Freelancer with Foreign Clients: Tax, GST, and FEMA Complete

India-based freelancer earning from US/UK/UAE clients: three compliance layers. Income Tax: declare foreign income, pay at slab rate. GST: export of services = zero-rated, but registration needed. FEMA: receive payment in USD via AD bank, convert within stipulated time. Get all three wrong and you have an IT notice, a GST notice, and an RBI violation.

GST myth: Many freelancers think they must charge 18% GST to foreign clients. Wrong. Export of services = zero-rated. Charge 0% GST. File LUT (Letter of Undertaking) once per year on GST portal. No GST collected from foreign client. No refund to claim. FEMA receipt deadline: Invoice raised March 1: payment must reach India by November 30 (9 months). If client delays: apply to RBI for extension. Funds beyond 9 months without RBI approval = FEMA violation. Currency conversion timing: Income recognized when received (not invoiced). Use RBI rate on date of receipt. If received in EEFC account: recognized when converted to INR. Keep EEFC account if you have USD expenses (cheaper than converting both ways). The new regime advantage for freelancers: Foreign income ₹30L → Sec 58, Income-tax Act 2025 (old Sec 44ADA): ₹15L taxable → new regime tax ≈ ₹2.1L. Old regime with Sec 123 (old Sec 80C): ₹13.5L taxable → tax ≈ ₹2.5L.