India taxes individuals based on a system of income slabs. Different tax rates are assigned to different ranges of income.&nbsp;

Understanding tax slabs is crucial for several reasons.

As a person earns more, the tax liability also increases, creating a fair and progressive tax system in the country. To achieve this, the government regularly updates and announces changes to tax slabs in the Union Budget.

The income tax slabs differ between the old and new tax regimes. Let's explore the specific slab rates applicable to Individuals for FY 2022-23 (AY 2023-24) and FY 2023-24 (AY 2024-25).

Income Tax Slab Rates For FY 2023-24 (AY 2024-25)&nbsp;

Rates of the old tax regime slabs are categorized into three groups:

The new tax regime applies uniform tax rates to all individuals, eliminating the age-based distinctions in the old system. The new tax regime slabs 2023-24 are outlined below.

Applicability of Surcharge for FY 2023-24 (AY 2024-25)

The income tax <a href="https://incometaxindia.gov.in/charts%20%20tables/tax%20rates.htm">surcharge</a> is an extra fee imposed on top of the <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/how-to-file-taxes-under-44ada?utm_source=blogs&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=post_link">regular income tax</a>. An additional tax is applied to individuals with higher income earnings in a specific financial year. Let’s look at the applicable surcharge rate under the Old and New tax regime.

However, 25% or 37% surcharge rates will not apply to income under the following sections.

Consequently, the highest surcharge rate on the tax payable for such incomes will be 15%.

Starting from the Assessment Year 2023-24, the maximum surcharge rate on tax payable for dividend income or capital gain specified in Section 112 will be capped at 15%.&nbsp;

A 4% Health and Education cess will be applied to all cases’ total income tax liability and surcharges.

Comparison of tax rates under the New tax regime and the Old tax regime for FY 2022-23 (AY 2023-24)

How do you calculate the income tax from the income tax slabs?

Let’s understand the calculation with an example.

Sanjana, aged 35, has a total taxable income of Rs. 8,50,000. She has opted for the old tax regime. Her income includes income from salary, interest and rental income. Deductions under section 80 have been reduced. Now, Sanjana wants to know her <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/gst-requirements-international-service-sales?utm_source=blogs&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=post_link">tax liability</a> for FY 2022-23 (AY 2023-24).

*Sanjana, an individual taxpayer under the age of 60, enjoys an income exemption limit of up to Rs 2,50,000. Other taxpayers, i.e., senior and super senior citizens, have higher income tax exemption thresholds of Rs 3,00,000 and Rs 5,00,000, respectively.

Please be aware that the tax rates in the New Tax Regime are uniform for all categories of individuals, including regular individuals, senior citizens, and super senior citizens.&nbsp;

Individuals with a net taxable income of up to Rs 5 lakh qualify for a tax rebate under section 87A, resulting in zero tax liability in both the New and Old tax regimes. It's important to note that in Budget 2023, the rebate under the new regime has been extended, making income up to Rs 7 lakh tax-free from the FY 2023-24 onward.

Let's delve into effective strategies to maximize your investments while minimizing the associated tax burdens.

ELSS mutual funds provide a dual benefit of potential capital appreciation and tax savings under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. Investing in ELSS reduces taxable income and offers a path for long-term wealth growth.

2. Explore tax-efficient investment avenues

Health insurance qualifies for tax benefits under Section 80D. You can claim tax benefits on premiums paid - up to Rs 20,000 for senior citizens and Rs 15,000 for others. For example, if you pay Rs 15,000 for your policy and Rs 20,000 for your senior citizen parent, you can claim a total tax benefit of Rs 35,000.&nbsp;

Maturity value is tax-free for sums received under critical illness insurance policies.

This strategy entails selling loss-making assets to realize the capital loss and using it to offset the gains earned by profit-making assets.

For instance, if you have a loss of Rs. 20,000 in Stock A and a gain of Rs. 30,000 from Stock B, you can sell Stock A during a market downturn to offset the gains. This way, you can reduce your taxable income. The saved amount can be reinvested for portfolio growth.

Ensure that tax loss harvesting aligns with your overall financial goals and plan by considering a discussion with a financial professional or tax advisor.

