The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has fixed a single reporting calendar for the service providers it regulates in India's International Financial Services Centres. The “Reporting Norms for the TechFin and Ancillary Service Providers, Global In-House Centres and Book-keeping, Accounting, Taxation and Financial Crime Compliance Service Providers” — IFSCA Circular eF.No. 4598/IFSCA-FSSD/3/2026-FSSD dated 4 November 2026 — sets eight reports, certificates and disclosures with fixed due dates, and it is in force with immediate effect. For a small registered firm in GIFT City, this circular is now the single page to pin above the desk: every report the firm owes IFSCA, and the exact date it is due.
Quick answer: IFSCA Circular eF.No. 4598/IFSCA-FSSD/3/2026-FSSD dated 4 November 2026, in force with immediate effect, requires TechFin and ancillary service providers, Global In-house Centres and BATF service providers in IFSCs to file a monthly report by the 10th of the succeeding month, a quarterly compliance certificate, half-yearly and annual AML/CFT/KYC reports, and an annual CA/CS/CMA compliance certificate by 31 May.
What changed on 4 November 2026
IFSCA issued the circular under three regulations: regulation 12 of the IFSCA (TechFin and Ancillary Services) Regulations, 2025; regulation 12 of the IFSCA (Global In-House Centres) Regulations, 2025; and regulation 14 of the IFSCA (Book-keeping, Accounting, Taxation and Financial Crime Compliance Services) Regulations, 2024. The circular — signed by Joseph Joshy C J, Chief General Manager, Financial Support Services Supervision Division — prescribes the reporting norms for every regulated entity under those three regulations, in one place, with one deadline for each filing.
Until now, these entities were governed by their respective regulations, but there was no single consolidated circular prescribing all eight reports and their fixed due dates together. This circular closes that gap. It does not create a new registration or a new fee — it tells already-registered entities what to file, when, and where to send it.
All reports, certificates and disclosures go to IFSCA by email at [email protected]. The reporting formats themselves live in the Downloads section of the IFSCA website (ifsca.gov.in/Download), and the circular requires entities to use the latest version of the formats available there at the end of each half-year period. IFSCA has also said it will continue to monitor the industry and may supplement or update the reporting formats if required — so the formats should be re-checked every half-year rather than saved once and reused forever.
The eight reports and their deadlines
The circular lists eight items. Six of them run on fixed calendar dates; one runs on a 30-day clock from the date of the change itself.
⚠️ The 31 May cluster matters most. Three separate filings land on the same date — the annual reporting format, the annual AML/CFT/KYC reporting, and the independent CA/CS/CMA compliance certificate are all due by 31 May of the succeeding year. The third-party certificate cannot be produced overnight: the practising professional has to verify compliance first. Firms should start that engagement well before May, not in the last week.
Who has to file
The circular is addressed to three groups of regulated entities in IFSCs:
- TechFin and Ancillary Service Providers — entities registered under the IFSCA (TechFin and Ancillary Services) Regulations, 2025. These are the technology and support-service firms that serve financial institutions in the IFSC.
- Global In-house Centres (GICs) — entities registered under the IFSCA (Global In-House Centres) Regulations, 2025. These are the captive offshore units that global financial groups set up in GIFT City to run their own back-office and support operations.
- Book-keeping, Accounting, Taxation and Financial Crime Compliance (BATF) Service Providers — entities registered under the IFSCA (Book-keeping, Accounting, Taxation and Financial Crime Compliance Services) Regulations, 2024. These are the firms that provide accounting, tax and financial-crime-compliance services inside the IFSC.
The circular does not apply to banks, insurers, fund managers or other IFSC financial institutions regulated under their own frameworks — only to the three service-provider categories named above. If a firm is registered under more than one of the three regulations, it should read the circular as applying to each of its registrations. Whether a dual-registered entity files one consolidated set of reports or one set per registration is NOT CHECKED in the circular — the document does not say. Firms in that position should confirm with IFSCA rather than assume.
Old position vs new position
The circular is deliberately narrow: it prescribes what to file and when. It does not change who must register, the conditions of registration, or the substantive obligations under the three regulations. The independent compliance certificate (item 8) is the one item that creates a real new annual task for many firms — engaging a practising CA, CS or CMA to certify compliance with the regulations and the terms of the firm's Certificate of Registration, every year, by 31 May.
What to do next
If your firm is registered under any of the three regulations, work through these steps now — the monthly deadline is already running, because the circular is in force with immediate effect:
- Confirm which category you fall in. Check your Certificate of Registration: TechFin/ancillary services (2025 Regulations), Global In-house Centre (2025 Regulations), or book-keeping, accounting, taxation and financial crime compliance services (2024 Regulations). Note the registration date — the reporting calendar applies from 4 November 2026 regardless of when you registered.
- Download the latest formats. Go to the Downloads section of the IFSCA website (ifsca.gov.in/Download) and pull the current reporting formats for your category. Do not reuse an old format saved on a shared drive — the circular requires the latest version available at the end of each half-year.
- Diarise the eight dates. The monthly report (10th of the succeeding month) is the one that will catch firms out first: the first monthly report under this circular falls due on 10 December 2026 for November 2026. Set recurring reminders for the quarterly certificate (15th of the first month of the succeeding quarter) and the 31 May cluster.
