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Do you know Non-residential Indians, i.e. NRIs, have to pay income tax in India?
Not only residential Indians but NRIs also come under the taxation system. In this piece, we have discussed income tax for NRI, available deductions and exemptions. Stay tuned!
As stated in the introductory paragraph, the taxation system applies to both residential individuals and Non-residential Indians, i.e. NRIs in India.
Here, residential individuals have to pay taxes on global income, meaning that it is taxable whether they have earned in India or outside of the country.
On the other hand, income earned or accrued in India is considered to be taxable India. To be precise, for NRIs, income from other countries is not taxable in India.
From the above discussion, readers can get a brief idea about the grounds of applicable income tax for NRI. Now, let’s take a deep dive into the various aspects of the NRI taxation system in India.
According to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), a civilian is considered NRI if he/she has spent a specific number of days abroad and subsequently was absent in India.
In India, primarily two acts govern NRIs. These are,
Coming back to the NRI taxation system in India, though income earned outside India/globally is not taxable in India, there are certain cases where the income in India is taxable. These include earning via source term deposit, property rent going beyond the fundamental limit (as stated in the Income Tax Act, 1961), mutual fund, capital gains from investment inequities. In all these cases, filing for an income tax return for NRI is mandatory.
As per this tax imposition, TDS is applicable at the highest rate on the interest generated on the capital gains from term deposits, shares and mutual funds. Usually, these incidents eliminate the need for filing a tax return.
In other cases, it may happen that the overall TDS does not add the Non-residential Indian’s basic tax liability. Here, NRIs are left with no choice but to file a tax return in order to file a claim for tax refunds.
Now the basic definition of NRI and the taxation system is clear to individuals, let’s focus on the exemption, deductions, taxable income and benefits. So, let’s start!
Tax exemptions for NRIs is available on the following types of income -
Deduction of Income Tax for NRI is mentioned under several IT acts. These are as follows:
As per this section, NRIs can claim an income tax deduction in the following instances:
A deduction is available under Section 80E in case an NRI earns interest on an education loan
Under Section 80TTA, NRIs can claim a deduction of ₹10,000 on interest earned on a savings bank account.
An income tax deduction is available under Section 80D. Here, Non-Residential Indians can claim a deduction on the premium paid for a health insurance policy.
As per this section, NRIs can claim deductions on donations related to social service activities.
Below are discussed incomes that are taxable for Non-Residential Indians.
For NRIs, any income from property located in India is taxable as per the IT Acts. Here, the tax calculation process follows similar rules as that of Indian residents. To be precise, Non-Residential Indians can enjoy the following advantages,
Salary of NRIs is taxable under two conditions. These are,
Both the cases follow the applicable income tax slab for NRI.
Income (interest on fixed deposit and savings account) which are sourced in India is taxable.
Any income generated by transferring capital assets located in India will be taxable.
Filing Income Tax ensures numerous benefits for NRI. These are,
After learning about deductions and exemptions of income tax for NRI, concerned individuals can follow the step-by-step guide discussed in the next section.
Firstly NRIs must determine the right of residence every year which is based on the number of days they have stayed in India. Then compare TDS paid on tax return as reflected on Form 26AS and evaluate the taxable income and tax liability.
In case the earnings of the NRI are taxed both abroad and in India, they can undergo exemptions under DTAA (Double Taxation Treaty). Proceed with the process by filing the right ITR forms for NRI. It is also important to mention the non-liable income information.
Then NRIs who are filing IRT must mention their bank account details. Those who have an account in India do not have to mention details of offshore bank accounts. For those who do not have an account in India, they can provide their offshore bank account details. It is equally important to provide information related to assets and liabilities etc., in the ITR.
Once the ITR is uploaded, confirmation regarding the same must be done within 120 days.
The above-mentioned sections thoroughly talk about various aspects of income tax for NRI. Read the details carefully and apply for an income tax return if it is a taxable income.
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Disclaimer: This information is added only for informative purposes and collected from different sources across the Internet. Digit Insurance is not promoting or recommending anything here. Please verify the information before making any decisions.
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