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PayPal or Wise: What GST and LUT Mean for Freelance SEO Specialists Getting Paid

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Editorial team, serviceexportguide.com
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Short answer

Remote SEO work for a client abroad is an export when all five section 2(6) IGST conditions hold.1 Registration applies once turnover exceeds ₹20 lakh.2 A registered exporter files an LUT in FORM GST RFD-11 each financial year.3 PayPal charges 4.40% plus a fixed fee.4 Wise has been an authorised PA-CB since 12 March 2026.56

Applies toRules involvedPlatforms comparedLast verified
Freelance SEO specialists in India paid by foreign clientsIGST Act sections 2(6), 13(2) and 16; CGST Act section 22; CGST Rules 46 and 96A; FEMA 2026 Regulations178291011Razorpay, Karbon Business, Skydo, PayPal, Wise12131415631 October 2026

1,000 USD = ₹94,243 at the reference rate for 13 November 2026 (European Central Bank data).

Estimated rupees received, on published fees

Sorted by estimated rupees received, highest first. Only providers that publish both their fee and their conversion markup for this currency and method can be estimated.

#Provider and routeBest forFee (+GST)MarkupYou receiveCost
1Karbon BusinessLowest estimated costBank transfer to a Karbon virtual USD accountUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts₹942plus GST, rate not stated0%₹93,131 to ₹93,3011.00 to 1.18%
2RazorpayMoneySaver Export Account: bank transfer to virtual account details (Standard plan)Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone₹1,000plus GST, rate not stated0%₹93,063 to ₹93,2431.06 to 1.25%
3WinvestaGlobal Collections Account, standard plan (up to 2,000 a month per currency)Local transfers with a published per-payment fee₹1,4350%₹92,8091.52%
4SkydoPayment link (InstaLinks) paid by ACH debitLocal bank transfers from major markets₹1,885plus GST, rate not stated0%₹92,019 to ₹92,3582.00 to 2.36%
5PayoneerLocal bank transfer to Payoneer receiving account detailsMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork₹0no GST stated1 to 4%₹90,473 to ₹93,3011.00 to 4.00%
6PayPalInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice)Clients paying by card or PayPal balance₹4,175no GST stated3 to 4%₹86,465 to ₹87,3667.30 to 8.25%

Not estimated because pricing is not fully published: Cashfree Payments, Dodo Payments, PingPong, Stripe, Tazapay, TransFi, Wise.

Where a provider says GST applies to its fee but not at what rate, the range runs from no GST to 18%, the rate Skydo, Stripe and Winvesta state on their pages. Estimates use each provider's published fee, conversion markup, GST on fees and FIRA charge, checked 2026-10-28, against the reference rate. They exclude charges taken by intermediary banks and your own bank, and the rate a provider actually applies at the time of conversion. Check the provider's pricing page before you choose. The order is calculated only from these published numbers; no provider can pay to change its position, and there are no affiliate links.

Freelance SEO specialists in India bill technical audits, content optimisation and link-building retainers to clients in the US, UK and Australia, and PayPal and Wise are two of the routes they compare most. The GST question that follows is whether they need to register and file a Letter of Undertaking (LUT). This page answers that, with PayPal and Wise judged on the same published facts as the lowest-cost providers. The full persona guide is international payments for SEO specialists. Confirm your position with a chartered accountant (CA).

How do PayPal and Wise compare for freelance SEO specialists?

PayPal and Wise differ for freelance SEO specialists in how the client pays, the fee and conversion markup, settlement time, receipt document and RBI status.15416617 PayPal suits clients paying by card or PayPal balance, and Wise suits bank transfers to local account details.156 The table lists PayPal and Wise, plus the three lowest-cost providers on published fees for a USD 2,000 receipt (Razorpay, Karbon Business and Skydo).18192021132223 Providers with enough published pricing to estimate come first, cheapest first; the rest follow A to Z.