- Check whether the AML/CFT/KYC half-yearly and annual reporting applies to you. Items 3 and 5 apply “if applicable” under the IFSCA (AML, CFT and KYC) Guidelines, 2022. If your firm is within the scope of those guidelines, both filings are due; if not, document why they do not apply rather than simply skipping them.
- Engage your CA, CS or CMA early. The independent compliance certificate is due by 31 May of the succeeding year, and the professional must certify compliance with the applicable regulations and the terms of your Certificate of Registration. Book the engagement in the first quarter of the year, not in May.
- Set a 30-day rule for people changes. Any change in the Principal Officer, Compliance Officer or other material particulars furnished at registration must reach IFSCA within 30 days of the effective date of the change. Build this into your HR and board processes so a resignation or appointment automatically triggers the filing.
- File by email, and keep proof. Send every report to [email protected] and keep the sent-mail record with the date. The circular prescribes email submission — there is no portal filing mentioned. Whether IFSCA sends an acknowledgement is NOT CHECKED in the circular; keep your own sent-mail evidence.
Fee trap to avoid: there is no fee mentioned anywhere in this circular — but do not confuse that with the cost of compliance. The real cost is the annual third-party certificate: a practising CA, CS or CMA must be engaged and paid for, and their availability tightens sharply in April–May when every IFSCA-regulated service provider needs the same certificate by the same 31 May date. Late engagement means higher fees, rushed certification, or a missed deadline.
What the circular does not do
- It does not prescribe any penalty for late filing. The circular contains no penalty clause — consequences of delay are NOT CHECKED in this document and should not be assumed; the governing regulations and IFSCA's enforcement powers are a separate question.
- It does not change the registration conditions for TechFin providers, GICs or BATF service providers.
- It does not prescribe the contents of the reporting formats in the circular itself — the formats are hosted separately in the Downloads section and may be updated by IFSCA.
- It does not say whether a firm registered under more than one of the three regulations files one consolidated set of reports or separate sets — NOT CHECKED; confirm with IFSCA.
Why this matters beyond the three categories
IFSCA has been building out the GIFT City rulebook steadily through 2026 — from the GPU and data-centre equipment leasing notification that made operating lease of AI chips a financial product, to the IGDS Responsible Sourcing v3.0 framework for gold. This circular is the supervisory counterpart to that growth: as more service providers register in the IFSC, IFSCA is moving from setting entry conditions to running a regular reporting rhythm over them. For firms, the practical effect is a compliance calendar that now runs every month, not just at registration and renewal. For company secretaries and compliance officers advising IFSC clients, the 10th-of-month and 31 May dates are the two to put in the firm's compliance calendar today.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date for monthly reporting to IFSCA for TechFin providers?
The monthly reporting format is due latest by the 10th of the succeeding month, under IFSCA Circular eF.No. 4598/IFSCA-FSSD/3/2026-FSSD dated 4 November 2026. For example, the report for November 2026 is due by 10 December 2026.
When is the annual report due to IFSCA for GICs and service providers?
The annual reporting format is due latest by 31 May of the succeeding year. The annual AML/CFT/KYC reporting and the independent CA/CS/CMA certificate of compliance share the same 31 May deadline.
How do IFSCA TechFin providers submit their reports?
All reports, certificates and disclosures must be submitted by email to [email protected], using the latest reporting formats available in the Downloads section of the IFSCA website (ifsca.gov.in/Download).
Do IFSCA registered entities need a CA, CS or CMA compliance certificate?
Yes. Every year, an independent third-party practising Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary or Cost and Management Accountant must certify the entity's compliance with the applicable regulations and the terms and conditions of its Certificate of Registration. The certificate is due by 31 May of the succeeding year.
When did the IFSCA reporting norms for TechFin come into force?
The circular came into force with immediate effect on 4 November 2026, the date of IFSCA Circular eF.No. 4598/IFSCA-FSSD/3/2026-FSSD.
What happens if a GIC changes its compliance officer?
Any material change in the information furnished at registration — including a change in the Principal Officer or Compliance Officer — must be reported to IFSCA within 30 days from the effective date of the change.
Does the circular apply to banks and insurers in GIFT City?
No. The circular is addressed only to TechFin and ancillary service providers, Global In-house Centres, and book-keeping, accounting, taxation and financial crime compliance service providers in IFSCs. Banks, insurers and other financial institutions follow their own regulatory frameworks.
Sources
- Primary source: IFSCA Circular eF.No. 4598/IFSCA-FSSD/3/2026-FSSD dated 4 November 2026 — “Reporting Norms for the TechFin and Ancillary Service Providers, Global In-House Centres and Book-keeping, Accounting, Taxation and Financial Crime Compliance Service Providers” (official PDF): ifsca.gov.in — Circular PDF
- Additional source: IFSCA “New Section” listing, showing the circular dated 4 November 2026: ifsca.gov.in — New Section
- Additional source: IFSCA Downloads section, where the latest reporting formats are hosted: ifsca.gov.in — Downloads
Every fact in this article is drawn from the official IFSCA circular linked above. Points the circular does not cover are marked NOT CHECKED rather than filled in from other sources.
