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Financial Planner - Answered on May 13, 2024

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Asked by Anonymous - May 12, 2024Hindi

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I have been NRI for more than 20 years. If I return to India for how long can i keep my NRI status and will any money earned by me after my return to India from a foreign sources be taxable? If yes, how much tax will I have to pay?

Ans: When you return to India after being an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) for more than 20 years, your tax residency status will change. You will be considered a Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident (RNOR) for the first two financial years (April to March) after your return.

As an RNOR, your foreign income is generally not taxable in India unless it's derived from a business controlled or set up in India. So, any income earned from foreign sources during the RNOR period would generally not be taxable in India.

However, any income earned in India during the RNOR period will be taxable in India, along with any income from a business controlled or set up in India, regardless of whether it's earned domestically or abroad.

After the RNOR period, if you continue to stay in India, you will become a Resident and Ordinarily Resident (ROR) for tax purposes. In this case, your global income, including income earned abroad, will be taxable in India.

Tax rates in India vary depending on the income slab you fall into, and there are also various deductions and exemptions available. It's recommended to consult with a tax advisor in India who can provide personalized advice based on your specific financial situation and the prevailing tax laws at the time of your return.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.

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Financial Planner - Answered on Apr 06, 2022

Question by Prem - Apr 06, 2022Hindi

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Shall appreciate your expert advice based on the following facts: Am 59 years old & came back to India on 6th November ’20 after my stint with an MNC overseas, for 14 years & 9 months. What is going to be my status for the previous financial year viz. 2020-21 as well as current financial year i.e. 2021-22? All my overseas salary up to 5th of November ’20 were transferred to my NRE Rupee or US $ fixed deposits. I do have some small income in the form of dividend on shares, interest on ordinary rupee FDs, house rent etc. Most probably, I will not be working abroad any more. What will be the tax treatment of my NRE deposits which are going to mature in future or have been renewed after my return to India in November’20? As per my standard instructions to the banks, the same are being auto-renewed on due dates. I would like to know if there are any specific investment products other than NRE/RFC FDs, for the NRIs whose status has changed in the current fiscal year or is going to change in near future. Most all my savings are in INR only, but classified under NRE deposits.

Ans: The status of FY2020-21 would be NRI and the status in FY2021-22 would be RNOR (Resident but not ordinarily resident). So you need to convert the NRE to resident account immediately after returning to India. If you fail to convert your NRE account within 3 months of the return, it will be considered as a violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and attract a penalty.

After you return to India, any interest earned on NRE account will be taxable. You can opt to transfer your funds from NRE account to RFC account upon return

Though there are no specific products for returning NRIs, there are a whole range of investment options available for you apart from Bank Deposits. The most common are mutual funds, bonds, stocks, insurance, etc. You can choose to invest based on factors that suit you including risk, return, liquidity, etc. Options like PPF that are not available for NRIs become available when your status changes to Resident Indian.

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