Fintechs push for 'safe harbour' shield as RBI scrutiny and tax probes rattle sector

Payments Council of India is drafting a safe harbour framework to protect licensed fintechs and PSOs from retrospective regulatory or tax action. The move follows the arrest of Fino Payments Bank's CEO over alleged GST evasion by merchant intermediaries, raising compliance anxiety across the sector.

— Source publishedWed, 27 May, 2026, 19:08 IST·First seen Wed, 27 May, 2026, 19:26 IST·Source Business Standard · Companies

What happened

Payments Council of India is drafting a 'safe harbour' framework for licensed fintechs and PSOs to shield compliant entities from retrospective regulatory or

Why this matters

Distressed valuations among smaller PSOs facing compliance scrutiny open consolidation windows, but diligence must now stress-test merchant-tier tax exposure and indemnity structures against retrospective claims.

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