How Can SaaS Companies in India Receive International Payments in 2026?

• Ticket size: Self-serve plans bring many small monthly or annual card payments. Enterprise contracts bring fewer, larger invoices, often billed annually in advance, plus one-off implementation or onboarding fees.
• Currencies: Most SaaS pricing is in USD, with EUR, GBP, AUD or CAD for local price lists. The FEMA (Manner of Receipt and Payment) Regulations, 2023 allow customers outside the Asian Clearing Union to pay in INR or any foreign currency.
• Geography: Customers are spread across many countries at once, often led by the US and Europe. Customers in Nepal and Bhutan, and payments through the Asian Clearing Union mechanism, follow separate rules in the same regulations.
• Payment methods: Self-serve customers usually pay by card through a subscription checkout. Enterprise customers usually pay invoices by bank transfer through their accounts payable team, sometimes after a vendor onboarding process.

1. 1Customer's card or bankDeduction: A card fee or a sending fee, if the customer's bank charges one. Card payments and international bank transfers can both carry charges on the customer's side.
2. 2Card gateway or intermediary bankDeduction: A processing fee on card payments, or a possible intermediary deduction on a SWIFT wire. Gateways charge per transaction, and correspondent banks can take a charge from a wire before it reaches India.
3. 3Collecting provider or AD bankDeduction: A currency conversion margin and any transfer fee. The foreign currency is converted to INR at a rate set by the bank or provider, which sits away from the mid-market rate.
4. 4GST on feesDeduction: GST on the fee charged by an Indian provider or bank. Fees charged to you by an India-based provider or bank are a domestic supply.
5. 5Your Indian bank accountDeduction: None in most cases, though some banks levy an inward charge. The INR credit arrives with an inward remittance record that you keep for GST, EDF and EDPMS records.

The table ranks platforms with full published pricing for USD by the INR received on USD 5,000, 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 ₹94.86 per USD for 3 Nov 2026.

• Purpose code: Choose the code that matches what the customer pays for. P0807 covers off-site software exports, and P0802 covers software consultancy and implementation. Confirm the code with your AD bank. See purpose code for SaaS.
• Large contracts: A cross-border payment aggregator can process up to ₹25 lakh per inward transaction under paragraph 11(d) of the RBI Master Direction on Payment Aggregators. A larger payment cannot go through a PA-CB as one transaction, so large annual contracts are often paid by SWIFT wire, which has no such cap.
• Card payments: Note 2 to paragraph 4 of the same Master Direction says a card transaction where the card network settles foreign exchange and the aggregator receives local currency is not PA-CB activity. Ask your gateway which route your card receipts take.
• Reconciliation: Subscription businesses receive many small payments. Each receipt has to be matched to an invoice for the EDF, EDPMS closure and GST refund records, so pick a method whose reports show invoice-level detail.
• Vendor onboarding: Enterprise customers often ask for a vendor form, a bank letter and a tax form before the first payment. US payers usually ask a foreign company for Form W-8BEN-E.

SaaS companies in India exporting subscriptions usually need an inward remittance record, the correct purpose code, an LUT and an EDF. The FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 define software to include any computer programme or database supplied other than on a physical medium. The EDF replaces SOFTEX from 1 October 2026.

• FIRA or FIRC: FIRA is not a term defined in RBI regulations. CGST Rule 89(2)(c) asks for BRC or FIRC details for each invoice in a refund claim, and the DGFT eBRC FAQs explain self-generated eBRCs from bank data.
• Purpose code: Banks report receipts in FETERS using the RBI purpose code list. P0807 is "Off site software exports". P0802 is "Software consultancy/implementation (other than those covered in SOFTEX form)". Confirm the code with your AD bank or provider before the payment is credited.
• LUT: File a Letter of Undertaking in Form GST RFD-11 on the GST portal before invoicing, so exports go out without IGST under CGST Rule 96A. See LUT filing on the GST portal.
• GST reporting: Report each export invoice as a zero-rated export in your GST return. Keep the inward remittance record for each invoice, because a refund claim needs those details. See GST on export of services.
• EDF: Regulation 3(2) requires an EDF within 30 days from the end of the invoice month, and one EDF can cover a month's exports. Software exporters in the DTA file with an AD bank or STPI, and cannot use the option to file on or before receipt. See EDF form for exports.
• EDPMS: Under Regulation 4(2), the AD bank may close an EDPMS entry for an invoice up to ₹10 lakh on your declaration that payment was realised, including quarterly bulk declarations. This suits high volumes of small subscription invoices.

SaaS subscription revenue from customers outside India is usually a zero-rated export for GST and taxable business income in India. Under IGST Act section 16, an export of services under an LUT carries no IGST. Income tax follows the Income-tax Act, 2025 from tax year 2026-27, and SaaS companies run as a company or LLP generally report actual profits.

