PayPal, Payoneer or Stripe: What GST and FIRC Mean for Game Developers Getting Paid for Work Sold Overseas

Platforms named in the question are shown alongside the 2 highest payouts among the platforms this site covers, ranked by the INR received on a $5,000 invoice. Fees were checked on 30 Sept 2026.

Game developers in India who sell games or game development work abroad are exporters of services under FEMA and GST. The FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, in force from October 01, 2026, define software as any computer programme, database, drawing, design, audio/video signals or information on any non-physical medium, and treat software as a service. For GST, section 2(6) of the IGST Act sets the five export conditions and section 16 makes the export zero rated. These rules apply whichever platform or bank collects the money.

Game development payments can fit P0807 or P0802 in group 08 of the FETERS purpose code list. P0807 can fit a game, build or game code made in India and delivered abroad. P0902 can fit licence income, such as royalties from a publisher for the right to use a game or its copyright. DGFT's e-BRC guidelines accept only P0802, P0803, P0807 and P0103 for IT services, so confirm the code with your AD bank or platform before the first receipt.

Each row applies the platform's published fee, FX markup and 18% GST on the fee to the XE mid-market rate for 3 Nov 2026. Platforms without full published pricing are not included.

For example, on a $2,000 invoice Skydo pays about ₹1,87,299 and PayPal about ₹1,74,122 at today's reference rate, a difference of ₹13,177.

Each foreign payment to a game developer is backed by an invoice, an inward remittance advice (FIRA or FIRC), an EDF and, for GST, an LUT. An e-BRC can be generated on DGFT under the self-certified e-BRC guidelines. From October 01, 2026, the EDF under Regulation 3(2) replaces the SOFTEX form for software, after Circular No. 20 superseded the SOFTEX circulars.

In 2026 game developers move to a new FEMA export framework, a nine-month realisation period and a new income tax law. The FEMA Regulations 2026 took effect on October 01, 2026, and the September 2026 amendment set the realisation period at nine months before the rules took effect. The GST rules on LUT and zero rating continue to apply.

• EDF replaces SOFTEX: From October 01, 2026 software exports, including games, are declared on an EDF within 30 days of the invoice month end under Regulation 3(2). Circular No. 20 superseded the SOFTEX circulars.
• Nine months: The amendment notification FEMA 23(R)/(1)/2026-RB replaced fifteen months with nine months for realisation, and eighteen with twelve months for INR invoices.
• Unrealised exports: If proceeds stay unrealised for over one year past the due date, further exports need full advance or an irrevocable letter of credit under Regulation 13.
• Income tax: The Income-tax Act, 2025 replaced the 1961 Act from April 01, 2026. Its FAQ 25 says the old presumptive schemes, including section 44ADA, are now in section 58. Check the foreign tax credit provision before filing.
• Faster credit: RBI asked banks in April 2026 to endeavour to credit inward payments received in forex market hours on the same business day, effective six months from the April 09, 2026 circular.

Every rule is linked to its official source below with the date it was checked. Platform figures come from each platform's own pages; the full method is on the methodology page.

1. RBI, Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 (FEMA 23(R)/2026-RB, amended up to September 22, 2026), Regulations 1(2), 2(1)(e), Explanation to 2(1), 3(2), 4(2), 5(1), 13 and 18 (checked 6 Oct 2026)
2. RBI, FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (FEMA 23(R)/(1)/2026-RB), Paragraphs 2 and 3: nine and twelve months in Regulation 5(1); proviso to Regulation 13 (checked 6 Oct 2026)
3. RBI, A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20 dated January 16, 2026, Export and Import of Goods and Services, Paragraphs 4 and 7 and Annex (SOFTEX circulars superseded) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
4. RBI, Purpose codes for reporting under FETERS (Annex to A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84, 2012), Receipt purpose codes P0103, P0802, P0807, P0902, P1104 (checked 6 Oct 2026)
5. RBI, A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated February 29, 2012, Reporting under FETERS, Paragraph 3 (checked 6 Oct 2026)
6. IGST Act, 2017, Section 2 (Definitions), Section 2(6) export of services; Section 2(17) online information and database access or retrieval services (checked 6 Oct 2026)
7. IGST Act, 2017, Section 13 (Place of supply where supplier or recipient is outside India), Section 13(2) and 13(12) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
8. IGST Act, 2017, Section 16 (Zero rated supply), Section 16(1)(a) and 16(3) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
9. CGST Rules, 2017, Rule 96A (Export under bond or Letter of Undertaking), Rule 96A(1)(b) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
10. GST Portal user manual, Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11), Filing steps (checked 6 Oct 2026)
11. DGFT, Self-Certified eBRC Generation Guidelines, Version 1.0, Rules 9 and 10 (checked 6 Oct 2026)
12. Income Tax Department, Objective and scope of the New Act (Income-tax Act, 2025 FAQs), FAQ 2: 1961 Act repealed on 01.04.2026; FAQ 25: presumptive schemes consolidated in section 58 (checked 6 Oct 2026)
13. RBI, Guidelines to facilitate faster cross-border inward payments (April 09, 2026), Paragraphs 3 and 4 (same business day credit) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
14. Skydo homepage (pricing and fee calculator), Know what you pay; calculator showing GST 18% of transaction fee (checked 6 Oct 2026)
15. Razorpay MoneySaver Export Account (International Bank Transfers) pricing, Standard Plan: 0% FX markup, 1% fee, FlashLinks 2%, GST applicable, flat fee of INR 1,000 on transactions below INR 1,00,000, setup and AMC INR 0 (checked 6 Oct 2026)
16. Stripe India pricing, International cards with USD/other currency presentment 4.3% + 2% if currency conversion is required; Mastercard and Visa cards issued outside India 3% + 2%; American Express outside India 3.5% + 2%; dispute received INR 1,000.00 (checked 7 Oct 2026)
17. PayPal India Merchant Fees, Receiving international transactions; Currency Conversions (3.0% converting balance and payments received; 4.00% all other cases); Withdrawals Out of PayPal; Dispute Fees; Other Fees (Last Updated 28 March 2024) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
18. Payoneer India home (checked 6 Oct 2026)