Guide for Service Exporters
Menu
Payments

Wise, Payoneer or PayPal: What GST and the RBI's Architecture Purpose Code Mean for Getting Paid Abroad

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

Short answer

Architecture receipts are reported under purpose code P1009, Architectural services.1 For a building abroad, section 13(4) of the IGST Act puts the place of supply where the property is located.2 A registered firm invoices exports without IGST under an LUT.34 From 1 October 2026 each export needs an EDF.5 Wise issues an e-FIRC for each transfer.6

Applies toRules involvedPlatforms comparedLast verified
Architecture firms and freelance architects in India designing for clients abroadIGST Act sections 2(6), 13(4) and 16, LUT2347; FEMA 2026 Regulations: EDF and nine-month realisation58; purpose code P10091Razorpay, Karbon Business, Skydo, Payoneer, PayPal, Wise691011121331 October 2026 (section 13); 28 October 2026 (other rules and fees)25

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.

Architecture firms in India design villas, offices, hotels and masterplans for clients in the Gulf, Africa, Europe and North America, usually billed in stages from concept to construction drawings. For GST, architecture has its own place of supply rule tied to where the building stands, and for RBI reporting it has its own purpose code, P1009.12 Wise, Payoneer and PayPal, the providers named in the question, differ on who can sign up, transaction limits and fees.202122

The persona guide international payments for architects covers more routes, and the P1009 purpose code covers the code in depth. Confirm your structure with a chartered accountant (CA).

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

Wise and Payoneer suit architecture firms whose clients pay by bank transfer to local account details, and PayPal suits clients paying by card or PayPal balance, with conversion priced differently by each.61223 The table adds the three providers with the lowest estimated cost on a USD 2,000 receipt from published fees, ordered by that estimate, cheapest first, with Wise (no published INR conversion percentage) after.9101124

PlatformBest forFeeFX markupSettlementFIRARBI PA-CB statusSource
RazorpayLocal transfers from the US, UK and eurozone251% per MoneySaver bank transfer plus GST, with a flat fee of ₹1,000 below ₹1,00,000; international cards up to 3% plus GST926Razorpay says 0% FX markup on MoneySaver bank transfers; card conversion markup not published927T+1 for push bank transfers (ACH, FPS, SEPA, SWIFT); around T+5 business days for ACH debit Flash Links2528Foreign Inward Remittance Statement (FIRS) emailed within 24 hours after settlement for bank transfers2529Razorpay Payments Private Limited is listed as PA-CB for inward and outward transactions30Razorpay pricing and docs; RBI list9252627282930
Karbon BusinessUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts311% transaction fee, listed on Karbon's PayPal alternative page100% (freelancer page); 0.5% to 1.0% (PayPal alternative page)3110Karbon says 24 to 48 hours31FIRA for every transaction from an unnamed banking partner; cost not published31Not on the RBI list itself; its terms run export receipts under a partner the RBI lists as a PA-CB3032Karbon pages and terms; RBI list10303132
SkydoLocal bank transfers from major markets33USD 19 plus GST up to USD 2,000; USD 29 plus GST from USD 2,001 to USD 10,000; 0.3% plus GST above USD 10,00011340% markup on the mid-market rate (product page); retail rate set by Skydo or its partner banks (terms)3536Skydo's terms say T+1 to T+3 business days, depending on currency and corridor36Free FIRA on every payment received, Skydo says3537Skydo Technologies Private Limited is listed as PA-CB-I and O, authorised 8 January 202630Skydo FAQs and terms; RBI list113034353637
PayoneerMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork38Payment request by card 2.90% + $0.49; ACH bank debit (US only) 1%; receiving-account fees are shown in your account121% to 4% of the amount when converted to INR on withdrawal, depending on region and volume12Within 24 hours (multi-currency account page); within 48 hours (pricing page)1239Free digital FIRA for each transaction from Payoneer's partner AD bank, within 24 to 72 hours16In-principle PA-CB authorisation on 22 January 2026; RBI lists the application as under process as of 16 October 2026; Payoneer also lists an RBI OPGSP registration404142Payoneer pricing, help and press pages; RBI status list121639404142
PayPalClients paying by card or PayPal balance234.40% plus a fixed fee (0.30 USD for USD) per international commercial transaction133.0% or 4.00% above the base exchange rate, depending on the conversion type13Up to 5 business days to reach the Indian bank account43Free weekly digital FIRA from February 2026; custom FIRA at 100 INR plus 18% GST per transaction44Listed as an existing PA-CB with in-principle authorisation granted, as on 16 October 202641PayPal fee, help and FIRA pages; RBI status list13414344
WiseBank transfers to local account details6Equivalent of 2 USD per transfer to the INR account (help article); free e-FIRC (receive pricing page); 6.11 USD per USD wire or Swift receipt in its business fee table; 18% GST on fees64524Mid-market rate plus a conversion fee; no percentage published for INR24Wise says INR reaches the Indian bank within 1 to 2 days6e-FIRC for each transfer, emailed within 3 working days6Wise Payments India Private Limited is listed as PA-CB-I, authorised 12 March 202630Wise help and pricing pages; RBI list6243045

