NRIs 360

To avoid repetitions, the following is a list of general conditions applicable to all the areas. You are requested to keep these in mind while reading the rest of the text.

Type of Authorised Dealer (AD)
An AD Category-I is a bank specifically authorised by the RBI to deal in forex and foreign securities. For providing greater reach, the RBI grants licenses to certain entities by authorising them as AD Category-II or Category-III or Full-fledged Money Changers to undertake a range of non-trade current account transactions. All transactions undertaken by a Resident that do not alter his assets or liabilities, including contingent liabilities, outside India are current account transactions.

List of activities handled by different categories is available on www.fedai.org.in.

ROI, PIO and NRI

The Act uses these nomenclatures rather loosely. For clarity, we shall stick to the following nomenclature throughout —
1. ‘ROI’ is a person Resident Outside India. Obviously, such a person may be a rank foreigner, PIO or NRI.
2. ‘NRI’ is an Indian citizen (Indian Passport) who is not Resident.
3. ‘PIO’ is a foreign citizen (Foreign passport) of Indian origin.
4. Since most of the rules, regulations, provisions, etc., are common for both NRIs and PIOs, for the purpose of this book, NRI would include PIO, unless otherwise separately mentioned.

Currency

The definition includes debit cards, ATM cards or any other instrument by whatever name called that can be used to create a financial liability.

India launched the 1st phase of e-₹ on 1-12-22 in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Bhubaneswar. The 2nd phase is planned to be launched soon.

Know Your Customer (KYC) Compliance
Investments of all investors related with banks, Depository Participants for shares, units for MFs, life and general cover for insurers, etc., should be compliant with ‘KYC’ and Anti Money Laundering guidelines. It is also mandatory to possess a PAN in most cases. Each of these entities required separate KYC, causing a lot of inconvenience to the investors. Fortunately, a Centralised KYC (CKYC) was established w.e.f. 1.2.17 to allocate a number to new applicants and the current KYC-compliant investors. Unfortunately, CKYC has not yet seen daylight.
Clubbing of NRE & FCNR
NRE and FCNR accounts are forex in nature and all rules are common for both. Therefore, reference to FCNR is dropped in our discussions. However, take note of the fact that since FCNR is a term deposit, where withdrawals, though legal, are virtually impossible.
Close Relatives

ITA has defined ‘close relative’ in Sec. 56 (Refer Chapter Wealth & Gift Tax). FEMA refers to Sec. 6 of Companies Act. This results in confusion.

For FEMA, a person shall be deemed to be a ‘relative’ of another if, and only if —

a) They are members of Hindu undivided family.
b) They are husband and wife.
c) Relative is defined by Schedule-IA as follows —

Father	Father’s father	Father’s mother
Mother	Mother’s father	Mother’s mother
Son	Son’s wife	Son’s son
Son’s son’s wife	Son’s daughter	Son’s daughter’s husband
Daughter	Daughter’s husband	Daughter’s son
Daughter’s son’s wife	Daughter’s daughter	Daughter’s daughter’s husband
Brother	Brother’s wife	Sister
Sister’s husband

Note: Mother, son, daughter, brother and sister include step entities.
Prohibited Transactions
An ROI shall not make investment in India, in any form directly or through any entity, whether incorporated or not, which is engaged or proposed to be engaged in —
a) Chit fund or Nidhi Company.
b) Agriculture or plantation activities. These exclude Floriculture, Horticulture, Development of seeds, Animal husbandry, Pisciculture, Cultivation of vegetables, mushrooms, etc., under controlled conditions and Services related to agro and allied sectors and Plantations (other than tea plantations).
c) Housing and real estate business or construction of farmhouses. ‘Real estate business’ means dealing in land and immovable property with a view to earning profit therefrom and does not include development of townships, construction of residential commercial premises, roads or bridges, educational institutions, recreational facilities, city and regional level infrastructure. Further, earning of rent income on lease of the property and also investment in units of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) shall not be treated as real estate business.
d) Trading in Transferable Development Rights (TDRs). This is a certificate issued in respect of land acquired for public purpose by government for surrender of land by the owner without monetary compensation. These are transferable in part or whole.
e) Lottery, gambling, and betting in casinos or otherwise, including government, private or on-line lotteries.
f) Partnership firms and proprietorship concerns having investments as per FEMA are not allowed to be engaged in print media sector.
g) Retail Trading except single brand product retailing.
h) Atomic Energy.
i) Manufacturing of cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes, of tobacco or of tobacco substitutes.
j) The same restrictions are applicable to a Resident in respect of the amount borrowed, if any.
Prohibited Remittances
Prohibited remittances out of India by any person or entity are — a) Income from lottery winnings, racing, riding, or any other hobby.
b) For purchase of lottery tickets, banned or proscribed magazines, football pools, sweepstakes, etc.
c) Payment of commission on exports of equity investment in joint ventures or wholly owned subsidiaries abroad of Indian companies or on exports under Rupee State Credit Route except commission up to 10% of invoice value of tea and tobacco.
d) Dividend by any company to which the requirement of dividend balancing is applicable.
e) Payment related to ‘Call Back Services’ of telephones.
f) However, remittance of prize money or sponsorship of sports activity abroad by a person other than international, national or state level sports bodies, if the amount involved exceeds US$ 1 lakh requires permission from Ministry of Human Resources Development, Department of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Prohibited Foreign Contributions
Sec. 4 of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 (FCRA) prohibits acceptance of foreign contribution by any candidate for election, correspondent, columnist, cartoonist, editor, owner, printer or publisher of a registered newspaper, judges, government servants or employees of any corporation, members of any legislature, political party or its office bearers. Associations having a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious, and social programme should get themselves registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs, before receiving any foreign contributions. These should be received only through a designated bank branch as specified in the application for registration. Those who are not registered with the ministry may obtain prior permission of the Central Government. Indian citizens abroad do not fall in the purview of ‘foreign source’ and therefore do not attract the provisions of FCRA.
Transactions with Terrorist Countries
Capital account remittances directly or indirectly to countries identified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as ‘non-cooperative countries and territories and remittances directly or indirectly to those individuals and entities identified as posing significant risk of committing acts of terrorism, are banned. Further, AP (Dir) Circular 28 dt 25.1.17 prohibits an Indian Party from making direct investment in an overseas entity (set up or acquired abroad directly as JV / WOS or indirectly as step down subsidiary) located in such countries. The list of these is available on www.fatf-gafi.org.
Repatriation v Remittance
Repatriation is sending money abroad which was originally remitted from abroad. Such an amount received from abroad can be credited to NRE account and is repatriable. This amount along with income generated therefrom can be sent outside India without any restrictions. It is mandatory for all the receipts and dispatches to be made through normal banking channels. Funds on non-repatriable basis cannot be remitted abroad. The income from such funds or their maturity proceeds should be credited only to the NRO accounts. Depositor transferring funds from NRE to NRO loses repatriability.
Export & Import of Currency to or from Nepal and Bhutan

Release of forex is not admissible for travel to and transaction with Residents of Nepal and Bhutan. Investments in Nepal are permitted only in Indian Rupees. Investments in Bhutan are permitted in Indian Rupees as well as in freely convertible forex. All dues receivable on investments made in freely convertible currencies, as well as their sale or winding up proceeds are required to be repatriated to India in freely convertible currencies only. Use of International Credit Cards for payment in forex in Nepal and Bhutan is not permitted.
FEMA allows a) citizen of India, Nepal or Bhutan, resident in Nepal or Bhutan, a branch in Nepal or Bhutan of a company or corporation in India or Nepal or Bhutan and c) a branch in Nepal or Bhutan of a partnership firm or otherwise of citizens of India, Nepal or Bhutan are permitted to deal in INR freely. Such persons can invest in shares and convertible debentures of Indian companies under FDI Scheme on repatriable basis, subject to the condition that the amount of consideration for such investments shall be paid only by way of inward remittance in forex.
There is a limit of ₹₹25,000 on Indian currency notes of denominations of ₹200 and/or ₹500 for a person to take or send out of India to Nepal or Bhutan.

Repatriation Subject to Tax Compliance — Forms 15CA/CB
Sec. 195 mandates application of TDS (= withholding tax) from payments made or credit given to NRIs at the rates in force. RBI also requires that except in cases of specifically exempted personal remittances, no remittance shall be allowed to an NRI unless he has obtained a no objection certificate from the Department. Such a certificate is not required if the NRI submits a letter of undertaking (Form 15CA) along with an accountant’s certificate (Form 15CB) indicating that tax, if applicable has been paid on the amount contemplated to be repatriated or transferred to his NRE account.
To monitor and track transactions properly, Circular 04/2009 dt 29.6.09 has laid down the following revised procedure:
1. Remitter obtains certificate of Accountant (Form-15CB).
2. Remitter accesses www.tin-nsdl.com.
3. Takes printout of the undertaking (Form-15CA), fills the remittance details, signs it electronically and uploads it.
4. Takes printout of filled Form-15CA with system generated acknowledgement number.
5. Submits both the forms to the AD in duplicate.
6. If the remitter has obtained a certificate from AO for applying tax at lower or nil rate, this certificate is required to be submitted in place of Form-15CB.
g) AD remits the amount.
7. AD remits the amount.

In the case of NRIs who do not maintain NRO account and have no taxable income in India, ADs can allow remittances after obtaining a simple declaration from them

GSR 978(E) dt 16.12.15 states that Form 15CB is required only if such payment made to an NRI is chargeable to tax and it exceeds ₹5 lakh.

Note that Sec. 271J to levies a penalty on an accountant, merchant banker or registered valuer who furnish the incorrect information in a report or certificate. The amount of penalty shall be ₹10,000 for each such inaccurate report or certificate.

Capital Account Transactions
These are transactions altering assets or liabilities, including contingent liabilities, outside India of ROIs such as ---

a) Investment in securities issued by a body corporate or an entity in India and contribution to the capital of a firm or a proprietorship concern or an AOP in India.

b) Acquisition or transfer of immovable property in India.

c) Guarantee in favour of an ROI.

d) Import, export and holding of currency or currency notes.

e) Forex accounts in India.

f) Remittance outside India of capital assets in India.

Current Account Transactions
These include —

1. Payments due in connection with foreign trade, other current business, services, and short-term banking and credit facilities in the ordinary course of business.

