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Wise, Payoneer or PayPal: What FIRC and RBI Rules Mean for Getting Paid by UK Clients

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Editorial team, serviceexportguide.com
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Short answer

A FIRC is a bank certificate that rule 89(2)(c) of the CGST Rules names as GST refund evidence.12 RBI's 2026 Regulations require an EDF for every service export from 1 October 2026.1 UK invoices must be realised within nine months.2 Wise is an RBI-authorised PA-CB.6 Payoneer and PayPal each issue a free digital FIRA.3340

Applies toRules involvedPlatforms comparedLast verified
Indian freelancers and businesses billing UK clients in GBP or another currency8FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026; PA Master Direction 11(d); CGST rule 89(2)(c)1512Skydo, Razorpay, Karbon Business, Payoneer, PayPal, Wise631 October 2026

760 GBP = ₹94,735 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₹947plus GST, rate not stated0%₹93,617 to ₹93,7881.00 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%₹93,555 to ₹93,7351.06 to 1.25%
3WinvestaGlobal Collections Account, standard plan (up to 2,000 a month per currency)Local transfers with a published per-payment fee₹1,8420%₹92,8931.94%
4SkydoTransfer to Skydo local account details or international SWIFT accountLocal bank transfers from major markets₹2,1130%₹92,6222.23%
5PayoneerLocal bank transfer to Payoneer receiving account detailsMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork₹0no GST stated1 to 4%₹90,946 to ₹93,7881.00 to 4.00%
6PayPalInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice)Clients paying by card or PayPal balance₹4,193no GST stated3 to 4%₹86,920 to ₹87,8267.29 to 8.25%

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.

UK clients pay Indian freelancers and agencies in pounds by Faster Payments, Bacs or CHAPS, by card, or by international wire.19 Wise, Payoneer and PayPal are the names most often compared for this, so this page sets them against the lowest-cost providers in this site's GBP cost model and the Indian rules that follow every payment.

The heading asks about "RBI's FIRC rules", and that needs one correction. RBI does not publish a rule that sets how a FIRC works. A FIRC is a certificate from the receiving bank, and the rule that names it is rule 89(2)(c) of the CGST Rules, which lists FIRCs or bank realisation certificates as evidence for a GST refund on exported services.12 The RBI rules that apply to UK payments are about realisation, the Export Declaration Form (EDF) and payment aggregators.15 Your facts decide the answer, so confirm your setup with a chartered accountant (CA).

How do Wise, Payoneer and PayPal compare for getting paid by UK clients?

Wise, Payoneer and PayPal differ most on fees, FX markup and RBI status for UK payments: Wise is an authorised PA-CB with an unpublished INR conversion fee, Payoneer converts at 1% to 4%, and PayPal charges 4.40% plus 0.20 GBP per international commercial transaction.6353842 The table orders providers by estimated cost on GBP 3,800 from published fees, cheapest first, then providers without enough published pricing, A to Z.2127303538

PlatformBest forFeeFX markupSettlementFIRARBI PA-CB statusSource
SkydoLocal bank transfers from major markets20USD 19 plus GST up to USD 2,000; USD 29 plus GST from USD 2,001 to USD 10,000; 0.3% plus GST above2122Product page: live mid-market rate, 0% markup; terms: retail rate set by Skydo or its partner banks2324Within 24 hours per product page; T+1 to T+3 business days per terms2324Free FIRA on every payment2325PA-CB-I & O, authorised 8 January 20266Skydo fee FAQ and terms2124
RazorpayLocal transfers from the US, UK and eurozone26MoneySaver: 1% per transaction plus GST, flat ₹1,000 below ₹1,00,000270% markup at the live rate on MoneySaver bank transfers27T+1 for push bank transfers, including FPS26FIRS emailed within 24 hours after settlement2628PA-CB I & O6Razorpay docs and pricing2627
Karbon BusinessUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts291% transaction fee on its PayPal alternative page300% on its freelancer page; 0.5% to 1.0% on its PayPal comparison page293024 to 48 hours29FIRA for every transaction from an unnamed banking partner29Not on the RBI list itself; its terms run export receipts under a partner the RBI lists as a PA-CB631Karbon pages and terms2931
PayoneerMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork36Local GBP receiving: free per the India account page, or "fixed fee or 1%" per the pricing page34351% to 4% when converting to INR35Within 24 hours (multi-currency account page); within 48 hours (pricing page)3435Free digital FIRA from a partner AD bank33In-principle PA-CB authorisation on 22 January 2026; RBI Table E as on 16 October 2026732Payoneer pricing and FIRA FAQ3335
PayPalClients paying by card or PayPal balance374.40% plus 0.20 GBP per international commercial transaction383.0% or 4.00% above the base rate; the page does not say which applies to INR withdrawals38Up to 5 business days to the bank39Free weekly digital FIRA from February 202640Existing PA-CB that can operate, with in-principle authorisation, as on 16 October 20267PayPal fee page and user agreement3738
WiseBank transfers to local account details41Domestic GBP payments free (business fee table); 2 USD equivalent per transfer to the INR account (help article); 2.16 GBP per GBP Swift payment on the general fee table; 18% GST on fees4144Mid-market rate plus a currency-dependent fee; no INR percentage published4243INR within 1 to 2 days41e-FIRC per transfer within 3 working days41PA-CB-I, authorised 12 March 20266Wise help and pricing4142