Large stage payments matter for architects: Wise returns payments above 2.5 million INR or equivalent, and RBI caps each payment aggregator cross-border transaction at ₹25 lakh.615

Which RBI and GST rules apply to architecture firms?

The rules that apply to an architecture firm paid from abroad are the IGST Act export test, the immovable property place of supply rule, the LUT procedure, the 2026 FEMA export regulations and, for individuals and firms, the presumptive scheme for specified professions.245717

RuleBest for (who it applies to)Plain meaningSource
IGST Act section 13(4)Design for a specific building or sitePlace of supply for services of architects in relation to immovable property is where the property is located or intended to be located2CBIC2
IGST Act sections 2(6) and 16Every firm billing a client outside IndiaAll five export conditions must hold; exports are zero-rated37CBIC37
LUT in FORM GST RFD-11GST-registered firmsInvoice exports without IGST for the financial year4GST portal4
CBIC Circular 161/17/2021-GSTIndian subsidiaries of foreign design groupsA subsidiary supplying its foreign parent is not merely an establishment of a distinct person46CBIC46
EDF and realisation, 2026 RegulationsEvery firm exporting from 1 October 2026File the EDF and collect payment within nine months of each invoice58RBI58
Income-tax Act, 2025, sections 58(2) and 62(4)Resident individual architects and partnership firms (not LLPs)Architecture is a specified profession, so the 50% deemed profit scheme can apply up to ₹50 lakh receipts1718Income Tax Department1718

For example, a Chennai firm designing a resort in the Maldives has a place of supply in the Maldives, while designing a Goa hotel for a London investor has a place of supply in India.2 See architect designing a building abroad.

Which purpose code applies to architecture firms?

Architecture firms report design fees under P1009, with engineering and other technical work under their own codes.114 The list comes from RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 of 29 February 2012.47

CodeBest for (transaction type)Official RBI descriptionSource
P1009Building design, drawings, BIM, masterplanning, landscape designArchitectural servicesHDFC, DGFT114
P1014Structural or MEP engineering billed separatelyEngineering ServicesHDFC, DGFT114
P1022Technical studies such as surveys or testingOther Technical Services including scientific/space services.HDFC, DGFT114
P0902Licensing a design you own for reuseReceipts for use, through licensing arrangements, of produced originals or prototypes (such as manuscripts and films), patents, copyrights, trademarks, industrial processes, franchises etc.HDFC, DGFT114

DGFT maps architectural advisory, residential and non-residential building design, urban planning and landscape architecture services (SAC 998321 to 998328) to P1009.14 Older lists described P1009 as covering engineering and other technical services too; the current list splits them out.148

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

The cheapest option for an architecture firm depends on stage payment size, because flat per-payment fees fall as a share of larger invoices.91113 The table below works out INR received at today's rate from published fees.

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, a $5,000 concept design stage paid by bank transfer costs about 0.68% with Skydo's USD 29 plus GST and 1.00 to 1.18% with Razorpay's 1% MoneySaver fee plus GST.911 Payoneer's conversion to INR costs 1% to 4% depending on region and volume.12 PayPal's 4.40% fee plus a 3.0% or 4.00% conversion fee comes to about 7.27 to 8.23% at that size.13

What documents follow each payment?

