How Can Ecommerce Exporters in India Receive International Payments in 2026?

• Ticket size: Each retail order is usually small, often a single parcel worth tens or a few hundred dollars. What reaches the exporter is a periodic payout or settlement that bundles many orders, so each payout is usually much larger than a single order.
• Currencies: Shoppers pay in their local currency, most often USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, AUD or AED, and the marketplace or checkout collects in that currency. The FEMA (Manner of Receipt and Payment) Regulations, 2023 allow receipts from countries outside the Asian Clearing Union in INR or any foreign currency. Nepal, Bhutan and other Asian Clearing Union members follow separate rules.
• Geography: Buyers are individual consumers spread across many countries, and most buy only once or a few times. Marketplace sellers often send stock in bulk to a fulfilment centre or warehouse abroad, while web store sellers usually ship each order directly from India by courier or post.
• Payment methods: Shoppers pay the marketplace or the exporter's store by card, digital wallet or a local payment method. The exporter does not receive each shopper's payment directly. It receives a marketplace payout or a gateway settlement after fees, refunds and chargebacks are deducted.

1. 1Shopper's paymentDeduction: None for the exporter at this point. The shopper pays the full price in local currency to the marketplace or the store's checkout.
2. 2Marketplace or card gatewayDeduction: Commission, referral or processing fees, fulfilment and advertising charges, refunds and chargebacks. The marketplace or gateway keeps its fees and any refunds before it releases a payout or settlement.
3. 3Collecting provider or receiving bankDeduction: A conversion margin and possibly a flat or percentage fee. Foreign currency is converted to INR at the provider's or bank's own rate, which sits above the mid-market rate.
4. 4GST on feesDeduction: GST on fees charged by an India-based bank or provider. Fees charged to the exporter by an Indian bank or provider are a domestic supply.
5. 5Exporter's accountDeduction: None, unless the money is kept in an EEFC account and converted later. The AD bank uses the purpose code and remittance details to match the receipt to shipping bills in EDPMS.

The table ranks platforms with full published pricing for USD by the INR received on USD 2,500, then lists other business platforms that accept USD, unranked. Fees were checked on 30 Sept 2026 or later.

Each row applies the platform's published fee, FX markup and 18% GST on the fee to the mid-market rate of ₹94.57 per USD for 4 Nov 2026.

• Matching payouts: Every export is reported in EDPMS against its shipping bill, and the AD bank closes or updates the entry when payment arrives. A single payout often covers dozens of orders, so keep an order-to-shipping-bill register. Paragraph 11(h) of the RBI Master Direction on Payment Aggregators requires a cross-border aggregator to give the AD bank the documents or information needed for EDPMS closure. See EDPMS closure.
• Warehouse stock: For goods sent to a warehouse outside India, such as a marketplace fulfilment centre, Regulation 5 counts the realisation period from the date of sale from the warehouse, not the date of shipment. Keep the marketplace's sales reports to show when each unit sold. See export realisation period.
• Refunds and returns: Refunds, chargebacks and unsold stock reduce what is realised against a shipping bill. Regulation 6 lets the AD bank allow a reduction in export value, and for shipping bills up to ₹10 lakh the exporter's declaration is enough. CBIC introduced a risk-based process and a return module in ECCS for re-importing returned e-commerce parcels, according to a PIB release. See goods returned by the buyer.
• Courier limits: From 1 April 2026, CBIC removed the ₹10 lakh value cap per consignment on courier exports, according to a PIB release. An older DGFT e-commerce handbook says the authorised courier files the Courier Shipping Bill on ECCS, and postal exporters register with the Department of Posts using their IEC, GSTIN and AD code. See ecommerce and courier export rules.
• Payout size: Paragraph 11(d) of the RBI Master Direction on Payment Aggregators caps each inward transaction through a cross-border payment aggregator at ₹25 lakh. Retail orders rarely reach this, but bulk payouts or wholesale orders may need splitting or a SWIFT wire. See PA-CB transaction limits.

Ecommerce exporters in India need an IEC, an AD code registered with Customs, an EDF for each export and receipts matched to shipping bills in EDPMS. Under the FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, the EDF for goods shipped through an EDI port is deemed submitted as part of the shipping bill.

