rs.12.5 lakhs per annum | Rs. 4,000 + GST |
Exports up to Rs.25 lakhs per annum | Rs. 8,000 + GST |
Exports between Rs.25–50 lakhs per annum | Rs. 16,000 + GST |
Exports between Rs.50–300 lakhs per annum | Rs. 55,000 + GST |
Exports between Rs.3–10 Cr. per annum | Rs. 1,10,000 + GST |
Exports between Rs.10–25 Cr. per annum | Rs. 2,25,000 + GST |
Exports between Rs.25–50 Cr. per annum | Rs. 2,50,000 + GST |
Exports between Rs.50–100 Cr. per annum | Rs. 3,50,000 + GST |
Exports between Rs.100–500 Cr. per annum | Rs. 5,75,000 + GST |
Exports between Rs.500–1000 Cr. per annum | Rs. 6,00,000 + GST |
Exports above Rs.1000 Cr. per annum | Rs. 6,50,000 + GST |