2. Payments due as interest on loans and as net income from investments.

3. Remittances for living expenses of parents, spouse and children residing abroad, and

4. Expenses in connection with foreign travel, education and medical care of parents, spouse, and children.

One Person Company (OPC)

As an additional measure to directly benefit Start-ups and Innovators and incentivise the incorporation of OPCs by allowing OPCs to grow without any restrictions on paid up capital (even nil!) and turnover (even nil). These can convert into any other type of company at any time. Until now, the facility was available only for those living in India. Henceforth it has been made available even to NRIs. Understandably they must adhere to all the other requirements, mainly reducing the residency limit from 182 days to 120 days.

The concession is expected to benefit many Indians living in the Gulf, which has the highest number of NRIs. These Gulf expats will now be able to better plan their future when their overseas contract ends and must return to India.

Surely, all this now will attract the Indian diaspora to invest in India.

Tax liability in India is directly determined by residential status of an assessee under ITA and it depends on change in such status.

There are 4 statuses —

a) Resident and Ordinarily Resident (ROR),

b) Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident (RNOR), and

c) Non-Resident Indian (NRI).

d) Deemed Residents --- NRIs having Indian income over ₹15 lakh.

ROR
An individual is treated as an ROR for the FY (April to March) if he is in India for at least a period amounting in all to —

a) 182 days in the FY, OR

b) 365 days out of the preceding 4 FYs AND 60 days in the FY.

Most of those going for the first time may not be eligible to be an NRI because of the ‘b’ clause above which allows stay in India only for 60 days. This problem is bypassed by the following additional provisions —

a) Where an Indian citizen leaves India in any year for the purpose of employment, or as a member of a crew of an Indian merchant ship, the period of ‘60 days’ is to be replaced by ‘182 days’. Consequently, an Indian citizen going abroad for employment can stay in India up to 181 days for obtaining NRI status for that very year, even if he is in India for 365 days or more during the 4 preceding years.

b) When an Indian citizen or a person of Indian Origin (PIO) who is abroad comes to visit India, the period of ‘60 days’ is to be replaced by 182 days.

c) If a person is Resident in respect of any source of income, he will be treated as a Resident for each of his other sources of income.

Finally, an NRI is a person who is not a Resident.
Note that the condition-‘a’ above is applicable only to Indian Citizens and not PIOs whereas condition-‘b’ is applicable to both. None of them is applicable to rank foreigners. Also note that for those who return to India permanently (not on a visit), the period of ‘60 days’ is not replaced by 182 days. Consequently, anyone who has been in India for 365 days or more in the preceding 4 years and returns before February finds that his NRI status is lost right from the year of his return. Some smart individuals were found to be managing their stay in every country in such a manner that they were not Resident of any country thereby escaped paying tax in any country. To counter this atrocity, an Indian citizen having total Indian income exceeding ₹15 lakh during the FY, shall be deemed to be a Resident if he is not liable to tax anywhere else.
RNOR

To mitigate the shock of an NRI suddenly becoming a Resident, after returning to India permanently there is a transitional status of RNOR.

An RNOR is an individual who —

a) has been an NRI in 9 out of the 10 previous years preceding that year, or

b) has, during the 7 previous years preceding that year, been in India for a period of, or periods amounting in all to 729 days or less.

If a Resident person is not an RNOR he is an ROR.

Consequently, those returning after being NRIs for 5 continuous years or less, immediately become Residents. Those returning after 6 years may become RNORs for one year whereas others, including those after being NRIs, for say, 25 years may become RNOR for 2 years.

Amendments by FA20

To curb some malpractices, two major provisions have been introduced---

1. An Indian citizen (not a PIO) would be an RNOR if such an individual is not liable to tax in any other country or territory by reason of residence or domicile (or any other prescribed criteria of similar nature) in that country and his total income, other than income from foreign sources, exceeds ₹15 lakh in the relevant FY.

2. An Indian citizen or PIO having total income, other than income from foreign sources, exceeding ₹15 lakh would qualify as an RNOR if such an individual is present in India for 120 days or more but less than 182 days during the relevant FY. This amendment is applicable if and only if his ---

a) Presence in India is between 120 and 182 days in the FY AND

b) His Indian income is over ₹15 lakh. Indian income consists of his normal taxable income earned in India (NRE interest is taxable for RNOR but FCNR is not) and income derived from a business controlled in or a profession set up in India.

c) Where these two conditions are not simultaneously satisfied, the original definition of RNOR is applicable.

Miscellaneous

1. A person can be treated as a Resident of two or more countries at the same time.

2. India includes the territorial waters. Thus, a person in a yacht moored around the shores of India would be staying in India.

3. Indian ships operating beyond the Indian territorial waters are treated as not in India.

ROR:The total income of a person who is a Resident includes all income from whatever source derived which —

(a) is received or is deemed to be received in India in such year by or on behalf of such person; or

(b) accrues or arises or is deemed to accrue or arise to him in India during such year; or

(c) accrues or arises to him outside India during such year.

Many NRIs go in for cumulative deposits under the wrong impression that the tax becomes applicable in India only when the interest is received. Sec. 5(2) leaves no room for any doubt or ambiguity, that if an effective and conclusion can be drawn, on the issue of accrual of income to an NRI, the actual date of receipt is inconsequential — Smt. Trishla Jain v Income-tax Commissioner [ITR 43 to 48 of 1991].

RNOR:: Tax liability of an RNOR is the same as that of an NRI. In other words, his forex income is not taxable in India. There is only one exception. In the case of RNOR, income received and accrued outside India from a business controlled in or a profession set up in India continues to be taxable in India.

NRI: On the other hand, an NRI is not liable to tax on income accruing or arising outside India, even if it is remitted to India. As per Sec. 5, he is liable to pay tax only in respect of income received or deemed to be received in India or which accrues or arises or is deemed to accrue or arise in India by or on behalf of such person.

Income ‘received or deemed to be received’ in India has a strange and illogical aspect. You may be taken unawares when it bites. The receipt of income refers to the very first occasion when the recipient gets the money under his control. Once an amount is received as income abroad, any remittance or transmission of the amount to any other place, including India, does not result in receipt of income at other place. The position will remain the same if income is received outside India by an agent of the assessee who later remits it to India. The same income cannot be received by the same person twice, once outside India and once within India — Keshav Mills Ltd. v CIT (1953) 23ITR230 (SC). Many employees request their employers to remit their salaries directly to their accounts in India. If you are one such an employee, take immediate corrective action. Similarly, income which ‘accrues or arises or is deemed to accrue or arise in India’ has stranger effect. In the case of Trishla Jain v CIT (310ITR274), decided by the Punjab & Haryana High Court, some NRIs had purchased debentures issued by Oswal Agro Mills Ltd., an Indian company. Interest was payable on July 1 and December 31 of every year. The assessee declared the interest in his return for the FY 1987-88 in which he received the interest. The ITO took the view that the interest income was assessable on accrual basis in FY 1986-87. This was upheld by CIT (Appeals) and by the Tribunal. The High Court concluded that the actual date of receipt is inconsequential. Income of a Non-Resident must be treated on accrual basis, i.e., as and when such income arises (or is deemed to have arisen) to the assessee, in a specific, definite and crystallized manner.

Sec. 89A: Notified Overseas Retirement Fund

Some ex-NRIs receiving pension from abroad find that withdrawals from such funds are taxed on receipt basis in such foreign countries, and on accrual basis in India. To address the hardship, it has been provided that the income of a Resident in India from an account opened when he was an NRI in a country notified by central government for retirement benefits and the income from such account is taxed by such country only at the time of withdrawal or redemption.

This is quite complicated. It varies from Rule to Rule. The complication gets further confounded because the definition as per ITA is different from that of FEMA. Normally, Sec. 2(u) of FEMA defines a ‘person’ to include —

(a) an individual,

(b) an HUF,

(c) a company,

(d) a firm,

(e) an AOP or BOI, whether incorporated or not,

(f) every artificial juridical person, not falling within any of the preceding sub-clauses, and

(g) any agency, office or branch owned or controlled by such a person.

Sec. 2(v) defines a person Resident to mean —

1. A person residing in India for more than 182 days during the preceding FY but does not include:

(A) A person who has gone out of India or who stays outside India, in either case, for the following 3 purposes —

      (a) taking up employment outside India, or

      (b) carrying on outside India a business or vocation, or

      (c) (c) any other purpose, in such circumstances as would indicate his intention to stay outside India for an uncertain period.

(A person who has come to or stay in India, in either case, otherwise than the following 3 purposes:

      (a) taking up employment in India, or

      (b) carrying on a business or vocation in India, or

      (c) any purpose, in such circumstances as would indicate his intention to stay in India for an uncertain period.

2. Any person or body corporate registered or incorporated in India.

3. An office, branch or agency in India owned or controlled by a person Resident Outside India.

4. An office, branch or agency outside India owned or controlled by a Resident.

A person Resident Outside India (ROI) means a person who is not a Resident.

Comments
ITA deals with previous year and FEMA with preceding year. What is the effect?
The definition for ITA begins by stating — “An individual is treated as a Resident for the FY…”. In other words, one cannot be a Resident for part of the year and a Non-Resident for the rest of the year. That is not so for FEMA. The person becomes an NRI from day-1 when he leaves Indian shores and becomes a Resident from day-1 when he returns to India permanently.
Since for ITA the status gets crystalised only when the year is over, the status depends upon previous year. This is the reason why FEMA definition depends upon preceding year. This is also the reason why ITA requires stay in India of ‘182 days or more’ whereas FEMA requires ‘more than 182 days’!
Take the case of a crew member of a foreign ship or airline who, because of requirements of his job is regularly forced to stay in hotels in India for more than 182 days every year. Can he be treated as a Resident? Such a person is not residing in India but is only present in India and staying in a hotel. Therefore, he continues to be an ROI.
Person of Indian Origin (PIO)

FEMA defines a PIO to mean —

A citizen of any country other than Bangladesh or Pakistan, if —

(a) He at any time held an Indian passport, or

(b) He or either of his parents or any of his grandparents was a citizen of India by virtue of Constitution of India or Citizenship Act, 1955.

(c) The person is a spouse of an Indian citizen or of a person referred to in (a) or (b) above.

PIO includes an ‘Overseas Citizen of India’ cardholder. Note that the authorities are slowly and steadily moving towards making concessions unavailable to PIO unless he holds an OCI card.