Each foreign payment to an architecture firm leaves a FIRA or e-FIRC, and the firm adds an EDF, a self-certified e-BRC and an LUT-endorsed export invoice if registered.454950

DocumentBest forWhat it doesSource
FIRA or e-FIRCMatching stage payments to invoicesWise issues an e-FIRC per transfer; Payoneer and PayPal issue digital FIRAs61644Provider pages61644
e-BRCGST refunds and export recordsSelf-certified on DGFT from the bank's inward remittance messages49DGFT49
EDFEvery firm exporting from 1 October 2026Filed within 30 days from the end of the invoice month, or on or before the payment date for non-software services5RBI5
LUTGST-registered firmsZero-rated invoicing without IGST451GST portal, CBIC451
Export invoiceRegistered firms under an LUTRule 46 endorsement plus the recipient's name, address and country50CBIC50

See FIRC vs FIRA vs e-BRC and EDF for service exporters.

What changes in 2026 for architecture firms?

The 2026 changes for architecture firms are the EDF for every service exporter, the nine-month realisation period, the PA-CB transaction cap, new authorisations for providers and the Income-tax Act, 2025.58153052

  • EDF: From 1 October 2026 every exporter of services files an EDF with its AD bank.5
  • Realisation period: Nine months from the invoice date, after the 15-month window ended on 5 June 2026.853
  • Write-offs: The AD bank can allow a reduction in export value on declaration alone for invoices up to ₹10 lakh.5
  • Wise authorisation: RBI lists Wise Payments India Private Limited as a PA-CB for inward transactions, authorised on 12 March 2026.30
  • Income tax: The Income-tax Act, 2025 applies from 1 April 2026, and section 58(2) replaces section 44ADA.1852

The export realisation deadline calculator gives the due date for each stage invoice.

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]HDFC Bank: Inward Remittance Purpose Codes (bank reproduction of the RBI list, checked 2026-10-28)
  2. [2]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 13, sub-sections (2) and (4) (place of supply where supplier or recipient is outside India; immovable property) (checked 2026-10-31)
  3. [3]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 16 (zero-rated supply)
  4. [4]GST portal: User guide, Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)
  5. [5]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, 6, 7, 13 and 19)
  6. [6]Wise Help Centre, Receiving payments for Indian businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
  7. [7]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 2 (definition of export of services, clause 6)
  8. [8]RBI: Notification No. FEMA 23(R)/(1)/2026-RB dated 22 September 2026, amending regulation 5 (realisation period)
  9. [9]Razorpay, Multi-Currency Account for International Bank Transfers (MoneySaver Export Account pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  10. [10]Karbon Business, PayPal Alternative comparison page (checked 2026-10-28)
  11. [11]Skydo FAQs, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  12. [12]Payoneer India, Payoneer Fees (checked 2026-10-28)
  13. [13]PayPal India, PayPal Merchant Fees (page last updated 28 March 2024) (checked 2026-10-28)
  14. [14]DGFT: Purpose Code and SAC Code Mapping, Version 1.0, 10 November 2023
  15. [15]RBI: Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregator dated 15 September 2025, paragraph 11(d) (transaction limit for PA-CB)
  16. [16]Payoneer Help Center, Digital FIRA FAQ (checked 2026-10-28)
  17. [17]Income Tax Department: Income-tax Act, 2025 as amended by the Finance Act, 2026 (sections 58, 62(4), 156 and 202)
  18. [18]Income Tax Department: Income-tax Act, 2025, section 58 (presumptive taxation)
  19. [19]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 96A (export under bond or Letter of Undertaking), as substituted by Notification No. 12/2024-Central Tax, 10 July 2024
  20. [20]Wise Help Centre, How to verify your Indian business to receive payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]Payoneer, How to receive international payments in India (last modified 31 August 2026, checked 2026-10-28)
  22. [22]PayPal India, Four steps to complete your KYC (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]PayPal India, User Agreement for PayPal Services (last updated 13 January 2025) (checked 2026-10-28)
  24. [24]Wise India, Fees for getting paid (Wise Business receive pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
  26. [26]Razorpay, Pricing, International Payments and International Bank Transfers tabs (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, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
  30. [30]RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Payment Aggregators, list as on 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  31. [31]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
  32. [32]Karbon Forex Terms and Conditions, Interropac Private Limited (checked 2026-10-28)
  33. [33]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  34. [34]Skydo, home page fee table (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, What is accepted for GST filings and banks between FIRA and FIRC? (checked 2026-10-28)
  38. [38]Payoneer, How to use Payoneer in India (last modified 18 September 2026, checked 2026-10-28)
  39. [39]Payoneer India, Multi-currency account page and FAQs (checked 2026-10-28)
  40. [40]Payoneer press release, Payoneer receives in-principle authorization as Cross-Border Payment Aggregator in India, 22 January 2026
  41. [41]RBI: Status of Applications received under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  42. [42]Payoneer India, Payoneer's multi-jurisdictional licenses (checked 2026-10-28)
  43. [43]PayPal India Help, How do I transfer funds to my bank account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  44. [44]PayPal India, Foreign Inward Remittance Advise (FIRA) (checked 2026-10-28)
  45. [45]Wise India site, Wise Business pricing, fees at a glance (checked 2026-10-28)
  46. [46]CBIC: Circular No. 161/17/2021-GST (establishments of distinct persons)
  47. [47]RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012, Compilation of R-Returns: Reporting under FETERS (purpose codes)
  48. [48]RBI: Annexure II, New purpose codes for reporting forex transactions, receipt purposes (earlier list, each page marked 'Withdrawn' on the RBI website, undated)
  49. [49]DGFT: eBRC system, self-certification of eBRC from bank inward remittance messages (IRMs), Trade Notice 33/2023-24 dated 10 November 2023 (checked 2026-10-28)
  50. [50]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 46 (tax invoice, export endorsement)
  51. [51]CBIC: Circular No. 40/14/2018-GST (LUT deemed accepted on generation of ARN)
  52. [52]PIB: Income-tax Act, 2025 comes into force from 1 April 2026
  53. [53]RBI: Notification No. FEMA 23(R)/(8)/2026-RB, realisation period restored to nine months from 5 June 2026

