Guide for Service Exporters
Menu
Payments

SWIFT, PayPal or Wise: How to Get Paid by a Client in Italy

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

Short answer

An Italian client can pay by SWIFT wire, PayPal, or SEPA transfer to local euro details from a platform such as Wise.12 On EUR 4,500, Skydo costs about 0.68% and PayPal 7.28 to 8.23%.34 From 1 October 2026 each export needs an EDF and payment within nine months.56 The India-Italy DTAA taxes technical fees at up to 20%.7

Applies toRules involvedPlatforms comparedLast verified
Indian freelancers and businesses with clients in Italy82026 FEMA Regulations; RBI purpose codes; IGST Act section 2(6); India-Italy DTAA Article 135987Skydo, Razorpay, Karbon Business, PayPal, SWIFT bank wire, Wise31011412231 October 2026

900 EUR = ₹93,742 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₹937plus GST, rate not stated0%₹92,636 to ₹92,8041.00 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%₹92,562 to ₹92,7421.07 to 1.26%
3WinvestaGlobal Collections Account, standard plan (up to 2,000 a month per currency)Local transfers with a published per-payment fee₹1,7100%₹92,0321.82%
4SkydoTransfer to Skydo local account details or international SWIFT accountLocal bank transfers from major markets₹2,1130%₹91,6292.25%
5PayoneerLocal bank transfer to Payoneer receiving account detailsMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork₹0no GST stated1 to 4%₹89,992 to ₹92,8041.00 to 4.00%
6PayPalInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice)Clients paying by card or PayPal balance₹4,161no GST stated3 to 4%₹85,997 to ₹86,8937.31 to 8.26%

Not estimated because pricing is not fully published: Cashfree Payments, Dodo Payments, PingPong, 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.

Getting paid by a client in Italy works the same way as any euro-area client: the client pays in euros through a SWIFT wire, a PayPal payment or a SEPA transfer to local euro details.1132 The Indian rules on documents and timing do not change with the route. For the country guide, see receiving money from Italy to India.

How do SWIFT, PayPal and Wise compare for getting paid by a client in Italy?

SWIFT, PayPal and Wise differ most on cost, and the three lowest-cost EUR providers on published fees are Skydo, Razorpay and Karbon Business.31011 The table lists ranked providers by estimated cost on EUR 4,500, cheapest first, then the rest A to Z.

PlatformBest forFeeFX markupSettlementFIRARBI PA-CB statusSource
SkydoLocal bank transfers from major markets20USD 29 plus GST from USD 2,001 to USD 10,000. Estimated cost on EUR 4,500: 0.68%3210% markup on the mid-market rate (product page); retail rate set by Skydo or its partner banks (terms)2236Within 24 hours (product page); T+1 to T+3 business days (terms)2236Free FIRA on every payment22PA-CB-I & O23Skydo fee FAQ3
RazorpayLocal transfers from the US, UK and eurozone141% plus GST; EUR by SEPA. Estimated cost: 1.00 to 1.18%10140% markup10T+1 for push bank transfers14FIRS within 24 hours of settlement14PA-CB I & O23Razorpay MoneySaver page10
Karbon BusinessUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts241%. Estimated cost: 1.00 to 1.18%110% (freelancer page); 0.5% to 1.0% (PayPal alternative page)241124 to 48 hours24FIRA for every transaction24Not on the RBI list itself; its terms run export receipts under a partner the RBI lists as a PA-CB2523Karbon pages2411
PayPalClients paying by card or PayPal balance134.40% plus 0.35 EUR. Estimated cost: 7.28 to 8.23%43.0% or 4.00% above the base rate4Up to 5 business days26Free weekly digital FIRA27Existing PA-CB with in-principle authorisation granted28PayPal fee page4
SWIFT wire to your Indian bankLarge payments to an existing bank relationshipSet by your bank and any intermediary banks; banks must publish their charges5Your bank's buying rateDepends on the banks involvedAsk your bankAuthorised dealer bank, outside the PA-CB frameworkSWIFT charges guide
WiseBank transfers to local account details2Domestic receipts free (business fee table); 2.39 EUR per EUR Swift payment; 2 USD equivalent per transfer to INR (help article); free e-FIRC (receive pricing page). Cost not estimated12229Currency-dependent fee; no INR percentage published29INR within 1 to 2 days2e-FIRC per transfer within 3 working days2PA-CB-I23Wise India help article2

The client's payment takes 0 to 3 working days to reach Wise by local methods and 2 to 6 working days by SWIFT, according to Wise.2

Which RBI rule governs money from a client in Italy?

The 2026 FEMA Regulations govern money from a client in Italy, the same as from any other country, and RBI's purpose code list sets how each receipt is reported.59

RuleBest forPlain meaningSource
2026 Regulations, regulations 3 and 4Every exporter of servicesEDF to your bank within 30 days from the end of the month of invoicing5
2026 Regulations, regulation 5EUR invoicesRealise within nine months from the invoice date6
2026 Regulations, regulation 19Exporters receiving SWIFT wiresBanks publish a policy listing documents, timelines and charges on their website5
RBI Circular No. 84 of 2012Every inward remittancePurpose code of "P" plus four digits on each receipt9
Payment Aggregator Master Direction, paragraph 11(d)Receipts through a PA-CB₹25 lakh maximum per transaction30

What does each option charge for a payment from Italy?