<a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/how-can-the-right-chartered-accountant-help-your-tech-export-business?utm_source=blogs&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=post_link">Consult financial professionals or tax advisors</a> for effective tax planning and strategic advice. Their expertise can provide tailored insights aligned with your financial goals and ensure a well-informed approach to optimize your tax situation.

If you need help deciding what is right for you, we will connect you with our panel of Indian and US-based CA / CPAs. Feel free to reach out to us.

Q1. How is a taxpayer's income categorized?

Ans: A taxpayer's income falls into five categories outlined in Section 14 of the Income Tax Act. These include Income from salary, Profits from a business or profession, Income from House Property, Capital Gains, and Income from Other Sources.

Q2. Is it possible to avail of 80C deductions while choosing the new tax slabs 2023-24?

Ans: No, under the new tax regime, several deductions and exemptions, including those under section 80C, are not permitted. Opting for the new tax regime means foregoing the ability to claim deductions under section 80C.

Q3. What do "Previous Year" and "Assessment Year" mean?

Ans: We have two important terms in income tax provisions: (i) Previous Year and (ii) Assessment Year. Previous Year is when you earn income, typically from April 1st to March 31st. The year right after the Previous Year, from April 1st to March 31st, is called the 'Assessment Year.'

For example, the Previous Year is from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024 (FY 2023-24). The corresponding Assessment Year is from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025 (AY 2024-25).

Q4. What is the tax exemption limit for calculating income tax rebate under section 87A?

Ans: For FY 2023-24 (AY 2024-25), the rebate limit has been increased to Rs. 7,00,000 under the new tax regime. This means a resident individual with taxable income up to Rs 7,00,000 will receive Rs 25,000 or the amount of tax payable (whichever is lower) as tax relief. However, the old tax regime's threshold limit will remain the same, i.e., Rs 12,500 if taxable income is up to Rs 5,00,000.

Q5. How much is the standard deduction for FY 2023-24?

Ans: You can claim a standard deduction of ₹50,000 to the income taxable under the head ‘Salaries.’ The standard deduction is a tax benefit that can be claimed irrespective of the amount spent on Transport or Medical Allowance. It applies to individuals earning a salary or pension income.

Prepare for the upcoming year's tax season by understanding the tax slabs for 2023-24 and optimizing your tax savings. 

Tax Slabs in 2023-24: Plan Ahead for Next Year Tax Savings

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Rohit Khuranna

What are your monthly sales and how much gross margin do you earn? What is your company's valuation? How much cash are you burning every month? — You must be familiar with these questions if you've been binging on Shark Tank India over the past couple of months. Sharks essentially ask these questions to assess a startup's financial performance and profit potential.

Therefore, these questions are pertinent for entrepreneurs, especially if you want to seek investment in the future or expand your business.&nbsp;

Understanding these financial principles helps you make better decisions and negotiate with investors to maximise valuation and minimise equity dilution. Let's see the most popular terms used in Shark Tank and how they apply to your business.&nbsp;

Top 10 Shark Tank terms you should know to maximize valuation while minimizing equity dilution

Valuation is the true value or economic worth of your startup. Sharks invest in a startup in exchange for a certain percentage of ownership or equity. Valuation helps determine the price per share of the company and the worth of the investor’s ownership of the company.

For example, if a shark has 10% ownership in a startup whose valuation is Rs. 1 crore, they get shares worth Rs. 10,00,000.

For early-age startups that do not have sufficient financial data to show their performance, valuation is calculated via multiple means like comparing the valuation of their competitors, the company's ability to prove its potential customer base, the strength of the founding team and more such parameters.&nbsp;

Investors consider various factors such as market size, revenue and financial performance, intellectual property, founder’s expertise and unique selling proposition to calculate a startup's valuation.

Valuation is of two types: pre-money and post-money valuation. The pre-money valuation is the value of your company before seeking investment. Once you seek outside investment, the valuation increases and is called post-money valuation.

For example, if your pre-money valuation is Rs. 1 crore and you receive an external investment of Rs. 70 lakhs, the post-money valuation will be Rs. 1,70,00,000.

Equity means the total ownership of your startup and is calculated in percentage. If you are a sole entrepreneur and haven’t sought outside investment, you have complete ownership or 100% equity in the company.

