Guide for Service Exporters
Menu
Payments

PayPal, Wise or Payoneer: What GST and FIRC Mean for Freelance Social Media Managers Getting Paid

Author:
Editorial team, serviceexportguide.com
Verified by:
Editorial team
Published
Last modified
Fees checked on
Reading time
11 min read

Short answer

Social media management 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 The usual RBI code is P1007, Advertising, trade fair service.3 PayPal offers a free weekly digital FIRA from February 2026.4 Wise emails an e-FIRC per transfer.56 Payoneer issues a free digital FIRA.78

Applies toRules involvedPlatforms comparedLast verified
Freelance social media managers in India paid by foreign clientsIGST Act sections 2(6), 13 and 16; CGST Act section 22; FEMA 2026 Regulations; Finance Act, 2026 section 157191021112Razorpay, Karbon Business, Skydo, Payoneer, PayPal, Wise1314151617531 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 social media managers in India run content calendars, community management and paid social for brands and creators in the US, UK, UAE and Australia. Most are paid through PayPal, Wise or Payoneer, and the questions that follow are about GST and the FIRC: whether the work is an export, when to register, and which document proves each payment. This page answers those with every provider judged on the same published facts. The persona guide on international payments for social media managers covers payment routes in more depth. Confirm your own position with a chartered accountant (CA).

How do PayPal, Wise and Payoneer compare for freelance social media managers?

PayPal, Wise and Payoneer differ for freelance social media managers in how the client pays, the published fee and conversion markup, settlement time, receipt document and RBI status.1718195201621 PayPal suits clients paying by card or PayPal balance, Wise suits bank transfers to local account details, and Payoneer suits marketplace payouts.17516 The table lists PayPal, Wise and Payoneer, plus the three lowest-cost providers on published fees for a USD 2,000 receipt (Razorpay, Karbon Business and Skydo).22232425142627 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 outward132223242829303132
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-CB1425333435
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 20261526273637383932
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% + USD 0.491% to 4% when converted to INR for withdrawalWithin 24 hours (multi-currency account page); within 48 hours (pricing page)Free digital FIRA for each transactionIn-principle PA-CB authorisation on 22 January 2026; RBI lists the application as under process1640217841424335
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 list17184444532
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 202656462032

A client paying by card falls under PayPal's commercial rate or Payoneer's card payment request fee, while a client paying by bank transfer can use local account details.184021520 See Wise vs Payoneer.

Which RBI and GST rules apply to freelance social media managers?

Freelance social media managers exporting services follow the IGST export test and place of supply rules, the ₹20 lakh registration threshold, the LUT, the EDF and the nine-month realisation period.192471148

RuleBest for (who it applies to)Plain meaningSource
IGST Act, section 2(6)Managers billing brands or creators 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)Accounts managed online from IndiaThe 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.9
Finance Act, 2026, section 157; IGST Act, section 13(8)(b) omittedManagers arranging influencer or sponsorship deals for foreign brandsThe intermediary rule, which put the place of supply at the supplier's location, was omitted with effect from 30 March 2026.129
CGST Act, section 22; Notification No. 10/2017-Integrated TaxManagers 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.24950
IGST Act, section 16(3); FORM GST RFD-11GST-registered managersA 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.104751
CGST Rules, rule 96A(1)(b)Registered managers 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.52
FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, regulations 3 and 4Every manager 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 2026Managers 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.4811
RBI Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregator, paragraph 11(d)Managers paid through Wise, Skydo, Razorpay or another PA-CBEach cross-border payment aggregator (PA-CB) transaction is capped at ₹25 lakh, for inward and outward payments alike.53

Which social media work can fail the export test?

Social media work fails the export test when any of the five conditions in section 2(6) of the IGST Act is missing, most often because the recipient is in India.1

  • Indian agency in the chain: Work subcontracted by an Indian agency for its foreign client is billed to the Indian agency, so the recipient is in India.1
  • Ad spend: Whether boosting budgets you pay on a client's behalf form part of your supply depends on your contract; agree the treatment with a CA.
  • Influencer deals: Commission for arranging deals can be an intermediary service, whose special place of supply rule was omitted from 30 March 2026.5412

For example, a Bhopal manager running a Dubai restaurant's Instagram under a direct contract bills the restaurant, while the same work done for a Delhi agency is billed to the agency.1

Which purpose code applies to freelance social media managers?

