Taxes in India when you live abroad
When India taxes your income, and when you still need to file a return.
WHO COUNTS AS AN NRI FOR TAX
- Broadly, you are a non-resident for a financial year (April to March) if you spent fewer than 182 days in India in that year. There are extra conditions for people with higher Indian income, so check carefully.
WHAT INDIA TAXES
- As an NRI, India taxes only income earned or received in India: rent, interest on NRO accounts, capital gains on Indian investments.
- Your salary earned abroad is not taxed in India.
FILING A RETURN
- File an income tax return in India if your Indian income is above the basic exemption limit, or if tax was deducted (TDS) and you want a refund.
- Returns are filed on incometax.gov.in.
AVOIDING DOUBLE TAX
- India has tax treaties (DTAA) with most countries. With a Tax Residency Certificate from your country, you can often pay less tax in India, or claim credit for it abroad.
A chartered accountant who works with NRIs can save you a lot of trouble.
General information only, not tax advice.
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More guides
- Your first weeks abroad: a checklist
- Renewing your Indian passport abroad
- OCI card: the basics
- NRE, NRO and FCNR accounts explained
- Taxes in India when you live abroad
- Sending money home: getting a good deal
- Parents visiting you abroad
- Help from the Indian embassy or consulate
- PAN, Aadhaar and voting as an NRI
- Finding Indian groceries, food and festivals near you
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