In the case of two co-founders, the ownership or equity is either divided equally (each founder has 50% ownership of the company) or proportionately based on capital invested, expertise and other factors.&nbsp;

When investors agree to invest in a company, they get a certain ownership or equity in your business. So when a shark says that they want to invest 50 lakhs in a startup for 6% equity, it means that they get 6% ownership in the company whereas the founders are left with 94% equity.&nbsp;

For example, Nascher Miles, a luggage brand, had initially pitched for ₹3 crore funding for 0.75% equity in Shark Tank India season 3. However, they received ₹3 crore funding at 1.5% equity and a ₹200 crores valuation. This means that sharks own 1.5% of the company.

As startups go through subsequent funding rounds, the equity gets distributed to new investors and even valuable employees as <a href="https://www.nishithdesai.com/fileadmin/user_upload/pdfs/Research_Papers/ESOPs-and-Other-Benefits-Plans-for-Employees-in-India.pdf">employee stock option plan (ESOP).</a>&nbsp;

Cash flow is defined as the movement of cash in (while receiving customer payments) and out of the business (for vendor payments or other expenses).

When the cash inflow is higher than the outflow (income is higher than the expenses), the cash flow is termed positive. However, when money moving out is more than the cash coming in, you have a negative cash flow.

Cash flow is different from profits which represents the balance amount after deducting all expenses. Even if your company has generated profits but the customer payments are delayed, you wouldn't have sufficient cash to manage your daily operations such as purchasing new inventory or paying rent. Therefore, a positive cash flow is important for business survival.&nbsp;

Margin is the difference between the selling price and the cost price of a product.&nbsp;For example, if the cost to produce a product is ₹50 and the selling price is ₹75, the gross profit margin will be 33.33%. This margin, also known as the gross operating margin, focuses solely on direct costs such as materials and labour, excluding indirect expenses like overhead or marketing

However, the net profit margin is calculated by deducting taxes, interest, and any other expense from the income.&nbsp;

Higher profit margins indicate a positive financial health of the company. Investors can understand how much a company can earn after deducting the expenses and whether it will have sufficient funds in the future for sustainable growth.

Gross profit means the profit generated after deducting the cost of goods sold from the revenue. Here the cost of goods sold includes direct expenses such as the cost of raw materials and labour costs.&nbsp;

Net profit means the final profit after deducting all the operating expenses, taxes and interests. While gross profits help determine the profitability of a product, net profit provides more realistic information about the overall financial health of a company.&nbsp;

ROI is a performance metric to determine the profitability of an investment.

Startup founders can use this formula to calculate the effectiveness of their investment and other business decisions.&nbsp;

From an investor’s perspective, high ROI means that a startup is likely to generate higher profits for the investors. Investors also calculate and compare the ROI of several startups to find the most suitable startup for investment.&nbsp;

For example, in Shark Tank India Season 1, Aman Gupta, the co-founder of boAt invested ₹20,00,000 in Skippi, an ice popsicle brand and received ₹6 crore return. The ROI on this deal is 2900%.

Learn More: <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/what-is-your-role-as-a-tech-startup-founder?utm_source=blogs&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=post_link">What is Your Role as a Tech Startup Founder</a>

EBITDA full form is Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization. It is used to calculate the net income after deducting the cost of goods sold excluding the money spent on taxes, depreciation, interest and amortization.&nbsp;

It helps investors know and compare the profitability of a company without considering the impact of a particular financing method on a business.

However, solely relying on EBITDA can sometimes show a false picture, especially for debt-funded companies because it does not consider interest payable. Investors can assess the actual revenue after deducting interest and other expenses.&nbsp;

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) means the projected annual revenue from existing customers. ARR is usually calculated for SaaS startups working on a subscription-based model. It helps predict future cash flow.

High ARR means better revenue predictability and helps investors understand projected revenue and potential business growth.

Burn rate refers to the rate at which a startup spends its cash reserves or venture capital to cover its operating expenses before it starts generating revenue.

