How to receive USD in Ecuador
To receive US dollars in Ecuador, give the payer the details of your account at an Ecuadorian bank, which payers fund by SWIFT wire, or US account details from a provider that accepts Ecuador, which US payers fund by ACH. Every Ecuadorian account is already in dollars, so nothing is converted; the rule to plan around is the 5% currency outflow tax (ISD), which the tax authority presumes is due on export proceeds kept abroad for more than 6 months. This guide covers the rules, routes, payer details, arrival times, published fees and platforms.
- The US dollar is the only legal tender in Ecuador under Article 94 of the Código Orgánico Monetario y Financiero, so dollars received from abroad are credited without conversion.
- The Impuesto a la Salida de Divisas (ISD) is charged on money leaving Ecuador at a general rate of 5% in 2026, not on money received.
- When export proceeds do not enter Ecuador, the SRI presumes ISD is due 6 months after the goods arrive at the destination port, so proceeds collected abroad should be brought home within that window.
- The SRI presumes that payments made from abroad by Ecuadorian residents are made with funds that cause ISD, even when no money is sent from Ecuador.
- Banco Pichincha publishes a charge of US$10.27, including VAT, for a transfer received from abroad, and no charge for an interbank SPI transfer received.
- On 12 August 2024, the Banco Central del Ecuador stated that crypto assets are neither legal tender nor an authorized means of payment in Ecuador.
How to receive USD in Ecuador: the short answer
Ecuador uses the US dollar as its only legal currency, so every payment from abroad arrives in the currency Ecuadorian businesses already spend. Exporters of bananas, shrimp, flowers, cocoa and fish, software and design firms, call centers, tour operators and freelancers are paid in dollars by buyers in the United States and Europe. There is no conversion on arrival and no exchange rate to manage.
There are three main routes. A current or savings account at an Ecuadorian bank receives an international wire by SWIFT, the network banks use to send cross-border payments. US account details, a routing and account number from a provider that accepts Ecuadorian businesses, let a US client pay by ACH, the low-cost US domestic bank transfer system. And payment platforms collect into a platform balance, which you then withdraw to an Ecuadorian bank.
The rule that shapes the choice is a tax, not an exchange control. The Impuesto a la Salida de Divisas (ISD) is Ecuador's 5% tax on money leaving the country, and the tax authority presumes it is due on export proceeds that stay abroad for more than 6 months after the goods arrive. So collecting abroad is allowed, but keeping export proceeds abroad has a cost. For the account side of the question, see our guide to a USD business account in Ecuador.
Ecuadorian rules on money received from abroad
Article 94 of the Código Orgánico Monetario y Financiero (COMF), the law that governs money and banking, makes the US dollar the only legal tender in Ecuador. Receiving dollars from abroad triggers no exchange formalities. The ISD applies on the way out, and the Servicio de Rentas Internas (SRI), the tax authority, applies two presumptions that matter to anyone paid from abroad.
| Who is paid | Rule published by the SRI | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone receiving dollars from abroad | ISD is charged on money leaving Ecuador, not on money arriving | No tax or form on the receipt itself |
| Exporter of goods or services whose proceeds do not enter Ecuador | ISD is presumed due 6 months after the goods arrive at the destination port; if that date cannot be identified, 6 months from the shipment date on the customs declaration | Proceeds kept abroad beyond the window carry 5% ISD |
| Resident paying from an account abroad | Payments made from abroad by residents are presumed to be made with funds that cause ISD, even when no money leaves Ecuador | Paying suppliers from an account abroad does not avoid ISD |
| Resident sending money from Ecuador to its own account abroad | General ISD rate of 5% in 2026; transfers other than by card are exempt up to three basic unified salaries, with the period set in specific rules | Moving dollars out to collect or hold abroad costs 5% above the exemption |
| Habitual exporter importing inputs | Can request a refund of ISD paid on imports of raw materials, inputs and capital goods used for exports | Recover part of the ISD cost on inputs |
Sources: Servicio de Rentas Internas, Impuesto a la Salida de Divisas (ISD); gob.ec, SRI refund of ISD to habitual exporters; Código Orgánico Monetario y Financiero, Article 94. As published on 29 October 2026.
Export proceeds kept abroad: the 6-month window
The SRI presumption is the single most important rule for an Ecuadorian exporter that collects outside the country. It does not prohibit collecting abroad. It says that, if the proceeds of an export do not enter Ecuador, the ISD is presumed due 6 months after the goods arrive at the destination port. ISD already generated on payments made from abroad can be deducted from that amount.