• IEC: Para 2.05 of Foreign Trade Policy 2023, Chapter 2 says no export of goods can be made without an Importer-Exporter Code unless exempted. The IEC is the same as the entity's PAN, is issued online by DGFT and must be updated every year between April and June. See how to apply for an IEC.
• AD code: Customs links each shipping bill to the exporter's AD bank through the AD code. The ICEGATE FAQs say the AD code is registered online from the user profile on ICEGATE, and approval can take 7 to 10 working days while pending with Customs. See AD code registration.
• Shipping bill and EDF: Regulation 3(1) requires a goods exporter to declare the full export value in the EDF at the time of export. At an EDI port the EDF is deemed part of the shipping bill. At a non-EDI port, the specified authority forwards the authenticated EDF to the AD bank. See EDF form for exports.
• EDPMS: Regulation 4(2) requires the AD bank to close or update the EDPMS entry when it credits the export receipt. For shipping bills up to ₹10 lakh, which covers most ecommerce parcels, the entry may be closed on the exporter's declaration, filed one by one or quarterly in bulk. See checking outstanding shipping bills.
• eBRC: DGFT's eBRC system receives inward remittance messages directly from banks, and exporters self-certify eBRCs against them. The DGFT eBRC FAQs say the exporter registers on the DGFT website, links the IEC and generates the eBRC from the Services menu. See BRC vs eBRC.
• FIRA and purpose code: FIRA is not a term defined in RBI regulations; banks issue an inward remittance certificate or advice on request. Goods receipts use Group 01 of the RBI purpose code list: P0102 is "Realisation of export bills (in respect of goods) sent on collection (full invoice value)" and P0103 covers advance receipts against export contracts. See purpose code for export of goods.
• Realisation: Regulation 5 requires the full export value of goods to be realised within nine months from the date of shipment, or twelve months if invoiced or settled in INR, under the 22 September 2026 amendment. Goods sent to an overseas warehouse count from the date of sale there.

Ecommerce exports from India are a zero-rated supply for GST, and profit is taxed as business income. Under IGST Act section 16, exporters can ship under an LUT without IGST and claim a refund of unused input tax credit, or, where notified, pay IGST and claim it back. Eligible resident proprietors and firms may use section 58.

• LUT route: File a Letter of Undertaking in Form GST RFD-11 before exporting to ship without paying IGST under CGST Rule 96A. Unused input tax credit can then be claimed as a refund. See LUT filing on the GST portal.
• IGST paid route: If the exporter pays IGST on the export, CGST Rule 96 treats the shipping bill as the refund application once the export manifest is filed, a valid GSTR-3B return is furnished and the exporter has completed Aadhaar authentication under rule 10B. Invoice details in GSTR-1 must match the shipping bill, or the refund waits until the mismatch is fixed.
• Unrealised exports: CGST Rule 96B requires an exporter of goods who got a GST refund to repay it with interest, to the extent sale proceeds are not realised within the FEMA period. The repayment is due within thirty days after that period, including any extension, ends. If RBI writes off the realisation requirement on merits, the refund is not recovered.
• Section 58: The Income Tax Department FAQ says section 58 of the Income-tax Act, 2025 consolidates old section 44AD, and the new Act applies from tax year 2026-27. For a resident individual, HUF or firm other than an LLP with turnover up to ₹2 crore, or ₹3 crore if cash receipts are within 5 percent, profit is taken as 6 percent of receipts through specified banking or online modes and 8 percent of the rest, or actual profit if higher.
• Withholding: Overseas marketplaces may ask for a tax interview or tax form and may deduct or collect tax under their own country's law. Keep any deduction certificate or tax statement, and check with a tax adviser whether a foreign tax credit can be claimed in India.

Rules and rails are linked to official sources below with the dates they were checked. Platform figures come from each platform's own pages, checked on 30 Sept 2026 or later, and RBI authorisation was checked against RBI's published list. Rates are XE live mid-market rates, dated 4 Nov 2026. The method is on the methodology page.