A high burn rate indicates that the company is rapidly exhausting its cash supply. It might run out of capital soon and shut down.&nbsp;

A few effective ways to reduce burn rate are cutting down operational expenses such as payrolls by reducing tem size, efficient budget planning, reducing payment cycles and negotiating vendor payment terms.

The Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) means all the money spent by a startup to acquire new customers. It is a sum of sales and marketing expenses such as the cost of producing content, salaries, payments for marketing and sales tools, and paid advertisements’ costs.

You can calculate CAC to understand which customer segment generates the most revenue for your business and measure the effectiveness of your marketing and sales strategies.

In addition to the above popular Shark Tank terms, you must know the following financial terms for a business:

Understanding the terms used in Shark Tank is crucial for startup founders and entrepreneurs. It empowers you to develop strategic business plans, allocate resources efficiently, and manage financial risks effectively. By mastering these terms, you can enhance your business valuation and communicate more effectively with stakeholders.

As an entrepreneur seeking investment, prioritising financial literacy is key. You can build your knowledge of Shark Tank business terms by reading articles, financial guides, or seeking mentorship from experienced professionals. Because investing in your financial education will pay dividends in your entrepreneurial journey.

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Skydo is a leading cross-border <a href="https://www.skydo.com/?utm_source=blogs&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=demo_click">B2B payment gateway</a> tailored for Indian businesses, spanning freelancers, sole proprietorships, and companies alike. We're dedicated to making B2B payment processing seamless, compliant, and cost-effective.

At the heart of our operations lie four fundamental pillars: regulatory compliance, secure money handling, data security, and prompt fund availability. These pillars are paramount in fostering trust and security, ensuring that businesses can conduct <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/future-of-cross-border-payments-2030-and-beyond?utm_source=blogs&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=post_link">cross-border payments</a> with confidence.

Let's explore how Skydo simplifies cross-border payments while prioritizing trust and security.

Skydo operates within the Reserve Bank of India's Operating Guidelines for Payment Gateways (<a href="https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=10037">OPGSP</a>) framework. This regulatory framework outlines stringent guidelines for data privacy, transaction security, and operational practices.&nbsp;

By adhering to these regulations, Skydo ensures <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/ensure-rbi-guidelines-for-cross-border-transactions-with-skydo?utm_source=blogs&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=post_link">compliance</a> with industry standards and instils confidence in our users regarding the security of their transactions. Additionally, Skydo is in the process of applying to become a licensed entity, aligning with the RBI guidelines.&nbsp;

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Ensuring the safety of your funds is our utmost priority at Skydo. We take security seriously and have implemented strong measures similar to those top financial institutions use to protect your funds.&nbsp;

We've partnered with respected financial institutions like <a href="https://www.dbs.com/in/index/default.page">DBS</a>, <a href="https://www.bankingcircle.com/">Banking Circle</a> and <a href="https://www.currencycloud.com/">Currencycloud</a> (a Visa entity) known for their commitment to security and reliability. These partnerships guarantee the safety of your funds and provide added assurance about how Skydo handles your finances as a payment partner.

At Skydo, safeguarding your <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/a-quick-guide-to-using-the-skydo-platform?utm_source=blogs&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=post_link">privacy</a> is paramount, and we use a multi-layered approach to ensure the security of your data.

With these robust data security measures in place, Skydo ensures that your information is safeguarded at every step, giving you peace of mind while using our platform.

At Skydo, we understand the urgency of accessing your <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/seamlessly-accept-international-payments-in-india">funds</a> without delay. That's why we ensure that once we receive your funds, they are swiftly brought back to India within 12 hours. Following this, the conversion process takes place, and your funds are promptly transferred to your bank account.

This streamlined approach minimizes the risk associated with potential bank collapses and ensures quicker access to your funds when you need them the most.

Skydo is committed to providing you with a seamless and secure experience for cross-border payments. Our focus on regulatory compliance, secure money handling, data security, and prompt fund availability ensures transparency and trustworthiness in every transaction.

Delve deeper into what <a href="https://www.skydo.com/?utm_source=blogs&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=demo_click">Skydo</a> offers and consider us for your cross-border payment requirements. With Skydo, you can confidently handle your transactions with the utmost reliability, security, and professionalism.&nbsp;

Trust Skydo for a reliable and secure solution for your B2B payment processing.