Wise does not publish a conversion percentage for INR, so it cannot be placed in the cost order.42 See Wise vs Payoneer for a two-way comparison.

Which RBI rule governs money from the UK?

Money from a UK client is governed by the same Indian rules as any export of services: the FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 for declaration and realisation, and RBI's Payment Aggregator Master Direction where a provider collects the payment.15

RuleBest forPlain meaningSource
2026 Regulations, regulations 3 and 4Every service exporter from 1 October 2026File an EDF with your AD bank within 30 days from the end of the invoice month; non-software exporters may file by the payment date1RBI1
2026 Regulations, regulation 5 as amendedEvery UK invoiceRealise payment within nine months of the invoice date, or twelve months for rupee invoices2RBI2
PA Master Direction, paragraph 11(d) and 11(h)Payments through Wise, Skydo, Razorpay or another PA-CB₹25 lakh cap per transaction; the PA-CB gives your AD bank the exporter's documents5RBI5
IGST Act, section 2(6)GST treatment of the invoiceFive conditions make the work an export of services8CBIC8
CGST Rules, rule 89(2)(c)GST refund claimsFIRCs or bank realisation certificates support a refund on exported services12CBIC12

These rules apply whichever provider the UK client pays through.

What does each option charge for a UK payment?

Each option charges differently for a UK payment: Skydo charges a fixed fee by band, Razorpay and Karbon charge about 1%, Payoneer charges 1% to 4% on conversion, and PayPal charges a percentage plus a fixed fee before conversion.2127303538

OptionBest forEstimated cost on GBP 3,800What drives the costSource
SkydoLarger GBP invoices by bank transfer0.68%USD 29 fixed fee plus GST in the USD 2,001 to 10,000 band21Skydo2122
RazorpayRegistered businesses billing UK clients1.00 to 1.18%1% fee, with GST on the fee27Razorpay27
Karbon BusinessExporters incorporated in India1.00 to 1.18%1% transaction fee, with GST on the fee30Karbon30
PayoneerFreelancers already paid through marketplaces1.00 to 4.00%Conversion fee to INR that depends on region and volume35Payoneer35
PayPalClients who insist on PayPal or card7.27 to 8.23%4.40% plus fixed fee, and a 3.0% or 4.00% conversion fee38PayPal38
WiseClients paying by UK bank transferNot estimatedConversion fee to INR not published as a percentage42Wise42

A bank wire to your own Indian bank account is priced in your bank's published charges policy, which regulation 19 of the 2026 Regulations requires banks to publish.1

Which option is cheapest at GBP 1,500, GBP 3,800 and GBP 7,500?

The cheapest option at GBP 1,500, GBP 3,800 and GBP 7,500 depends on invoice size, because fixed fees weigh more on small invoices.2127 The table below works out rupees received at today's rate from published fees.

PlatformBest forINR on GBP 1,500INR on GBP 3,800INR on GBP 7,600Cost on GBP 3,800
SkydoMost INRTransfer to Skydo local account details or international SWIFT accountLocal bank transfers from major markets₹1,84,864₹4,70,450₹9,43,9970.68%
Karbon BusinessBank transfer to a Karbon virtual USD accountUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts₹1,84,771 to ₹1,85,107₹4,68,086 to ₹4,68,939₹9,36,172 to ₹9,37,8771.00 to 1.18%
RazorpayMoneySaver Export Account: bank transfer to virtual account details (Standard plan)Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone₹1,84,771 to ₹1,85,107₹4,68,086 to ₹4,68,939₹9,36,172 to ₹9,37,8771.00 to 1.18%
PayoneerLocal bank transfer to Payoneer receiving account detailsMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork₹1,79,498 to ₹1,85,107₹4,54,728 to ₹4,68,939₹9,09,457 to ₹9,37,8771.00 to 4.00%
PayPalInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice)Clients paying by card or PayPal balance₹1,71,576 to ₹1,73,363₹4,34,696 to ₹4,39,225₹8,69,417 to ₹8,78,4737.27 to 8.23%

