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PayPal, Wise or Payoneer: What the GST Threshold and FIRC Actually Mean for Freelancers Getting Paid

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Editorial team, serviceexportguide.com
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Short answer

A freelancer must register for GST once aggregate turnover in a financial year exceeds ₹20 lakh.1 Foreign-client income counts towards that turnover.2 PayPal offers a free weekly digital FIRA from February 2026.3 Wise emails an e-FIRC for each transfer.45 Payoneer gives a free digital FIRA per transaction.67 From 1 October 2026 every service exporter files an EDF.8

Applies toRules involvedPlatforms comparedLast verified
Freelancers in India paid by foreign clientsIGST Act sections 2(6) and 16; CGST Act section 22; FEMA 2026 Regulations; rule 89(2)(c)9101811Razorpay, Karbon Business, Skydo, Payoneer, PayPal, Wise1213141516431 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.

Freelancers in India often ask two questions together: whether they must register for GST before choosing PayPal, Wise or Payoneer, and which of these gives a valid FIRC. The GST answer depends on turnover, not on the platform. The FIRC answer depends on the platform, because each one issues a different document. This page sets out both, with each provider judged on the same published facts. For the full persona guide, see international payments for freelancers in India. Your facts decide the answer, so confirm your position with a chartered accountant (CA).

How do PayPal, Wise and Payoneer compare for freelancers in India?

PayPal, Wise and Payoneer differ for freelancers in India in how the client pays, the fee and conversion markup, the settlement time, the receipt document and RBI status.1617184191520 PayPal suits clients paying by card or PayPal balance, Wise suits bank transfers to local account details, and Payoneer suits marketplace payouts.16415 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).21222324132526 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 outward122122232728293031
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-CB1324323334
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 20261425263536373831
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 process1539206740414234
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 list16174334431
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 202645451931

Fees are shown as each provider publishes them; see PayPal vs Payoneer and Wise vs PayPal for side-by-side detail.

Which RBI and GST rules apply to freelancers paid through PayPal, Wise or Payoneer?

The same RBI and GST rules apply to a freelancer whichever platform the client uses: the export test in section 2(6) of the IGST Act, the ₹20 lakh registration threshold, the LUT, the EDF and the nine-month realisation period.9146847

RuleBest for (who it applies to)Plain meaningSource
IGST Act, section 2(6)Any freelancer billing a client outside IndiaWork 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.9
IGST Act, section 13(2)Remote work 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.48
CGST Act, section 22; Notification No. 10/2017-Integrated TaxFreelancers 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.1492
CGST Act, section 25(1)Freelancers who have just crossed the thresholdA person who becomes liable to register applies within thirty days from the date of becoming liable.50
IGST Act, section 16(3); FORM GST RFD-11GST-registered freelancersA 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.104651
CGST Rules, rule 96A(1)(b)Registered freelancers 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 freelancer 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.8
2026 Regulations, regulation 5, as amended on 22 September 2026Freelancers 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.478
RBI Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregator, paragraph 11(d)Freelancers 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
Income-tax Act, 2025, sections 58(2) and 62(4)Freelancers in a profession listed in section 62(4)A resident individual or partnership firm (not an LLP) in a specified profession may declare 50% of gross receipts as profit, up to ₹50 lakh of receipts (₹75 lakh if cash receipts are within 5%).5455

What does the ₹20 lakh GST threshold actually mean for a freelancer paid from abroad?

The ₹20 lakh GST threshold means a freelancer must register once aggregate turnover in a financial year exceeds ₹20 lakh, and foreign-client receipts count towards that figure.12 Notification No. 10/2017-Integrated Tax exempts suppliers of inter-State taxable services from registering below that limit.49

  • Below the threshold: No registration is required, so no LUT is filed, and the invoice simply carries no GST.4946
  • Above the threshold: Apply within thirty days of becoming liable, then file an LUT to keep invoicing exports without IGST.5046
  • Platform choice: PayPal, Wise and Payoneer receipts all count in the same turnover; the platform does not change the threshold.2

For example, a Jaipur copywriter billing a Canadian client $2,500 a month passes ₹20 lakh during the year at most exchange rates, whichever platform carries the money.1 See GST registration for freelancers who export.