Why Skydo is Your Trusted International Payment Partner?

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Waiting for your international payments to reflect in your local bank account can be stressful. You want to avoid spending your work hours following up with your payment platform for timelines. A solid understanding of the money transfer process enables you to plan your finances better.

At Skydo, we value transparency and ensure a clear, hassle-free experience so you can focus on your business. With <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/real-time-tracking-of-international-payments?utm_source=blogs&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=post_link">our real-time payment tracking</a>, you're always in the loop about your money's journey.

Here’s a roadmap of the journey your international payment takes from Skydo to your bank account.

Your incoming payment hits <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/seamless-payment-experience-with-international-bank-accounts?utm_source=blogs&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=post_link">your international account</a>. This is a temporary holding place in your payer's country. Since your clients transfer their money locally to this account, it is nearly free of cost to them (or is very cheap).&nbsp;

These virtual accounts also eliminate tax and compliance intricacies, making it easy for your clients to process payments.

Skydo initiates a SWIFT transfer to move your funds from the international account to India. Leveraging our partnerships with esteemed banking networks, we ensure the secure transfer of your money, typically completed within 12 hours.

Upon reaching India, your funds await conversion to INR until the forex markets open. Our partner banks play a pivotal role in ensuring you get competitive exchange rates.&nbsp;

With our <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/get-the-most-out-of-your-forex-savings-with-skydo?utm_source=blogs&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=post_link">live currency exchange rates</a> and zero FX markup costs, you get the best value for your money. You don't have to pay any processing fee and could <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/cut-international-transaction-costs-with-skydo?utm_source=blogs&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=post_link">save up to 10 lakhs per year on your invoice values.</a>

The conversion usually takes between 4 to 6 hours.

Post conversion into Indian currency, Skydo initiates an NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer). NEFT transfers take 30 minutes to 24 hours to ensure prompt receipt of funds in your bank account.

Since these transactions follow intense security measures and authentication mechanisms, your funds are safe during transfer.

You get real-time updates and can track your payment just like an Amazon shipment, always knowing where your money is. There are no hidden charges or commissions, just a flat fee structure.

By using efficient payment methods like SWIFT and NEFT, we ensure that your funds move promptly and securely.

With Skydo, you can expect your funds in your virtual bank account to reach your Indian bank account in 18-24 hours. Processing time also depends on the payment method and country of the payer.

Skydo follows <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/online-payment-gateway-service-provider-opgsp?utm_source=blogs&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=post_link">RBI’s OPGSP framework</a> and works only with Authorised Bank partners. Your data is fully protected and never shared with third parties.

Whether you are managing your business finances or freelance accounts, Skydo ensures that your financial operations remain crystal clear.

With a flat fee of USD 19 for transactions under USD 2,000 and USD 29 for transactions over USD 2,000, there are no hidden fees or complex charges.

<a href="https://www.skydo.com/">Sign up on Skydo</a> now and go global in 5 minutes with your free international account.&nbsp;

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So you're a freelancer now. Great; the timing couldn't have been more right. According to a report by Nasscom Aon, the gig workforce will be <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/tech-gig-economy-grows-india-to-have-23-5-million-workers-by-2030/articleshow/111048791.cms">23.5 million strong by 2030</a>. It was 7 million in 2021, that will be like 3x growth.

But the freelance boom highlights a big question: Do you have the right banking set up to support your business?&nbsp; Because you need a banking solution with international payment transfers, business expense tracking, professional invoicing systems, and freelancer-specific tax compliance requirements. Start by taking the first step, choosing between a savings vs current account.

Key Differences Between Current Account and Savings Account

One of the best ways to know the differences between a current account vs savings account is to compare their fundamental points. The following table just does that. 

Current Account vs Savings Account: Quick Takeaways

Before we move to the next section, let’s quickly summarize what we learned from the above comparison table.

Why Growing Freelancers Would Need a Current Account?

