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PayPal, Wise or Payoneer: What GST and FIRC Mean for Design Agencies Getting Paid by International Clients

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Short answer

Design work billed to a client outside India is an export of services when all five section 2(6) conditions hold.12 RBI's purpose code list has no code named design.9 PayPal provides a free weekly digital FIRA.41 Payoneer provides a digital FIRA per transaction.37 Wise emails an e-FIRC per transfer.48 From 1 October 2026, each invoice needs an EDF.1

Applies toRules involvedPlatforms comparedLast verified
Design agencies and studios in India (proprietorships, LLPs, companies) billing clients abroad12IGST Act sections 2(6), 13(2) and 16, rule 96A, FEMA Export and Import Regulations 2026 regulations 3, 5 and 18112131418PayPal, Wise, Payoneer, plus Razorpay, Karbon Business and Skydo on published cost23283135394831 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.

Design agencies in India bill brand identity, packaging, UI, motion and campaign design to clients in many countries, often as monthly retainers with milestone payments on top. Each foreign invoice is usually an export of services, and the payment route decides what the agency gets back as proof of receipt.112 This page compares PayPal, Wise and Payoneer for design agencies. See also the export of services checklist for agencies.

How do PayPal, Wise and Payoneer compare for design agencies?

For design agencies, PayPal takes cards and PayPal balances at 4.40% plus a fixed fee, Wise takes bank transfers to local account details as an RBI-authorised PA-CB, and Payoneer offers local receiving accounts with a 1% to 4% fee to withdraw to INR.6353948 The table adds Razorpay, Karbon Business and Skydo, the three lowest estimated costs on a USD 2,000 receipt from published fees.232831 Rows run cheapest first on that estimate, then providers without a full published estimate, A to Z.

PlatformBest forFeeFX markupSettlementFIRARBI PA-CB statusSource
RazorpayLocal transfers from the US, UK and eurozone1% per MoneySaver bank transfer, flat ₹1,000 below ₹1,00,000; international cards up to 3%0% on MoneySaver bank transfersT+1 for bank transfersFIRS emailed within 24 hours of settlementAuthorised PA-CB, inward and outward622232425
Karbon BusinessUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts1% transaction fee (PayPal alternative page)0% (freelancer page); 0.5% to 1.0% (comparison page)24 to 48 hoursFIRA per transaction from a partner bankNot on the RBI list itself; its terms run export receipts under a partner the RBI lists as a PA-CB6272829
SkydoLocal bank transfers from major marketsUSD 19 up to USD 2,000; USD 29 from USD 2,001 to USD 10,000; 0.3% above; plus GST0% markup on the mid-market rate (product page); retail rate set by Skydo or its partner banks (terms)Within 24 hours (product page); T+1 to T+3 business days (terms)Free FIRA on every paymentAuthorised PA-CB, inward and outward, 8 January 2026630313251
PayoneerMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or UpworkFree to receive (multi-currency account page); fixed fee or 1% for non-local currencies (pricing page); card payment requests 2.90% + $0.491% to 4% when withdrawing to INRWithin 24 hours (multi-currency account page); within 48 hours (pricing page)Free digital FIRA per transaction from a partner AD bankIn-principle PA-CB authorisation on 22 January 2026; RBI lists the application as under process73435363738
PayPalClients paying by card or PayPal balance4.40% plus a fixed fee (for example USD 0.30) per international commercial transaction3.0% or 4.00% above the base exchange rateAllow up to 5 business days to the bankFree weekly digital FIRAIn-principle authorisation; RBI lists it as an existing PA-CB that can operate739404142
WiseBank transfers to local account detailsEquivalent of 2 USD per transfer to the INR account (help article); free e-FIRC (receive pricing page)Mid-market rate plus a fee; no INR percentage published1 to 2 days to the Indian banke-FIRC per transfer within 3 working daysAuthorised PA-CB, inward, 12 March 202664849
  • Large retainers: PayPal's India user agreement restricts export payments above USD 10,000 per transaction, and each PA-CB transaction is capped at ₹25 lakh.540
  • Company accounts: Razorpay ties one purpose code to all international transactions on an account, which matters for agencies with mixed services.26

Each provider's figures are taken from its own published pages.

Which RBI and GST rules apply to design agencies?