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

Ranked by INR received on GBP 3,800. 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 USD 29 fee is about 0.68% of a GBP 3,800 invoice, while Razorpay's 1% fee stays at 1% plus GST at every size.2127 PayPal's 4.40% fee applies before any conversion fee, so it costs more than any bank-transfer route at each tier.38

What documents and GST apply to payments from UK clients?

Payments from UK clients need the same documents and GST steps as any export of services: a FIRA or FIRC for each receipt, an EDF for each month's invoices, and an LUT if you are GST registered.113

DocumentBest forWhat it doesSource
FIRA or e-FIRCEvery UK receiptProves foreign money reached you; Wise, Payoneer and PayPal each issue one334041Provider pages
FIRCGST refund claimsBank certificate named in rule 89(2)(c)12CBIC12
e-BRCExporters with an IECSelf-certified on the DGFT portal from the bank's inward remittance message1415DGFT14
EDFEvery service exporterDeclares the export to the AD bank from 1 October 20261RBI1
LUTGST-registered exportersLets you invoice exports without IGST, filed in FORM GST RFD-11 each financial year13GST portal13

The place of supply for most remote services to a UK client is the client's location under section 13(2) of the IGST Act, and exports are zero-rated under section 16.910 Under rule 96A, IGST with interest becomes payable if payment is not received within one year of the invoice date or the FEMA period, whichever is later.11 The India-UK DTAA taxes fees for technical services at 15% in the source country only where its definition is met; read DTAA India-UK for freelancers.18 See also FIRC vs FIRA vs e-BRC.

What changes in 2026 for Indian exporters paid by UK clients?

Indian exporters paid by UK clients face new RBI export rules from 1 October 2026, a nine-month realisation period, and a new Income-tax Act from 1 April 2026.1216

  • 2026 Regulations: The FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 came into force on 1 October 2026 and replaced the 2015 Regulations.1
  • EDF for services: Every service exporter, not only software exporters, now files an EDF, and RBI Circular No. 20 supersedes the SOFTEX circulars from that date.14
  • Realisation period: The period went to 15 months in November 2025 and is back to nine months from the invoice date.23
  • Provider authorisations: RBI authorised Skydo on 8 January 2026 and Wise on 12 March 2026 as PA-CBs.6
  • PayPal FIRA: PayPal says weekly digital FIRAs have been free since February 2026.40
  • Income tax: The Income-tax Act, 2025 applies from 1 April 2026, and foreign tax credit from tax year 2026-27 is claimed in Form 44.1617

For the full corridor view, read receive money from the United Kingdom to India.