In addition to the above differences, here are five reasons why freelancers must consider opting for a current account for business needs

When you sign more clients, the transaction volume also increases. However, the transaction limits on savings accounts become increasingly problematic. Most savings accounts restrict you to certain free withdrawals monthly, with penalties for exceeding this limit.&nbsp;

Imagine working with different clients, each requiring multiple payment processing transactions, you'd quickly exceed these limits. A current account doesn’t impose such restrictions or penalties. This ensures you can manage your business finance and sign new clients without limitations.

If you work with overseas clients through platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon, or Stripe, a current account is a better choice. A current account provides an FIRA, which is an essential document for tax compliance. A savings account may not provide this document because it is relevant to business transactions only.

There is also a lack of integration between savings accounts and GST-compliant invoicing systems. This creates additional administrative burdens, meaning you have to sit down and perform manual reconciliation between banking and tax records. That’s a lot of unnecessary work with the risk of a compliance error. Current accounts typically offer dedicated GST modules that automate much of this tracking.&nbsp;

Separating Personal and Business Finances

When you start using your savings account for freelance income and personal expenses, you risk losing track, especially at the time of tax filing. You don’t know which expenses can be shown as deductions and which earning is business income. During a tax assessment, you might struggle to justify which portion of your internet bill, device purchases, or software subscriptions were for business versus personal use. This leads to an increased risk of penalties from the tax authorities. If you use a current account for business income, it’s easy to keep a trail of the money coming and leaving your account, thereby leaving no room for confusion.

After your monthly business earning exceeds ₹2–3 lakh, a savings account is no longer suitable. Banks may impose restrictions or flag your account for high transaction volumes. Current accounts support higher transaction limits and offer business-friendly features like overdrafts, helping you manage cash flow efficiently.&nbsp;

What Kind of Current Account Should a Freelancer Choose?

So, if the current account is the right choice for your freelancing business, should you open one right away? Yes, but we suggest you give priority to the following points

Zero Balance or Low MAB (Minimum Average Balance) Options

When you’re starting as a freelancer, the cash flow will be irregular. Choosing a current account with zero or low minimum average balance requirements helps you avoid unnecessary penalties and keeps your finances flexible.

Digital-first banks offer seamless online onboarding, instant account access, and easy integration with payment platforms. This makes your day-to-day banking faster and more convenient. Traditional banks, on the other hand, provide a wider branch network but often involve more paperwork and a slower process.

Since you’ll likely receive payments from clients abroad, pick a current account that supports smooth international transactions with competitive forex rates and minimal fees. This will save you money and time.

Ask: Does It Give FIRA, Support Stripe, Payoneer, and Amazon?

Before finalizing your account, confirm whether the bank provides FIRA. Also, check if the account seamlessly supports payments from popular freelancing and e-commerce platforms like Stripe, Payoneer, and Amazon to avoid any disruptions in receiving your income.

Receive Seamless International Payments with Skydo

Throughout the blog post, you’ve seen why a current account is a better fit for freelancers. It helps you manage growing business payments, maintain compliance, and keep your finances organized as you scale.&nbsp;

We also discussed how you must choose the right current account. But even with the best current account, traditional banking methods often come with hidden forex markups, unpredictable fees, and slow processing times, all of which can diminish your hard-earned income. For example, a wire transfer from the US to India will cost you <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/wire-transfer-from-usa-to-india">$15-$50</a> (Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 4,200)&nbsp; in SWIFT fees, which does not include the intermediary bank fees.&nbsp; In addition, the forex markup fee is applied on the live exchange rate, which ranges from <a href="https://skydo.com/blog/forex-markup-fee-explained">1% to 3.5%</a>. If the live exchange rate is Rs. 85, the bank may offer you as low as Rs. 82.45 (at 3% markup).

That’s where Skydo steps in as a smarter alternative for freelancers.

With Skydo, you can create virtual international accounts in countries like US, UK, Australia, and Singapore that allow your clients to pay you locally no SWIFT charges and no forex markup.

