Guide for Service Exporters
Menu
RBI and FEMA

PayPal, Wise or Stripe: What SOFTEX and EDPMS Rules Mean for Software Development Agencies Getting Paid

Verified by:
Editorial team
Published
Last modified
Fees checked on
Reading time
10 min read

Short answer

RBI Circular No. 20 superseded the SOFTEX circulars from 1 October 2026.5 Software exports are now declared on an Export Declaration Form to an AD bank or STPI.1 The bank enters each EDF in EDPMS within five working days.1 Wise is an authorised PA-CB.7 PayPal holds in-principle authorisation.8 Stripe withdrew its PA-CB application.43

Applies toRules involvedPlatforms comparedLast verified
Software development agencies, IT services firms and product studios in India billing clients abroad1FEMA Export and Import Regulations 2026 regulations 2(1)(f), 3, 4, 5 and 18; RBI Circular No. 20; IGST Act sections 2(6) and 16151314PayPal, Wise, Stripe, plus Razorpay, Karbon Business and Skydo on published cost19242732394531 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.

Software development agencies in India used to certify each software export on a SOFTEX form.5 From 1 October 2026, RBI Circular No. 20 superseded the SOFTEX circulars, and every export, including software, is declared on an Export Declaration Form (EDF) that the bank tracks in the Export Data Processing and Monitoring System (EDPMS).15 This page compares PayPal, Wise and Stripe for agencies and explains what the new rules mean. For the change itself, see SOFTEX replaced by EDF.

How do PayPal, Wise and Stripe compare for software development agencies?

For software development 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 Stripe takes card payments at 3% to 4.3% on an invite-only cross-border basis.732394345 The table adds Razorpay, Karbon Business and Skydo, the three lowest estimated costs on a USD 2,000 receipt from published fees.192427 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 outward718192021
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-CB7232425
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 2026726272848
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 operate832333435
StripeCard checkout and subscriptions3% Visa or Mastercard issued abroad; 3.5% American Express; 4.3% non-INR presentmentAdditional 2% if conversion is requiredDaily payouts include card payments from five business days earlierStandard Chartered payment advice; FIRC from your own bankAuthorised PA-O; PA-CB application withdrawn; cross-border service is invite-only7837383940414243
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 202674546
  • Milestone size: PayPal restricts export payments above USD 10,000 per transaction, and Wise's maximum is ₹25 lakh or equivalent per transaction.3345
  • SaaS subscriptions: Stripe's card checkout suits recurring billing, while bank-transfer routes suit invoiced development work.3745

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

Which RBI and GST rules apply to software development agencies?

The rules that apply to software development agencies are the EDF, EDPMS and realisation rules of the FEMA Export and Import Regulations, 2026, RBI Circular No. 20 on SOFTEX, and the export of services test, zero-rating and LUT under GST.15131415

RuleBest for (who it applies to)Plain meaningSource
RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20, 16 January 2026Agencies that filed SOFTEX formsThe earlier SOFTEX circulars are superseded from 1 October 20265
Regulation 2(1)(f), specified authoritySoftware exportersEDF goes to an AD bank or STPI in the Domestic Tariff Area, or the SEZ Development Commissioner in an SEZ1
Regulation 3(2)Every exporter of servicesEDF within 30 days from the end of the month in which the invoice was raised1
Regulation 18(1)(a) and (g)Agencies with many open invoicesAD bank enters the EDF in EDPMS within five working days and marks it off once the export value is realised1
Regulation 4(2), provisoAgencies with small invoicesEDPMS entries for invoices up to ₹10 lakh may be closed on the exporter's declaration1
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 13Agencies with long-overdue invoicesUnrealised for over one year past the due date means further exports only against full advance or an irrevocable letter of credit1
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 entry6
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 person13
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 generated15
  • For example, a Chennai agency: invoices a London fintech on 20 October 2026 for a sprint of backend work, payable in pounds. It files the EDF by 30 November 2026, and the payment is due in India by 20 July 2027.12
  • SEZ units: an agency inside an SEZ files the EDF with the Development Commissioner, while realisation extensions still sit with the AD bank.1

The EDPMS for service exporters guide covers the bank-side process.