Which purpose code applies to freelancers?

The purpose code that applies to a freelancer is the one matching the main service on the invoice, chosen from the RBI receipt codes introduced by A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 of 29 February 2012.56

CodeBest for (transaction type)Official RBI descriptionSource
P0802Website, app or software developmentSoftware consultancy/implementation (other than those covered in SOFTEX form)5758
P1006Strategy, management or PR consultingBusiness and management consultancy and public relations services5758
P1007Ads, SEO and social media marketingAdvertising, trade fair service5758
P1101Video editing and animationAudio-visual and related services like Motion picture and video tape production, distribution and projection services.5758
P1099Only when no specific code fitsOther services not included elsewhere5758

Each platform handles the code differently: PayPal sets a default code once at setup, and Payoneer applies the code from your profile to every payment and prints it on each FIRA.59606 The purpose code for freelancers page and the purpose code finder go further.

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

The cheapest option for freelancers changes with invoice size, because a flat fee weighs more on a small invoice and a percentage fee weighs more on a large one.2526212223 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.2526212223 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%.1716 On a $500 invoice, the same USD 19 Skydo fee is 3.8% before GST.2526

  • 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.1660

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 freelancer?

Each payment to a freelancer should leave a FIRA or FIRC from the bank or platform, an e-BRC from DGFT where the bank reports the receipt, and a monthly EDF; a registered freelancer also needs an LUT and a rule 46 export invoice.116184662

DocumentBest forWhat it showsWhenSource
FIRA or FIRCMatching each payment to an 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 provider11
e-BRCShowing an 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 receipt6163
Export Declaration Form (EDF)Every freelancer 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 services8
Letter of Undertaking (LUT)GST-registered freelancersLets a registered exporter invoice without IGST.Once for each financial year, in FORM GST RFD-114651
Export invoiceGST-registered freelancersCarries the rule 46 export endorsement and the recipient's name, address and country of destination.With each invoice62

What does a FIRC actually prove for a freelancer?

A FIRC or FIRA proves that a foreign payment was credited, and GST refund rules ask for BRC or FIRC details on exported services.11 Each platform issues its own version:

  • Razorpay: Razorpay emails a Foreign Inward Remittance Statement (FIRS) within 24 hours after settlement for bank transfers.123022
  • 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.3538
  • Payoneer: Payoneer gives a free digital FIRA for each transaction within 24 to 72 hours, showing the purpose code you set in your profile.67
  • PayPal: PayPal offers a free weekly digital FIRA from February 2026, with custom FIRAs charged per request.3
  • Wise: Wise emails an e-FIRC for each transfer within 3 working days.45

The FIRC vs FIRA vs e-BRC guide and FIRA for freelancers explain which document each body accepts.

What changes in 2026 for freelancers getting paid from abroad?

The main 2026 changes for freelancers are the new FEMA regulations from 1 October 2026, the EDF for every service exporter, the nine-month realisation period and the Income-tax Act, 2025 from 1 April 2026.84764

  • 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.8
  • EDF for every service exporter: From 1 October 2026 every exporter of services, not only software exporters, files an EDF with the AD bank.8
  • 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.656647
  • 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 2027.64
  • Return due date: The due date for non-audit business and profession cases moved to 31 August.67
  • 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 2026.31364404142346
  • PayPal FIRA: PayPal moved to a free weekly digital FIRA from February 2026.3
  • 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.68

Invoices raised before 1 October 2026 and still unpaid are best discussed with your bank, since the regulations do not give a specific answer for them.8 See the export realisation period and EDF for service exporters.