PlatformBest forFeeFX markupSettlementFIRARBI PA-CB statusSource
RazorpayLocal transfers from the US, UK and eurozone1% plus GST on MoneySaver bank transfers, with a flat fee on small transfers; international cards up to 3% plus GST0% on MoneySaver bank transfers, per Razorpay; card conversion markup not publishedT+1 for push bank transfersForeign Inward Remittance Statement (FIRS) emailed within 24 hours of settlementAuthorised PA-CB, inward and outward12181920242526275
Karbon BusinessUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts1% transaction fee listed on its PayPal comparison page0% (freelancer page); 0.5% to 1.0% (PayPal alternative page)24 to 48 hoursFIRA for every transaction, from an unnamed banking partnerNot on the RBI list itself; its terms run export receipts under a partner the RBI lists as a PA-CB1321282930
SkydoLocal bank transfers from major marketsUSD 19 plus GST up to USD 2,000; USD 29 plus GST up to USD 10,000; 0.3% plus GST above0% markup on the mid-market rate (product page); retail rate set by Skydo or its partner banks (terms)T+1 to T+3 business days in its termsFree FIRA on every paymentAuthorised PA-CB, inward and outward, 8 January 2026142223313233345
PayPalClients paying by card or PayPal balance4.40% plus a fixed fee per international commercial transaction (USD 0.30 on USD)3.0% or 4.00% above the base exchange rateUp to 5 business days to reach the bankFree weekly digital FIRA from February 2026Existing PA-CB with in-principle authorisation on RBI's status list1543536375
WiseBank transfers to local account details2 USD equivalent per transfer to the INR account that issues the e-FIRC (help article); free e-FIRC (receive pricing page); 18% GST on Wise feesCurrency-dependent fee over mid-market; INR percentage not published1 to 2 days to the Indian banke-FIRC for each transfer within 3 working daysAuthorised PA-CB, inward, 12 March 202663839175

Monthly SEO retainers are usually paid the same way each month, so a small difference in percentage cost adds up over a year. See Wise vs PayPal.

Which RBI and GST rules apply to freelance SEO specialists?

Freelance SEO specialists exporting services follow the IGST export test, the ₹20 lakh registration threshold, the LUT and rule 96A, the EDF and the nine-month realisation period.123101140

RuleBest for (who it applies to)Plain meaningSource
IGST Act, section 2(6)SEO specialists billing clients or agencies abroadWork is an export of services only if all five conditions hold: supplier in India, recipient outside India, place of supply outside India, payment in convertible foreign exchange (or INR where RBI permits), and the two are not establishments of one person.1
IGST Act, section 13(2)Audits and optimisation delivered onlineThe place of supply is the client's location when the supplier or the client is outside India, unless a special rule in sections 13(3) to 13(13) applies.7
CGST Act, section 22; Notification No. 10/2017-Integrated TaxSEO specialists whose yearly turnover is near ₹20 lakhRegistration is needed once aggregate turnover in a financial year exceeds ₹20 lakh (₹10 lakh in special category States). Export turnover counts in aggregate turnover.24142
CGST Act, section 25(1)SEO specialists who have just crossed the thresholdA person who becomes liable to register applies within thirty days from the date of becoming liable.43
IGST Act, section 16(3); FORM GST RFD-11GST-registered SEO specialistsA registered exporter files a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) for each financial year and invoices exports without IGST; the LUT is deemed accepted when the ARN is generated.8344
CGST Rules, rule 96A(1)(b)Registered SEO specialists with slow-paying clientsIf payment is not received within one year of the invoice date, or the FEMA period including any RBI-permitted extension, whichever is later, IGST with interest is payable within 15 days after that.10
CGST Rules, rule 46GST-registered SEO specialists issuing export invoicesAn export invoice under LUT carries the endorsement "SUPPLY MEANT FOR EXPORT/SUPPLY TO SEZ UNIT OR SEZ DEVELOPER FOR AUTHORISED OPERATIONS UNDER BOND OR LETTER OF UNDERTAKING WITHOUT PAYMENT OF INTEGRATED TAX" and the recipient's name, address and country of destination.9
FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, regulations 3 and 4Every SEO specialist exporting servicesFrom 1 October 2026 every service exporter gives an Export Declaration Form (EDF) to the AD bank within 30 days from the end of the month of invoicing; non-software exporters may instead file on or before the date payment is received.11
2026 Regulations, regulation 5, as amended on 22 September 2026SEO specialists with unpaid foreign invoicesExport proceeds are realised within nine months from the invoice date, or twelve months for invoices raised or settled in rupees; the AD bank can extend the period.4011

What does an LUT change for an SEO specialist paid by PayPal or Wise?