The rules that apply to design agencies are the export of services test, place of supply and zero-rating in the IGST Act, the LUT and rule 96A, and the EDF, realisation and EDPMS rules in the FEMA Export and Import Regulations, 2026.112131418

RuleBest for (who it applies to)Plain meaningSource
IGST Act, section 2(6)Anyone billing a client outside IndiaA supply 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 rupees where RBI permits), and the two are not establishments of one person12
IGST Act, section 13(2)Remote work for a foreign clientPlace of supply is the recipient's location by default, with special rules in section 13(3) to 13(13)14
IGST Act, section 16GST-registered exportersExports are zero-rated; supply under bond or LUT without IGST, with refund of unutilised input tax credit13
FORM GST RFD-11 (LUT)Registered exporters invoicing without IGSTFile the Letter of Undertaking on the GST portal for each financial year; it is deemed accepted when the ARN is generated19
CGST Rules, rule 96A(1)(b)Exporters under an LUTIf payment is not received within one year of the invoice, or the FEMA period with any extension if later, IGST with interest is payable within 15 days18
FEMA Export and Import Regulations 2026, regulation 3(2)Every exporter of services from 1 October 2026File an Export Declaration Form (EDF) within 30 days from the end of the invoice month; non-software exporters may file on or before the date of payment1
Regulation 5, as amended on 22 September 2026Every exporter of servicesRealise the full value within nine months of the invoice date, or twelve months if invoiced or settled in rupees12
Regulation 18(1)(a) and (g)Agencies with many open invoicesThe AD bank enters each EDF in EDPMS within five working days and marks it off once the export value is realised1
RBI Payment Aggregator Master Direction, paragraph 11(d) and 11(h)Exporters paid through a PA-CBEach PA-CB transaction is capped at ₹25 lakh, and the PA-CB gives your AD bank the documents to close the EDPMS entry5
  • For example, a Mumbai studio: designs packaging for a Dubai food brand and bills in US dollars. The client is in the UAE and pays in foreign exchange, so the invoice can go out under an LUT without IGST if the other conditions hold.1213
  • Overseas group company: a branch billing its own head office is merely an establishment of a distinct person and fails condition (v) of section 2(6), while a subsidiary billing its foreign parent does not.1216

Which purpose code applies to design agencies?

Design agencies choose the closest code because RBI's list has no design code: P1099 for brand and graphic work, P1007 for advertising design, P0802 for UI and web builds and P0902 for licensing designs they own.910 RBI introduced the current receipt codes through A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 of 29 February 2012.8

CodeBest for (transaction type)Official RBI descriptionSource
P1099Logo, brand identity, packaging and illustration workOther services not included elsewhere910
P1007Ad creatives and campaign visualsAdvertising, trade fair service910
P0802UI and web design delivered as part of a buildSoftware consultancy/implementation (other than those covered in SOFTEX form)910
P0902Licence fees for fonts, templates or illustrations you ownReceipts for use, through licensing arrangements, of produced originals or prototypes (such as manuscripts and films), patents, copyrights, trademarks, industrial processes, franchises etc.910
P1009Interior design within architectural projectsArchitectural services910

The purpose code for design services page explains each choice in more detail.

Each platform records the purpose code in its own way, so set it before the first payment arrives.37434450

  • PayPal: you pick one purpose code during account setup, and it becomes the default for payments before you can withdraw to an Indian bank.43
  • Payoneer: you choose the code in profile settings; it applies to every payment, is printed on each FIRA and cannot be changed for payments already processed.37
  • Stripe: one transaction purpose code per account, chosen from a fixed dropdown list; codes outside the list are not supported.44
  • Wise: the purpose code is entered with the business sector when you set up the business profile.50
  • Razorpay: the code chosen at international activation applies to all international transactions on the account.26
  • Skydo: Skydo says it supports 37 purpose codes and tags the code on each remittance.33

Which option is cheapest at $500, $2,000 and $5,000?

On published fees, the cheapest option for design agencies at $500, $2,000 and $5,000 is usually a bank-transfer route with a flat or 1% fee, while card and PayPal checkouts cost the most at every size.23313945 The live table below works out the INR you receive from each provider's published fees at today's 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%
PayoneerLocal bank transfer to Payoneer receiving account detailsMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork₹1,80,947 to ₹1,86,601₹4,52,367 to ₹4,66,503₹9,04,734 to ₹9,33,0071.00 to 4.00%
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, Skydo's flat USD 19 fee is 3.8% of a $500 invoice but 0.95% of a $2,000 invoice, before GST.31 Razorpay's MoneySaver fee is 1% per bank transfer, with a flat ₹1,000 below ₹1,00,000, so a $500 receipt pays the flat fee.23 PayPal's 4.40% plus USD 0.30 is about 4.42% of a $2,000 invoice, before its 3.0% or 4.00% conversion spread.39

  • Card payments: Stripe charges 3% for Visa or Mastercard cards issued abroad, plus 2% if conversion is needed.4546
  • Withdrawal to INR: Payoneer charges 1% to 4% of the amount when a foreign balance is withdrawn to an Indian bank in INR.35
  • Conversion: Wise converts at the mid-market rate plus a fee and does not publish a fixed percentage for INR.49

The platform cost comparison lets you test your own invoice sizes.