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: CGST Act, 2017, section 22 (persons liable for registration) (checked 2026-10-31)
  2. [2]CBIC: CGST Act, 2017 (updated to 31 August 2021), section 2(6), aggregate turnover includes exports
  3. [3]PayPal India, Foreign Inward Remittance Advise (FIRA) (checked 2026-10-28)
  4. [4]Wise Help Centre, Receiving payments for Indian businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
  5. [5]Wise India, Fees for getting paid (Wise Business receive pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  6. [6]Payoneer Help Center, Digital FIRA FAQ (checked 2026-10-28)
  7. [7]Payoneer India, Digital FIRC page (checked 2026-10-28)
  8. [8]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)
  9. [9]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 2(6) (export of services) and Explanation 1 to section 8
  10. [10]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 16 (zero-rated supply, supply under bond or LUT)
  11. [11]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 89(2)(c) (BRC or FIRC statement for refunds on export of services) (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]Payoneer, How to use Payoneer in India (last modified 18 September 2026, checked 2026-10-28)
  16. [16]PayPal India, User Agreement for PayPal Services (last updated 13 January 2025) (checked 2026-10-28)
  17. [17]PayPal India, PayPal Merchant Fees (page last updated 28 March 2024) (checked 2026-10-28)
  18. [18]PayPal India Help, Can I use PayPal to receive payments from Indian customers? (checked 2026-10-28)
  19. [19]Wise India, Receive international payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  20. [20]Payoneer India, Payoneer Fees (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]Razorpay, Multi-Currency Account for International Bank Transfers (MoneySaver Export Account pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  22. [22]Razorpay, Pricing, International Payments and International Bank Transfers tabs (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]Razorpay, Accept International Payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  24. [24]Karbon Business, PayPal Alternative comparison page (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]Skydo FAQs, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  26. [26]Skydo, home page fee table (checked 2026-10-28)
  27. [27]Razorpay Docs, Currency Conversion (checked 2026-10-28)
  28. [28]Razorpay Docs, Flash Links (ACH Debit) (checked 2026-10-28)
  29. [29]Razorpay Docs, International Payments FAQs (checked 2026-10-28)
  30. [30]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
  31. [31]RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Payment Aggregators list (dated 16 October 2026)
  32. [32]Karbon, Karbon FX Remittances, home page (checked 2026-10-28)
  33. [33]Karbon Forex Terms and Conditions, Interropac Private Limited (checked 2026-10-28)
  34. [34]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)
  35. [35]Skydo, Receive international payments as a freelancer in India (product page) (checked 2026-10-28)
  36. [36]Skydo, Terms of Use, last updated 9 April 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  37. [37]Skydo FAQs, How long does settlement take on InstaLinks? (checked 2026-10-28)
  38. [38]Skydo FAQs, What is accepted for GST filings and banks between FIRA and FIRC? (checked 2026-10-28)
  39. [39]Payoneer India, Multi-currency account page and FAQs (checked 2026-10-28)
  40. [40]Payoneer India, Payoneer's multi-jurisdictional licenses (checked 2026-10-28)
  41. [41]Payoneer press release, Payoneer receives in-principle authorization as Cross-Border Payment Aggregator in India, 22 January 2026
  42. [42]RBI, Status of applications received under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16.10.2026, Table E (checked 2026-10-28)
  43. [43]PayPal India Help, How do I transfer funds to my bank account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  44. [44]RBI, Status of Applications received under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16.10.2026, Table D (checked 2026-10-28)
  45. [45]Wise India site, Wise Business pricing, fees at a glance (checked 2026-10-28)
  46. [46]GST portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)
  47. [47]RBI: Notification FEMA 23(R)/(1)/2026-RB dated 22 September 2026, amending regulation 5 (realisation period)
  48. [48]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 13 (place of supply where supplier or recipient is outside India)
  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, section 25(1) (apply within thirty days of becoming liable) (checked 2026-10-31)
  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]Income Tax Department: Income-tax Act, 2025, section 58 (presumptive taxation)
  55. [55]Income Tax Department: Income-tax Act, 2025, section 62 (specified profession, sub-section (4))
  56. [56]RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012, reporting under FETERS (revised purpose codes)
  57. [57]HDFC Bank: Inward Remittance Purpose Codes (bank reproduction of the RBI list, checked 2026-10-28)
  58. [58]DGFT: Purpose Code and SAC Code Mapping, Version 1.0, 10 November 2023 (reproduces RBI receipt code descriptions)
  59. [59]PayPal India Help, What is the Purpose Code? (checked 2026-10-28)
  60. [60]PayPal India Help, How do I receive payments through PayPal? (checked 2026-10-28)
  61. [61]DGFT: eBRC system, self-certification of eBRC from bank inward remittance messages (IRMs), Trade Notice 33/2023-24 dated 10 November 2023
  62. [62]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 46 (tax invoice, export endorsement)
  63. [63]DGFT: FAQs on Self-Certification of eBRC, March 2024
  64. [64]PIB: Income-tax Act, 2025 comes into force from 1 April 2026
  65. [65]RBI: Notification FEMA 23(R)/(7)/2025-RB dated 13 November 2025 (realisation period of 15 months)
  66. [66]RBI: Notification FEMA 23(R)/(8)/2026-RB (realisation period back to nine months from 5 June 2026)
  67. [67]CBDT: FAQs on Budget 2026 (return due date of 31 August for non-audit business and profession cases)
  68. [68]GST Council: press release on the 57th GST Council meeting, 8 October 2026
  69. [69]Wise Help Centre, How to verify your Indian business to receive payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  70. [70]Wise India, Receive pricing (personal accounts) (checked 2026-10-28)