Each option charges a percentage, a fixed fee or both, and a SWIFT wire's cost depends on the banks in the chain.345

OptionBest forPublished chargeSource
SkydoLocal bank transfers from major markets20USD 19 plus GST up to USD 2,000; USD 29 plus GST to USD 10,000; 0.3% plus GST above3
RazorpayLocal transfers from the US, UK and eurozone141% plus GST, flat fee below ₹1,00,00010
Karbon BusinessUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts241% transaction fee11
PayPalClients paying by card or PayPal balance134.40% plus 0.35 EUR; 3.0% or 4.00% conversion spread4
SWIFT wireLarge payments to an existing bank relationshipYour bank's published charges plus any intermediary deductions5
WiseBank transfers to local account details22.39 EUR per EUR Swift payment; domestic receipts free (business fee table); 2 USD equivalent per transfer to the INR account (help article)122

Which option is cheapest at EUR 1,800, EUR 4,500 and EUR 9,000?

The cheapest option for an Italian client's payment changes with invoice size: Razorpay and Karbon Business lead on EUR 1,800, and Skydo leads on EUR 4,500 and EUR 9,000.10113 The table works out the rupees from published fees at today's rate.

PlatformBest forINR on EUR 1,800INR on EUR 4,500INR on EUR 9,000Cost on EUR 4,500
SkydoMost INRTransfer to Skydo local account details or international SWIFT accountLocal bank transfers from major markets₹1,85,371₹4,65,484₹9,34,1930.69%
Karbon BusinessBank transfer to a Karbon virtual USD accountUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts₹1,85,271 to ₹1,85,609₹4,63,178 to ₹4,64,022₹9,26,356 to ₹9,28,0431.00 to 1.18%
RazorpayMoneySaver Export Account: bank transfer to virtual account details (Standard plan)Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone₹1,85,271 to ₹1,85,609₹4,63,178 to ₹4,64,022₹9,26,356 to ₹9,28,0431.00 to 1.18%
PayPalInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice)Clients paying by card or PayPal balance₹1,72,030 to ₹1,73,822₹4,30,127 to ₹4,34,608₹8,60,289 to ₹8,69,2517.28 to 8.23%

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

Ranked by INR received on EUR 4,500. 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, an Italian agency paying EUR 4,500 costs you about 0.68% through Skydo and 7.28 to 8.23% through PayPal on published fees.34

What documents and GST apply to payments from Italy?

Payments from Italy need a remittance record with the purpose code, an EDF and, for GST-registered exporters, an LUT.9518

DocumentBest forWho issues itSource
FIRA, e-FIRC or FIRSEach receipt, with the purpose codePlatform partner bank or your bank27231
Export Declaration FormEvery service export from 1 October 2026You, to your AD bank5
LUT (FORM GST RFD-11)Invoicing an Italian client without IGSTYou, on the GST portal18
e-BRCGST refund recordsYou, on the DGFT portal32
  • Export status: all five conditions in section 2(6) of the IGST Act must be met.8
  • GST: an export of services is zero-rated under section 16 of the IGST Act.17
  • Treaty: the India-Italy DTAA, in force from 23 November 1995, taxes fees for technical services at up to 20% under Article 13.7
  • SEPA: Italian payers use SEPA credit transfer, SEPA instant credit transfer and SEPA direct debit for euro payments.1

What changes in 2026 for getting paid by a client in Italy?

Three 2026 changes apply to payments from Italy.5633

  • EDF for all services: from 1 October 2026; RBI Circular No. 20 supersedes the earlier SOFTEX circulars for software exports from that date.533
  • Nine-month realisation: from the invoice date, from 1 October 2026.6
  • Income-tax Act, 2025: in force from 1 April 2026.34 From tax year 2026-27, foreign tax credit for any Italian withholding is claimed in Form 44 under rule 76 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026.35

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]European Central Bank: Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) (checked 2026-10-28)
  2. [2]Wise Help Centre, Receiving payments for Indian businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
  3. [3]Skydo FAQs, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  4. [4]PayPal India, PayPal Merchant Fees (page last updated 28 March 2024) (checked 2026-10-28)
  5. [5]RBI: Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, amended up to 22 September 2026 (regulations 3, 4 and 5)
  6. [6]RBI: Notification No. FEMA 23(R)/(1)/2026-RB dated 22 September 2026, amending regulation 5 (realisation period)
  7. [7]Income Tax Department: India-Italy DTAA text
  8. [8]IGST Act, 2017, section 2(6): definition of export of services (CBIC)
  9. [9]RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012, purpose codes for reporting under FETERS
  10. [10]Razorpay, Multi-Currency Account for International Bank Transfers (MoneySaver Export Account pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  11. [11]Karbon Business, PayPal Alternative comparison page (checked 2026-10-28)
  12. [12]Wise India site, Wise Business pricing, fees at a glance (checked 2026-10-28)
  13. [13]PayPal India, User Agreement for PayPal Services (last updated 13 January 2025) (checked 2026-10-28)
  14. [14]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
  15. [15]DGFT: Purpose Code and SAC Code Mapping, Version 1.0, 10 November 2023 (reproduces RBI receipt code descriptions)
  16. [16]Payoneer Help Center, Digital FIRA FAQ (checked 2026-10-28)
  17. [17]IGST Act, 2017, section 16: zero-rated supply (CBIC)
  18. [18]GST Portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)
  19. [19]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 46 (tax invoice, export endorsement)
  20. [20]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]Skydo, home page fee table (checked 2026-10-28)
  22. [22]Skydo, Receive international payments as a freelancer in India (product page) (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, list dated 30 October 2026, cross-border money transfer (MTSS) and Payment Aggregator sections (checked 2026-10-31)
  24. [24]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]Karbon Forex Terms and Conditions, Interropac Private Limited (checked 2026-10-28)
  26. [26]PayPal India Help, How do I transfer funds to my bank account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  27. [27]PayPal India, Foreign Inward Remittance Advise (FIRA) (checked 2026-10-28)
  28. [28]RBI: Status of applications received under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16 October 2026, Tables D and E (checked 2026-10-28)
  29. [29]Wise India, Fees for getting paid (Wise Business receive pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  30. [30]RBI: Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregator, 15 September 2025, paragraphs 11(d), 11(h), 16 and 19 (checked 2026-10-31)
  31. [31]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
  32. [32]DGFT: eBRC services page (Trade Notice 33/2023-24 dated 10 November 2023)
  33. [33]RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20 dated 16 January 2026 (supersedes the SOFTEX circulars from 1 October 2026)
  34. [34]PIB: Income-tax Act, 2025 in force from 1 April 2026
  35. [35]Income-tax Rules, 2026, rule 76 and Form 44 (foreign tax credit), notified 20 March 2026
  36. [36]Skydo, Terms of Use, last updated 9 April 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)

Frequently asked questions

How can I receive payments from my Italian client in India?+

Your Italian client can send a SWIFT wire to your Indian bank, pay through PayPal, or make a SEPA transfer to local euro account details from a platform.1213 On published fees for EUR 4,500, Skydo costs about 0.68%, Razorpay and Karbon Business 1.00 to 1.18%, and PayPal 7.28 to 8.23%.310114

Is SEPA available to an Indian freelancer with an Italian client?+

SEPA covers euro credit transfers, instant credit transfers and direct debits within the Single Euro Payments Area.1 An Indian bank account is outside SEPA, so Indian exporters use euro account details from a platform; Razorpay, for example, accepts EUR by SEPA.14

Which purpose code should I give for payments from Italy?+

Use the RBI receipt code for your service. For example, P1009 covers "Architectural services" and P1101 covers "Audio-visual and related services like Motion picture and video tape production, distribution and projection services."159 Your bank or platform records the code on the FIRA.16

Will my Italian client deduct tax from my invoice?+

The India-Italy DTAA allows tax of up to 20% of the gross amount of fees for technical services under Article 13, which covers managerial, technical or consultancy services.7 Whether Italian withholding applies depends on Italian law and your service, so confirm with a chartered accountant.

Do I charge GST on an invoice to an Italian company?+

An export of services is zero-rated under section 16 of the IGST Act, and a registered supplier with an LUT invoices it without IGST.1718 All five conditions in section 2(6), including a recipient outside India, must be met.8 Each export invoice also carries the rule 46 endorsement for supply under LUT.19

Does PayPal charge more for payments from Italy than a bank transfer?+

PayPal India charges 4.40% plus a fixed fee of 0.35 EUR per international commercial transaction, and a conversion spread of 3.0% or 4.00% above the base rate.4 A bank transfer's cost depends on your bank and any intermediary banks, which must publish their charges.5

How long does my Italian client have to pay under RBI rules?+

Payment for exported services must be realised within nine months from the invoice date, or twelve months if invoiced or settled in rupees, under regulation 5 of the 2026 FEMA Regulations.6 Your AD bank can extend the period on request.5

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

Countries

How Do You Receive Money from Italy to India in 2026?

Every way to receive money from Italy to India: local EUR accounts, cards and SWIFT, cost on published fees, INR received, FIRA, treaty withholding and RBI paperwork.

Currencies

How Do You Receive EUR (Euro) Payments in India in 2026?

How Indian freelancers and service exporters receive Euro (EUR): methods, platforms ordered by cost, INR received, EEFC, conversion timing and RBI rules.

Payments

What charges apply when you receive a SWIFT transfer in India?

Why a SWIFT wire to India arrives short: sender, correspondent and Indian bank charges, OUR vs SHA, GST on conversion, and six Indian banks' published fees.

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.

GST

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

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