In practice this gives an exporter three choices: have the buyer pay an Ecuadorian bank directly; collect abroad and bring the proceeds into Ecuador within the window; or keep them abroad and budget for 5% ISD. Keep the bill of lading or air waybill and the arrival date at the destination port for each shipment, because that date starts the clock. For services, ask your accountant how the period is counted for your contracts.
The ways to receive US dollars in Ecuador
The table compares the routes. It is not a ranking, and many Ecuadorian firms use two of them.
| Route | How the payer pays | ISD position | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account at an Ecuadorian bank | SWIFT wire through a correspondent bank | Proceeds are in Ecuador; ISD only when money is later sent abroad | Exporters of goods, anyone who spends in Ecuador |
| US account details from a provider | ACH or Fedwire, as a US domestic payment | Export proceeds must enter Ecuador within the 6-month window, or ISD is presumed | Service firms and exporters with US buyers who prefer ACH |
| Payment platform balance | Through the platform or a payment request | Same presumption if the balance is export income kept abroad | Freelancers and marketplace sellers |
| US company with a US account | ACH or Fedwire | Separate US entity; Ecuadorian tax applies to the owners | Groups with US operations |
Source: Helm Editorial Team, from the SRI rules and provider pages cited in this guide, as published on 29 October 2026.
Fedwire is the Federal Reserve's real-time system for US dollar payments, used for large or urgent amounts. A correspondent bank is a bank that holds an account for another bank and settles payments in its currency, usually in New York for US dollars. A US client usually prefers ACH for routine invoices because its bank charges little or nothing for it, while an international wire costs the client a fee and may arrive short after correspondent deductions.
Because Ecuador has no local currency, the usual reason to hold dollars abroad, avoiding conversion, does not apply. The case for US account details is about the payer: a US finance team pays every vendor by ACH and treats an international wire as an exception.
What to give the payer
Send each client one set of details, in writing, and ask its accounts team to save them as a vendor record. Incomplete details are the main reason wires are delayed or returned.
| Field | For a wire to an Ecuadorian bank (SWIFT) | For US account details (ACH or Fedwire) |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary name | Registered name exactly as on the account, matching the RUC | Registered name exactly as on the account |
| Account number | Account number and account type (current or savings) | US account number |
| Bank identifier | Bank's full name, city and SWIFT code | Nine-digit routing number |
| Intermediary bank | The US correspondent your bank names, with its SWIFT code and the bank's account there | Not needed |
| Charges | OUR, so the full invoice amount arrives | Not applicable to ACH |
| Reference | Invoice number and export declaration number for goods | Invoice number |
Field list reflects standard SWIFT and US payment practice; confirm your bank's exact inbound instructions. As published on 29 October 2026.
The RUC (Registro Único de Contribuyentes) is the taxpayer registration number the SRI issues to every business. OUR, SHA and BEN are SWIFT charge codes. OUR means the sender pays all fees and the full amount arrives. SHA means the fees are shared, so intermediary banks can deduct theirs from the amount in transit. BEN means the receiver pays all fees. Agree OUR in the contract, or build the expected deductions into your price. Our guide on how to receive USD from overseas buyers shows a full invoice layout.
How long a USD payment takes to arrive
Arrival time depends mainly on the rail the client uses.
| Rail | Published timing | What affects it |
|---|---|---|
| ACH to US account details | About 80% of ACH volume settles in one banking day or less; Same Day ACH accepts payments up to $1 million each | Client's bank cut-off and whether it sends Same Day ACH |
| Fedwire to US account details | Real-time gross settlement, final once processed; the Fedwire business day runs 9:00 p.m. ET the previous day to 7:00 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday | US holidays and the client's bank hours |
| SWIFT wire to an Ecuadorian bank | Depends on the correspondent chain and the receiving bank's processing | Correspondent checks, incomplete details, US and Ecuadorian holidays |
| Platform payment | Set by the platform | Platform's own payout schedule |
Sources: Nacha, significant majority of ACH payments settle in one business day or less (28 August 2023); Federal Reserve, About the Fedwire Funds Service. As published on 29 October 2026.