The purpose code that applies to most social media management is P1007, Advertising, trade fair service, from the RBI list introduced by Circular No. 84 of 29 February 2012.553

CodeBest for (transaction type)Official RBI descriptionSource
P1007Content calendars, posting, paid social and community management for a brandAdvertising, trade fair service356
P1101Reels, shorts and video edits as the main deliverableAudio-visual and related services like Motion picture and video tape production, distribution and projection services.356
P1006Social strategy consulting and PR-led campaignsBusiness and management consultancy and public relations services356
P1099Sponsorship and brand promotion, which DGFT maps to SAC 998397 under this codeOther services not included elsewhere356

PayPal sets one default code at setup, and Payoneer applies the profile code to every payment and prints it on each FIRA.57587 See purpose code for digital marketing services.

Which option is cheapest at $500, $2,000 and $5,000 for freelance social media managers?

The cheapest option for freelance social media managers changes with invoice size, because a flat fee weighs more on a small invoice and a percentage fee weighs more on a large one.2627222324 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%
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, 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.2627222324 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%.1817 On a $500 invoice, the same USD 19 Skydo fee is 3.8% before GST.2627

  • Large invoices: A single PA-CB payment cannot exceed ₹25 lakh, so check how a provider handles a bigger invoice before you send it.53
  • PayPal ceiling: PayPal's India user agreement lists an export payment above USD 10,000 per transaction as a restricted activity.1758

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 social media manager?

Each payment to a freelance social media manager should be matched by a FIRA or e-FIRC, an e-BRC where the bank reports the receipt, and the monthly EDF; a registered manager also keeps an LUT and a rule 46 export invoice.5960114761

DocumentBest forWhat it showsWhenSource
FIRA or FIRCMatching each monthly retainer 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 provider59
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 receipt6062
Export Declaration Form (EDF)Every manager 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 managersLets a registered exporter invoice without IGST.Once for each financial year, in FORM GST RFD-114751
Export invoiceGST-registered managersCarries the rule 46 export endorsement and the recipient's name, address and country of destination.With each invoice61

What each platform gives:

  • Razorpay: Razorpay emails a Foreign Inward Remittance Statement (FIRS) within 24 hours after settlement for bank transfers.133123
  • Karbon Business: Karbon says it provides a FIRA for every transaction, issued by its licensed banking partner.14
  • Skydo: Skydo says it issues a free FIRA on every payment received.3639
  • Payoneer: Payoneer gives a free digital FIRA for each transaction within 24 to 72 hours, showing the purpose code you set in your profile.78
  • PayPal: PayPal offers a free weekly digital FIRA from February 2026, with custom FIRAs charged per request.4
  • Wise: Wise emails an e-FIRC for each transfer within 3 working days.56

See FIRA for freelancers for how each document is used.

What changes in 2026 for freelance social media managers?

The 2026 changes for freelance social media managers are the new FEMA export regulations and EDF from 1 October 2026, the nine-month realisation period, the intermediary rule omission and the Income-tax Act, 2025.11481263

  • 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.646548
  • Intermediary rule omitted: Section 13(8)(b) of the IGST Act, which put the place of supply of intermediary services at the supplier's location, was omitted from 30 March 2026.12
  • 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 2027.63
  • Return due date: The due date for non-audit business and profession cases moved to 31 August.66
  • 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 2026.32375414243357
  • PayPal FIRA: PayPal moved to a free weekly digital FIRA from February 2026.4

