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NRI Tax
NRIs with Indian income: what you must report and what you can skip
As an NRI, you're taxed in India only on income that arises in India — salary for work done here, rent from Indian property, capital gains on Indian assets, and Indian interest. Foreign income is generally outside India's net, and the DTAA can prevent the same income being taxed twice.
Start with residential status
Your tax obligations flow from residential status, which depends on days spent in India. Get this right first — it decides what India can tax at all.
What you must report
- Indian salary or income for services rendered in India.
- Rent from Indian property (tenants must deduct TDS).
- Capital gains on Indian shares, funds and property.
- Interest from Indian bank accounts (NRO) and deposits.
Avoiding double taxation
If your country of residence has a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India, you can often claim relief or a lower TDS rate. TDS on property sales by NRIs is high by default, so plan ahead to avoid locking up cash.
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Reviewed by Abhishek Kumar. General information, not individual tax advice — rules change, so confirm current rules for your situation before acting.