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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8077 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 12, 2024

Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 23 years of experience in mutual funds and financial planning.
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more
Sunil Question by Sunil on May 12, 2024Hindi
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Thanks for replying. Also, I found below that if my income in india i.e by bank deposits,shares,MF , PPF etc in my case exceeds 2.5L ,only then I will be taxed. Is this correct , sir! "The basic exemption limit for NRIs is INR 2.5 lakhs. If an NRI's taxable income in India during the financial year exceeds this limit, they are required to file an income tax return in India." Thanks

Ans: The statement you found is mostly correct. Here's a breakdown of tax implications for NRIs in India:

Basic Exemption Limit:

Yes, NRIs are eligible for a basic exemption limit of ?2.5 lakhs on their total taxable income earned in India during a financial year. This means if your income from Indian sources (including bank deposits, shares, mutual funds, but excluding PPF interest) is less than ?2.5 lakhs, you generally don't need to pay taxes or file an income tax return in India.
Taxable Income for NRIs:

Interest income earned on NRO accounts is taxable in India.
Dividend income from Indian companies is generally taxable in India at a rate of 20% (plus surcharge and cess if applicable).
Capital gains from selling shares or equity mutual funds in India are taxable depending on the type and holding period of the investment.
Rental income from property in India is taxable.
NRIs and PPF:

NRIs cannot open new PPF accounts, but they can continue to contribute to existing PPF accounts opened while they were resident Indians.
The good news is that interest income earned on PPF and the maturity amount are completely tax-free for everyone, regardless of residential status.
Filing Income Tax Returns:

Even if your total income is below ?2.5 lakhs, you might still need to file an income tax return in India if you want to claim a tax refund on TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) deducted from your income, such as on interest from NRO accounts.
NRIs are advised to consult with a qualified tax advisor or chartered accountant familiar with NRI taxation to determine their filing requirements and tax liabilities.
In summary, while the ?2.5 lakh limit is a general guideline, it's important to consider all your income sources in India and the specific tax treatment of each to determine your tax filing obligations.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
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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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8077 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 12, 2024

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Thanks a lot for your quick reply. Few queries: 1) If I understood correctly, I will have no additional taxation if I am selling the Shares and Mutual fund, once I am in Resident Indian status and a LTCG of 10% will be cal calculated. But I was planning to invest in ETF in which I will be doing Swing trading, I wanted to know what is the tax implication on that being an NRI? 2) NRE FD is good option with tax free investement , but I came across the term that if your NRI status changes to resident , the resident interest rate and taxation will be calculated. This becomes a loss for me if I change my status in 1-2 years. I was thinking to invest in FD of small finavlce banks with 9% interest. Anyways taxation is 10% above 40000 interest earned. Your suggestions please. Thanks
Ans: Tax Implications on ETFs and Swing Trading: As an NRI, any income earned from securities transactions in India, including ETFs and swing trading, is subject to taxation. Short-term capital gains (STCG) from equity investments held for less than one year are taxed at 15% plus applicable surcharge and cess. However, if you become a resident Indian again, you'll be taxed as per the resident Indian tax laws, which include LTCG tax of 10% on equity investments held for over one year. It's essential to consult with a tax advisor to understand the specific implications of swing trading on your tax liability as an NRI.

NRE FDs vs. Small Finance Banks FDs: NRE fixed deposits offer the advantage of tax-free interest income and full repatriation of funds, making them an attractive option for NRIs. However, you rightly pointed out that if your residential status changes to resident Indian within 1-2 years, the interest rate and taxation will be recalculated based on resident rates. In such cases, investing in FDs of small finance banks with higher interest rates can be a viable alternative. While the interest earned above ?40,000 is subject to a 10% TDS, it's essential to consider factors like liquidity, safety, and the bank's credit rating before investing. Evaluate the interest rate differential and potential tax implications to make an informed decision based on your financial goals and risk tolerance.

Considering your investment horizon and financial objectives, it's advisable to consult with a financial advisor or tax consultant who can provide personalized guidance based on your specific situation and help optimize your investment strategy.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

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Hi Mam, Hope you are doing well. I am very worried about my son who is now 12.5 years old and studying in 7th standard in a very reputed school. Since childhood, he has no interest in studies, unless we doesn't seat in front of him, he doesn't study. Every teacher from his kindergarten days upto now has the same complaint that he is doesn't pay attention in class and the result is he doesn't get good marks in the exam. When we scold him for studies, he does it for that particular time only and then get back to his non-interest mode again and start to run from studies. He will play video games, goes to play around with his friends, he will find some or the other reason for not doing studies or homework. The irony is that he is not interested in any sports or any other kind of activities. In every summer holidays, we make him to join some sports or music classes, but there also he doesn't show interest and do things just for the sake of showing. From last year, we have started sending him to tuitions also, but no change in attitude. This year we have found a teacher of his reputed school who is retired and taking tuitions, we are sending him to her and she is charging a big amount for tuitions. please guide how can we change his attitude and make him more serious in any activity he does as he doesn't have interest in anything (we have observed doing everything we can).
Ans: Hello Sunil!!

I am doing great, thank you for asking, God bless you!

I can totally understand when you say you are worried.

Your son is 12.5, he will soon be a teenager. There will be different challenges, I want you to read up on parenting a teenager and be ready to handle him well.

The problem as I see it is that everyone of you, his teachers included have made studies like a burden for him.... and subjected the young child to a lot of anxiety, he just wants to run away form it....
"Every teacher from his kindergarten days upto now has the same complaint that he is doesn't pay attention in class".... this statement of yours... it is the teacher's duty to ensure the child listens to him/her, how can she start labeling a child like this. From a young age your son has been conditioned to believe that he is not not good in studies, he doesn't focus and he doesn't sit in one place. All my sympathies are with your son...every child comes with immense potential and it's our duty as parents and teachers to nurture the child.

The following is what I propose so that we bring him back to loving to learn ( not score marks, that should never be the barometer)-
1. Love your child the way he is now
2. Give him lot of positive strokes
3. Have one on one sessions for any activity you plan for him... let him choose the activity, empower him
4. choose a teacher, who can get along with him and help him develop a positive attitude towards studies and life in general
5. look for a school where they nurture him... not just a reputed one...less number of students and a teacher who is invested in her/ his students,

If you can connect with me, I can help him. Have had many a students in this kind situation.
This is my website..
https://transformme.co.in/

Loads of best wishes to the whole family..

...Read more

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DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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