Which purpose code applies to software development agencies?

Software development agencies usually report receipts under P0802 or P0807, with P0804 for maintenance and P0803 for data processing.1011 RBI introduced the current receipt codes through A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 of 29 February 2012.9

CodeBest for (transaction type)Official RBI descriptionSource
P0802Custom development, implementation and integrationSoftware consultancy/implementation (other than those covered in SOFTEX form)1011
P0807Off-site development delivered from IndiaOff-site Software Exports1011
P0804Support and maintenance retainersRepair and maintenance of computer and software1011
P0803Data processing and database workData base, data processing charges1011

DGFT's purpose code mapping still labels P0807 as "Softex IT" and P0802 as "Non Softex IT", and RBI has not said which banks should prefer now that SOFTEX has gone.511

Each platform records the purpose code in its own way, so set it before the first payment arrives.31363747

  • PayPal: you pick one purpose code during account setup, and it becomes the default for payments before you can withdraw to an Indian bank.36
  • 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.31
  • Stripe: one transaction purpose code per account, chosen from a fixed dropdown list; codes outside the list are not supported.37
  • Wise: the purpose code is entered with the business sector when you set up the business profile.47
  • Razorpay: the code chosen at international activation applies to all international transactions on the account.22
  • Skydo: Skydo says it supports 37 purpose codes and tags the code on each remittance.29

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

On published fees, the cheapest option for software development 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.19273239 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%
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: Stripe, 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.27 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.19 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.32

  • Card payments: Stripe charges 3% for Visa or Mastercard cards issued abroad, plus 2% if conversion is needed.3940
  • Withdrawal to INR: Payoneer charges 1% to 4% of the amount when a foreign balance is withdrawn to an Indian bank in INR.30
  • Conversion: Wise converts at the mid-market rate plus a fee and does not publish a fixed percentage for INR.46

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

What documents follow each payment?

Each payment to software development 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.11215

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)2128313445
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 portal12
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 portal15
Export invoiceEvery foreign clientMust carry the rule 46 endorsement for supply under LUT and the recipient's name, address and countryExporter16
  • Stripe receipts: Stripe does not issue a FIRC; Standard Chartered emails a payment advice, which you take to your own bank to request one.42
  • Platform receipts and EDPMS: a PA-CB must give your AD bank the documents needed to close the EDPMS entry.6

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

What changes in 2026 for software development agencies?

The main changes in 2026 for software development agencies are the end of SOFTEX, the EDF for every invoice, a nine-month realisation period and the Income-tax Act, 2025.12517

  • 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
  • SOFTEX superseded: RBI Circular No. 20 supersedes the earlier SOFTEX circulars from 1 October 2026, and the EDF now covers software exports.15
  • 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.6
  • Income-tax Act, 2025: in force from 1 April 2026; tax year 2026-27 runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.17