Frequently asked questions

Which RBI purpose code do architecture firms use for foreign fees?+

Architecture firms use P1009, which RBI describes as Architectural services, for design and drawing fees from foreign clients. Structural or MEP engineering billed separately fits P1014, Engineering Services. DGFT maps architectural advisory, building design, urban planning and landscape architecture services to P1009.114

Is designing a building in India for a foreign developer an export?+

Designing a building located in India is usually not an export, even for a foreign developer. Section 13(4) of the IGST Act places architects' services in relation to immovable property where the property is located, so the place of supply is in India and section 2(6) is not met.27

Can an architecture firm receive a large design fee through Wise?+

Wise lets Indian businesses receive up to 2.5 million INR (₹25 lakh) or equivalent per transaction, and payments outside its limits are returned to the sender. RBI caps each payment aggregator cross-border transaction at ₹25 lakh, so larger milestones may need a direct bank wire or splitting by invoice.615

Does Payoneer issue FIRAs in an architecture firm's company name?+

Payoneer says it issues FIRAs in a company's name if the account is registered as a company, and each digital FIRA shows the purpose code set in your profile. A firm registered as an LLP or company should open the account in that name so the FIRA matches its invoices.16

Can a freelance architect use the 50% presumptive tax scheme?+

Architecture is a specified profession under section 62(4) of the Income-tax Act, 2025. A resident individual architect or a partnership firm (not an LLP) can use the 50% deemed profit scheme in section 58(2), Table row 3, with gross receipts up to ₹50 lakh, or ₹75 lakh if cash receipts are within 5%.1718

What happens if an overseas client delays a stage payment?+

Each stage invoice must be realised within nine months under regulation 5 of the 2026 Regulations, and the AD bank can extend that period. Under rule 96A, IGST with interest becomes payable if payment is not received within one year of the invoice or the FEMA period, whichever is later.5819

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 an architect in India receive payments from foreign clients?

How Indian architects get paid by foreign clients: the site location rule for GST, purpose code P1009, staged fees under the EDF and nine-month rule, and tax.

Purpose codes

What is purpose code P1009?

P1009 is the RBI receipt purpose code for architectural services. Which architects and planners use it, how it differs from P1014, and DGFT's SAC mapping.

GST

How is the place of supply decided when you export services from India?

How IGST section 13 decides the place of supply when your client is abroad: the recipient-location rule, the exceptions that keep it in India, and 2026 changes.

Compare

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

Wise 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.

Tax

Which professions are 'specified professions' under section 62 of the Income-tax Act, 2025?

The specified professions in section 62(4) of the Income-tax Act, 2025, what they decide (books, presumptive tax), and how designers, writers and tutors fit.