Source: https://rivet.global/blog/australia-companies-collecting-usd-from-us-clients
Published: 2026-10-21 · Updated: 2026-10-21 · By Rashidatou K.

# Australian companies with US clients: collecting dollars without the bank's conversion

US payments into AUD accounts are converted on arrival at the bank's rate. How US account details and a USD balance let you choose when to convert.

## Key takeaways

- US dollar payments into Australian dollar accounts are converted on arrival at the bank's retail rate.
- US clients pay faster and in full by ACH to US account details than by international wire.
- Many Australian companies have US dollar costs; paying them from US dollar revenue avoids converting twice.
- Services exported to clients outside Australia are generally GST-free when the conditions are met.

A Brisbane product design studio earns most of its revenue from US clients. Each pays by international wire into the studio's Australian dollar account, which converts on arrival. The studio then buys US dollars to pay for its design software, cloud services and a contractor in Austin. Its bank wins on both conversions.

## The cost of converting on arrival

US dollars landing in an AUD account are converted at the bank's retail rate, usually some distance from the mid-market rate, on whatever day the wire arrives. Add a possible intermediary fee, and the studio loses a slice of every invoice it never sees.

## US clients prefer ACH

American companies pay vendors by ACH. US account details in the studio's own name let clients pay that way. The full amount arrives, usually in one to two business days, with the invoice reference.

## Hold, spend, convert

1. Hold US dollars as they arrive.
2. Pay US dollar costs from them: software, ads, contractors, travel.
3. Convert the surplus to AUD on a schedule before payroll, at a rate you see first.

## GST

Services supplied to non-residents who are outside Australia are generally GST-free when the conditions in the GST law are met. Keep contracts showing the client is a non-resident and the service is used outside Australia.

## Tax records

Record US dollar income in AUD at a rate the ATO accepts, consistently. Statements showing the rate on each conversion make this easier.

## Paying into Australia: the local rail

| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | New Payments Platform (Osko and PayID) |
| Run by | NPP Australia |
| Settlement | Seconds, 24/7 |

Direct Entry (BECS) still carries batch payroll and supplier runs, settling several times a day.

Source: [NPP Australia](https://nppa.com.au/). Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.

## Where Rivet fits

A Rivet business account gives an Australian company US account details in its own name on every plan, for ACH and wires, plus euro and sterling details from the Growth plan and, on Scale, balances in 30 currencies including AUD. Dollars can be held, spent with Visa company cards, paid to contractors in 120+ countries or converted at a rate shown before you confirm. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds.

See [the AUD business account guide](/blog/aud-business-account).

## Questions

### Why do US payments arrive as less AUD than expected?

The bank converted at its own rate, which includes a margin, and an intermediary may have deducted a fee from the wire.

### Can US clients pay an Australian company by ACH?

Only to US account details. An Australian account requires an international wire.

### Is GST charged on services to US clients?

Services supplied to non-residents outside Australia are generally GST-free if the conditions in the GST law are met.

### Should we hold US dollars?

If you pay US software, contractors or ads in dollars, yes. Convert the surplus to AUD when you need it.