Rule 133: Required electronic payment acceptance modes
Rule 133 specifies electronic payment facilities for the section 187 framework. The trigger is total sales, turnover or gross receipts exceeding ₹50 crore in the immediately preceding tax year, and the listed facilities are additional to other electronic modes already offered.
Official notified Income-tax Rules, 2026Need advice on Rule 133?
This article is for general information. Read the official Rules and applicable Act amendments, including the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2026. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.
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Rule 133 - Modes of payment for the purpose of section 187
Every person, carrying on business or profession, if his total sales, turnover or gross receipts, as the case may be, in business or profession exceeds fifty crore rupees during the immediately preceding tax year shall provide facility for accepting payment through the following electronic modes, in addition to the facility for other electronic modes of payment, if any, being provided by such person:— (i) Debit Card powered by RuPay; (ii)Unified Payments Interface (UPI) (BHIM-UPI); (iii)Unified Payments Interface Quick Response Code (UPI QR Code) (BHIM-UPI QR Code); and (iv)Tier-III: Full KYC Central Bank Digital Currency wallets, P-CBDC, Wholesale or Cross-border CBDC.
Rule breakdown
Test the preceding-year threshold
The rule applies to a person carrying on business or profession whose relevant total sales, turnover or gross receipts exceed ₹50 crore during the immediately preceding tax year.
Use the stated preceding period and measure. Exactly ₹50 crore is not described as exceeding the threshold.
The prescribed modes are specifically listed
The list includes a RuPay-powered debit card, BHIM-UPI, BHIM-UPI QR Code, and the stated Tier-III full-KYC CBDC wallets, P-CBDC, wholesale or cross-border CBDC entry.
Read the current official payment and operational instructions when arranging the applicable facilities. Do not silently substitute an unrelated payment method for one of the listed modes.
Existing modes are additional, not a substitute
The provision says these facilities are in addition to other electronic payment modes, if any, already provided. A business should not assume an existing generic online-transfer option alone answers the rule.
Review acceptance channels with the payment-service provider and retain the implementation record.
Document the threshold and facility review
Keep the preceding-year turnover or receipts calculation and evidence of the relevant acceptance facilities. Reassess the trigger with each year’s figures.
Read section 187 and any applicable current directions for the complete obligation; this rule specifies the modes rather than every consequence of non-compliance.
Key takeaways
Preceding-year measure
Use the immediately preceding tax year.
Exceeds ₹50 crore
The wording is a strict exceeds test.
Specific facilities
Existing other electronic modes do not replace the list.
Practical checklist
- Reconcile the preceding-year threshold calculation.
- Review the listed facilities with the payment provider.
- Retain evidence of implementation and applicable directions.
Avoid
- Do not substitute the current-year figure for the stated period.
- Do not assume any one generic electronic mode satisfies the whole list.
FAQs
Is the test based only on current-year turnover?
The rule uses the immediately preceding tax year.
Does exactly ₹50 crore exceed the stated threshold?
No. The wording is exceeds ₹50 crore.
Are existing other electronic modes enough by themselves?
The listed facilities are stated to be in addition to any other electronic modes already provided.
Glossary
- Prescribed modes
- The electronic-payment facilities specifically listed in Rule 133.