Design studio & small agency
GST for agencies exporting services: multiple clients, multiple currencies, one clean set of books
Retainers in USD, project fees in EUR, the occasional GBP invoice. SahiInvoice keeps client-wise export records straight and produces the LUT-referenced documentation each engagement needs.
This is you if
- Two to ten recurring overseas clients
- Mix of retainers and milestone billing
- Someone on the team doubles as the finance person
What usually goes wrong
Currency sprawl
Each currency has its own conversion timing. Without a per-invoice FX record, your INR turnover is an estimate.
Retainers blur the paper trail
A recurring monthly retainer still needs a distinct invoice per period, with its own declaration and LUT reference.
Nobody owns compliance
Between design deadlines and client calls, the LUT renewal date is the first thing to be forgotten.
How SahiInvoice handles it
- 1
Import from every rail
Stripe payouts, Wise transfers, and direct credits all land in the same transaction ledger.
- 2
Keep client-wise history
Invoices group by client, so a year-end query about one engagement takes a search, not an archaeology dig.
- 3
Watch the thresholds
Turnover is tracked against the ₹20L registration threshold across the financial year, with warnings before you cross it.
- 4
Share with your accountant
Invite your CA to a read-only portal where they can comment and mark returns filed.
What changes
- Per-client export records without a shared spreadsheet
- LUT expiry and threshold alerts before they bite
- A CA who stops chasing you over email
The finance work of an agency, without hiring someone to do the finance work of an agency.
Frequently asked questions
What is an LUT and why does an agency need one?
A Letter of Undertaking lets you export services without paying IGST upfront. Without a valid LUT you must pay IGST on each export and claim a refund later, which ties up working capital. An LUT is filed per financial year on the GST portal.
How do I invoice a foreign client in USD or EUR under GST?
Issue a tax invoice showing the foreign currency amount, the applicable exchange rate, the INR equivalent, your LUT reference and the export declaration. The recipient's address and country must be recorded as the place of supply outside India.
Does a monthly retainer need a separate invoice each month?
Yes. Each period is a distinct supply requiring its own sequentially numbered invoice with its own declaration and LUT reference — a single annual contract does not replace monthly invoicing.
Do export receipts count toward the ₹20 lakh GST threshold?
Yes. Aggregate turnover includes zero-rated exports, so a studio billing entirely overseas still crosses the registration threshold on the same basis as one billing domestically.
General information about GST on export of services, not tax advice. Confirm treatment with your Chartered Accountant.
Other situations
Freelance developer
GST for freelancers on Toptal and Upwork: every payout, a compliant export invoice
Consultant with Indian & foreign clients
TDS on consulting income vs zero-rated exports: SahiInvoice tells them apart
Approaching ₹20 lakh turnover
The ₹20 lakh GST registration limit: know before you cross it
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