How do I receive money when I bill a client overseas?

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Quick answer. You receive foreign payments into your company's bank account through a bank wire (SWIFT) or a licensed payment platform. Your bank gives you a certificate proving the money came from abroad, which you'll need for compliance. And exporting services is usually GST-free if you file the right declaration. How it works. Have a current account that can receive foreign currency. The client pays by international wire (SWIFT) or through a licensed platform (many founders use services built for cross-border payments). Your bank issues an FIRC/FIRA (Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate/Advice) — proof the money came from overseas, which you need for tax and FEMA compliance. Keep your invoice and contract on file. Two things to get right. First, GST on exports: exporting services is “zero-rated,” meaning you generally don't charge GST — but to export without paying IGST upfront, you file a simple declaration called a Letter of Undertaking (LUT). Second, FEMA timelines: foreign earnings must be brought in within the rules' timelines, so don't let payments sit abroad indefinitely. Our honest take. Receiving overseas money is routine — the paperwork is what trips founders up. Keep your FIRCs, file your LUT for exports, and your cross-border billing stays clean and compliant.