What is a Credit Note: Essentials for Singapore Businesses
What is the purpose of a credit note, and what must businesses note when issuing one? Learn the essentials of using credit notes in Singapore.
Looking for a payment solution to help your Singapore business go global? Tazapay might be on your radar. This Singapore-based fintech has been gaining attention for its cross-border payment capabilities designed specifically for businesses operating in emerging markets.
Singapore's position as a global trade hub means many local businesses are expanding internationally, particularly into fast-growing markets across Southeast Asia, India, and beyond. However, these expansions often come with big payment challenges: currency conversion costs, unfamiliar local payment methods, and the risk of fraud or non-payment when dealing with new partners.
These challenges are exactly what Tazapay aims to solve. Founded during the pandemic when cross-border commerce became even more complex, Tazapay has developed solutions to help businesses navigate international payments securely and efficiently.
In this Tazapay review, we'll break down its features, fees, and benefits to help you determine if it's the right fit for your business needs. Plus, we'll introduce another financial solution - Wise Business - that can complement Tazapay or serve as a standalone option for managing international payments with greater ease and fewer fees.
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Tazapay is a Singapore-based fintech company that provides cross-border payment solutions for businesses. It began in 2020 as a payment gateway, but has evolved into a comprehensive platform designed to simplify international transactions and reduce risks for both buyers and sellers - for businesses that don’t rely on online transactions, as well as those that do.
The company offers several key services:
Put simply, Tazapay aims to solve the challenges that might hold many promising businesses back in these regions.
The No.1 challenge for businesses trading internationally? Trust.
By providing secure payment infrastructure alongside verification and escrow services, Tazapay has positioned itself as more than just a payment processor - it’s grown rapidly as a facilitator of safe cross-border commerce.
🔍 If you're exploring payment gateway options for your Singapore business, you might also be interested in our reviews of other popular solutions:
Tazapay's payment gateway processes transactions through multiple payment methods, including major cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and local payment options. This is particularly useful for businesses targeting customers who prefer local payment methods.
Some key local payment methods supported include:
While Tazapay advertises coverage across 173+ countries, it's worth noting that local payment method availability is limited to 100+ countries.
For Singapore businesses, Tazapay provides virtual accounts for receiving payments in 35+ currencies. These accounts allow your customers to pay you as if they're making a domestic transfer, which can significantly reduce their costs and improve conversion rates.
To access these accounts, your business must complete a verification process. Settlement cycles and maintenance fees vary depending on the country and currency pair.
📝 One drawback to Tazapay is its use of quote-based foreign exchange rates rather than live rates (aka the mid-market rate) - this could affect the predictability of conversion costs and might mean you don’t receive the best rate. |
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Tazapay supports both SWIFT and local bank transfers to 80+ markets. This gives you flexibility in how you pay suppliers, partners, or employees across the globe.
The fees for these services vary:
Processing times vary by destination and transfer method, but local transfers are generally faster and cheaper than SWIFT transfers.
One feature that will be particularly attractive for businesses is Tazapay’s escrow service. It's simple - Tazapay holds your money until both you and your trading partner fulfil your obligations.
This is helpful when you're working with new partners or handling large transactions. The seller doesn't ship until the buyer pays, and the buyer's money isn't released until they confirm they've received what was promised.
If something goes wrong Tazapay will also help sort it out, which is much easier than trying to resolve issues across borders on your own. They also verify who's on both sides of the deal, adding an extra layer of security to your international transactions.
Tazapay's fee structure varies depending on the service and payment method. Here's a summary of their main fees:
Service | Fee³ |
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Local payment methods | 0.8-2.5% |
Card payments | 3.8% + USD 0.5 |
FIRC (India) | USD 4 per certificate |
Dispute resolution | USD 15 per case |
Refunds | USD 2 |
Payouts | Local: USD 2-5 SWIFT: USD 5-35 |
Details accurate as of 18th March 2025
As Tazapay’s foreign exchange rates are quote-based, rather than displayed live, you'll need to request a quote for each currency conversion, making it less transparent than some other alternatives.
When managing international transactions, currency conversion fees can quickly add up, impacting your bottom line. Wise Business account offers a multicurrency account solution by providing currency conversion at the mid-market exchange rate, which is often more favourable than the rates offered by traditional banks or payment platforms.
🚀 It's important to note that Wise Business is not a payment gateway since its main function isn't to process transactions between an ecommerce site and a customer's bank. Rather, Wise Business is an online platform for sending, receiving, and managing money in multiple currencies across borders. This is particularly beneficial for Singapore ecommerce businesses because they can get local account details to avoid being charged a hefty fee. Then, they can transfer between currencies on their Wise Business account at the mid-market rate. |
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Take your business global with Wise Business | |
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🚀 Always Get the Mid-Market Rate No more hidden markup fees or foreign transaction fees - We give you the exact mid-market exchange rate + a transparent, low conversion fee. | 🌍 Global Multi-Currency Account that Feels Local Send money to over 70 countries and manage multiple currencies without breaking a sweat. Get account details to receive payments in GBP, EUR, AUD and more currencies just like a local |
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💳 Command Your Cash Flow with Wise Business Cards Give your team their own corporate debit cards to keep expenses clean and easy to monitor. Need more control? Approve payments, set spending limits, and freeze your card if you've lost it. | 📄 Free Invoicing Tool Level up your invoicing game with our free tool. Create and send professional invoices that not only get noticed but get paid. |
Learn more about Wise Business
Tazapay is versatile - but it specifically targets its services to:
For example, you might like to use Tazapay if you're a Singapore e-commerce business looking to accept local payment methods from customers in emerging markets like India, Brazil, or Southeast Asia. Or you may want to use the services if you're an exporter or importer who needs the security of escrow services when dealing with new international partners. Because Tazapay supports both traditional and local payment methods across 170+ countries, it can be a good fit for many globally-minded Singapore businesses.
Tazapay has some great features for Singapore businesses, particularly those targeting emerging markets. We can summarise these as:
However, there are some potential drawbacks to consider:
These drawbacks are unlikely to be dealbreakers, depending on the scale of your business. But it is still recommended that you investigate the full nuanced fee structure, including potential foreign exchange markups, before you go ahead. A seemingly small rate change can have an impact on your margins. Remember to also consider the preferred local payment methods of your target market.
💡It’s possible to bypass the drawbacks of Tazapay by combining it with Wise Business. |
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Use Tazapay for payment gateway services, accepting local payment methods, and escrow protection. Then, use Wise Business for currency conversion at mid-market rates, local account details in 8+ currencies, and issuing business debit cards for your team.A Singapore business could, for example, accept payments through Tazapay's gateway, then transfer the funds to their Wise Business account for better currency conversion rates, before paying suppliers or reinvesting in different markets. This combination can significantly reduce your overall international transaction costs while maximising payment acceptance. |
Get Started with Wise Business today
Sources:
3 - Tazapay Pricing
Sources checked on 18.03.2025
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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