The definition of PIO differs from Rule to Rule. Provisions related with ‘Deposits’ and ‘Remittance of Assets’ exclude citizens (or an incorporated entity) of Bangladesh or Pakistan. This exclusion is expanded to citizens of Sri Lanka for ‘Investment in a Firm or Proprietary Concern in India’ or ‘Purchase shares or convertible debentures or preference shares of an Indian company’. Further citizens of Afghanistan, China, Iran, Nepal or Bhutan are excluded for Rule related with ‘Acquisition and Transfer of Immovable Property in India’.

For ITA, Explanation to Sec. 115C states that a person shall be deemed to be of Indian origin if he, or either of his parents or any of his grandparents, was born in undivided India.

What if such a person was born in divided India? Well, any person born in any place which was part of undivided India can be treated as born in undivided India even if the person was born after 15.7.47.

Sec. 2(25A) proclaims that India includes, for the purpose of Residentship, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Goa, Daman and Diu, and Pondicherry in respect of any period. Even when these parts were not a part of India, still, by a fiction of law, these territories will be deemed to have been part of India and the question of residence will have to be decided based on this fiction.

FEMA depends upon the Constitution of India or Citizenship Act. This may result in the same person being treated as PIO for ITA and not for FEMA and vice versa.

These small differences result in large confusions.

Income Tax Rates

FA15 abolished Wealth Tax. The reason presented was that the cost of collection is not worth the effort. Wealth tax was levied only on ‘unproductive assets’ and therefore investments in shares, debentures, MFs, Banks, etc., were exempt from wealth tax. Moreover, wealth tax was charged @1% of the amount by which the net wealth exceeded ₹30 lakh.

Yes, wealth tax is abolished but the Income Tax Return Form has been suitably modified to capture the information relating to the relevant assets. Consequently, we will have to give these details.

Gift has Become Income

FA98 deleted Gift Tax Act which charged gift tax to the donor. However, FA04 brought it back through the back door by amending Sec. 56 of Income Tax Act (ITA) and treated it as income of the donee.

Accordingly, if an individual or an HUF receives from any person any sum of money and/or some specified assets without any or with some inadequate consideration, the aggregate value of which exceeds ₹50,000, the whole of such amount will be treated as Income from Other Sources of the donee. If it does not exceed ₹50,000, it will not be treated as income.

The specified assets are — 1. Cash 2. Land and building. 3. Shares and securities. 4. Jewellery and bullion. 5. Archaeological collections. 6. Drawings, paintings, sculptures or any work of art.

Movable property and immovable property will be considered at its Fair Market Value (FMV) and stamp duty value respectively. If it is received with inadequate consideration, the difference between its FMV or stamp duty and the inadequate consideration shall be taxed as the income, if it exceeds ₹50,000.

Gifts received from following sources are tax exempt —

a) any relative. or

b) on the occasion of the marriage of the individual.

c) under a Will or by way of inheritance.

d) in contemplation of death of the payer.

e) from any local authority.

f) from any fund or foundation or university or other educational institution or hospital or other medical institution or any trust or institution referred to in Sec. 10(23).

g) from any charitable trust or institution registered u/s 12A or 12AA.

h) from an individual by a trust created or established solely for the benefit of relative of the individual.

For ITA ‘relative’ means (differs from FEMA definition for which refer Chapter General Provisions) —

(i) spouse .

(ii) brother or sister.

(iii) brother or sister of spouse.

(iv) brother or sister of either parents .

(v) any lineal ascendant or descendant .

(vi) any lineal ascendant or descendant of the spouse . and

(vii) spouse of the persons referred in clauses (ii) to (vi).

Definition of relative is a paradox. Suppose I am your mother’s brother. In that case, I am your relative since I am your mother’s brother, but you are not my relative since you are my sister’s daughter. Strange!

SCRA and Companies Act define ‘relative’ separately not consistent either with each other or with ITA. Stranger!!

FA17 widened the scope of taxability to gifts to companies, firms, etc. However, this provision will not apply to money or property received from an individual by a trust created or established solely for the benefit of a relative of the individual.

FA19(2) plugged a loophole arising from the argument that gifts made by Residents to NRIs are non-taxable in India as the income does not accrue or arise in India. The recent FA23 extended the provision to RNORs also.

If income arising from any sum of money paid, or any property situated in India transferred, on or after 5.7.19 by a Resident to an NRI, it shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India. In a treaty situation, the relevant article of applicable DTAA shall continue to apply for such gifts as well.

Clubbing Provision

Yes, the GTA stands omitted but not the clubbing provisions which require income and wealth from assets transferred directly or indirectly without adequate consideration to minor children, the spouse (otherwise than in connection with an agreement to live apart), or daughter-in-law will continue to be deemed income and wealth of the transferor. Same is the case when assets are held by a person or an AOP for benefit of the assessee, the spouse, daughter-in-law, and minor children.

Gifts to a daughter-in-law are clubbed but not gifts to a son-in-law. Male chauvinistic indeed!

The entire income of a minor is to be included in the income of that parent whose total income (excluding the income includible) is higher. Where the marriage of the parents does not subsist, income of the minor will be included in the income of that parent who maintains the minor child. Once the income is included in the hands of one of the parents based on these criteria, it shall continue to be included, even if these change, unless the AO is satisfied that it is necessary to do so. Where the income of an individual includes the income of his minor children, an exemption up to ₹1,500 in respect of each minor child can be claimed by the individual u/s 10(32). Small mercy!

Where a minor is admitted to the benefits of a partnership firm, the value of the interest of such minor in the firm shall be included in the net income of the parent of the minor.

A minor earning income by way of manual work or an activity involving application of his skill, talent or specialised knowledge and experience, is directly assessed in the hands of the child. Unfortunately, the income arising from all his investments suffer clubbing. More unfortunately, the provision related with the income of a physically or mentally handicapped minor child being directly assessed in the hands of the child is not applicable to NRIs.

Income on Income

The main advantage of gifts accrues from the fact that in the case of spouse or daughter-in-law, income on income is not clubbed. If the spouse has no other income, no tax is payable unless the interest on interest crosses the minimum tax threshold of ₹2.50 lakh. In other words, instead of investing in your own name it is better to give a gift, pay tax on the income arising from the original corpus gifted and keep on building a corpus for your spouse or daughter-in-law. Yes, it is cumbersome to keep track of what is clubbable and what is not, but it is certainly worth the effort.

Some Useful Tips

1. NRIs cannot open a PPF account or opt for its post-maturity continuation. However, contributions to PPF standing in the name of spouse or minor children attract clubbing. The interest is tax-free, whether clubbed or otherwise. If the spouse or minor child is a Resident, surely the NRI can contribute to their PPF accounts and claim deduction u/s 80C.

2. Savings made by the wife out of household expenses given by her husband is a separate property of the wife. Any income arising therefrom is not aggregated with the income of the husband.

3. Give gifts to close Resident relatives to take advantage of higher interest obtainable from schemes not available to NRIs.

4. Before the GTA was abolished, aggregate gift over ₹30,000 per FY was taxable @30% and therefore, it was a wise strategy to give a gift up to ₹30,000 per year and build up a corpus for the children and spouse. Now that you can give need-based gifts without any limit any time, there is no need to conduct this exercise each year.

Do Not Purchase House in the name of Spouse

Purchasing a house in the name of the spouse by applying your own funds means that you are using the spouse as a name-lender. This is illegal. It can be made legal by gifting the money to the spouse to enable the spouse to purchase the property. An alternative is to gift your house to the spouse, but this attracts stamp duty and registration charges. It is also necessary for you to follow the procedure for gifting. The utility, if any, is lost because of the clubbing provisions.

Moreover, if you take a housing loan in your name, you would not be entitled to claim any tax benefits associated with the loan, because the house belongs to the spouse. Further, once you have gifted any repatriable asset, whether cash or the house, you have lost the right to repatriate it.

In short, do not buy a house property (or any other asset) in the name of the spouse. The tax concessions on housing loan can be availed only by the person who owns the house.

Power of Attorney (PoA)

The same tenet holds for buying housing properties through PoA. This system is quite prevalent in Delhi and Haryana and is slowly percolating to other parts of India. It has the advantage of avoiding the hefty stamp duty. We do not approve this route because — EMIs paid by a PoA holder are on behalf of the original allottee and therefore, the PoA holder cannot claim deduction of interest u/s 24 and capital repayment u/s 80C. The original allottee cannot claim these benefits because he has not incurred the costs.

Gift Procedure

To safeguard against any hassles, it is advisable to follow proper gift procedure. All that is required is an offer by the donor and acceptance thereof by the donee in black and white. The donee should request the donor for a gift and then the donor should remit the amount to the donee. Alternatively, the donor can offer the gift. In either case, it is necessary for the donee to accept the gift in writing (may be through a thank you note). Only then it would be considered as a gift in India. It is preferable to mention the relationship between the donor and the donee. It is better to prepare a gift deed and get it registered (with related stamp duty) but such a precaution is normally needed in the case of high-value gifts, particularly those of real estate.

Note that the Department has a right to inquire into the genuineness of the gift to ensure that it is not a payment made for any hawala or smuggling transaction or services rendered.

RBI does not involve itself directly in routine operations and has passed on its own responsibility to monitor and control to the ADs and kept the regulatory authority with itself.

Opening of accounts by individuals, entities of Pakistan nationality or ownership and entities of Bangladesh ownership requires prior RBI approval. All such requests may be referred to the Chief General Manager-in-Charge, Foreign Exchange Department, Foreign Investment Division, Reserve Bank of India, Central Office, Mumbai 400 001. An Individual of Bangladesh nationality can open an NRO account subject to the individual holding a valid visa and valid residential permit issued by Foreigner Registration Office or Foreigner Regional Registration Office.

Notification FEMA 5(R)(1)/2018-RB dt 9.11.18 allows a citizen of Bangladesh or Pakistan belonging to minority communities namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who is Residing in India and has been granted a Long-Term Visa (LTV) is permitted to open with only an AD only one NRO Account. This account shall be converted to a resident account once the person becomes a citizen of India.

Opening Accounts

Documents required to open any new account are Passport (Copy of Name, Address and Photo pages along with dates of issue and expiry page). If it is an Indian passport, copy of Visa and resident permit is also necessary. In case the place of birth is outside India, OCI card is required, irrespective of the nature of the passport along with as many as the following self-attested documents, either original or its notarised copy

1. Electricity/Landline telephone bill, not over 3 months old.

2. Latest 3 months transaction of passbook with a cancelled cheque.

3. Banker’s verification, only from a scheduled commercial Indian bank required on bank letterhead with bank employee name, signature, employee code and designation.