What documents follow each payment?

Each payment to design agencies should leave four records: a FIRA or FIRC from the receiving bank or platform, a self-certified e-BRC on the DGFT portal, the EDF filed with your bank, and the LUT that covers the invoice.11119

DocumentBest forWhat it isWho issues itSource
FIRA or FIRCProving each foreign receiptAdvice or certificate of the inward remittance, with the purpose codeYour bank, or the platform's partner bank (PayPal, Payoneer, Wise, Razorpay and Skydo publish their own process)2532374148
e-BRCGST refunds and export benefit claimsElectronic bank realisation certificate, self-generated by the exporter on the DGFT portal from the bank's IRM dataExporter, on the DGFT portal11
EDFFEMA reporting of each service exportExport Declaration Form, due within 30 days from the end of the invoice monthExporter files; the AD bank enters it in EDPMS within five working days1
LUTZero-rated invoices without IGSTLetter of Undertaking in FORM GST RFD-11, one per financial yearExporter files on the GST portal19
Export invoiceEvery foreign clientMust carry the rule 46 endorsement for supply under LUT and the recipient's name, address and countryExporter20
  • Stripe receipts: Stripe does not issue a FIRC; Standard Chartered emails a payment advice, which you take to your own bank to request one.47
  • Platform receipts and EDPMS: a PA-CB must give your AD bank the documents needed to close the EDPMS entry.5

See FIRC vs FIRA vs e-BRC for how the three differ.

What changes in 2026 for design agencies?

The main changes in 2026 for design agencies are the new FEMA export rules with an EDF for every invoice, a nine-month realisation period and the Income-tax Act, 2025.1221

  • New FEMA export rules: 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.1
  • EDF for every service export: from 1 October 2026 every exporter of services, not only software exporters, files an EDF with the AD bank.1
  • Nine-month realisation: the period is nine months from the invoice date, after a 15-month period that applied from 14 November 2025 was reversed from 5 June 2026.234
  • PA-CB cap: each payment through a cross-border payment aggregator is capped at ₹25 lakh, inward or outward.5
  • Income-tax Act, 2025: in force from 1 April 2026; tax year 2026-27 runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.21
  • GST Council recommendation: the 57th GST Council meeting on 8 October 2026 recommended omitting condition (v) of section 2(6); this needs a change in law and is not in force.15

How these rules apply depends on your entity type and contracts, so confirm the details with a chartered accountant. The EDF generator helps prepare the monthly declaration.

