Serbian IT exporters: receiving foreign payments under Serbia's foreign exchange rules

A Novi Sad software company bills a client in Amsterdam €24,500 a month and a client in Austin $18,000. Both pay into foreign currency accounts at its Serbian bank. The bank asks for the contracts once, and for an invoice with each receipt. The company keeps euros for a Croatian subcontractor and converts the rest to dinars before payroll.

The legal frame

Serbia's Law on Foreign Exchange Operations, with regulations from the National Bank of Serbia, governs how residents handle foreign currency. Two rules matter most for IT exporters:

• Export proceeds are collected through accounts at banks in Serbia.
• Residents may hold accounts abroad only in the cases the law and NBS regulations allow.

So a Serbian doo or preduzetnik (entrepreneur) receives payment from foreign clients at its Serbian bank, into a foreign currency account.

What the bank asks for

Banks classify each receipt. For exports of services, they want:

1. The contract with the foreign client.
2. An invoice for the receipt.
3. Matching references on the payment.

Larger or unusual receipts may prompt more questions. Keep the documents ready and consistent.

Holding and converting

Serbian companies can hold euros and dollars in their Serbian accounts. Conversion to dinars happens when the company chooses, at the bank's rate. Paying foreign subcontractors and software from the foreign currency balance avoids converting twice.

Making foreign clients' payments smoother

The client side still matters. A US client paying a Serbian IBAN sends an international wire, which takes longer and can lose intermediary fees before it reaches your Serbian bank. Agree in the contract who bears charges. EU clients may pay by SEPA where your Serbian bank receives SEPA transfers; ask your bank.

Foreign entities

Some Serbian founders contract with foreign clients through a company registered abroad, often in the US, UK or another EU country. That company follows the rules of its own country. The Serbian founders remain subject to Serbian tax and foreign exchange rules personally, so take advice in Serbia before setting one up.

Paying into Serbia: the local rail

Source: National Bank of Serbia: IPS. Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.

Where Rivet fits

Rivet opens business accounts for registered companies after verification. Serbian law decides whether a company registered in Serbia may hold funds abroad, so check with your bank first. For companies registered elsewhere and run by Serbian founders, a Rivet business account gives US dollar details on every plan and euro details with an IBAN plus sterling details from the Growth plan, and pays contractors in 120+ countries. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds.