An agency that wins work on Upwork or Fiverr and is registered as a company, LLP, firm or proprietorship should treat that income as service exports and declare it on a monthly EDF with the bank where the platform withdrawals land. The hard part is that platforms pay in bulk withdrawals while the EDF wants one row per invoice, so you need a clean bridge between platform invoices, platform fees and the bank credit. Build that bridge once and the monthly filing is routine.
Key takeaways
- Registered agencies earning through Upwork or Fiverr should assume the EDF applies from 1 October 2026.
- Your AD bank is normally the bank account where platform withdrawals are credited.
- List each client invoice (or platform-generated invoice) for the month as a row in Part 2B.
- Platform fees reduce what you realise; reflect that in net realisable value and your records.
- Check how each platform documents transactions in its current India help pages; do not rely on assumptions.
Agencies vs individual freelancers
On 7 October 2026, RBI's Governor said individuals providing services abroad are not required to report, and RBI said it would issue FAQs. The text of the regulations has not changed yet.
That statement is about individuals. If your Upwork or Fiverr profile is an agency account backed by a company, LLP, partnership or proprietorship, and especially if you invoice under a GSTIN, you should assume you are covered. If you are a solo freelancer with no business structure, see our guide on EDF when you get paid through Upwork and check with your bank until the FAQs are out.
How the money actually moves
The broad pattern on marketplace platforms is:
- The client pays the platform.
- The platform holds the funds, deducts its service fee and makes the balance available in your account on the platform.
- You withdraw to your Indian bank account, often in one transfer covering several contracts.
- Your bank credits the amount in rupees and can issue a FIRA or payment advice.
The exact mechanics, including who the remitter shows as, what documents the platform issues and how fees are presented, vary by platform and change over time. Check the platform's current help pages for India rather than relying on what someone said in a forum.
Building the bridge from platform to EDF
| Source | What it gives you | How you use it |
|---|---|---|
| Platform invoices or transaction history | Client, contract, amount, date | Rows in Part 2B |
| Platform fee statements | Fees deducted per contract | Net realisable value and records |
| Withdrawal history | Which earnings went in each withdrawal | Matching to bank credits |
| Bank FIRA / payment advice | Amount credited in India, purpose code | Realisation evidence |
| Your own GST invoices (if you raise them) | Invoice numbers under GST | Consistency with EDF rows |
Whose invoice goes on the EDF
Some agencies raise their own export invoices to clients under GST and use the platform only to collect payment. Others rely on platform-generated invoices. Either way, decide on one invoice record per engagement and use it consistently for GST, the EDF and your books. Our export invoice generator helps if you issue your own.
The service recipient in Part 2B is your client, with its country. If your records only show the platform, ask your CA how to present the recipient and whether the platform needs to be shown as a third party paying on the client's behalf.
Fees and net realisable value
Platform fees are the biggest difference from a direct client relationship. If a client pays USD 1,000 and the platform keeps a fee before you withdraw, you realise less than the invoice. Record the invoice amount in the amount column and show the expected net figure in the NRV column, so the gap is explained rather than left as a mystery.
Do not invent fee percentages; use the actual figures in your platform statement.
A worked example
Pixelforge Studio LLP in Ahmedabad does design and front-end work through an agency account on Upwork and sells fixed packages on Fiverr. Its November 2026 activity:
| Ref | Date | Client country | Platform | Invoice amount | Fee per statement | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PF/N/01 | 4 Nov 2026 | United States | Upwork | USD 2,400 | USD 240 | USD 2,160 |
| PF/N/02 | 11 Nov 2026 | Germany | Upwork | USD 1,150 | USD 115 | USD 1,035 |
| PF/N/03 | 19 Nov 2026 | Australia | Fiverr | USD 600 | USD 120 | USD 480 |
| PF/N/04 | 27 Nov 2026 | Canada | Upwork | USD 3,000 | USD 300 | USD 2,700 |
The fee figures are illustrative; Pixelforge takes them from its actual statements. It files one EDF for November with four rows, amount column at invoice value, NRV at the net figure, by 30 December 2026.
On 2 December, Pixelforge withdraws USD 5,895 (the net of PF/N/01, 02 and 04) to its bank, and on 9 December the Fiverr balance of USD 480. Its EDF register shows which invoices each withdrawal settles, with FIRA references alongside. Each invoice is well under ₹10 lakh, so the bank may close the entries on Pixelforge's periodic declaration of realisation, prepared with our realisation declaration tool.
Codes, GST and timing
Purpose code: depends on the work. Software and web development often attract P0802 or P0807; design or marketing work may fall elsewhere. Ask your bank what code it applies to platform credits and check each FIRA.
SAC: match your service, for example 998314 for IT design and development. Our SAC code finder helps.
GST: if you are registered, export of services is zero-rated when Section 2(6) IGST Act conditions are met. Many agencies export under LUT. Platform-specific GST questions should go to your CA.
Realisation: 9 months from each invoice date. Funds sitting in a platform balance are not yet realised in India, so do not leave earnings parked for months.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do Upwork and Fiverr agencies need to file the EDF?
Agencies operating as companies, LLPs, partnerships or proprietorships should assume they are covered from 1 October 2026 and file a monthly EDF. Individual freelancers should note RBI's 7 October 2026 statement that individuals are not required to report and check with their bank until FAQs are issued.
Which bank receives the EDF for platform earnings?
Normally the AD bank where your platform withdrawals are credited. If you withdraw to more than one bank, discuss with each bank how they want the corresponding invoices declared.
How do I show platform fees on the EDF?
Enter the invoice value in the amount column and the expected amount after platform fees in the net realisable value column. Keep platform fee statements so you can explain the difference to your bank.
One withdrawal covers many contracts. How do I match it?
Use the platform's withdrawal and transaction history to allocate each withdrawal to specific invoices, and record that allocation in your EDF register with the FIRA reference. Clear allocation lets the bank close the right EDPMS entries.
Who is the service recipient: the client or the platform?
Generally the client who bought your service is the recipient, and you show their country in Part 2B. Because platforms collect and pay out funds, ask your CA whether the platform should be reflected as a third party in your specific setup.
Bottom line
For platform agencies, the EDF is a reconciliation exercise: invoices in, fees out, withdrawals matched. Build each month's form with our free EDF form generator and keep your platform statements next to your FIRAs.
This guide is general information for Indian businesses, not legal or tax advice. Rules and bank processes change — confirm specifics with your AD bank or chartered accountant.