Skydo’s flat, upfront fee structure means you know exactly what you’ll pay, with no surprises. Here’s how Skydo’s pricing works:

While Skydo is a great platform for receiving international payments, it also helps you get paid on time. With the built-in invoicing feature, you can easily create, customize, and send professional invoices in multiple currencies, set due dates, and even automate payment reminders. Real-time payment tracking keeps you updated on invoice status, outstanding amounts, and settlement timelines. Once your payment arrives, Skydo instantly generates a <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/all-you-need-to-know-about-firc-a-complete-guide">FIRA for every transaction</a>, ensuring effortless compliance

In just a few clicks, you can set up your account and start receiving seamless international payments.<a href="https://www.skydo.com/"> Sign up now.</a>

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For exporters, eBRC (Electronic Bank Realization Certificate) is a key compliance document that serves as proof of payment received from abroad for exported goods or services. It is especially important for goods and software exporters covered under SOFTEX.

In this blog, we’ll break down what eBRC is, why it matters, how to obtain it, and everything else you need to know.

An eBRC (Electronic Bank Realization Certificate) is digital proof that your bank issues once you receive payment for an export. Simply put, it confirms that you’ve been paid for your goods or services.

This certificate is important because it helps you report your earnings, file taxes easily, and even access government benefits meant for exporters including low-cost loans, subsidies, duty exemptions and more.&nbsp;Since eBRC includes all the transaction details, it also makes compliance with authorities like the Income Tax Department smooth and hassle-free.

Before eBRC, getting a <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/bank-realisation-certificate-all-you-need-to-know">Bank Realization Certificate (BRC)</a> was a tedious process. Exporters had to visit their bank, apply for a physical BRC, and then submit it to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The DGFT would manually enter transaction details, making the process slow and complicated—especially for claiming export incentives.

In 2012, the DGFT introduced e`BRC, eliminating the need for physical visits and paperwork. Now, banks issue BRCs digitally, making it faster, easier, and more efficient for exporters to claim benefits and comply with regulations.

In India, banks issue an -BRC to exporters through the following process.

How do you check the eBRC status on the DGFT Website?

Here are the steps to check the status of your eBRC (Electronic Bank Realization Certificate) online.

DGFT has made it mandatory for all exporters to apply for and receive the eBRC to demonstrate that they have received payment for their exported goods or services per DGFT regulations.

The eBRC system provides a digital record of export transactions, making it easier for exporters to maintain and retrieve records for audit and compliance.  Additionally, exporters can avoid visiting the bank and DGFT offices.&nbsp;

One of the main reasons exporters apply for the eBRC is to reap the benefits of various export benefits offered by the Indian government under its Foreign Trade Policy. Submitting an eBRC allows the exporters to be eligible for benefits such as low-cost loans, duty exemptions, subsidies, etc.&nbsp;

Enhancing transparency and accountability

The Indian government and authorities such as the Income Tax Department and the DGFT constantly monitor and manage the country's foreign exchange reserves and tax filing. Issuing e-BRC ensures that the foreign exchange earned through exports is accurately reported and accounted for with effective tax filing.&nbsp;

How to Claim Export Incentives using eBRC

In India, the DGFT decides on the value of the incentives which an exporter can seek under the various export benefits. The value is decided by analysing the Free on Board (FOB) of the exported goods and services mentioned in the shipping bills, and the total received payments per the eBRC.&nbsp;

Here's how you can claim these benefits with eBRC:

However, you must ensure that the bank has submitted an error-free e-BRC and it reflects the consolidated realisation value. Furthermore, you must enter freight values, insurance and commission values in the refund application, as the e-BRC excludes such values.&nbsp;

Here are some key resources and tools that can help you in your endeavour to obtain your e-BRC.

eBRC is a crucial certificate issued by the bank and verified by the DGFT for streamlining the payment procedure for exporters and working as an income proof for better transparency and tax filing.&nbsp;

It is mandatory for an exporter receiving payments for the export of goods and services to apply for eBRC and ensure that the bank uploads it on the DGFT website. Utilising the eBRC, exports can present their eligibility for various export incentives and increase their profit margin.&nbsp;

However, as an exporter, you must maintain accurate records of your export transactions and related documents to facilitate the e-BRC application process. Since the regulations and the procedure may change over time, it's important to stay updated with the latest information from official government sources and industry associations.&nbsp;

You can contact <a href="mailto:support@skydo.com">industry experts at Skydo</a> to help you with the eBRC process and in case you have any other queries related to foreign exchange.&nbsp;

What is e-BRC_ How can you obtain it, and why do you need it th