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]HDFC Bank: Inward Remittance Purpose Codes (bank reproduction of the RBI list, checked 2026-10-28)
  4. [4]PayPal India, Foreign Inward Remittance Advise (FIRA) (checked 2026-10-28)
  5. [5]Wise Help Centre, Receiving payments for Indian businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
  6. [6]Wise India, Fees for getting paid (Wise Business receive pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  7. [7]Payoneer Help Center, Digital FIRA FAQ (checked 2026-10-28)
  8. [8]Payoneer India, Digital FIRC page (checked 2026-10-28)
  9. [9]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 13 (place of supply where supplier or recipient is outside India)
  10. [10]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 16 (zero-rated supply, supply under bond or LUT)
  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]Finance Act, 2026, section 157 (omission of section 13(8)(b) of the IGST Act from 30 March 2026), Gazette of India
  13. [13]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
  14. [14]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
  15. [15]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  16. [16]Payoneer, How to use Payoneer in India (last modified 18 September 2026, checked 2026-10-28)
  17. [17]PayPal India, User Agreement for PayPal Services (last updated 13 January 2025) (checked 2026-10-28)
  18. [18]PayPal India, PayPal Merchant Fees (page last updated 28 March 2024) (checked 2026-10-28)
  19. [19]PayPal India Help, Can I use PayPal to receive payments from Indian customers? (checked 2026-10-28)
  20. [20]Wise India, Receive international payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]Payoneer India, Payoneer Fees (checked 2026-10-28)
  22. [22]Razorpay, Multi-Currency Account for International Bank Transfers (MoneySaver Export Account pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]Razorpay, Pricing, International Payments and International Bank Transfers tabs (checked 2026-10-28)
  24. [24]Razorpay, Accept International Payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]Karbon Business, PayPal Alternative comparison page (checked 2026-10-28)
  26. [26]Skydo FAQs, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  27. [27]Skydo, home page fee table (checked 2026-10-28)
  28. [28]Razorpay Docs, Currency Conversion (checked 2026-10-28)
  29. [29]Razorpay Docs, Flash Links (ACH Debit) (checked 2026-10-28)
  30. [30]Razorpay Docs, International Payments FAQs (checked 2026-10-28)
  31. [31]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
  32. [32]RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Payment Aggregators list (dated 16 October 2026)
  33. [33]Karbon, Karbon FX Remittances, home page (checked 2026-10-28)
  34. [34]Karbon Forex Terms and Conditions, Interropac Private Limited (checked 2026-10-28)
  35. [35]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)
  36. [36]Skydo, Receive international payments as a freelancer in India (product page) (checked 2026-10-28)
  37. [37]Skydo, Terms of Use, last updated 9 April 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  38. [38]Skydo FAQs, How long does settlement take on InstaLinks? (checked 2026-10-28)
  39. [39]Skydo FAQs, What is accepted for GST filings and banks between FIRA and FIRC? (checked 2026-10-28)
  40. [40]Payoneer India, Multi-currency account page and FAQs (checked 2026-10-28)
  41. [41]Payoneer India, Payoneer's multi-jurisdictional licenses (checked 2026-10-28)
  42. [42]Payoneer press release, Payoneer receives in-principle authorization as Cross-Border Payment Aggregator in India, 22 January 2026
  43. [43]RBI, Status of applications received under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16.10.2026, Table E (checked 2026-10-28)
  44. [44]PayPal India Help, How do I transfer funds to my bank account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  45. [45]RBI, Status of Applications received under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16.10.2026, Table D (checked 2026-10-28)
  46. [46]Wise India site, Wise Business pricing, fees at a glance (checked 2026-10-28)
  47. [47]GST portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)
  48. [48]RBI: Notification FEMA 23(R)/(1)/2026-RB dated 22 September 2026, amending regulation 5 (realisation period)
  49. [49]Notification No. 10/2017-Integrated Tax (exemption from registration for inter-State suppliers of taxable services), GSTZen reproduction
  50. [50]CBIC: CGST Act, 2017 (updated to 31 August 2021), section 2(6), aggregate turnover includes exports
  51. [51]CBIC Circular No. 40/14/2018-GST (LUT deemed accepted on generation of ARN)
  52. [52]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 96A(1)(b) as substituted by Notification No. 12/2024-Central Tax, 10 July 2024
  53. [53]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)
  54. [54]CBIC Circular No. 159/15/2021-GST (scope of intermediary services)
  55. [55]RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012, reporting under FETERS (revised purpose codes)
  56. [56]DGFT: Purpose Code and SAC Code Mapping, Version 1.0, 10 November 2023 (reproduces RBI receipt code descriptions)
  57. [57]PayPal India Help, What is the Purpose Code? (checked 2026-10-28)
  58. [58]PayPal India Help, How do I receive payments through PayPal? (checked 2026-10-28)
  59. [59]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 89(2)(c) (BRC or FIRC statement for refunds on export of services) (checked 2026-10-31)
  60. [60]DGFT: eBRC system, self-certification of eBRC from bank inward remittance messages (IRMs), Trade Notice 33/2023-24 dated 10 November 2023
  61. [61]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 46 (tax invoice, export endorsement)
  62. [62]DGFT: FAQs on Self-Certification of eBRC, March 2024
  63. [63]PIB: Income-tax Act, 2025 comes into force from 1 April 2026
  64. [64]RBI: Notification FEMA 23(R)/(7)/2025-RB dated 13 November 2025 (realisation period of 15 months)
  65. [65]RBI: Notification FEMA 23(R)/(8)/2026-RB (realisation period back to nine months from 5 June 2026)
  66. [66]CBDT: FAQs on Budget 2026 (return due date of 31 August for non-audit business and profession cases)
  67. [67]Wise Help Centre, How to verify your Indian business to receive payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  68. [68]Wise India, Receive pricing (personal accounts) (checked 2026-10-28)

