PayPal, Wise or Payoneer: What GST and FIRC Mean for Freelance Video Editors Getting Paid

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.

A freelance video editor billing a foreign client is an exporter of services under the FEMA Export and Import Regulations, 2026, in force from 1 October 2026. GST treats the same work as a zero-rated export when all five conditions in IGST Act section 2(6) are met. Under section 16(3) a registered editor can supply under a bond or LUT without paying IGST and claim a refund of unused input tax credit. These rules apply whichever payment route the client uses.

P1101 is the code in RBI's FETERS purpose code list that covers motion picture and video tape production, so it usually fits video editing work. Television production, advertising and licensing of produced originals such as films have separate codes. The code should match what the invoice describes, so confirm it with your AD bank. See the P1101 purpose code and purpose code for YouTube income.

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 ₹1,87,376 and PayPal about ₹1,74,194 at today's reference rate, a difference of ₹13,182.

Each foreign payment for video editing needs records that prove the export for FEMA and GST. The LUT comes before the first zero-rated invoice, each invoice carries the export endorsement in CGST Rule 46, and the EDF follows within 30 days of the invoice month end. A remittance certificate and an e-BRC confirm the money arrived, and CGST Rule 89(2)(c) asks for BRCs or FIRCs in an export refund claim.

In 2026 freelance video editors move to a new FEMA export framework and a new income tax law. The FEMA Export and Import Regulations, 2026 apply from 1 October 2026, and RBI Circular No. 20 supersedes the old Master Direction on exports from that date. The Income-tax Act, 2025 replaced the 1961 Act from 1 April 2026.

• New framework: From 1 October 2026, Circular No. 20 supersedes the Master Directions on export and import of goods and services and the circulars in its Annex. See what changed in the FEMA export rules.
• EDF: Service exporters file an EDF within 30 days from the end of the invoice month under Regulation 3(2), with one EDF allowed for a whole month. See the EDF form.
• Realisation: Regulation 5(1)(a) sets nine months from the invoice date for services, or twelve months for rupee invoicing or settlement. See export realisation period.
• Small invoices: EDPMS entries for invoices up to ₹10 lakh can close on the exporter's own declaration under Regulation 4(2).
• Income tax: The Income-tax Act, 1961 was repealed on 1 April 2026. Tax years before 1 April 2026 stay under the old Act, and later income falls under the 2025 Act.

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 Notification No. FEMA 23(R)/2026-RB: Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 (amended up to September 22, 2026), Regulations 2(1)(e), 2(1)(f), 3(2)(a) and (b), 4(2) proviso, 5(1)(a) and proviso, 18(2) (checked 7 Oct 2026)
2. 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 (checked 7 Oct 2026)
3. RBI: FETERS guidelines and purpose code list (Annex to A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84), Receipt purpose codes P0902, P1007, P1099, P1101, P1103 (checked 7 Oct 2026)
4. RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated February 29, 2012: Compilation of R-Returns, Reporting under FETERS, Reporting of foreign exchange transactions with purpose codes (checked 7 Oct 2026)
5. IGST Act, 2017, Section 2: Definitions, Section 2(6): export of services (checked 7 Oct 2026)
6. IGST Act, 2017, Section 13: Place of supply where supplier or recipient is outside India, Section 13(2) and 13(3)(a) (checked 7 Oct 2026)
7. IGST Act, 2017, Section 16: Zero rated supply, Section 16(3) (checked 7 Oct 2026)
8. CGST Rules, 2017, Rule 96A: Export of goods or services under bond or Letter of Undertaking, Rule 96A(1) and 96A(1)(b) (checked 7 Oct 2026)
9. CGST Rules, 2017, Rule 89: Application for refund, Rule 89(2)(bc) and 89(2)(c): BRCs or FIRCs issued by an Authorised Dealer-I bank (checked 7 Oct 2026)
10. CGST Rules, 2017, Rule 46: Tax invoice, Proviso on export invoice endorsement (checked 7 Oct 2026)
11. GST Portal user manual: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11), Steps 3 and 4: Services > User Services > Furnish Letter of Undertaking (LUT) (checked 7 Oct 2026)
12. DGFT FAQs on Self-Generation of eBRC (Version 1.0, March 2024), Q1 (what is eBRC), Q10 (how to generate) (checked 7 Oct 2026)
13. Income Tax Department: Objective and scope of the New Act (Income Tax Act 2025 FAQs), FAQs 2 and 7: repeal on 01.04.2026, earlier tax years (checked 7 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. Wise India: Fees for receiving money (Business), Conversion fee depends on the currency; eFIRC for every transfer; GST 18% of (conversion fee + eFIRC fee); calculator (checked 6 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)