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]RBI: Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, Notification No. FEMA 23(R)/2026-RB, amended up to 22 September 2026, regulations 2(1)(f), 3, 4, 5, 6, 13 and 18 (checked 2026-10-31)
  2. [2]RBI: FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, Notification No. FEMA 23(R)/(1)/2026-RB dated 22 September 2026, amending regulation 5 (realisation period)
  3. [3]RBI: FEMA (Export of Goods and Services) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2025, Notification No. FEMA 23(R)/(7)/2025-RB dated 13 November 2025
  4. [4]RBI: FEMA (Export of Goods and Services) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2026, Notification No. FEMA 23(R)/(8)/2026-RB dated 5 June 2026
  5. [5]RBI: Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregator dated 15 September 2025, paragraphs 4, 10, 11 and 19 (checked 2026-10-31)
  6. [6]RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Payment Aggregators list dated 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  7. [7]RBI: Status of Applications received under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16.10.2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  8. [8]RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012, Compilation of R-Returns: Reporting under FETERS (revised purpose codes)
  9. [9]HDFC Bank: Inward Remittance Purpose Codes (bank reproduction of the RBI list, checked 2026-10-31)
  10. [10]DGFT: Purpose Code and SAC Code Mapping, Version 1.0, 10 November 2023 (reproduces RBI receipt code descriptions)
  11. [11]DGFT: eBRC system, self-certification of eBRC from bank inward remittance messages (IRMs), Trade Notice 33/2023-24 dated 10 November 2023
  12. [12]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 2(6) (export of services)
  13. [13]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 16 (zero-rated supply)
  14. [14]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 13 (place of supply where supplier or recipient is outside India), sub-sections (2) and (3) (checked 2026-10-31)
  15. [15]GST Council: press release, 57th meeting, 8 October 2026
  16. [16]CBIC Circular No. 161/17/2021-GST, scope of 'merely establishments of a distinct person' (branch and head office)
  17. [17]GST Council: Notification No. 10/2023-Central Tax, e-invoicing for aggregate turnover above ₹5 crore from 1 August 2023
  18. [18]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 96A (export under bond or Letter of Undertaking), clause (1)(b) as substituted by Notification No. 12/2024-Central Tax, 10 July 2024
  19. [19]GST portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (LUT), FORM GST RFD-11
  20. [20]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 46 (tax invoice, export endorsement)
  21. [21]PIB: Income-tax Act, 2025 in force from 1 April 2026
  22. [22]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]Razorpay, Multi-Currency Account for International Bank Transfers (MoneySaver Export Account pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  24. [24]Razorpay, Pricing, International Payments and International Bank Transfers tabs (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
  26. [26]Razorpay Docs, About Purpose Codes (checked 2026-10-28)
  27. [27]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
  28. [28]Karbon Business, PayPal Alternative comparison page (checked 2026-10-28)
  29. [29]Karbon Forex Terms and Conditions, Interropac Private Limited (checked 2026-10-28)
  30. [30]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  31. [31]Skydo FAQs, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  32. [32]Skydo, Receive international payments as a freelancer in India (product page) (checked 2026-10-28)
  33. [33]Skydo FAQs, Which purpose codes are accepted using Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  34. [34]Payoneer, How to use Payoneer in India (last modified 18 September 2026, checked 2026-10-28)
  35. [35]Payoneer India, Payoneer Fees (checked 2026-10-28)
  36. [36]Payoneer India, Multi-currency account page and FAQs (checked 2026-10-28)
  37. [37]Payoneer Help Center, Digital FIRA FAQ (checked 2026-10-28)
  38. [38]Payoneer press release, Payoneer receives in-principle authorization as Cross-Border Payment Aggregator in India, 22 January 2026
  39. [39]PayPal India, PayPal Merchant Fees (page last updated 28 March 2024) (checked 2026-10-28)
  40. [40]PayPal India, User Agreement for PayPal Services (last updated 13 January 2025) (checked 2026-10-28)
  41. [41]PayPal India, Foreign Inward Remittance Advise (FIRA) (checked 2026-10-28)
  42. [42]PayPal India Help, How do I transfer funds to my bank account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  43. [43]PayPal India Help, What is the Purpose Code? (checked 2026-10-28)
  44. [44]Stripe Docs, Accept international payments from India (checked 2026-10-28)
  45. [45]Stripe India, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  46. [46]Stripe Support, Additional pricing information for Indian cross-border sellers (checked 2026-10-28)
  47. [47]Stripe Support, FIRC/payment advice for international transactions in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  48. [48]Wise Help Centre, Receiving payments for Indian businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
  49. [49]Wise India, Fees for getting paid (Wise Business receive pricing) (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]Skydo, Terms of Use, last updated 9 April 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)

Frequently asked questions

Does a design agency charge IGST to a client in the UK?+

Usually not. Design services for a UK client, paid in foreign currency, are an export of services when all five conditions in section 2(6) of the IGST Act hold.12 A registered agency then invoices without IGST under an LUT filed in FORM GST RFD-11 for the financial year.1319

Which purpose code should a branding studio use for a logo project from abroad?+

RBI's list has no code named design.9 Logo and brand identity work with no closer match is often reported under P1099, Other services not included elsewhere, and ad creatives under P1007, Advertising, trade fair service.910 Licence fees for fonts or illustrations you own fit P0902.910

Can a design agency use one Payoneer account for all its foreign clients?+

Yes, but Payoneer applies the purpose code set in profile settings to every payment and prints it on each FIRA.37 If the agency does both brand design and website builds, ask your bank how to handle receipts that need a different code, because Payoneer cannot change the code for payments already processed.37

Is a Wise e-FIRC accepted for a design agency's GST refund claim?+

Wise emails an e-FIRC for each transfer within three working days.48 For GST refunds and export benefit claims, the agency also self-generates an e-BRC on the DGFT portal from its bank's inward remittance data, so keep both records with each invoice.11

What if an international client pays a design agency only part of the fee?+

Under regulation 6 of the 2026 FEMA export rules, your AD bank can allow a reduction in the export value, on your declaration alone for invoices up to ₹10 lakh.1 Keep the client's emails about the short payment, because the bank closes the EDPMS entry only once the reduced value is accepted.1

Do design agencies need to e-invoice exports?+

E-invoicing applies to GST-registered businesses with aggregate turnover above ₹5 crore, from 1 August 2023 under Notification 10/2023-Central Tax.17 Smaller design agencies issue regular export invoices carrying the rule 46 endorsement for supply under LUT.20 The endorsement states that the supply is meant for export under bond or Letter of Undertaking without payment of integrated tax.20

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.