Frequently asked questions

Do I charge GST to a UK client for managing their Instagram?+

A social media manager in India does not charge GST to a UK client for Instagram management when all five export conditions in section 2(6) of the IGST Act hold. A registered manager invoices under an LUT without IGST, and a manager below ₹20 lakh of turnover need not register.1472

What purpose code is used for sponsorship and brand promotion income?+

DGFT's purpose code and SAC mapping places SAC 998397, Sponsorship Services and Brand Promotion Services, under P1099, Other services not included elsewhere. Social media management for a brand usually fits P1007, Advertising, trade fair service, so the code depends on what the client pays for.563

Can a client pay my social media retainer to Payoneer by card?+

A client can pay a Payoneer payment request by credit card, at a fee of 2.90% plus USD 0.49 on Payoneer's India pricing page, or by US ACH bank debit at 1%. Payments received are then withdrawn automatically to your linked Indian bank account, with 1% to 4% on conversion to INR.402116

Is managing influencers for a foreign brand an intermediary service?+

Arranging influencer deals for a foreign brand can be an intermediary service, which CBIC Circular No. 159/15/2021-GST explains. Section 13(8)(b) of the IGST Act, which placed intermediary services at the supplier's location, was omitted from 30 March 2026, so the default recipient-location rule now applies unless another special rule does.54129

Can I use a Wise personal account to receive client payments in India?+

A Wise personal account in India cannot receive money. Social media managers use Wise Business, which accepts sole traders and freelancers with a personal PAN and an INR bank account in their own name, as well as sole proprietorships, private limited companies, LLPs and general partnerships.6768

Do social media managers file an EDF for small monthly invoices?+

From 1 October 2026 every exporter of services files an Export Declaration Form with the AD bank, and one EDF can cover all services exported in a month. A social media manager with non-software services may instead file it on or before the date the payment is received.11

What does PayPal charge on a 1,000 dollar social media retainer?+

PayPal India charges 4.40% plus USD 0.30 on a USD 1,000 international commercial payment, which is 4.43% of the retainer. Converting the balance to INR adds 3.0% or 4.00% above the base exchange rate, and PayPal's page does not say which applies to INR withdrawals.1817

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 a social media manager in India get paid by foreign clients?

How Indian social media managers bill foreign clients: export status, boosted-post budgets, influencer sourcing, purpose codes, EDF from October 2026 and tax.

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.

GST

Do freelancers with foreign clients need GST registration?

An individual freelancer billing foreign clients must register for GST only above ₹20 lakh aggregate turnover. How to count it, and when registering early makes sense.

RBI and FEMA

How should a freelancer get and use a FIRA?

A freelancer's guide to FIRA in 2026: how to get one from your bank, PayPal or a payment aggregator, what to check on it, how to fix errors and when you need it.

Compare

Wise vs Payoneer (2026): Which Is Better for Receiving International Payments in India?

Wise vs Payoneer 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.