An LUT lets a GST-registered SEO specialist invoice exports without IGST, whichever platform carries the payment.83 The LUT is filed in FORM GST RFD-11 for each financial year and is deemed accepted when the ARN is generated.344

  • Who files: Only a registered person files an LUT; below ₹20 lakh no registration is needed.32
  • Invoice wording: Each export invoice carries the rule 46 endorsement ending "WITHOUT PAYMENT OF INTEGRATED TAX".9
  • Late payment: If payment is not received within one year of the invoice, or the FEMA period if later, IGST with interest becomes payable.10
  • No LUT: The IGST-paid route with refund is open to services under Notification No. 01/2023-Integrated Tax.8

For example, a Kochi SEO consultant who registered after crossing ₹20 lakh files the LUT first, then raises the next retainer invoice to a Sydney client without IGST.23 See how to file an LUT and export without LUT.

Which purpose code applies to freelance SEO specialists?

The purpose code that applies to most freelance SEO work is P1007, Advertising, trade fair service, with other codes for consulting, builds or data work, from the RBI list introduced by Circular No. 84 of 29 February 2012.4546

CodeBest for (transaction type)Official RBI descriptionSource
P1007Ongoing SEO, content optimisation and link building as a marketing serviceAdvertising, trade fair service4647
P1006Search strategy consulting and digital PRBusiness and management consultancy and public relations services4647
P0802Website builds, technical implementation and site migrationsSoftware consultancy/implementation (other than those covered in SOFTEX form)4647
P0803Large crawl or analytics data processing jobsData base, data processing charges4647

PayPal sets one default code at setup, and Wise asks for it with the business sector on the business profile.4849506 See purpose code for digital marketing services.

Which option is cheapest at $500, $2,000 and $5,000 for freelance SEO specialists?

The cheapest option for freelance SEO specialists changes with invoice size, because a flat fee weighs more on a small invoice and a percentage fee weighs more on a large one.2223181920 The table below works out the INR received from each provider's published fees at today's exchange rate.

PlatformBest forINR on USD 2,000INR on USD 5,000INR on USD 10,000Cost on USD 5,000
SkydoMost INRTransfer to Skydo local account details or international SWIFT accountLocal bank transfers from major markets₹1,86,373₹4,67,991₹9,39,2060.68%
Karbon BusinessBank transfer to a Karbon virtual USD accountUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts₹1,86,262 to ₹1,86,601₹4,65,655 to ₹4,66,503₹9,31,311 to ₹9,33,0071.00 to 1.18%
RazorpayMoneySaver Export Account: bank transfer to virtual account details (Standard plan)Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone₹1,86,262 to ₹1,86,601₹4,65,655 to ₹4,66,503₹9,31,311 to ₹9,33,0071.00 to 1.18%
PayPalInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice)Clients paying by card or PayPal balance₹1,72,958 to ₹1,74,760₹4,32,436 to ₹4,36,940₹8,64,899 to ₹8,73,9087.27 to 8.23%

Not estimated because pricing for USD is not fully published: Wise.

Ranked by INR received on USD 5,000. Reference rate: European Central Bank data for 13 November 2026. Fees, conversion markup, GST on fees and FIRA charges as published by each provider, checked 28 October 2026. Ranges appear where a provider publishes a range or does not state its GST rate. Intermediary bank charges are excluded. See the methodology.

For example, on a $2,000 invoice Skydo's USD 19 fee is 0.95% of the invoice before GST, and Razorpay's MoneySaver fee is 1% before GST.2223181920 PayPal's 4.40% plus USD 0.30 is 4.415% of the same invoice, and converting the rest at 3.0% to 4.00% above the base rate brings the total to about 7.28% to 8.24%.415 On a $500 invoice, the same USD 19 Skydo fee is 3.8% before GST.2223

  • Large invoices: A single PA-CB payment cannot exceed ₹25 lakh, so check how a provider handles a bigger invoice before you send it.51
  • PayPal ceiling: PayPal's India user agreement lists an export payment above USD 10,000 per transaction as a restricted activity.1549

The platform cost comparison and the USD to INR rate page let you rerun the numbers for your own invoice.

What documents follow each payment to a freelance SEO specialist?