4. Driving licence with name, address and photo pages along with issue and expiry date pages.

5. In case of Merchant Navy NRI persons, Mariner’s declaration, or certified copy of CDC (Continuous Discharge Certificate) is to be submitted.

In rare cases where there is a difficulty in submitting such details, a person can open a Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account (BSBDA) which is available at all the scheduled commercial banks, including foreign banks having branches in India. It does not have a mandatory minimum balance. There is no cap on number of deposits, but withdrawals are capped at four a month, including withdrawals through ATMs. A BSBDA holder is not eligible to open any other savings account. Anyone desiring opening such an account will do well to carefully check the rate (large amounts attract higher rates) and its structure which differs from bank to bank.

ADs can convert Indian Rupees into the designated forex at the clean TT selling rate and convert forex at clean TT buying rates ruling on the date.

Interest Rates

Banks are free to determine their interest rates on both savings and term deposits under NRE and NRO accounts but in no case, such rates should be higher than those on comparable domestic rupee deposits. Banks can offer interest rates without any ceiling on NRE deposits with maturity of 3 years and above. Anyone desiring opening an account will do well to carefully check the rate and structure of interest of different banks.

Interest is paid at quarterly or longer rests. In the case of SB, interest is calculated on daily basis and credited regularly whether the account is operative or not.

On deposits repayable in less than 3 months or where the terminal quarter is incomplete, interest is paid proportionately for the actual number of days reckoning the year at 365 days. Some banks reckon the year at 366 days in a leap year. While banks are free to adopt their methodology, they should intimate this to their prospects.

If an FD matures and the amount is left unclaimed, it attracts savings bank rate of interest.

Conversion of NRE into FCNR(B) and vice versa before maturity would be subject to the penal provisions. In the case of conversion of NRE or FCNR term deposits into RFC account, there is no penalty. If such a deposit has not run for a minimum of 1 year, the bank may, at its discretion, pay interest at their SB rate. A bank should allow premature withdrawal of a term deposit. It can determine its own penal interest. Interest on the deposit for the period that it has remained with the bank will be paid at the rate applicable to that period. No interest is payable where premature withdrawal takes place before completion of the minimum period prescribed. However, the bank, at its discretion, may disallow premature withdrawal of large deposits held by entities other than individuals and HUFs.

You are requested to check the latest position related with interest rates since these get changed very often.

Joint Accounts

Notification FEMA 5(R)/2016-RB dt 1.4.16 allows NRIs to have Resident close relative/s on ‘former or survivor’ basis though nomination facility is available. Close relatives include parents, siblings, spouse of the NRI, siblings’ spouse, children, grandparents, and spouses of grandchildren. Such a joint holder shall operate the account as if the relative is a PoA holder during the lifetime of the NRI.Such a Resident joint or PoA/LoA holder—

(a) Can make all local payments in rupees including payments for eligible investments through NRO accounts.

(b) Can effect remittance outside India through normal banking channels, funds out of the balances in NRE and FCNR accounts to the NRI’s account abroad provided specific powers for the purpose have been given to that effect, and

(c) Shall not make payment by way of gift to a Resident or transfer funds from one NRE/NRO account to another account of a different person.

An easier structure in terms of a Letter of Authority (LoA) of banks can be used for allowing the LoA holder to withdraw funds for local payments. Similarly, a Resident can include NRI close relative as joint holder in his resident bank accounts including EEFC/RFC but only on ‘former or survivor’ basis.

Similarly, a Resident can include NRI close relative as joint holder in his resident bank accounts including EEFC/RFC but only on ‘former or survivor’ basis.

At the request of all the joint account holders, the bank may, at its discretion, allow deletion of existing or add the name of another person as a joint holder. In no case the term and the aggregate amount of the deposit should undergo any change. This should not be construed as premature withdrawal of the term deposit.

On the other hand, a Resident can have a joint account with a close relative NRI on either or survivor basis with the Resident being the first holder. The conditions are ---

a) The NRI must sign a declaration and submit it to the bank stating that the funds in the joint account will not be used in violation of FEMA guidelines.

b) The NRI cannot deposit any money (in form of cash, cheque or remittances) in the joint account.

c) The money in the account cannot be transferred outside India or given as a gift or transferred to the NRE/NRO account of the NRI.

d) The joint account can be used by the resident account holder to carry out payments only in India.

Change in Residential Status

When an account holder becomes a Resident, deposits may be allowed to continue till maturity at the contracted rate of interest, if so desired by him. However, for all other purposes such deposits shall be treated as Resident deposits from the date of return of the accountholder to India. ADs should convert the FCNR deposits on maturity into resident rupee deposit accounts or RFC account (if the depositor is eligible), at the option of the accountholder and interest on the new deposit shall be applicable at the then existing rates.

Deceased Depositor

In the case of current account of a deceased individual depositor or sole proprietorship concern, interest should be paid from the date of death of the depositor, till the date of payment to the claimant at interest rate applicable to SB as on the date of payment.

In the case of NRE, when the claimants are Residents, the deposit on maturity should be treated as a domestic rupee deposit and interest should be paid for the subsequent period at a rate applicable to a domestic deposit of similar maturity.

In the case of a term deposit standing in the name of (i) a deceased individual depositor, or (ii) two or more joint depositors, where one of the depositors has died, interest should be paid —

(a) At the contracted rate on the maturity of the deposit.

(b) If the deposit is claimed before maturity, interest should be paid at the applicable rate for the period elapsed prevailing on the date of placement of the deposit, without charging penalty.

(c) In the case of death after maturity, interest should be paid at RFC SB rate operative on the date of maturity from the date of maturity till the date of payment.

(d) If on request, the bank agrees to split the amount of term deposit and issues two or more receipts, no penalty should be levied provided the period and aggregate amount of the deposit do not undergo any change.

(e) If the claimant is a Resident, the maturity proceeds may be converted into Indian rupees on the date of maturity and interest be paid for the subsequent period at the rate applicable to a deposit of similar maturity under the domestic deposit scheme.

(f) In the case of NRO, the amount due or payable to an ROI nominee shall be credited to his NRO account. If the nominee is a Resident, it shall be credited to his resident account.

(g) A Resident nominee can remit funds outside India for meeting the liabilities abroad of the deceased account holder.

Tax on Interest

The interest on NRE is tax-free u/s 10(4ii) of ITA. Schedule-II (10) of the FEMR states, “When an account holder becomes a person Resident, deposits may be allowed to continue till maturity at the contracted rate of interest, if so desired by him. However, such deposits shall be treated as resident deposits from the date of return of the account holder to India.”

Sec. 10(15fa) of ITA exempts interest “by a scheduled bank to a non-resident or to a person who is Not Ordinarily Resident within the meaning of Sec. 6(6) on deposits in forex . . . .” FCNR and RFC are the two accounts covered by this Section.

Consequently, from the date of returning to India permanently, both NRE and FCNR would be treated as resident accounts, even if they are not redesignated as such. These can run up to their maturity but the interest on NRE becomes taxable from the date of the return whereas the FCNR interest is tax-free if the holder remains an RNOR. Alternatively, both NRE and FCNR can be converted into RFC without any penalty. RFC interest is taxable in the hands of RNOR.

NRO and RFC interest suffers TDS @31.2%, without any threshold, even though interest on RFC is tax-free for RNORs and not for Residents and even though interest on Savings Bank account is deductible u/s 80TTA (Refer Chapter Income Tax).

This is an account where the amount lying in the account is fully repatriable since the credits to this account consist of forex converted into INR sent from abroad or the Indian income which is repatriable.

The account can be opened only by the NRI himself. The AD should obtain an undertaking from the NRI that he would intimate the AD when he becomes a Resident.

On fixed deposits, the rate of interest should not be higher than the one applicable to resident deposits of comparable maturity. The term of FD should be from one to three years. However, banks are liability point of view.

Renewal of Overdue Deposits

All aspects concerning renewal of overdue deposits may be decided by individual banks subject to the customers being notified of the terms and conditions of renewal including interest rates, at the time of acceptance of deposit. The policy should be non-discretionary and non-discriminatory.

Permitted Credits

(a) Proceeds of remittances to India in any permitted currency.

(b) Proceeds of personal cheques drawn by the account holder on his foreign currency account and of traveller’s cheques, bank drafts payable in any permitted currency including instruments expressed in Indian rupees for which reimbursement will be received in foreign currency, deposited by the account holder in person during his temporary visit to India.

(c) Proceeds of foreign currency/ bank notes tendered by account holder during his temporary visit to India, provided (i) the amount was declared on a Currency Declaration Form (CDF), where applicable, and (ii) the notes are tendered to the authorised dealer in person by the account holder himself and the AD is satisfied that account holder is a person Resident Outside India.

(d) Transfers from other NRE/ FCNR (B) accounts.

(e) Interest accruing on the funds held in the account.

(f) Current income in India due to the account holder, subject to payment of applicable taxes in India.

(g) Maturity or sale proceeds of any permissible investment in India which was originally made by debit to the account holder's NRE/ FCNR (B) account or out of remittances received from outside India through banking channels.

(h) Refund of share/ debenture subscriptions to new issues of Indian companies or portion thereof if the amount of subscription was paid from the account holder’s NRE/ FCNR (B) account or by remittance from outside India through banking channels.

(i) Refund of application and earnest money, purchase consideration made by any house building agencies, non-allotment of flat/ plot/ cancellation of bookings / deals for purchase of residential or commercial property together with interest, (net of income tax payable thereon), provided the original payment was made from NRE/ FCNR(B) account of the account holder or remittance from outside India through banking channels.

(j) Any other credit if covered under general or special permission granted by the RBI.

Permitted Debits

(a) Local disbursements.

(b) Remittances outside India.

(c) Transfer to NRE/ FCNR (B) accounts of the account holder or any other person eligible to maintain such account.

(d) Investment in shares/ securities/ commercial paper of an Indian company or for purchase of immovable property in India provided such investment/ purchase is covered by the regulations made, or the general/ special permission granted by the RBI.

(e) Any other transaction if covered under general or special permission granted by the RBI.

ADs may at their discretion allow for a period of not more than two weeks, overdrawing in NRE SB accounts, up to a limit of ₹50,000 subject to the condition that such overdrawing together with the interest payable thereon are cleared within two weeks by inward remittances through normal banking channels or by transfer of funds from other NRE/FCNR accounts in India.

FCNR(A) scheme was introduced in 1975, where the forex risk was borne by the government of India. It was withdrawn in August 1994 in view of its quasi-fiscal costs to the government. The FCNR(B) was introduced w.e.f. 15.5.93.

AP (DIR) Circular 36 dt 19.10.11 has permitted opening of FCNR(B) deposits in any permitted forex which is freely convertible. This is indeed a good move since earlier, NRIs/PIOs from other countries had to convert their remittances into one of the six permissible currencies while depositing and repatriating. This incurred exchange/swap losses and bank charges.

The interest rate on FCNR deposits is very volatile and differs from bank to bank and depends upon fixed or floating rates. You will do well to check this as and when you need the information. The interest on the deposits should be paid based on 360 days to a year and be calculated and paid at intervals of 180 days each and thereafter for the remaining actual number of days. The depositor has the option to receive the interest at maturity with compounding effect and to get the interest credited to any NRI-related accounts, existing or to be opened afresh.

Overdue FCNR Deposits

Banks have discretion to renew an overdue deposit, or a portion thereof, provided the overdue period from the date of maturity till the date of renewal (both days inclusive) does not exceed 14 days. The interest rate on renewal should be the appropriate rate for the period of renewal as prevailing on the date of maturity or when the depositor seeks renewal, whichever is lower. If the overdue period exceeds 14 days, banks may fix their own interest rate for the overdue period. However, if the deposit is withdrawn before completion of minimum stipulated period after renewal, banks are free to withdraw the overdue interest paid.

Other Conditions

The terms and conditions as applicable to NRE deposits in respect of joint holdings, opening accounts during temporary visit, operation by PoA/LoA, debits/credits, loans, overdrafts, change of Residential status, repatriation of funds, transfer of EEFC/RFC balances, etc., shall apply mutatis mutandis to FCNR. As per AP (DIR) Circular 57 dt 18.5.07, remittance of the maturity proceeds of FCNR deposits to third parties outside India is permitted if the transaction is specifically authorised by the account holder and the AD is satisfied about its bona fides.

Inland Movement of Funds

Any inland movement of funds for opening these accounts as well as for repatriation outside India will be free of inland exchange or commission. RBI has now allowed remittance of the maturity proceeds of FCNR to third parties outside India, provided the transaction is specifically authorised by the account holder and the AD is satisfied about its bona fides.

Withdrawal from FCNR

Such withdrawal faces 2 hurdles — 1. It is an FD from which cash pay-outs are impossible. 2. The branches do not have any forex and will direct you to its HO. You may be able to withdraw cash up to a limited amount from your NRE account with the branch though you may have to collect the forex from their HO. However, traveller’s cheques can be obtained without any limit.

Taxability of Interest in the Host Country

The interest on NRE and FCNR is free from Indian taxes in the hands of NRI. However, you will have to check on the taxability of this income in your host country. Refer ‘FATCA and CRS’ in Chapter DTAA.

The amount in this account is ‘non-repatriable’. It comes into existence when the individual becomes an NRI (For FEMA) by redesignating his the then existing account as NRO. An NRI can also open this account to enable him deal with non-repatriable transactions. In practice, thankfully, it is repatriable — well, almost. Interest is remittable subject to tax compliance and the corpus is also remittable up to US$ 1 million per FY under some conditions. Refer Chapter Forex Remittances, NRIs.

It is mandatory for a Resident to inform his bank within a reasonable time when he becomes an NRI as per FEMA. What is reasonable is not defined. In practice, the number of persons who fail to inform their banks is so large that the default is mostly overlooked, unless the authorities suspect foul play. However, the penalty for default is very heavy --- ₹5,000 per day. On receipt of the information from the NRI, the bank will redesignate his accounts as NRO. On the other hand, when an NRI becomes a Resident, his NRO account should be redesignated as resident account. Where the account holder is only on a temporary visit to India, the account can continue as NRO.

NRO can also be opened and maintained with ADs or some designated post offices in India as current, savings, RDs or FDs.

The minimum tenure of domestic and NRO term deposits, irrespective of its quantum, is 7 days. Since the NRO accounts are designated in Indian rupees, the exchange risk on such deposits is borne by the depositors themselves.

Interest rates on NRO are deregulated. At present it is between 2.5% to 3.5% p.a.. Senior citizens get 0.5% extra. Scheduled commercial banks have been advised to calculate interest on savings bank accounts on a daily product basis. Interest should be paid at quarterly or longer rests. Interest on savings bank accounts should be credited on regular basis whether the account is operative or not.

Permissible Credits

Remittances received in any permitted currency from outside India through banking channels or any permitted currency tendered by the accountholder during his temporary visit to India or transfers from rupee accounts of non-resident banks.

Legitimate dues in India such as rent, dividend, pension, interest, sale proceeds of assets including immovable property acquired out of rupee/forex funds or by way of legacy/ inheritance, etc.

Transfers from other NRO accounts Any amount received by the account holder in accordance with the rules or regulations.

Freely convertible forex tendered by the account holder during his temporary visit to India or transfers from rupee accounts of non-resident banks. Forex exceeding US$ 5,000 or its equivalent in form of cash should be supported by Currency Declaration Form(CDF). Rupee funds should be supported by Encashment Certificate if they represent funds brought from outside India.

Permissible Debits

• All local payments in rupees including those for permissible investments.

• Remittance outside India of current income like rent, dividend, pension, interest, etc., net of taxes.

• Transfers to other NRO accounts.

• Settlement of charges on International Credit Cards issued by AD banks in India to NRIs or PIOs, subject to the limits for repatriation of balances.

• Remittance up to US$ 1 million per FY.

• Loans to non-resident account holders and to third parties in Rupees by Authorized Dealer/bank against the security of FDs subject to certain terms and conditions.

Rank Foreigner Tourists

Even a foreign national of non-Indian origin visiting India can open NRO with funds remitted from outside or by sale of forex brought by him when he is in India on holidays or short tour. The account can be freely operated by the account holder or the joint holder for bona fide transactions. At the time of his departure, the amount can be converted into forex provided the account has been maintained for a period not exceeding 6 months and the account has not been credited with any local funds, other than interest accrued thereon. For accounts maintained beyond this period, application for repatriation should be made on plain paper to the related RBI Regional Office.

Conversion of $s into ₹s

As per AP (DIR) Circular 14 dt 17.10.07, requests for payment in cash by ROIs may be acceded to the extent of US$ 3,000 or its equivalent. For higher amounts, the money changers should make payments through account payee cheques or demand drafts.

Special Non-Resident Rupee Account (SNRR)

Any person resident outside India, having a business interest in India, may open this account for bona fide transactions in rupees. The business interest, apart from generic business interest, shall include the following INR transactions--- i) Investments made in India ii) Import and export of goods and services iii) Trade credit transactions and lending under External Commercial Borrowings framework and iv) Business related transactions like administrative expenses, sale of scrap, government incentives, etc., outside GIFT city.

Tenure of the account should be same as the tenure of the contract, period of operation, business of the account holder and in no case should exceed seven years. This rule is not applicable to the transactions i-iv enumerated above, and of course those approval by RBI.

The SNRR account shall not bear any interest. The balances shall be eligible for repatriation without any limit. Transfers from any NRO account to the SNRR account are prohibited. SNRR may be designated as Resident rupee account on the account holder becoming a Resident. RBI approval shall be obtained in rare cases requiring renewal.

Any person who was an NRI returning only from External Group of countries and now has become a Resident is eligible to open a RFC account, mainly for transferring his NRE and FCNR balances and the proceeds of assets held outside India to this account. The forex received as (i) pension, superannuation or other monetary benefits from the employer outside India; (ii) received or acquired as gift or inheritance from a person Resident Outside India (iii) sale of his assets abroad or (iv) received as the proceeds of life insurance policy, claims, maturity, surrender values settled in forex from an insurance company may also be credited to this account.

The main aspect is that the funds in RFC account are free from all restrictions regarding utilisation of forex balances including any restriction on investment outside India.

RFC accounts can be maintained in the form of current or savings or term deposit accounts, where the account holder is an individual and in the form of current or term deposits in all other cases. No loans or overdrafts will be permitted in these accounts. If the account holder again becomes an NRI he can transfer the funds from his RFC to NRE. Such accounts can be held jointly with resident relative as joint holder on ‘former or survivor’ basis. However, such a relative cannot operate the account during the lifetime of the account holder.

The interest is tax-free if you hold RNOR status. However, the interest rate unfortunately is quite low, varies between 2.5% and 3.5% depending upon the term and the bank and moreover, it is subject to TDS even when you are an RNOR.

Miscellaneous
Conversion of $s into ₹s

As per AP (DIR) Circular 14 dt 17.10.07, requests for payment in cash by ROIs may be acceded to the extent of US$ 3,000 or its equivalent. For higher amounts, the money changers should make payments through account payee cheques or demand drafts.

Duplicate Demand Draft

Issue of duplicate demand draft can be effected up to ₹5,000 even before obtaining non-payment advice from the drawee branch based on adequate indemnity. The drawee office may merely be cautioned in this regard. If the draft is for more than ₹5,000, non-payment certificate should be called for from drawee office by telex/ telegraph at applicant’s cost and other formalities completed

A duplicate demand draft should be issued within a fortnight from the receipt of such request. For delay in issuing duplicate draft beyond the stipulated period, banks should pay interest at the rate applicable for fixed deposit of corresponding maturity.

Forex Rupee Options

In terms of AP (DIR) Circular 108 dt 21.6.03 as a part of developing the derivative market in India and adding to the spectrum of hedge products available to Residents and NRIs for hedging currency exposures, forex rupee options are permitted subject to certain conditions.

Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS)

Master Circular 1/2012-13 dt 2.7.12 deals with MTSS which is a quick and easy way of transferring personal remittances from abroad to beneficiaries in India. Only inward (and not outward) personal remittances into India by individuals to individuals towards family maintenance and remittances favouring foreign tourists visiting India are permissible. Any remittances related with trade, purchase of property, investments or credit to NRE accounts shall not be made through this arrangement. MTSS envisages a tie-up between reputed money transfer companies abroad and agents in India who would disburse the funds to the beneficiaries in India at ongoing exchange rates.

A cap of US$ 2,500 exists on individual remittances under the scheme. Amounts up to ₹50,000 may be paid in cash to a beneficiary in India. Any amount over this limit shall be paid through an account payee cheque, demand draft, payment order, etc.

To avoid any inconvenience to foreign tourists, ADs may issue pre-paid instruments to them in terms of the instructions issued by Department of Payments and Settlement System, RBI, in exchange of foreign exchange tendered. Passport may be treated as a valid document for issuance of these instruments.

Definition: Capital Asset

The term capital asset does not include personal effects such as wearing apparel, furniture, air conditioners, refrigerators, etc., held for personal use by the assessee. Even cars, scooters, cycles, motorcycles owned and used by the assessee are personal effects. Therefore, the sale of personal effects does not attract any capital gains tax.

We have a suggestion. A car used for personal purpose (depreciation is not charged), is not a capital asset. When it is sold, no capital gains arise. The profit or loss cannot be brought to income tax. It is obvious that all the returning NRIs will do well by bringing their cars with them and sell these in due course.

Agriculture

Rural agricultural land is not a capital asset. Consequently, its sale would not attract provisions of capital gains tax. Looking at it from another angle, sale of all lands, agricultural or not, located in urban areas and non-agricultural land located in rural areas would attract the tax.

However, gains arising out of compulsory acquisition of such an agricultural land irrespective of its location, are exempt u/s 10(37).

Transactions not Regarded as Transfer

Following are some of the transactions related with NRIs which are not considered as transfer and therefore, are tax neutral. When the asset is eventually sold or transferred, the cost and period of holding shall be those for which the asset was held by the previous holder/s. If this date is prior to 1-4-01, the FMV as on 1-4-01 can be optionally taken as the cost of acquisition.

1. Sec. 47(iii): Assets transferred under a gift or a Will or an irrevocable trust.

2. Sec. 47(vii): Mergers and amalgamations are not treated as transfer in the case of shares of companies, different schemes of MF as well as different options within the same scheme of MF.

3. Sec. 47(viia): Transfer of capital asset being bonds or GDR [referred to in section 115AC(1)] or Sec. 47(viiaa) rupee denominated bond of an Indian company issued outside India by one non-resident to another non-resident.

4. Sec. 47(viiab): Transfer of bonds or GDRs as referred to in Sec. Sec. 115AC(1) or Rupee Denominated Bond of Indian Co. or Derivative or any other specified security by a non-resident on a recognized stock exchange located in any IFSC and where the consideration is paid in foreign currency.

5. Sec. 47(viib): Gains arising from any transfer of a capital asset, being a Government security carrying a periodic payment of interest, made outside Indian (through an intermediary dealing in settlement of securities) by a non-resident to another non-resident (Subject to certain conditions).

6. Sec. 47(viic): Rupee denominated Sovereign Gold bonds can be issued by Indian corporates outside India. Tax on capital gains has to be paid if these bonds are sold or transferred before their redemption but not on their redemption. Any transfer of such bonds by an NRI to another NRI.

7. Sec. 47(ix): Transfer of any work of art, archaeological, scientific or art collection, etc., to the government or a university or the National Museum, National Art Gallery, etc.

8. Sec. 47(x): Conversion of debentures, debenture stock, deposit certificates, preference shares of a company into its shares or debentures, and conversion of a company into its equity share.

9. Sec. 43AA: Any gain or loss on a transaction arising from any change in forex rates shall be treated as income (or loss). Such transactions include those relating to monetary/non-monetary or translation of financial statements of foreign operations or forward exchange contracts or forex translation reserves.

10. CBDT Circular 4/2015 dt. 26.3.15 has clarified that declaration of dividend by a foreign company outside India does not have the effect of transfer of any underlying assets located in India and therefore, the dividends declared and paid by a foreign company outside India in respect of shares which derive their value substantially from assets situated in India would not be deemed to be income accruing or arising in India by virtue of Explanation-5 to Sec. 9(1i).

Purchases in Cash: Sec. 43

Any cash payments in capital expenditure above ₹10,000 shall not be considered to determine actual cost of asset. Moreover, no deductions shall be available u/s 35AD, including depreciation for such expenditure. It will be income chargeable to tax.

Capital Gains Tax: Sec. 111 & Sec. 112

A ‘Short-term capital asset’ (ST) is a financial asset held for 36 months or less immediately preceding the date of transfer. The holding period is only 12 months for shares of a company, units of MFs, zero coupon bonds and listed scrips, bonds, debentures. An asset which is not ST is LT.

The holding period is 24 months in the case of — (i) immovable property, being land or building or both and (ii) unlisted equity shares.

Sec. 112(1c) states that the share of company in which public are not substantially interested shall also be chargeable to tax @10%.

FA14 has taken away debt-based MF schemes from this concessional lower period of 12 months. The normal period of 36 months will be applicable. Note the word ‘held’ in this provision. The assessee need not be an owner of the property and can hold it as a lessee, as a mortgagee, under a hire purchase agreement, or on account of part performance of an agreement.

LTCG arising from MF debt funds (less than 35% in equities) was taxed @20% with indexation or @10% without indexation, whichever is lower. The recent FA 23 has taken away this advantage. Henceforth, such LTCG will be treated as normal income as is the case for bank deposits, Co-FDs, Debentures, etc., and taxed at the tax slab rate applicable to the assessee.

In the case of other financial assets like houses, jewellery, etc., STCG is taxed like any other income at the rates applicable to the assessee. LTCG is taken as a separate block, charged to tax at a flat rate of 20% with indexation benefit. The benefit of gap between the tax threshold and normal income is not available to NRIs.

Normally, STCG is taxed like any other income at the rates applicable to the assessee and LTCG is taken as a separate block, charged to tax at a flat rate of 20% with indexation benefit (dealt with a little later).

Concessional rate of tax is available in the following cases ---

1. Sec. 111A related with STCG: Where such gains arise from transfer of equity shares or units of an equity-oriented fund, or units of a business trust, on which STT is applicable, the tax is rate is 15%.

2. Sec. 112(1c) related with LTCG: Where such gains arise from transfer listed securities or units or zero-coupon bonds (on which benefit of indexation is not available w.e.f. 10.7.14) tax rate is 10%. FA18 has withdrawn the exemption u/s10(38) and levied tax u/s 112A on the LTCG arising from transfer of listed equity shares, units of equity-oriented fund or unit of business trust. The tax shall be levied on the LTCG in excess of ₹1 lakh at the rate of 10%. The capital gains shall be computed without applying the first and second proviso to Section 48. If the transfer takes place after 10.7.14 the above concessional rate of tax will not be available in case of LTCG gain arising from transfer of units.

3. The rate is also 10% even in the case of share of company in which public are not substantially interested (unlisted shares) on which indexation benefit was not available even before 10.7.14.

4. An NRI can apply either provisions of the ITA or the relevant DTAA if India has entered into with counterpart foreign country, whichever is more beneficial.

Cost Inflation Indexation (CII)

Sec. 55 allows the cost of acquisition of an asset acquired before 1.4.2001 to be taken as FMV as on 1.4.2001 and the cost of improvement shall include only those capital expenses which are incurred after 1.4.2001. Indexed cost is arrived at by multiplying the cost with the ratio of CIIs for the year of sale and that of acquisition.

Table-1: Cost Inflation Index

FY	Inflation Index	Growth %	FY	Inflation Index	Growth %
01-02	100	-	12-13	200	8.70
02-03	105	5.00	13-14	220	10.00
03-04	109	3.81	14-15	240	9.09
04-05	113	3.67	15-16	254	5.83
05-06	117	3.54	16-17	264	3.94
06-07	122	4.27	17-18	272	3.03
07-08	129	5.74	18-19	280	2.94
08-09	137	6.20	19-20	289	3.21
09-10	148	8.03	20-21	301	4.15
10-11	167	12.84	21-22	317	5.31
11-12	184	10.18	22-23	331	4.42

CII for FY 23-24 will be available from Jul-Aug 23

Indexed cost is arrived at by multiplying the cost with the ratio of CIIs for the year of sale and that of acquisition. LTCG is computed by deducting from the full value of the consideration (i) any expenditure (brokerage, stamp duty, etc.) incurred in connection with the transfer, (ii) indexed cost of acquisition and (iii) indexed cost of improvement.

For assets acquired prior to 1.4.2001 the option of substituting the fair market value (FMV) in place of original cost is available. In other words, if the cost of acquisition is lower than FMV as on 1.4.2001, the assessee may adopt the FMV as his cost. If it is higher, he may adopt it as his cost of acquisition. The CII based on 2001-02 only will be considered, whatever is the choice for the cost.

An assessee has the right to take the FMV as on 1.4.2001 even for bonus shares allotted to him prior to that date. Same is true for other assets, normally required to be taken at nil (or lower) value.

Cost of Acquisition in Some Special Cases.

1. The cost of acquisition should be taken as nil in for computing capital gains the following cases:

  a) Goodwill.

  b) Trademark or brand name associated with the business.

  c) Patent, copyright, formula, design, etc.

  d) Right to carry on any business.

  e) Cost of acquisition’ and ‘cost of improvement’ of right to carry on any profession.

  f) Tenancy rights, permits, Loom hours, etc.

  g) Most importantly --- Bonus shares.

2. As per Sec. 45(1A), tax will be charged on any gains arising from money or other assets received under an insurance arising out of damage to, or destruction of any capital asset, as a result of (i) flood, typhoon, hurricane, cyclone, earthquake or other convulsion of nature or (ii) riot or civil disturbance or (iii) accidental fire or explosion or (iv) action by an enemy or action taken in combating an enemy (whether with or without a declaration of war).

The logic behind this diktat is --- “Transfer presumes the existence of both the asset and the transferee.” Under such situations both are absent.

3. As per Sec. 50D, where the actual purchase consideration is not attributable or determinable, the then existing FMV of the asset shall be deemed to be the full value of consideration.

4. Depreciation cannot be charged on such intangible assets even when it is acquired at a cost. Where goodwill is purchased by an assessee, the purchase price of the goodwill shall continue to be considered as cost of acquisition for computation of capital gains u/s 48 subject to the condition that in case depreciation was obtained by the assessee in relation to such goodwill prior to the FY 20-21, then this depreciation shall be reduced from the amount of the purchase price of the goodwill. The reduction of the amount of goodwill of a business or profession, from the block of asset u/s 43, shall be deemed to be transfer.

5. Fortunately, any compensation paid by a redeveloper to flat owner due to the hardship caused to the taxpayer (cost incurred is nil) continues to be non-taxable as per several court verdicts. The latest one (2016 (8) TMI 1087 ITAT Mumbai) involves Jitendra Kumar Soneja who had received a sum of ₹22 lakh as compensation from the redeveloper and ₹8.55 lakh for paying rent as he had to vacate his flat. The ITAT held that ₹22 lakh received as a corpus fund, is a capital receipt and not taxable. Going a step further, ITAT stated that while the compensation was a capital receipt and not taxable, it would be reduced from the cost of acquisition of the flat. This would have a tax impact, in case the redeveloped flat was subsequently sold. However, as Soneja had incurred a rent expenditure of only ₹6.80 lakh as against ₹8.55 lakh, the balance of ₹1.75 lakh liable to tax.

Sale Value for Stamp Duty — Sec. 50C

As per Sec. 50C, where the consideration declared to be received or accruing because of transfer of land or building or both, is less than the stamp duty value by 10%, it is the stamp duty value that shall be deemed to be the full value of the consideration and capital gains shall be computed based on such consideration u/s 48. In other words, where the value adopted or assessed or assessable by the stamp valuation authority does not exceed 110% of the consideration received or accruing because of the transfer, the consideration so received or accruing as a result of the transfer shall, for the purposes of Sec. 48, be deemed to be the full value of the consideration.

Portfolio Management

KRA Holding & Trading P. Ltd. 26Taxmann.com48 (2012) has held that any fee paid to portfolio manager is construed to have been expended for the purpose of acquisition and/or transfer of securities and therefore it would be deductible.

Security Transaction Tax (STT)

STT is a minuscule amount of tax (0.1%) collected from the following transactions taking place in a recognised stock exchange in India:

(a) Purchase and sale of shares.

(b) Sale of equity based MFs.

(c) Sale of Options in securities.

(d) Sale of Futures in securities.

STT is also charged on redemption of equity-based units of MFs (but not on debt-based), directly with the fund house which had issued these units. The LTCG was exempt (note the past tense) and STCG is taxed and continues to be taxed at a concessional rate of 15%, only if the sale transaction has suffered STT.

CTT is close cousin of STT for commodities.

Large Scale Amendments by FA18

In the case of capital gains arising out of shares and securities and equity-based units of MFs or a unit of business Trust sold on a Recognised Stock Exchange in India or repurchased directly from MFs, STT is payable and therefore —

(a) LTCG was exempt u/s 10(38).

(b) STCG was and continues to be taxed @15% flat, u/s 111A.

This exemption u/s 10(38) was misused by certain persons for declaring their unaccounted income as exempt LTCG by entering sham transactions. To address this abuse, FA18 has implemented large-scale amendments by making Sec. 10(38) non-operative and introducing a new Sec. 112A. Consequently —

1. The LTCG will be computed without giving effect to the 1st proviso to Sec. 48 dealing with CII and the 2nd proviso dealing with foreign currency in the case of NRIs.

2. Such LTCG shall be taxed @10% if STT has been paid on both acquisition and transfer. The requirement of STT being paid at the time of acquisition shall not apply to purchases made before 1.4.2004 when STT was introduced.

3. The tax of 10% is applicable only on amount of capital gain exceeding ₹1 lakh.

4. The cost of acquisitions in respect of the long-term capital asset acquired by the assessee before 1.2.2018 shall be deemed to be the higher of –

a) the actual cost of acquisition of such asset; and

b) the lower of i) the ‘Fair Market Value’ (FMV) of such asset; and ii) the full value of consideration received or accruing on the transfer of such asset.

5. FMV for this new Section has been defined to mean –

  a) In a case where the capital asset is listed on any recognised stock exchange, the highest price of the capital asset quoted on such exchange on 31.1.18. Where there is no trading in such asset on that date, the FMV shall be its highest price on a date immediately preceding date when it was traded.

  b) In a case where the capital asset is a unit not listed on recognised stock exchange, its NAV on 31.1.18.

6. The benefit of deduction under chapter VI-A as well as the rebate u/s 87A and the exemption u/s 54EC is not available on such capital gains.

7. The STCG arising from sale of equities of shares purchased after 1.4.18 can be set-off against other gains or carried forward for 8 years as per the normal terms and conditions.

8. Notification S.O. 1789(E) dt 5.6.2017 protects genuine cases where the STT could not have been paid like acquisition of share in IPO, FPO, bonus or right issue by a listed company, acquisition by non-residents in accordance with FDI policy, acquisition under ESOP framed under SEBI Guidelines, transfer of shares approved by the Supreme Court, High Court, National Company Law Tribunal, SEBI, RBI in this behalf, any non-resident in accordance with foreign direct investment guidelines, acquisition from the Government, etc.

This is an attempt to bring private deals between parties outside the market, shares of listed companies acquired through, preferential allotments, ESOPs, etc., under the normal capital gains net. Fortunately, mergers and acquisitions are tax neutral.

Analysis

For clarity, let us take the following example —

Let us say you had purchased Maruti shares on 13.10.17 @₹7,900/share. Irrespective of this rate, the FMV will be taken @₹9,500 or thereabout, which was the highest price on 31.1.18. However, the date of purchase will remain 13.10.17 only.

The FMV will be ₹9,500 and not the rate as on 1.4.01 with one exception. If any time after 13.10.18, you sell Maruti at say ₹8,500, you will be incurring a loss of ₹1,000. In this case, your FMV will be deemed to be ₹8,500 thereby bringing your loss at nil level. In other words, you cannot set it off against your other gains. On the other hand, if your sale price is, say ₹10,500, you will earn LTCG of ₹1,000 (without indexation) on which the tax will be @10% with associated surcharge and cess. This works out at ₹116.48. Then again, had you sold Maruti after 1.4.18 but before 13.10.17, you will have earned short-term capital gains which will be taxed @15%.

Listed securities not sold on a Recognised Stock Exchange in India (or bought on or after 1.4.04), the LTCG are taxed @10% without indexation or 20% with indexation, whichever is lower. In his budget speech FM referred to the 10% rate on listed shares as a ‘concessional’ rate and yet the tax rate on unlisted shares is more concessional. Strange!

This is a result of the tax legislation being so complicated that even the law makers appear to have lost their touch with reality.

Finally, the best thing you can do is to pocket the tax-free LTCG up to ₹1 lakh every FY.

Business of Dealing in Shares

Where dealings in shares is a business of the person, all capital gains (or losses) are charged to tax under the head, ‘Profits and gains of business or profession’. Sec. 36 provides that STT paid on transactions entered during the business shall be allowable as deduction.

Exchange Rate Risk

Protection provided by First Proviso to Sec. 48 to NRIs has been deleted even if it results in a loss, because of the introduction of 10% tax on LTCG arising out of equities and equity based MFs. However, it still is applicable on STCG arising from shares or debentures of an Indian company (private or public) acquired by utilising forex.

In such cases, capital gains shall be computed by deducting the cost of acquisition from the net value of the consideration received or accruing into the same foreign currency as was initially utilised for the purchase of shares or debentures. The capital gains so computed in such foreign currency shall be reconverted into Indian currency. Thus, the NRI is protected against the exchange risk.

Indian corporates, vide RBI’s notification dt 29.9.15, are permitted to issue rupee denominated bonds (popularly known as Masala Bonds) overseas to enable them raise funds. To protect the interest of NRI investors from exchange rate fluctuations FA16 has provided that while computing capital gains u/s 48 at the time of redemption, full value of consideration received shall exclude any gain arising on account of appreciation of rupee.

What if the rupee depreciates? We wonder . . .

FA17 has amended Sec. 48 to provide relief in respect of such gains also to secondary holders. Moreover, Sec. 47 has been amended to provide that any transfer of such bonds by an NRI to another NRI shall not be regarded as transfer.

Sale Value less than Stamp Duty Value — Sec. 50C

Where the consideration declared to be received or accruing because of transfer of land or building or both, is less than the stamp duty value by 10%, it is this stamp duty value that shall be deemed to be the full value of the consideration and capital gains shall be computed based on such consideration u/s 48.

If the assessee claims that this deemed value exceeds the fair market value (FMV) the ITO may ask a valuation officer of the Department to assess the FMV and revise the deemed value, if necessary.

This results in the buyer paying higher stamp duty and the seller paying higher tax on capital gains. Unfortunately, when the buyer sells the property later, he is forced to adopt the original value declared by him and not the stamp duty valuation.

Capital Gain on Housing Development

Sec. 45(5A) provides for the capital gain arising to an individual or HUF, from the transfer of land or building or both, under a Joint Development agreement to be chargeable to tax as income of the year in which the certificate of completion for the whole or part of the project is issued by the competent authority. Further, for computing the capital gains, the full value of consideration shall be taken as the stamp duty value of his share, as increased by the consideration received in ‘cash’.

It has been noticed that the taxpayers are inferring that any amount of consideration which is received in a mode other than cash, i.e., cheque or electronic payment modes would not be included in the consideration for the purpose of computing capital gains. This is not the intention of the legislation.

FA23 has amended Sec. 45(5A) to provide that the full value of consideration shall be taken as the stamp duty value of his share as increased by any consideration received in cash or by a cheque or draft or by any other mode.

Dates of Transfer & Registration Differ

Where the date of the agreement fixing the amount of consideration for the transfer of the immovable property and the date of registration are not the same, the stamp duty value may be taken as on the date of the agreement. This exception shall, however, apply only in a case where the amount of consideration, or a part thereof, has been paid by any mode other than cash on or before the date of the agreement.

Advance for Transfer of a Capital Asset

Amount confiscated by the seller cannot be treated as his capital gain, since no transfer of any capital asset has taken place. — CIT v Sterling Investment Corp Ltd. [1980] 123ITR441 (Bom).

Such forfeited amount was treated as a capital receipt not chargeable to tax during the year of forfeiture. This amount was reduced from the cost of acquisition of the property so that tax would get collected when the property gets sold. This provision was ingeniously used by some persons to convert their taxable earnings into capital receipts by entering into a sham agreement to sell a property to an accommodating party on the understanding that the earnest money will be forfeited as per the terms of the agreement.

To counter this situation, FA14 amended Sec. 56 to provide that any advance money taken against sale of an asset and forfeited because the negotiations did not result in transfer shall be chargeable to tax under the head ‘Income from Other Sources’.

This has resulted in punishing the buyer in genuine cases where there was no such understanding. Even if such forfeiture is a pecuniary loss, he cannot claim it as a capital loss u/s 45 as he neither ever owned nor relinquished the capital asset in question. A CBDT clarification is necessary to avoid litigations.

FA12 has curtailed the practice of receiving an exceedingly high premium against the issue of shares.