How the transition applies to invoices raised before 1 October 2026 is a question for your bank, so confirm it in writing and check the tax side with a chartered accountant.1 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: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20 dated 16 January 2026, Export and Import of Goods and Services
  6. [6]RBI: Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregator dated 15 September 2025, paragraphs 4, 10, 11 and 19 (checked 2026-10-31)
  7. [7]RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Payment Aggregators list dated 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  8. [8]RBI: Status of Applications received under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16.10.2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  9. [9]RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012, Compilation of R-Returns: Reporting under FETERS (revised purpose codes)
  10. [10]HDFC Bank: Inward Remittance Purpose Codes (bank reproduction of the RBI list, checked 2026-10-31)
  11. [11]DGFT: Purpose Code and SAC Code Mapping, Version 1.0, 10 November 2023 (reproduces RBI receipt code descriptions)
  12. [12]DGFT: eBRC system, self-certification of eBRC from bank inward remittance messages (IRMs), Trade Notice 33/2023-24 dated 10 November 2023
  13. [13]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 2(6) (export of services)
  14. [14]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 16 (zero-rated supply)
  15. [15]GST portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (LUT), FORM GST RFD-11
  16. [16]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 46 (tax invoice, export endorsement)
  17. [17]PIB: Income-tax Act, 2025 in force from 1 April 2026
  18. [18]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
  19. [19]Razorpay, Multi-Currency Account for International Bank Transfers (MoneySaver Export Account pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  20. [20]Razorpay, Pricing, International Payments and International Bank Transfers tabs (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
  22. [22]Razorpay Docs, About Purpose Codes (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
  24. [24]Karbon Business, PayPal Alternative comparison page (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]Karbon Forex Terms and Conditions, Interropac Private Limited (checked 2026-10-28)
  26. [26]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  27. [27]Skydo FAQs, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  28. [28]Skydo, Receive international payments as a freelancer in India (product page) (checked 2026-10-28)
  29. [29]Skydo FAQs, Which purpose codes are accepted using Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  30. [30]Payoneer India, Payoneer Fees (checked 2026-10-28)
  31. [31]Payoneer Help Center, Digital FIRA FAQ (checked 2026-10-28)
  32. [32]PayPal India, PayPal Merchant Fees (page last updated 28 March 2024) (checked 2026-10-28)
  33. [33]PayPal India, User Agreement for PayPal Services (last updated 13 January 2025) (checked 2026-10-28)
  34. [34]PayPal India, Foreign Inward Remittance Advise (FIRA) (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 Help, What is the Purpose Code? (checked 2026-10-28)
  37. [37]Stripe Docs, Accept international payments from India (checked 2026-10-28)
  38. [38]Stripe Support, Accepting international payments from Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  39. [39]Stripe India, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  40. [40]Stripe Support, Additional pricing information for Indian cross-border sellers (checked 2026-10-28)
  41. [41]Stripe Support, Payout schedule for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  42. [42]Stripe Support, FIRC/payment advice for international transactions in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  43. [43]Stripe Support, Cross-border payment services in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  44. [44]Stripe Support, Export (international) transaction limits for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  45. [45]Wise Help Centre, Receiving payments for Indian businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
  46. [46]Wise India, Fees for getting paid (Wise Business receive pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  47. [47]Wise India blog, Verifying Wise Business account as a sole trader in India, dated 28 August 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  48. [48]Skydo, Terms of Use, last updated 9 April 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)

Frequently asked questions

Is SOFTEX form filing still required for software export in 2026?+

No, not for exports from 1 October 2026. RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20 supersedes the earlier SOFTEX circulars from that date, and software exports are declared on the Export Declaration Form under the FEMA Export and Import Regulations, 2026.15 For pending September 2026 forms, ask your bank or STPI.

Where does a software agency in the Domestic Tariff Area file the EDF?+

For software, regulation 2(1)(f) names an Authorised Dealer bank or STPI as the specified authority in the Domestic Tariff Area, and the SEZ Development Commissioner for units in an SEZ.1 The EDF is due within 30 days from the end of the month in which the invoice was raised.1

How does a software agency close an open EDPMS entry?+

The AD bank marks off the EDPMS entry after it confirms that the export value has been realised.1 For invoices up to ₹10 lakh, the bank may close entries on the exporter's declaration.1 When a PA-CB handles the receipt, it must give your AD bank the documents to close the entry.6

Can an IT company receive USD 50,000 milestone payments through PayPal or Stripe?+

PayPal's India user agreement restricts export payments above USD 10,000 per transaction.33 Stripe allows up to ₹25 lakh per export transaction, and RBI caps each PA-CB transaction at ₹25 lakh.644 Large milestones are therefore usually paid by bank transfer, such as a SWIFT wire or local account details.

Which purpose code should a software agency use after SOFTEX ended?+

Software receipts are usually reported under P0802, Software consultancy/implementation (other than those covered in SOFTEX form), or P0807, Off-site Software Exports.1011 RBI's text does not say which one banks should prefer after SOFTEX ended, so agree the code with your bank and use it consistently.5

What happens if a software client has not paid after a year past the due date?+

Under regulation 13 of the 2026 FEMA export rules, if export proceeds stay unrealised for more than one year after the due date, further exports can be made only against full advance or an irrevocable letter of credit.1 The due date is nine months from the invoice date.12

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.