Real-time gross settlement means each payment settles individually as it is processed. Ecuador's working day overlaps closely with US business hours, so a Fedwire sent in the US morning arrives the same working day. Once dollars are in Ecuador, the SPI, the domestic interbank transfer system run by the Banco Central del Ecuador, moves them between local banks. For a SWIFT wire, ask the client for the SWIFT confirmation once it is sent, so your bank can trace the payment.
What it costs: published fees
A dollar receipt can carry three charges: the client's bank fee, correspondent deductions on the way, and your own bank's or provider's charge. The table shows published charges. Other banks set their own.
| Provider and item | Published charge |
|---|---|
| Banco Pichincha: transfer received from abroad | US$10.27 in total (US$8.93 plus US$1.34 VAT) |
| Banco Pichincha: transfer received from Banco Pichincha Colombia or Peru, paid into an account | US$4.00 |
| Banco Pichincha: interbank SPI transfer received | US$0.00 |
| Banco Pichincha: transfer sent abroad, US$1,000 or less | US$56.97 |
| Banco Pichincha: transfer sent abroad, over US$10,000 | US$115.00 |
| Payoneer: receiving into a non-local-currency receiving account | 1%, minimum $1 |
| Payoneer: withdrawal to a bank account in the local currency | 1.2% to 4% |
| Payoneer: annual account fee | $29.95, only if the account receives less than $6,000 in any 12 consecutive months |
Sources: Banco Pichincha, tarifario (February 2026); Payoneer fees page (last updated 1 January 2026). As published on 29 October 2026. Payoneer states that fees depend on sender and recipient locations, payment method and currencies.
Two costs sit outside every tariff. The first is correspondent deductions on SHA wires. The second is the ISD, which falls on money sent abroad from Ecuador and, by presumption, on export proceeds kept abroad beyond the 6-month window. A business that collects abroad and later sends money out again can pay twice: a bank fee for the transfer and 5% ISD on the amount above the exemption. Because Ecuador uses the dollar, there is no conversion margin on a receipt, which removes the largest hidden cost in most other countries.
Payoneer, Wise and other platforms
The table records what each provider's own page states about Ecuador, as published on 29 October 2026. Lists change, so check again before applying.
| Provider | What its own page states | Point to check |
|---|---|---|
| Payoneer | Fees published globally; fees depend on sender and recipient locations | Withdrawal fee to your Ecuadorian bank, shown in the account |
| Wise | Ecuador is not on its list of countries where customers can hold money in a Wise account | Holding a balance is not available to Ecuador residents at present |
| Airwallex | A business must be registered in a supported country or territory; Ecuador is not on the list | Not available to a company registered in Ecuador |
| Mercury | The company must be formed and registered in the United States or a US territory | Only through a US entity |
Sources: Payoneer fees; Wise, where can I open a Wise balance; Airwallex eligible countries; Mercury eligibility. As published on 29 October 2026.
Before choosing a platform, check whether the account details are in your own name, which rails they accept, and how the balance reaches your Ecuadorian bank. A balance that holds export income abroad is subject to the same ISD presumption as any other account abroad.
Stablecoins
Some foreign clients offer to pay in USDC or USDT, digital tokens designed to hold a steady value of one US dollar. On 12 August 2024, the Banco Central del Ecuador stated that crypto assets are neither legal tender nor an authorized means of payment in Ecuador, and that it would refer their use as payment to the prosecutor, citing Article 98 of the COMF, which prohibits unauthorized means of payment. Do not accept stablecoins as payment for goods or services from Ecuador without legal advice, and invoice in dollars.
Freelancers and sole traders
Freelancers in Ecuador receive dollars into ordinary bank accounts, since every account is in dollars. A foreign client pays by SWIFT, or through a platform that pays out to an Ecuadorian bank account. The bank's inbound charge is a fixed amount, so a few large payments cost less than many small ones; agree monthly invoicing with clients where you can.
The ISD presumption on export proceeds applies to individuals who carry out export activities, including exports of services. A freelancer who keeps foreign client income in an account abroad should take advice on when the presumption applies. Transfers abroad other than by card are exempt up to three basic unified salaries, and card spending abroad has an annual exemption of US$5,188.26 for 2025 to 2027, according to the SRI.
Register with the SRI and invoice every client from your RUC, so each receipt is matched to an invoice when the bank or the SRI asks.
Where a Helm account fits
Helm serves companies registered in Ecuador. Helm is a financial technology company, not a bank, and accounts are held with regulated partner institutions. A Helm account gives your company USD account details in its own name: a routing and account number that receives ACH, Fedwire and SWIFT, so a US client pays you as it pays a domestic supplier.