Each payment to a freelance SEO specialist should be matched by a FIRA or e-FIRC, an e-BRC where the bank reports the receipt, and the monthly EDF; a registered specialist also keeps an LUT and a rule 46 export invoice.52531139

DocumentBest forWhat it showsWhenSource
FIRA or FIRCMatching each retainer payment to its invoiceProves the foreign payment was credited; rule 89(2)(c) asks for BRC or FIRC details when claiming a GST refund on exported services.For each payment, from the bank or payment provider52
e-BRCShowing the export was realisedElectronic Bank Realisation Certificate the exporter self-generates on the DGFT portal from the bank's inward remittance message (IRM).After the bank reports the receipt5354
Export Declaration Form (EDF)Every SEO specialist from 1 October 2026Declares the month's service exports to the AD bank; one EDF can cover all exports to one or more recipients in a month.Within 30 days from the end of the invoice month, or by the payment date for non-software services11
Letter of Undertaking (LUT)GST-registered SEO specialistsLets a registered exporter invoice without IGST.Once for each financial year, in FORM GST RFD-11344
Export invoiceGST-registered SEO specialistsCarries the rule 46 export endorsement and the recipient's name, address and country of destination.With each invoice9

What each platform gives:

  • Razorpay: Razorpay emails a Foreign Inward Remittance Statement (FIRS) within 24 hours after settlement for bank transfers.122719
  • Karbon Business: Karbon says it provides a FIRA for every transaction, issued by its licensed banking partner.13
  • Skydo: Skydo says it issues a free FIRA on every payment received.3134
  • PayPal: PayPal offers a free weekly digital FIRA from February 2026, with custom FIRAs charged per request.36
  • Wise: Wise emails an e-FIRC for each transfer within 3 working days.638

See FIRA for freelancers for how these documents are used.

What changes in 2026 for freelance SEO specialists?

The 2026 changes for freelance SEO specialists are the new FEMA export regulations from 1 October 2026, the EDF for every service exporter, the nine-month realisation period and the Income-tax Act, 2025.114055

  • New FEMA regulations: The Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 came into force on 1 October 2026 and replaced the 2015 regulations.11
  • EDF for every service exporter: From 1 October 2026 every exporter of services, not only software exporters, files an EDF with the AD bank.11
  • Realisation back to nine months: The period moved to 15 months from 14 November 2025, returned to nine months from 5 June 2026, and stays at nine months from the invoice date under the amended 2026 Regulations.565740
  • Income-tax Act, 2025: The new Act applies from 1 April 2026, and "tax year" replaces previous year and assessment year, so tax year 2026-27 runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.55
  • Return due date: The due date for non-audit business and profession cases moved to 31 August.58
  • PA-CB authorisations: RBI's list dated 16 October 2026 shows Skydo authorised on 8 January 2026 and Wise on 12 March 2026, while Payoneer received in-principle authorisation on 22 January 2026.53265960613062
  • PayPal FIRA: PayPal moved to a free weekly digital FIRA from February 2026.36
  • GST Council recommendation: The 57th GST Council meeting on 8 October 2026 recommended omitting condition (v) of section 2(6) of the IGST Act; this needs a law change and is not in force.63

See EDF for service exporters for the filing steps.

How did we verify this?

We checked this page against the sources below on 31 October 2026. Provider fees, conversion markups and RBI payment aggregator (PA-CB) status were checked on 28 October 2026. Rupee amounts use European Central Bank reference rates for 13 November 2026. Read our methodology or report an error.

