Foreign payments, invoices and GST: questions answered

First client

What should an Indian freelancer collect before invoicing a foreign client?

Record the legal customer, address and country, service or milestone, agreed currency, payment terms and reference. Confirm the applicable invoicing route before issuing the document.

Source: CBIC: tax invoice particulars and export endorsement

First client

Is every invoice to a foreign client automatically zero GST?

No. A foreign address alone does not establish the treatment. Confirm the service, parties and applicable export conditions; an LUT is a route for eligible supplies, not proof that every transaction qualifies.

Source: GST portal: furnishing a Letter of Undertaking

First client

What is the difference between an LUT and remittance proof?

The LUT relates to the applicable export-without-payment-of-IGST route. Remittance proof documents a payment. Keep each for its own purpose instead of treating one as a substitute for the other.

Source: GST portal: furnishing a Letter of Undertaking

First client

Can I invoice an overseas client in USD or EUR?

Agree the currency with the client and confirm the invoicing and receiving route. Keep the original invoice currency separate from the eventual bank-credit currency.

First client

Must I incorporate a company before using Blackbird?

The records workflow does not require you to assume a private limited company. Use the actual contracting person or business and confirm applicable registration and provider requirements.

Payment proof

What are FIRC, e-FIRC and FIRA?

They are certificate or advice documents used to support a foreign-remittance trail. The issuer, route and document contents matter; confirm what the requesting bank or reviewer accepts.

Source: Wise Help: FIRC, partner-bank NOC and Business e-FIRC routes

Payment proof

Wise paid me in INR. Where do I get the e-FIRC?

Identify whether the payment used your Wise Business account details or another INR route. Wise documents different e-FIRC and partner-bank processes for those cases.

Source: Wise Help: FIRC, partner-bank NOC and Business e-FIRC routes

Payment proof

Who gets the Wise NOC for a business INR transfer?

For the sender-side process Wise describes, the sender obtains the NOC from the transfer. The recipient uses the processing-bank details to follow the relevant advice process.

Source: Wise Help: FIRC, partner-bank NOC and Business e-FIRC routes

Payment proof

How long does Wise say an eligible Business e-FIRC takes?

Wise states three business days after processing for the eligible Business-account-details route. Check your transfer and the current help page if it is missing.

Source: Wise Help: receiving payments for Indian businesses

Payment proof

Where do I download PayPal FIRA in India?

PayPal’s current India instructions place Digital FIRA in the Business account’s reporting area. Select the available period and check which withdrawals the advice covers.

Source: PayPal India: weekly Digital FIRA and custom requests

Payment proof

Is PayPal FIRA weekly or monthly?

PayPal currently describes weekly Digital FIRA and a different process for older periods or custom requests. Check availability for the exact transaction dates.

Source: PayPal India: weekly Digital FIRA and custom requests

Payment proof

Is a transaction CSV the same as a FIRA?

No. The activity export helps explain transactions; the issuer’s advice is a separate document. Keep the references connecting the export, advice and bank credit.

Source: PayPal Help: downloading transaction reports

Payment proof

What should I do if remittance proof is missing?

Request the issuer’s document through its official process. Record the payment reference, missing item and support request; keep the issue visible rather than creating a substitute certificate.

Matching payments

Why did my foreign client payment arrive below the invoice amount?

Possible explanations include documented charges, currency conversion or a partial payment. Establish the actual transfer stages before choosing an explanation.

Source: Wise Help: SWIFT correspondent fees

Matching payments

Can I treat every payment shortfall as a bank fee?

No. A difference without supporting evidence remains unresolved. Keep printed charges distinct from a guessed fee or an unpaid balance.

Matching payments

Can one payment settle several invoices?

Keep one receipt and review its allocation across the intended invoices. Avoid counting the full receipt once for every invoice it touches.

Matching payments

Should I change an invoice to equal a partial payment?

Do not change an issued invoice simply to conceal the difference. Keep the real receipt and remaining balance, then review any supported correction separately.

Matching payments

Can I compare two payment providers using only their advertised fee?

Compare current quotes for the same amount, route and currency, including deductions and final INR credited. An advertised fee alone may leave out other costs.

GST and month-end

What documents should I send my CA after overseas payments?

Start with the invoice register, provider activity, bank credits, remittance proof and an exception list. Ask your reviewer what else is needed for your business and period.

GST and month-end

Is generating GSTR-1 JSON the same as filing the return?

No. A prepared file is an input to the portal workflow. Validation, review, submission and the relevant acknowledgement remain separate steps.

Source: GST portal: creating GSTR-1, including export invoices in Table 6A

GST and month-end

Is a downloaded EDF draft proof of bank submission?

No. Keep the receiving authority’s acknowledgement and any subsequent acceptance or correction record. Use the source-linked guide to confirm the applicable route.

GST and month-end

Why is a purchase invoice missing from GSTR-2B?

Check the GSTIN, document identifiers, period and supplier reporting evidence first. An absent record does not by itself prove supplier default.

Source: GST portal: GSTR-2B questions and credit review

GST and month-end

Does a GSTR-2B match automatically approve ITC?

No. Reconciliation identifies corresponding records; legal credit eligibility can depend on other conditions. Keep a separate review before deciding what to claim.

Source: GST portal: GSTR-2B questions and credit review

GST and month-end

Should unpaid invoices disappear from my monthly review?

Keep them visible with an open status. A receipt-only view can hide outstanding invoices; your reviewer can determine the applicable reporting periods and actions.

Using Blackbird

Does Blackbird transfer or hold my client’s money?

No. Use your bank or payment provider. Blackbird organizes the invoicing, payment records and supporting work around that payment.

Using Blackbird

Can Blackbird issue a bank FIRC or FIRA?

No. Obtain the issuer’s document. Blackbird helps you retain and review supporting records and invoice allocations.

Using Blackbird

Can I use the export records checklist before signing up?

Yes. The checklist is public and runs in this browser. It organizes record categories and does not determine eligibility, validate documents or file anything.

Using Blackbird

Is Blackbird free to start?

Yes. Check the pricing page for current limits and inclusions before choosing a plan. No card is required to start the free plan.