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

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.

Architecture firms with foreign clients are exporters of services under FEMA, and under GST only when the building is outside India and the other export conditions are met. From October 01, 2026 the FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 set the declaration, realisation and reporting rules. For GST, section 13(4) of the IGST Act places services directly in relation to immovable property, including architects' services for construction work, where the property is located or intended to be located. A design for a building in India is therefore taxable in India even when the client pays from abroad.

Architecture firms usually receive foreign payments under P1009, which the RBI receipt purpose codes describe as architectural services; engineering work has its own code, P1014. Codes starting with S, such as S1009, are for payments made out of India, so they do not apply to fees received. The AD bank reports the code under FETERS as set out in Circular No. 84 of 2012. See P1009 purpose code for more detail.

Each row applies the platform's published fee, FX markup and 18% GST on the fee to the XE mid-market rate for 4 Nov 2026. Platforms without full published pricing are not included.

For example, on a $2,000 invoice Skydo pays about ₹1,87,250 and PayPal about ₹1,74,077 at today's reference rate, a difference of ₹13,173.

Each foreign payment to an architecture firm is backed by an export 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, which require invoice SAC codes to match the service. Since October 01, 2026 the EDF under Regulation 3(2) applies to services and software alike, after Circular No. 20 superseded the SOFTEX circulars.

In 2026 architecture firms 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, effective the same day, cut the realisation period from fifteen to nine months. The IGST place of supply rule and the Rule 96A LUT process are not part of these FEMA changes.

• New regulations: Circular No. 20 superseded the Master Directions on export and import of goods and services from October 01, 2026.
• 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.
• Faster credit: RBI asked scheduled commercial banks in April 2026 to endeavour to credit inward payments received in forex market hours on the same business day. The direction takes effect 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) and Explanation, 3(2), 4(2), 5(1), 13 and 18(2) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
2. RBI, FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (FEMA 23(R)/(1)/2026-RB), Nine and twelve months in Regulation 5(1) (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 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 (2012), FETERS purpose codes for receipts, Receipt codes P1006, P1008, P1009, P1099; payment codes S1005, S1009 (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 (checked 6 Oct 2026)
7. IGST Act, 2017, Section 13 (Place of supply where supplier or recipient is outside India), Section 13(4) and 13(6) (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 (10 November 2023), Rules 1, 2, 10 and 12 (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 in section 58) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
13. RBI, Guidelines to facilitate faster cross-border inward payments (April 09, 2026), Paragraphs 3 and 4 (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. 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)