How a Self-Employed Person Can Accept Online Payments for Services
Self-employment is the most popular status for experts starting online consultations. However, self-employed individuals have specific rules for accepting payments that are important to know to avoid problems with banks and tax authorities.
Specifics of Payment Acceptance for the Self-Employed
A self-employed person is not a sole proprietor. They don't have a business bank account, an online cash register, or traditional acquiring. But this isn't a limitation — there are simple and convenient ways to accept payments.
Bank Transfers: Do's and Don'ts
A self-employed person can accept payments to a personal bank card. But there are rules: after each transaction, you must generate a receipt in the "My Tax" application. Without a receipt, it's just a regular transfer, not payment for a service.
If you receive more than 10-15 transfers per month from different people, your bank may request an explanation. Having receipts and self-employed status will address these inquiries.
Payments Through Platforms and Services
The most convenient option is to use a platform that handles payment processing for you. On Geniuz.io, the client pays upon booking, and the money is transferred to your account, minus a commission fee.
Alternatives include: YuKassa, CloudPayments, Robokassa — but most of these require a sole proprietorship to connect.
Receipts: How and When to Issue Them
- A receipt is issued immediately after payment is received — at the moment the money arrives.
- It is generated in the "My Tax" application in 30 seconds.
- You specify: service name, amount, date.
- The receipt can be sent to the client as a link or downloaded as a PDF.
If you forget to issue a receipt, it's a violation. The first time, the penalty is 20% of the amount; subsequently, it's 100%. Make it a habit to issue receipts immediately.
Common Mistakes Self-Employed Individuals Make When Accepting Payments
- Not issuing receipts — the main mistake, leading to fines.
- Using a personal card without receipts — leading to bank blocking.
- Not separating personal and work transfers — complicates accounting.
- Accepting payments from legal entities at a 4% rate instead of 6%.
Automate payment acceptance on Geniuz.io. The client pays upon booking, and you receive funds — no extra steps needed.
Start for free →Frequently asked questions
Can a self-employed person connect to online acquiring?
Directly — no, you need to be a sole proprietor for that. However, you can use intermediary platforms that handle the acquiring process.
Which bank is best for a self-employed person?
Tinkoff, Sber, Alfa-Bank — all support self-employed individuals. Choose a bank with integration into the "My Tax" application for automatic receipt issuance.
Do I need to open a separate account for income?
Not mandatory, but recommended for ease of accounting. Opening a separate card for work-related income is good practice.
What to do if a payment needs to be refunded?
Cancel the receipt in the "My Tax" application — the tax will be automatically recalculated. Refund the money to the client using the same method they paid.