What are OUR, SHA and BEN charges?
- Verified by:
- Editorial team
- Published
- Last modified
- Reading time
- 3 min read
Short answer
OUR, SHA and BEN are the charge options a sender chooses on an international SWIFT transfer.12 With OUR, the sender pays the fees, including intermediary bank fees.12 With SHA, the sender and receiver share the fees.2 Under SHA, the receiver gets the sent amount minus charges taken along the way.1 Ask your bank how it applies BEN.
| Full form | Governed by | Who needs it | Where it is used | Related terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OUR: sender pays; SHA: shared; BEN: not defined in the sources here12 | Each bank's and provider's own fee terms; FEMA regulation 6 for any shortfall14 | Exporters paid by SWIFT wire, and the clients who send them | The charge option a sender picks when initiating a SWIFT transfer3 | Intermediary bank charges, correspondent bank, SWIFT MT103, reduction in export value |
A video editor in Kolkata invoices $1,500, the client sends $1,500, and $1,465 arrives. The missing $35 is usually bank charges taken on the way, and whether that happens depends largely on one choice the sender makes: OUR, SHA or BEN.13
What do OUR, SHA and BEN mean in simple words?
OUR, SHA and BEN are three instructions that say who pays the bank fees on a SWIFT wire. Winvesta says "SWIFT (Shared) means the sender and receiver share the fees, and SWIFT (Ours) means the sender pays all the fees".2
- OUR: Airwallex describes OUR as the client paying "the wire transfer fees charged by intermediary banks".1
- SHA: under SHA, Airwallex says the payee receives the sent amount minus the middle banks' charges.1
- BEN: not defined in the sources this page could open; ask your bank how it applies BEN.
For example, a client sending $1,500 under SHA may see less than $1,500 reach the exporter.1
Why do OUR, SHA and BEN matter for Indian exporters and freelancers?
OUR, SHA and BEN matter because they decide how much of the invoice actually arrives, and a shortfall has FEMA consequences.14
- Amount received: under SHA, fees can be deducted from the payment along the way.1
- Bank compliance: a shortfall caused by charges means less than the full export value was realised.4
- Pricing: a consultant on small monthly retainers may lose a larger share of each payment to fixed charges than an agency on one large invoice.
The sender, not the exporter, makes the choice.3
How do OUR, SHA and BEN work?
OUR, SHA and BEN work by telling every bank in the payment chain whether to bill the sender or deduct from the payment. A SWIFT payment can pass through one or more correspondent or intermediary banks, and under SHA they can take their fee from the payment itself.1
| Code | Who pays | Effect on what you receive | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| OUR | Sender pays the fees, including intermediary bank fees | Full amount, subject to your own bank's charges | Exporters who need the full invoice value |
| SHA | Sender and receiver share the fees | Sent amount minus fees deducted along the way | Clients who want to keep their own cost lower |
| BEN | Not defined in the sources this page could open | Ask your bank | Not assessed here |
The table draws on Winvesta's and Airwallex's published descriptions.12 Neither you nor the client usually knows the intermediary charge in advance.1
How do you check which option was used on a payment?
You check the option by reading the bank advice for the receipt and comparing the amount received with the amount sent. Skydo says SWIFT charges are typically borne by the sender or deducted in line, as chosen by the sender.3
- Compare amounts: match the amount credited against the invoice and the client's remittance confirmation.
- Ask the client: confirm whether they chose OUR or SHA.2
- Ask your bank: request a breakdown of deductions on the inward remittance.
Typical bank charges and how to read the advice are in SWIFT transfer charges in India.
What do people get wrong about OUR, SHA and BEN?
People often assume OUR guarantees the full amount in rupees. Your own bank may still charge for crediting the inward remittance, and the sender's choice does not control every bank's practice.
- Shortfall paperwork: regulation 6 of the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 lets your AD bank permit a reduction in export value, including on the exporter's declaration alone where the export value is up to ₹10 lakh.4
- Fixed cost: OUR costs the sender more, so many clients still send SHA.1
Ask your bank how it closes entries for small shortfalls.4 Provider prices on this page were checked on 28 October 2026.1
Which terms are related to OUR, SHA and BEN?
These terms explain where SWIFT charges come from and how shortfalls are handled:
- Intermediary bank charges: fees taken by banks between the sender's bank and yours.1
- Correspondent bank: a bank that passes the payment on to the next bank.
- SWIFT MT103: the payment message that records the transfer details.
- Local collection account: foreign account details a client can pay by domestic transfer.3
- Reduction in export invoice value: how a shortfall is regularised with the AD bank.4
How did we verify this?
We checked this page against the sources below on 30 October 2026. Read our methodology or report an error.
- [1]Airwallex Singapore: Fee schedule, SWIFT payouts (SHA and OUR), last updated 10 October 2026 (checked 28 October 2026)
- [2]Winvesta: What is SWIFT (Shared) and SWIFT (Ours)? (checked 28 October 2026)
- [3]Skydo: Who will bear the SWIFT charges? (checked 28 October 2026)
- [4]RBI: Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, amended up to 22 September 2026 (regulation 6)
Frequently asked questions
Who chooses OUR, SHA or BEN on a SWIFT transfer?+
The sender chooses OUR, SHA or BEN when initiating the SWIFT transfer, so the exporter cannot set it on the receiving side. Skydo, for example, says SWIFT charges are typically borne by the sender or deducted in line, as chosen by the sender. Agree the option with the client in advance.3
Which of OUR, SHA or BEN should I ask my foreign client to use?+
OUR is the only option of the three where the sender pays all the fees, so it gives the best chance of receiving the full invoice. Clients may refuse because OUR costs them more; Airwallex, for example, lists SWIFT payouts at $20 for SHA and $35 for OUR.12
Is the OUR charge option a guarantee that nothing is deducted?+
No. Under the OUR charge option, your own bank in India may still charge for crediting an inward remittance, and the sender's choice does not control every bank's practice. Check your bank's schedule of charges for inward remittances so you know what to expect on each payment.
How can an exporter reduce SWIFT deductions under SHA?+
An exporter can ask for OUR in the contract, for example "All bank charges outside India to be borne by the remitter (OUR)", and price for fixed charges on small invoices. A client paying local collection account details by domestic transfer usually avoids intermediary deductions, though the provider charges its own fees.3
Do OUR, SHA and BEN cost the same for the sender?+
No. OUR, SHA and BEN are priced separately by each bank or provider, and OUR usually costs the sender more because it covers intermediary fees. Airwallex, for example, lists SWIFT payouts from its Singapore account at $20 under SHA and $35 under OUR. Other providers publish their own prices.1
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
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.
GlossaryWhat are intermediary bank charges?
Intermediary bank charges are fees deducted by correspondent banks that pass an international wire along. Why your credit is less than the invoice and what to do.
GlossaryWhat is a correspondent bank?
A correspondent bank provides banking services to another bank, such as making or receiving payments for it abroad. Why it can reduce an Indian exporter's receipt.
GlossaryWhat is a SWIFT MT103?
MT103 is Swift's Single Customer Credit Transfer message. Cross-border MT payment instructions ended on 22 November 2025 in favour of ISO 20022. What that means.
GlossaryWhat is a SWIFT code?
A SWIFT code, or BIC, is the 8 or 11 character ISO 9362 code that identifies a bank in an international payment. How Indian exporters use it.