Frequently asked questions

Do I need GST registration if I only earn from foreign clients below 20 lakh?+

A freelancer whose aggregate turnover stays at or below ₹20 lakh in a financial year (₹10 lakh in special category States) is not required to register, and Notification No. 10/2017-Integrated Tax exempts inter-State service suppliers below that limit. Export income still counts towards the turnover, so track it each month.1492

My freelance income crossed 20 lakh in February, what now?+

Once aggregate turnover crosses ₹20 lakh, section 25(1) of the CGST Act gives you thirty days from the date you became liable to apply for GST registration. After registering, file an LUT in FORM GST RFD-11 before you raise further export invoices without IGST.5046

Is a PayPal FIRA the same as a FIRC for GST?+

A PayPal FIRA is an advice confirming a foreign payment was credited, and PayPal says it issues one free each week from February 2026. Rule 89(2)(c) of the CGST Rules asks for BRC or FIRC details for refunds on exported services, so confirm with your CA which document your refund claim uses.311

Can I file an LUT without GST registration as a freelancer?+

An LUT is filed in FORM GST RFD-11 on the GST portal as a service for registered taxpayers, so a freelancer without GST registration cannot file one. Below the ₹20 lakh threshold, an unregistered freelancer simply invoices the foreign client without GST and keeps proof of each receipt.461

Which is cheaper for a freelancer on a 2000 dollar invoice, PayPal or Payoneer?+

On published fees, PayPal charges 4.40% plus USD 0.30 on an international commercial payment, plus 3.0% or 4.00% on conversion. Payoneer's local USD receiving is free (multi-currency account page) or a fixed fee or 1% for non-local currencies (pricing page), with 1% to 4% charged when the balance is converted to INR.3920 The widget on this page applies both to your invoice.17163920

Does Wise give freelancers in India an e-FIRC?+

Wise emails an e-FIRC for each transfer to the Indian bank account within 3 working days, and it can also be downloaded from the transfer page. Wise Business accepts sole traders and freelancers with a personal PAN and an INR bank account in their own name; Wise personal accounts in India cannot receive money.456970

Do freelancers have to file an EDF for every PayPal payment?+

From 1 October 2026 every service exporter files an Export Declaration Form with the AD bank, and one EDF can cover all services exported to one or more recipients in a month. How the EDF works for PayPal and payment aggregator receipts in practice is not yet clear, so ask your bank.8

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 freelancer in India receive payments from foreign clients?

How Indian freelancers get paid by foreign clients in 2026: export of services tests, purpose codes, the EDF, nine-month realisation and income tax.

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.

RBI and FEMA

What is the difference between FIRC, FIRA and e-BRC for service exporters?

What FIRC, FIRA and e-BRC are, who issues each, how e-BRC works on the DGFT portal, and which documents Indian service exporters should keep for GST and tax.

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

PayPal 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.