• GST zero-rating: A supply meeting the five conditions in IGST Act section 2(6) is an export of services. These include a recipient outside India, a place of supply outside India and payment in convertible foreign exchange or in INR where RBI permits.
• Reseller sales: When a merchant of record resells your subscription, your supply is usually to the reseller, not the end customer. Check that supply against the section 2(6) conditions with your adviser. See merchant of record platforms.
• Fees and GST: Fees that an India-based payment provider or bank charges you are a domestic supply and usually carry GST. Keep the tax invoices, because registered exporters may be able to claim input tax credit.
• Income tax: The Income-tax Act, 2025 replaced the 1961 Act from 1 April 2026 and consolidated the presumptive schemes into section 58. Under the 1961 Act, the presumptive return covered individuals, HUFs and firms other than LLPs, so a company or LLP generally reports actual profits.
• US withholding: A US customer may ask your company for Form W-8BEN-E to document that it is a foreign entity. You give it to the payer, not the IRS. Withholding depends on whether the payment is US-source income under the IRS source rules.
• Foreign tax: If a customer abroad deducts tax, ask which rule it relies on and keep the deduction certificate. A credit for that tax in India depends on the treaty with that country and the Indian rules for the relevant tax year.

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 3 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 2(1)(e) software means any computer programme, database ... other than in or on any physical medium; 2(1)(f)(iii) AD or STPI in DTA for software; Explanation: services include software; Reg 3(2) EDF within 30 days from end of invoice month, 3(2)(a) single EDF, 3(2)(b) only services other than software may file on or before receipt; Reg 4(2) proviso EDPMS closure on declaration up to ₹10 lakh, quarterly bulk; Reg 5(1)(a) nine months from invoice date (checked 8 Oct 2026)
2. RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20 (16 January 2026), Supersedes the Master Directions on Export and Import and the circulars in its Annex, including SOFTEX circulars, from 1 October 2026 (checked 8 Oct 2026)
3. 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)
4. Foreign Exchange Management (Manner of Receipt and Payment) Regulations, 2023, Regulation 3(2)(I)(a): Nepal and Bhutan in INR; ACU members through the ACU mechanism; other countries in INR or any foreign currency (checked 8 Oct 2026)
5. RBI Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregator (PA) (15 September 2025), Para 4 Note (2): a card transaction where FX settlement is facilitated by a card network and the aggregator receives local currency is not PA-CB activity; para 11(d): maximum ₹25 lakh per inward or outward PA-CB transaction (checked 8 Oct 2026)
6. RBI circular: Guidelines to facilitate faster cross-border inward payments (9 April 2026), Para 3: banks shall endeavour to credit payments received during forex market hours within the same business day; para 4: effective six months from the circular date (checked 8 Oct 2026)
7. RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84: Purpose codes for reporting under FETERS (29 February 2012), Annexed receipt purpose code list, Group 08 Telecommunication, Computer & Information Services: P0802 'Software consultancy/implementation (other than those covered in SOFTEX form)'; P0807 'Off site software exports' (checked 8 Oct 2026)
8. Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, section 2 (CBIC), Section 2(6): definition of export of services (checked 8 Oct 2026)
9. Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, section 16 (CBIC), Section 16(1): export of services is a zero-rated supply (checked 8 Oct 2026)
10. Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017, Rule 96A (CBIC), Export without payment of integrated tax under bond or Letter of Undertaking in Form GST RFD-11 (checked 8 Oct 2026)
11. Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017, Rule 89 (CBIC), Rule 89(2)(c): BRC or FIRC details for refund claims on export of services (checked 8 Oct 2026)
12. DGFT FAQs on Self-Generation of eBRC, Self-generated eBRC from bank inward remittance data (checked 8 Oct 2026)
13. Income Tax Department: Objective and scope of the new Act (Income-tax Act, 2025), Q7: 1961 Act repealed, new Act in force 01.04.2026; Q25: presumptive schemes in sections 44AD, 44ADA and 44AE consolidated into section 58 (checked 8 Oct 2026)
14. Income Tax Department: Which ITR form applies, ITR-4 (Sugam) applies to a resident individual, HUF or firm (other than LLP) with income computed on a presumptive basis under sections 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE of the 1961 Act (checked 8 Oct 2026)
15. IRS: Instructions for Form W-8BEN-E, Who must provide: a foreign entity receiving a withholdable payment; do not send to the IRS, give it to the person requesting it; valid until the last day of the third succeeding calendar year unless a change in circumstances (checked 8 Oct 2026)
16. IRS: Nonresident aliens, source of income, Summary of source rules for US-source income (checked 8 Oct 2026)
17. Skydo homepage (pricing and fee calculator), Know what you pay; calculator showing GST 18% of transaction fee (checked 6 Oct 2026)
18. 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)
19. 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)
20. 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)
21. 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)
22. 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)
23. 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)
24. Airwallex Help: Eligible Countries and Territories, INDIA IN - AWX Legal Entity SINGAPORE (checked 7 Oct 2026)