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 3, 4, 5, 13 and 19
  2. [2]RBI: Notification FEMA 23(R)/(1)/2026-RB dated 22 September 2026, amending regulation 5 (realisation period)
  3. [3]RBI: Notification FEMA 23(R)/(7)/2025-RB dated 13 November 2025 (15-month realisation period, later reversed)
  4. [4]RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20 dated 16 January 2026 (supersedes the SOFTEX circulars from 1 October 2026)
  5. [5]RBI: Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregator dated 15 September 2025, paragraph 11(d) (₹25 lakh per transaction) and 11(h) (documents to the AD bank)
  6. [6]RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (payment aggregators and cross-border in-bound money transfer operators), list dated 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28) and list dated 30 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-31)
  7. [7]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)
  8. [8]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 2(6) (export of services)
  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)
  11. [11]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 96A (export under bond or Letter of Undertaking), clause (1)(b) as substituted by Notification No. 12/2024-Central Tax, 10 July 2024
  12. [12]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 89 (application for refund), sub-rule (2)(c)
  13. [13]GST portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)
  14. [14]DGFT: eBRC system, self-certification of eBRC from bank inward remittance messages (IRMs), Trade Notice 33/2023-24 dated 10 November 2023
  15. [15]DGFT: FAQs (Self-Generation of eBRC), Version 1.0, March 2024
  16. [16]PIB: Income-tax Act, 2025 in force from 1 April 2026 (tax year replaces previous year and assessment year)
  17. [17]Income Tax Department: Income-tax Rules, 2026 (notified 20 March 2026), rule 76 and Form 44
  18. [18]Income Tax Department: India-UK DTAA text
  19. [19]Bank of England: Payment and settlement (RTGS, CHAPS, Faster Payments and Bacs) (checked 2026-10-28)
  20. [20]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]Skydo FAQs, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  22. [22]Skydo, home page fee table (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]Skydo, Receive international payments as a freelancer in India (product page) (checked 2026-10-28)
  24. [24]Skydo, Terms of Use, last updated 9 April 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]Skydo FAQs, What is accepted for GST filings and banks between FIRA and FIRC? (checked 2026-10-28)
  26. [26]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
  27. [27]Razorpay, Multi-Currency Account for International Bank Transfers (MoneySaver Export Account pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  28. [28]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
  29. [29]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
  30. [30]Karbon Business, PayPal Alternative comparison page (checked 2026-10-28)
  31. [31]Karbon Forex Terms and Conditions, Interropac Private Limited (checked 2026-10-28)
  32. [32]Payoneer press release, Payoneer receives in-principle authorization as Cross-Border Payment Aggregator in India, 22 January 2026
  33. [33]Payoneer Help Center, Digital FIRA FAQ (checked 2026-10-28)
  34. [34]Payoneer India, Multi-currency account page and FAQs (checked 2026-10-28)
  35. [35]Payoneer India, Payoneer Fees (checked 2026-10-28)
  36. [36]Payoneer, How to use Payoneer in India (last modified 18 September 2026, checked 2026-10-28)
  37. [37]PayPal India, User Agreement for PayPal Services (last updated 13 January 2025) (checked 2026-10-28)
  38. [38]PayPal India, PayPal Merchant Fees (page last updated 28 March 2024) (checked 2026-10-28)
  39. [39]PayPal India Help, How do I transfer funds to my bank account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  40. [40]PayPal India, Foreign Inward Remittance Advise (FIRA) (checked 2026-10-28)
  41. [41]Wise Help Centre, Receiving payments for Indian businesses (checked 2026-10-31)
  42. [42]Wise India, Fees for getting paid (Wise Business receive pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  43. [43]Wise India, Receive international payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  44. [44]Wise India site, Wise Business pricing, fees at a glance (checked 2026-10-28)

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to get paid from UK clients in India?+

The best way to get paid from UK clients in India depends on how the client pays. A UK bank transfer to local GBP account details suits regular invoices, PayPal suits clients paying by card or PayPal balance, and a SWIFT wire suits clients who only pay internationally. Compare published fees, FX markup and FIRA for each option.203741

Can a UK client pay me in pounds through Faster Payments?+

A UK client can pay you through Faster Payments only into UK account details, because Faster Payments, Bacs and CHAPS are sterling systems settled in the Bank of England RTGS system. Providers that give Indian exporters local GBP details, such as Wise, Payoneer, Skydo and Razorpay, then convert the pounds and pay rupees.1920263441

Do I need a FIRC for every payment from a UK client?+

You do not usually need a FIRC for every UK payment. Keep a FIRA or bank advice for each receipt; a FIRC is a certificate that rule 89(2)(c) of the CGST Rules names, with bank realisation certificates, as evidence when you claim a GST refund on exported services.12

Does Wise give a FIRC for GBP payments to India?+

Wise says it issues an e-FIRC for each transfer to an Indian business, emailed within 3 working days and downloadable from the transfer page. Its India help article links the e-FIRC to a fee equal to 2 USD in the received currency, while its India pricing page describes the e-FIRC as free.4142

Does the UK tax treaty mean my UK client deducts tax?+

The India-UK DTAA allows tax on fees for technical services at 15% of the gross amount in the source country, but only for services that meet its definition, such as services that make available technical knowledge or skill. Whether a UK client deducts anything depends on the service, so agree it in the contract.18

Is GST charged on my invoice to a UK company?+

GST is not charged on an invoice to a UK company when the work qualifies as an export of services under section 2(6) of the IGST Act. Exports are zero-rated, and a registered supplier with a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) invoices without IGST. The LUT is filed in FORM GST RFD-11 for each financial year.81013

How long can a UK client take to pay my export invoice?+

A UK client has nine months from the invoice date to pay an export invoice in foreign currency, or twelve months if the invoice is in rupees, under the 2026 Regulations as amended on 22 September 2026. Your AD bank can extend the period under regulation 5 if you ask for it.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.

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