1. 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), Reg 3(1) EDF at the time of export, deemed submitted as part of shipping bill at EDI port; Reg 3(3) non-EDI port EDF forwarded to AD; Reg 4(2) EDPMS closure, declaration for shipping bills up to ₹10 lakh; Reg 5(1)(a),(b) nine months from date of shipment, from date of sale for goods exported to a warehouse outside India, twelve months if invoiced or settled in INR, AD may extend; Reg 6 reduction, declaration up to ₹10 lakh per shipping bill (checked 8 Oct 2026)
2. Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (22 September 2026), Regulation 5(1): 'fifteen months' replaced by 'nine months'; 'eighteen months' replaced by 'twelve months' (checked 8 Oct 2026)
3. Foreign Exchange Management (Manner of Receipt and Payment) Regulations, 2023, Regulation 3(2)(I)(a): Nepal and Bhutan; ACU members through ACU mechanism; countries other than ACU members in Indian Rupees or in any foreign currency (checked 8 Oct 2026)
4. RBI Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregator (PA), PA-CB facilitates cross-border payments for onboarded merchants through e-commerce mode; Para 11(d): maximum value per inward or outward transaction processed by a PA-CB is ₹25 lakh; Para 11(h): PA-CB to provide documents/information to the exporter's AD bank for closure of EDPMS entries (checked 8 Oct 2026)
5. RBI circular: Guidelines to facilitate faster cross-border inward payments (9 April 2026), Banks shall endeavour to credit inward payments received during forex market hours within the same business day; effective six months from the circular date (checked 8 Oct 2026)
6. RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84: Purpose codes for reporting under FETERS (29 February 2012), annex, Group 01 Exports (of Goods): P0102 "Realisation of export bills (in respect of goods) sent on collection (full invoice value)"; P0103 advance receipts against export contracts (export of goods only) (checked 8 Oct 2026)
7. RBI Master Direction - Deposits and Accounts, EEFC account: foreign exchange earnings may be credited (checked 8 Oct 2026)
8. DGFT, Foreign Trade Policy 2023, Chapter 2: General Provisions Regarding Imports and Exports, Para 2.05: IEC same as PAN, issued by DGFT online; no export or import of goods without an IEC unless exempted; update every year during April-June (checked 8 Oct 2026)
9. ICEGATE FAQs (Indian Customs EDI Gateway), Online registration of AD Code by accessing user profile on ICEGATE; 'custom pending' approval 7-10 working days (checked 8 Oct 2026)
10. DGFT Electronic Bank Realisation Certificate (eBRC) page, eBRC based on inward remittance messages transmitted directly by banks to DGFT; exporters self-certify eBRCs (checked 8 Oct 2026)
11. DGFT FAQs on Self-Generation of eBRC, Register on DGFT website, link IEC, Services >> eBRC >> Generating eBRC (checked 8 Oct 2026)
12. DGFT: E-Commerce Exports Handbook for MSMEs, Postal route: register with the Department of Posts with IEC, GSTIN and AD code; PBE III for e-commerce exports; courier route: Courier Shipping Bill filed on ECCS by the authorised courier (older handbook; its realisation periods and courier value limits are superseded) (checked 8 Oct 2026)
13. PIB (Ministry of Finance): CBIC operationalises comprehensive reforms for e-commerce exports and courier trade from April 1, 2026 (31 March 2026), ₹10 lakh value limit for commercial export consignments through courier mode removed from 1 April 2026; risk-based re-import of returned or rejected goods including e-commerce exports; dedicated return module in the Express Cargo Clearance System (checked 8 Oct 2026)
14. Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, section 16 (CBIC), Section 16(1)(a): export of goods is a zero rated supply; 16(3): refund of unutilised ITC on supply without payment of integrated tax under bond or LUT; 16(4): notified classes of persons or goods may pay integrated tax and claim refund (checked 8 Oct 2026)
15. Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017, Rule 96 (CBIC), Shipping bill deemed an application for refund of IGST paid on goods exported, once export manifest filed, valid GSTR-3B furnished and Aadhaar authentication under rule 10B completed (checked 8 Oct 2026)
16. Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017, Rule 96A (CBIC), Bond or Letter of Undertaking in Form GST RFD-11 prior to export, for export without payment of integrated tax (checked 8 Oct 2026)
17. Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017, Rule 96B (CBIC), Refund on export of goods to be deposited with interest within thirty days of expiry of the FEMA period to the extent of non-realisation; not recovered if RBI writes off realisation on merits (checked 8 Oct 2026)
18. Income Tax Department: Objective and scope of the new Act (Income-tax Act, 2025), FAQ 25: presumptive schemes in sections 44AD, 44ADA and 44AE consolidated into section 58; FAQ 2 and 21: 1961 Act repealed from 1 April 2026; tax year concept from 1 April 2026 (Tax Year 2026-27) (checked 8 Oct 2026)
19. The Income-tax Act, 2025 (No. 30 of 2025), Gazette of India, Section 58(2) Table serial 1: eligible assessee, turnover up to ₹2 crore or ₹3 crore where cash receipts do not exceed 5%; 6% of receipts by specified banking or online mode and 8% of the rest, or actual profit if higher; 58(11)(a): resident individual, HUF or firm other than LLP; excludes commission or brokerage income and agency business (checked 8 Oct 2026)
20. 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)
21. Skydo homepage (pricing and fee calculator), Know what you pay; calculator showing GST 18% of transaction fee (checked 6 Oct 2026)
22. Kotak Everyday Savings Account fees and charges, Foreign Inward Remittance certificate (Branch Request) INR 100/Request; GST on Foreign Currency Conversion; fees exclusive of GST (checked 6 Oct 2026)
23. HDFC Bank: Remittance Services Fees & Charges, Inward Remittance Charge: No Charge; FIRC Charge for Inward Remittance & FCY Cheque Collection INR 200 per FIRC; GST slabs on amount of currency exchanged (checked 6 Oct 2026)
24. 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)
25. 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)
26. 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)
27. Airwallex Help: Eligible Countries and Territories, INDIA IN - AWX Legal Entity SINGAPORE (checked 7 Oct 2026)