  1. [1]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 2(6) (export of services) and Explanation 1 to section 8
  2. [2]CBIC: CGST Act, 2017, section 22 (persons liable for registration) (checked 2026-10-31)
  3. [3]GST portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)
  4. [4]PayPal India, PayPal Merchant Fees (page last updated 28 March 2024) (checked 2026-10-28)
  5. [5]RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Payment Aggregators list dated 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  6. [6]Wise Help Centre, Receiving payments for Indian businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
  7. [7]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 13 (place of supply where supplier or recipient is outside India)
  8. [8]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 16 (zero-rated supply, supply under bond or LUT)
  9. [9]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 46 (tax invoice, export endorsement)
  10. [10]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 96A(1)(b) as substituted by Notification No. 12/2024-Central Tax, 10 July 2024
  11. [11]RBI: Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, FEMA 23(R)/2026-RB, amended up to 22 September 2026, regulations 2, 3, 4, 13 and 18 (checked 2026-10-31)
  12. [12]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
  13. [13]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
  14. [14]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  15. [15]PayPal India, User Agreement for PayPal Services (last updated 13 January 2025) (checked 2026-10-28)
  16. [16]PayPal India Help, Can I use PayPal to receive payments from Indian customers? (checked 2026-10-28)
  17. [17]Wise India, Receive international payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  18. [18]Razorpay, Multi-Currency Account for International Bank Transfers (MoneySaver Export Account pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  19. [19]Razorpay, Pricing, International Payments and International Bank Transfers tabs (checked 2026-10-28)
  20. [20]Razorpay, Accept International Payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]Karbon Business, PayPal Alternative comparison page (checked 2026-10-28)
  22. [22]Skydo FAQs, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]Skydo, home page fee table (checked 2026-10-28)
  24. [24]Razorpay Docs, Currency Conversion (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]Razorpay Docs, Flash Links (ACH Debit) (checked 2026-10-28)
  26. [26]Razorpay Docs, International Payments FAQs (checked 2026-10-28)
  27. [27]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
  28. [28]Karbon, Karbon FX Remittances, home page (checked 2026-10-28)
  29. [29]Karbon Forex Terms and Conditions, Interropac Private Limited (checked 2026-10-28)
  30. [30]RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Payment Aggregators (PA-O, PA-P and PA-CB), list dated 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  31. [31]Skydo, Receive international payments as a freelancer in India (product page) (checked 2026-10-28)
  32. [32]Skydo, Terms of Use, last updated 9 April 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  33. [33]Skydo FAQs, How long does settlement take on InstaLinks? (checked 2026-10-28)
  34. [34]Skydo FAQs, What is accepted for GST filings and banks between FIRA and FIRC? (checked 2026-10-28)
  35. [35]PayPal India Help, How do I transfer funds to my bank account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  36. [36]PayPal India, Foreign Inward Remittance Advise (FIRA) (checked 2026-10-28)
  37. [37]RBI, Status of Applications received under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16.10.2026, Table D (checked 2026-10-28)
  38. [38]Wise India, Fees for getting paid (Wise Business receive pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  39. [39]Wise India site, Wise Business pricing, fees at a glance (checked 2026-10-28)
  40. [40]RBI: Notification FEMA 23(R)/(1)/2026-RB dated 22 September 2026, amending regulation 5 (realisation period)
  41. [41]Notification No. 10/2017-Integrated Tax (exemption from registration for inter-State suppliers of taxable services), GSTZen reproduction
  42. [42]CBIC: CGST Act, 2017 (updated to 31 August 2021), section 2(6), aggregate turnover includes exports
  43. [43]CBIC: CGST Act, 2017, section 25(1) (apply within thirty days of becoming liable) (checked 2026-10-31)
  44. [44]CBIC Circular No. 40/14/2018-GST (LUT deemed accepted on generation of ARN)
  45. [45]RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012, reporting under FETERS (revised purpose codes)
  46. [46]HDFC Bank: Inward Remittance Purpose Codes (bank reproduction of the RBI list, checked 2026-10-28)
  47. [47]DGFT: Purpose Code and SAC Code Mapping, Version 1.0, 10 November 2023 (reproduces RBI receipt code descriptions)
  48. [48]PayPal India Help, What is the Purpose Code? (checked 2026-10-28)
  49. [49]PayPal India Help, How do I receive payments through PayPal? (checked 2026-10-28)
  50. [50]Wise India blog, Verifying Wise Business account as a sole trader in India, dated 28 August 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  51. [51]RBI: Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregator dated 15 September 2025, paragraph 11(d) (transaction limit) and 11(h) (documents to the AD bank)
  52. [52]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 89(2)(c) (BRC or FIRC statement for refunds on export of services) (checked 2026-10-31)
  53. [53]DGFT: eBRC system, self-certification of eBRC from bank inward remittance messages (IRMs), Trade Notice 33/2023-24 dated 10 November 2023
  54. [54]DGFT: FAQs on Self-Certification of eBRC, March 2024
  55. [55]PIB: Income-tax Act, 2025 comes into force from 1 April 2026
  56. [56]RBI: Notification FEMA 23(R)/(7)/2025-RB dated 13 November 2025 (realisation period of 15 months)
  57. [57]RBI: Notification FEMA 23(R)/(8)/2026-RB (realisation period back to nine months from 5 June 2026)
  58. [58]CBDT: FAQs on Budget 2026 (return due date of 31 August for non-audit business and profession cases)
  59. [59]Payoneer India, Payoneer's multi-jurisdictional licenses (checked 2026-10-28)
  60. [60]Payoneer press release, Payoneer receives in-principle authorization as Cross-Border Payment Aggregator in India, 22 January 2026
  61. [61]RBI, Status of applications received under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16.10.2026, Table E (checked 2026-10-28)
  62. [62]Payoneer Help Center, Digital FIRA FAQ (checked 2026-10-28)
  63. [63]GST Council: press release on the 57th GST Council meeting, 8 October 2026

