How to invoice foreign clients and comply with GST and FEMA.
Invoicing & Remittance
International Invoicing and Foreign Remittance Support for Indian Freelancers
Every USD, GBP or EUR payment from an overseas client must be properly routed through an AD-category bank, documented with a FIRC or FIRA, and reconciled with your GST returns and ITR. We handle the documentation framework so your foreign income is clean, FEMA-compliant and audit-ready.
What's Included
Invoice template design — USD/GBP/EUR with GSTIN, LUT reference and SWIFT details
AD-bank (Authorised Dealer) coordination for purpose code and FIRC
FIRC / FIRA collection and annual documentation file
FEMA compliance review — service export realisation within 9 months
Foreign income reconciliation — GSTR-1, Form 26AS, AIS and bank statement
ITR reconciliation — Schedule FSI and Schedule TR (DTAA relief where applicable)
Multi-platform payment support: SWIFT, Wise, PayPal, Stripe, Payoneer — FEMA treatment
Our Process
STEP 1
Setup
Invoice template and payment-channel mapping.
Week 1
STEP 2
AD-Bank & FIRC
Purpose code confirmation and FIRC collection per remittance.
Per remittance
STEP 3
Monthly GST Recon
Zero-rated supplies validated in GSTR-1.
Monthly
STEP 4
Annual ITR Recon
Foreign income mapped to Schedule FSI / TR.
Pre-ITR
STEP 5
Document File
FIRC archive maintained for 8-year retention.
Ongoing
Documents Required
- GSTIN and LUT acknowledgement
- Bank account with an AD-category bank
- Client contracts and statements of work
- SWIFT advices and FIRC / FIRA copies
- Platform statements (Wise / PayPal / Stripe / Payoneer)
- GSTR-1 extracts and Form 26AS / AIS
Key Statutory References
| Item | Reference |
|---|---|
| FEMA Realisation Period | FEMA 1999, Regulation 9 — 9 months for service exports |
| Purpose Codes | RBI Master Circular — Purpose Codes for Remittances |
| FIRC Issuance | RBI guidelines — AD-category bank issuance |
| Foreign Income in ITR | Schedule FSI / Schedule TR, Income Tax Rules 1962 |
| DTAA Relief | Section 90 / 90A, Income Tax Act 1961 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Services
Guides & Resources
Repatriation rules for freelancers receiving foreign payments.
Reporting errors that affect freelancers with foreign income.
Clean, FEMA-compliant foreign income documentation
Book a free 15-minute advisory call with Regi Tom Antony.