- Collect from US buyers. The buyer pays by ACH or Fedwire instead of an international wire to Ecuador. Collections are held in USD.
- Export proceeds: what Helm cannot change. A Helm account is outside Ecuador, so export proceeds held in it fall under the SRI presumption: bring them into your Ecuadorian bank within 6 months of the goods arriving at the destination port, or ISD of 5% is presumed due. Helm does not take payments outside the ISD.
- Pay suppliers. International payments go by SWIFT, or by local rails in the supplier's currency where available, with the rate, fee and expected arrival shown before you send. Payments made from abroad by an Ecuadorian resident are presumed to cause ISD, so account for it.
- Stablecoins. Helm accounts can receive USDC and USDT and convert them to USD inside the account; given the Banco Central del Ecuador position, take legal advice before using that feature for payments.
A named account manager answers review questions in writing within one business day, and trade finance, including receivables finance, is arranged case by case. Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment.
Checklist for receiving USD in Ecuador
- Give foreign buyers your account number, account type, the bank's SWIFT code and its US correspondent.
- Agree OUR charges for wires, or price in the expected deductions.
- Steer US clients to ACH where you have US account details.
- Record the arrival date at the destination port for every export shipment.
- Bring export proceeds collected abroad into Ecuador within 6 months, or budget for 5% ISD.
- Invoice in dollars, not in crypto assets.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
How can a business in Ecuador receive US dollars from abroad?
An Ecuadorian business can receive dollars into its account at an Ecuadorian bank, which payers fund by SWIFT wire, or into US account details from a provider that accepts Ecuador, which US payers fund by ACH or Fedwire. Every Ecuadorian account is in dollars, so no conversion takes place.
Is there a tax on receiving money from abroad in Ecuador?
The ISD is a tax on money leaving Ecuador, so it is not charged on payments received. Export proceeds that stay abroad are presumed to cause ISD 6 months after the goods arrive at the destination port.
Can an Ecuadorian exporter keep its proceeds in an account abroad?
It can collect abroad, but if the proceeds do not enter Ecuador the SRI presumes ISD of 5% is due 6 months after the goods arrive at the destination port. Bringing the proceeds into Ecuador within that window avoids the presumption.
What is the ISD rate in Ecuador in 2026?
The SRI publishes a general ISD rate of 5% for 2026. Imports of fuels and listed pharmaceutical tariff lines are taxed at 0%, and imports of listed productive-sector tariff lines at 2.5%.
How much does Banco Pichincha charge to receive an international transfer?
Banco Pichincha's February 2026 tariff lists US$10.27 in total, US$8.93 plus VAT, for a transfer received from abroad, and US$4.00 for transfers from Banco Pichincha Colombia or Peru paid into an account. Correspondent banks may deduct their own charges on the way.
What details does a foreign client need to pay my Ecuadorian bank account?
The client needs your registered name, account number and account type, the bank's name, city and SWIFT code, and the US correspondent bank your bank names. Ask the client to quote the invoice number and use the OUR charge code so the full amount arrives.
Can I use Wise in Ecuador to receive USD?
Ecuador is not on Wise's list of countries where customers can hold money in a Wise account. Airwallex does not list Ecuador as a supported registration country, and Mercury accepts only US-formed companies.
Can an Ecuadorian business accept USDT or USDC as payment?
On 12 August 2024 the Banco Central del Ecuador stated that crypto assets are neither legal tender nor an authorized means of payment, and that it would refer their use as payment to the prosecutor. Take legal advice and invoice in dollars.
Do freelancers in Ecuador pay ISD on income kept abroad?
The ISD presumption on export proceeds applies to individuals who carry out export activities, including exports of services. A freelancer who keeps client income abroad should take advice on when the presumption applies.
References
- Servicio de Rentas Internas: Impuesto a la Salida de Divisas (ISD)
- Government of Ecuador (gob.ec): SRI refund of ISD to habitual exporters
- Lexis Ecuador: Crypto assets in Ecuador and Articles 94, 98 and 99 of the COMF
- El Universo: Banco Central del Ecuador statement on crypto assets as a means of payment (12 August 2024)
- Banco Pichincha: Tarifario (February 2026)
- Payoneer: Fees
- Wise Help Centre: Where can I open a Wise balance
- Nacha: Significant majority of ACH payments settle in one business day or less (28 August 2023)
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.