Frequently asked questions

Do SEO freelancers need an LUT if they are not GST registered?+

An SEO freelancer without GST registration does not file an LUT, because FORM GST RFD-11 is a service on the GST portal for registered taxpayers. Below ₹20 lakh of aggregate turnover in a financial year, registration is not required, and the foreign invoice simply carries no GST.32

When should an SEO consultant file the LUT for 2026-27?+

An SEO consultant files the LUT in FORM GST RFD-11 for each financial year, before raising export invoices without IGST in that year. The LUT is deemed accepted as soon as the ARN is generated, under CBIC Circular No. 40/14/2018-GST, so there is no wait for approval.344

What happens if I invoice a US client without GST and forgot the LUT?+

Without an LUT, a registered exporter's zero-rated supply follows the IGST-paid route with refund, which section 16(4) of the IGST Act limits to notified classes; Notification No. 01/2023-Integrated Tax keeps it open for all services. Speak to a chartered accountant about correcting the invoices.8

Does Wise charge GST on its fees to Indian freelancers?+

Wise says 18% GST applies to its fees. Its India help article says it charges an equivalent of 2 USD in the received currency for the transfer to the INR bank account that issues the e-FIRC, its India receive pricing page describes the e-FIRC as free, and Wise converts at the mid-market rate plus a currency-dependent fee.6383917

Which purpose code do SEO retainers go under on PayPal?+

SEO retainers usually go under P1007, Advertising, trade fair service, the RBI receipt code for advertising services. On PayPal, the purpose code is selected once during account setup, becomes the default for payments and must be in place before withdrawing to an Indian bank account.464849

Is SEO work for an agency in Mumbai with a US client an export?+

SEO work billed to a Mumbai agency is not an export, even if the end client is in the US, because the recipient of your service is the Indian agency. Section 2(6) of the IGST Act needs the recipient to be outside India, so that invoice is a domestic supply.1

How fast does Wise send SEO payments to an Indian bank?+

Wise says the INR payment reaches the Indian bank account within 1 to 2 days. The client's payment takes 0 to 3 working days to reach Wise by local methods and 2 to 6 working days by SWIFT. Wise converts every payment automatically, so Indian users cannot hold the foreign currency.6

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

Profession

How should an SEO specialist in India receive payments from foreign clients?

How Indian SEO freelancers and consultants get paid by foreign clients and agencies: export status, link-building budgets, purpose codes, EDF and tax.

GST

How do you file an LUT for export of services on the GST portal?

Step-by-step guide to filing a Letter of Undertaking in FORM GST RFD-11 for export of services: eligibility, validity, late filing and the ARN on invoices.

GST

How do you export services by paying IGST instead of filing an LUT?

How the IGST-paid route works for service exporters without an LUT: the October 2023 change, invoice wording, GSTR-3B reporting and the RFD-01 refund with Statement 2.

Purpose codes

Which purpose code should a digital marketing agency or freelancer use?

Which RBI purpose code fits digital marketing exports: P1007 for advertising, P1006 for marketing strategy and PR, P1016 for market research, P1099 for brand promotion.

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Wise vs PayPal for Indian freelancers and agencies: verdict by use case, INR received on $2,000 to $10,000, fees, FX markup, FIRA, RBI status and settlement time.