FAQ

NRI needs to file Income Tax return in India provided your taxable income in India during the year was above the basic exemption limit (Rs 2.5 lakhs for AY 2016-17) OR you have earned short-term or long-term capital gains from sale of certain investments and assets, even if the gains are less than the basic exemption limit. There is an exception: If your taxable income consisted only of investment income (interest) and/or capital gains income and if tax has been deducted at source from such income, you do not have to file your tax returns if the income in not exceeding maximum permissible limit for tax calculation.

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in India issued a notification which has made it mandatory for individuals who have annual gross total income in excess of Rs 5 lakh to file their returns online. This applies to all individuals including non resident Indians. So as an NRI with gross total income exceeding Rs 5 lakh, you must file your returns electronically.

In case your taxable income exceeds Rs.5 lakh in the previous year, you would be required to file the return of income electronically either using the digital signature or through submission of the verification Form ITR-V after electronically filing the return of income. In case your income does not exceed the above limit, you would also have an option to file the return of income in paper form.

As per the Income Tax Act, Individual must pay advance tax in three instalments during the year in case the tax payable is likely to be Rs 10,000 or more after considering TDS deduction. In case of default interest is generally 1 percent per month for the default amount and extends till the date of payment. Therefore, NRIs should evaluate if they were liable to pay advance tax and whether the same was paid in time.

The last date to file returns for the financial year is July 31 st following the end of financial year. However, if you do not have any tax payable (that is all your tax has been deducted at source), you can still file your tax return anytime by the end of next financial year without any penalties.

As your total income is less than maximum permissible limit chargeable to tax, you are not liable to file return. However you can cliam refund of Rs 45,000/- of your TDS deducted for which you should file return. If you are expecting a refund, make sure that you put accurate bank details such as account number and IFSC code of the branch as refunds are processed electronically.

Dividends from equity shares and equity mutual funds is tax free in India. Interest received on the NRE account and FCNR account is tax free. Long term capital gains on equity shares and equity mutual funds (provided you pay securities transaction tax at time of sale). Further, If you have given a property on rent, you can claim an ad hoc deduction of 30% of net annual value as repairs and maintenance expenses in addition to claiming a deduction on mortgage interest.

Health insurance premium in India for yourself or your dependents, you can claim a deduction under section 80D. If the health insurance is taken for your spouse and dependent children, you can claim a deduction of Rs 15,000 per annum. An additional Rs 15,000 is available as deduction on insurance premium paid on behalf of your parents. If either of your parents is over the age of 65, the additional deduction will be Rs 20,000 instead of Rs 15,000.

Contributions to an approved charity, you can claim a deduction under section 80G. Investments such as PPF, life insurance premiums, etc. can be claimed as deduction under section 80C up to a total of Rs 1.5 lakh.

An NRI can transfer / remit out of the NRO account subject to production of documentary evidence in support of acquisition by the remitter and an undertaking by the remitter along with a certificate by a chartered accountant in Form 15CA and 15CB

As per regulations, NRI are permitted to transfer a maximum of $1 million per financial year to your NRE account. The transfer will be subject to payment of applicable taxes. So far the amount being transferred to the NRE account represents balances for which tax has already paid or exempt there shouldn’t be additional tax.

NRI would be subject to taxes in India on any income accruing or arising from an asset located in India. The agricultural income earned by you would be exempt, whereas the rental income from the house property would be subject to tax. You would be under an obligation to file an income tax return in India on or before 31 July for financial year if your taxable income exceeds maximum marginal rate permissible in the previous year. However, you may note that the income tax law prescribes a specific method of computing taxable income where the taxpayer has earned agricultural income. While this type of income is exempt from tax, it is nonetheless included in the total income for rate purposes.

If the property is more than 3 years old, long term capital gains tax will be incurred on the sale of the property. On long term capital gains, tax is payable @ 20%. However, tax can be minimised by making alternative investments in India under section 54 of Income Tax Act.

LTCG is fully exempted on sale of listed company shares without any limit, provided purchased by paying STT and provided the transaction is long-term. i.e that share are hold for period of more than 12 months

You have earned a long term capital gain on your property. You have to pay taxes in India on this income and then obtain a certificate from a chartered accountant. After this certificate only, you would be able to repatriate the money abroad.

Yes, the money received from NRI is taxable in India. Sale proceeds will first be credited to NRO account. Then you have to obtain a certificate from the chartered accountant relating to payment of taxes after which the money would be transferred from NRO account to NRE account.

If the FD and RD were opened under NRE status as (NRE-FD or NRE-RD) then the interest earned on the same will not be taxable. However, in case the FD/RD was opened when you were resident Indian then the said FD will be converted to NRO- FD (upon your status being changed to NRI) and the interest earned on the same will be subject to TDS. However, depending on your cumulative tax liability in India, you may claim refund while filing tax return in India.

For returning Indians, funds held in fixed deposits in NRE accounts, interest will be payable at the rate originally fixed, provided the deposit is held for the full term even after conversion into resident account. However, the interest earned after the status was updated to resident will be taxable.

Profits earned by selling property in India will be liable to Capital gain is the difference between the sale value of the property and its cost of purchase. Capital gains can be classified as short term (up to 36 months) or long term (more than 36 months), depending on the period for which the property is held. Short-term capital gain will be taxed at normal slab rates and long-term gain will be taxed at 20%.

If a residential property is sold after being held for more than three years and the proceeds are reinvested for purchase of a new residential property, then the capital gains will be exempt to the extent of the amount reinvested. The exemption is subject to the new property being purchased within a year before or two years from the date of sale, or if new property is being constructed within three years from the date of sale.

Yes Investment in the specified bonds is to be made within six months of such sale and there is a lock-in period of three years for such bonds.

Your employment in Dubai will not make any difference. As per taxation laws in India, your overseas income getting credited to your NR account in India will not be taxed. It is indifferent to overseas country tax regulations.

Yes, you can send money to your resident account and the said amount will not be taxable because it will be from your overseas earnings. There is no upper cap on the amount you can wire transfer to a bank account in India. Yes, based on a valid work visa and company offer letter, you can convert your existing resident account into NRO and open a NRE account as well.

You can bring your earnings as you wish. You should take care of income tax of your earnings. After you are return to India, your income earned outside India will not be taxable in India provided it is received in India for two years. After the two years, your worldwide income would be taxable in India.

If anyone invest in direct equity and hold it for 12 month or more, any gain out of sale of such equity is considered as long term capital gain in India and it is tax free, whereas any investment in director equity which is hold for less than 12 month the gain resulted from such investment would be considered as short term gain and tax is payable at the rate of 15%. There is a huge advantage of investing in direct equity for long term, it not only gives compounded return but it is also tax free.