Treatment of Losses

U/s 74 losses under the head ‘Capital Gains’ cannot be set off against income under any other head. Though short-term loss can be set off against both STCG as well as LTCG, any LTCL shall be set off against LTCG only. If there are no sufficient gains during the year, the balance loss, ST or LT, can be carried forward for 8 successive years for similar set off.

Buy Back by Companies

Buy back is a corporate action in which a company buys some of its shares from the existing shareholders at a price higher than market price. This is an indirect way of paying dividend without attracting any tax (erstwhile DDT or the new normal). Sec. 115QA provides for the levy of additional Income-tax @20% of the distributed income on account of buy-back of unlisted shares by the company.

This Section was introduced as an anti-abuse provision to check the practice of unlisted companies resorting to buy-back of shares instead of payment of dividends as the tax rate for capitals gains was lower than that of DDT. However, instances of similar tax arbitrage have now come to notice in case of listed shares as well, whereby the listed companies are also indulging in such practice of resorting to buy-back of shares, instead of payment of dividends.

To curb such tax avoidance even by the listed companies, Sec. 115QA is extended to all companies including companies listed on recognised stock exchange w.e.f. 5.7.19.

As additional income-tax has been levied at the level of company, the consequential income arising in the hands of shareholders has been exempted u/s 10(34A) not only to unlisted but also to listed companies.

Market Linked Debentures

These are listed securities and are currently taxed as LTCG @10% without indexation. These are in the nature of derivatives which are normally taxed as STCG at applicable rates. Further, they give variable interests as they are linked with the performance of the market. FA23 has introduced a new Sec. 50AA to treat the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer or redemption or maturity of the Market Linked Debentures as reduced by the cost of acquisition of the debenture and the expenditure incurred wholly or exclusively in connection with transfer or redemption of such debenture, as STCG.

Sec. 54EC Bonds

These offer exemption if the capital gains are reinvested within 6 months in Bonds issued by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and some other notified institutions. These Bonds are redeemable after 5 years. Unfortunately, the limit on such contributions is ₹50 lakh and it can be made during the FY when the CG occurs and the subsequent FY but within the stipulated period of 6 months.

Earlier all types of LTCG could have been saved by investing in these Bonds. However, FA18 has restricted the shelter of these Bonds only to LTCG arising from land or building or both. In other words, Sec. 54EC cannot be used any more for LTCG arising from shares and securities, bonds, precious metals and ornaments, archaeological collections, drawings, paintings, sculptures, any work of art, stock-in-trade, etc. Moreover, this exemption is no more available for LTCG arising out of Sec. 54F on any asset other than land.

The Bonds are non-transferable, non-negotiable and cannot be offered as a security for any loan or advance. The present interest rate is 5.25% fully taxable. There is no TDS.

Deposits in the Bonds are riddled with 2 problems. The first one is that the date of allotment is the last date of the month during which the subscription is received, irrespective of the date when the company encashes your cheque. The second one is that the face value of one Bond is ₹10,000.

Consequently, if you have earned LTCG of ₹3,000 you can either purchase Bonds worth ₹10,000 and pay tax on ₹3,000 or purchase Bonds worth ₹10,000 and pay no tax. What should you do?

For arriving at the answer to these questions, let us first find out whether it is worth buying the bonds if you have earned a round figure of LTCG worth ₹10,000.

Suppose you are in 31.2% tax zone.

If you buy the Bonds, no tax is payable and can park the entire amount of ₹10,000 therein. The maturity value of this happens to be ₹11,941.26. (See the following Table).

On the other hand, if you decide to pay capital gains tax, which is @20.8%, your take-home gain works out at ₹7,920. Now, suppose you park this in a Co-FD with a term of 5 years, with a fully taxable coupon rate of 12.44% p.a. You will find that your take home happens to be ₹11,941.26, same as that on the Bonds.

In other words, the BER of the Bonds and Co-FDs = 12.44% at the 31.20% zone. Consequently, if there is a source of FDs with comparable safety as that of Bonds, offering an interest rate of 12.44% p.a., available to you, go for the FDs. The conclusion is plain and simple. Since such safe FDs are not available in the market you should go for the Bonds.

Break-Even Rate of 54EC Bonds

Tax Rate = 31.20%

Interest Rate on Company FDs = 12.44%

Interest Rate on Bonds = 5.25%

Year	Opening Balance	Interest Received	Tax on Interest	After Tax Interest	Closing Balance
Capital Gain Bond: Locking Period 5 Years
1	10,000.00	525.00	163.80	361.20	10,361.20
2	10,361.20	543.96	169.72	374.25	10,735.45
3	10,735.45	563.61	175.85	387.76	11,123.21
4	11,123.21	583.97	182.20	401.77	11,524.98
5	11,524.98	605.06	188.78	416.28	11,941.26
Company FD for Term of 5 Years
1	7,920.00	985.26	307.40	677.86	8,597.86
2	8,597.86	1,069.58	333.71	735.87	9,333.73
3	9,333.73	1,161.13	362.27	798.85	10,132.58
4	10,132.58	1,260.50	393.28	867.23	10,999.81
5	10,999.81	1,368.39	426.94	941.45	11,941.26

The above analysis assumes that the after-tax interest generated from the Bonds is reinvested in the Bonds. Since this amount can be invested anywhere, you can reach for higher interest available in FDs. The correct BER at 31.2%, 20.8% and 5.2% zones are13.01%, 11.30% and at 5.2% respectively. Obviously, you should opt for the Bonds irrespective of the tax zones.

Now, we take up the case where the amount of capital gain is odd. Without taking you through the rigmarole of the computation, the following Table gives directly the BERs at the various zones and odd amounts. We take the current rate of 7.75% of RBI Bonds as the Benchmark. Now suppose you are in 31.20% tax zone and have earned capital gain of say, ₹25,83,000, you should opt to invest ₹25,84,000 in the CG Bonds. If your gain is lower than that level, say, ₹25,82,000 invest ₹25,00,000 in the CG bonds and pay tax on ₹2,000.

Now, if you are in the 20.80% bracket, …. Well, I am sure you know what to do.

Tax						BER in % of Odd Amounts in ₹Rounded Off
Zone						1,000						2,000						3,000						4,000						5,000						6,000						7,000						8,000						9,000
31.20%						6.30						6.95						7.62						8.31						9.01						9.74						10.49						11.26						12.05
20.80%						5.47						6.04						6.62						7.21						7.83						8.46						9.02						9.67						10.35
5.20%						4.57						5.04						5.53						6.03						6.54						7.07						7.61						8.17						8.75

All said and done, the decision to select the benchmark rate depends upon your risk appetite.

Case Laws

It is important to note the following court verdicts —

1. Investment made prior to the date of transfer out of earnest money or advance received is eligible for exemption u/s 54EC — [2012] 28taxmann.com274 Bombay (HC) Mrs. Parveen P. Bharucha v DCIT Circle 2 Pune.

2. For claim of exemption u/s 54EC, source of investment of fund is immaterial. IAC v Jayantilal C. Patel (HUF) [1988] 26ITD1 (Ahd). Surely, this verdict can be extrapolated to Sec. 54EC.

3. As per the language of Sec. 54EC, there is no requirement that investment should be in name of assessee. The only condition is that the sale proceeds of capital assets must be invested in certain specified bonds — ITO v Smt Saraswati Ramanathan [2009] 116ITD234 (Delhi).

4. Although as per Sec. 50, the profit arising from the transfer of a depreciable asset (industrial building) shall be a gain arising from the transfer of short-term capital asset, irrespective of the period of holding, but it nowhere says that the depreciable asset shall be treated as short-term capital asset. Sec. 54EC is an independent provision not controlled by Sec. 50 which is restricted only to the mode of computation of capital gain u/ss 48 and 49 and this fiction cannot be extended beyond that for denying the benefit otherwise available to the assessee u/s 54EC if the other requisite conditions of the Section are satisfied — Sudha S. Trivedi v ITO [ITA 6040 & 6186/Mum./2007].

5. The time-limit of 6 months for investment in Bonds is to be reckoned from date of receipt of part or full payments and not from date of transfer as defined u/s 53A of the Transfer of Property Act — [2012] 18 taxmann.com 304 Kolkata — Trib. Moreover, this period should be reckoned from the end of the month in which the transfer takes place — [2012] 17 taxmann.com 159 Mum.

6. Where purchase of specified conversion of investment into stocks or bonds just a few days beyond period of six months was under a bona fide mistake, the exemption can be denied but penalty u/s 271(1c) cannot be levied [2014] 45 taxmann.com 180 Punjab & Haryana.

7. Bona fide realignment of interest by way of effecting family arrangements among the family members does not amount to transfer — CIT v A L Ramanathan (2000) 245ITR494 (Mad).

Sec. 54 & 54F

The ITA provides other opportunities for saving tax on long-term capital gains such as by way of Sec. 54 & Sec. 54F. Sec. 54 gives exemption from tax on capital gains arising out of sale (or transfer) of a residential house, self-occupied or not, provided the assessee has purchased within 1 year before or 2 years after the date of sale or has constructed within 3 years after that date, one residential house in India. If only a part of the LTCG is used, the exemption would be pro-rata and the excess will be taxed.

FA19 has extended the benefit to two houses provided the amount of the capital gain does not exceed ₹2 crore. This extended benefit will be available only once in a lifetime.

For preventing huge deductions by HNI assessees by purchasing very expensive residential houses, the recent FA23 has imposed a limit on the maximum deduction that can be claimed by an assessee u/s 54 and 54F at ₹10 crore. If the cost of the new asset purchased is more than ₹10 crore, it shall be deemed to be ₹10 crore.

Two points are worthy of careful note —

1. For construction, there is no restriction on commencement date. It could have begun even more than 20 years before the sale.

2. The assessee need not apply the amount from the sale proceeds for purchasing another residential house. He can take a loan for the purchase or construction and use the sale proceeds for investment elsewhere if it is beneficial for him to do so.

Sec. 54F deals with capital gains arising out of assets other than residential houses. The stipulations are essentially the same but with 3 differences —

1. The assessee should not be an owner of more than one residential property on the date of transfer.

2. Sec. 54F requires reinvestment of the net consideration (sale value less expenses) whereas Sec. 54 is content with reinvestment of only the amount of capital gains.

3. In the case of Sec. 54, the assessee is required not to sell the new house within 3 years. If this condition is not satisfied, the cost of the new asset is to be reduced by the amount of long-term capital gains exempted from tax on the original asset and the difference between its sale price and such reduced cost will be chargeable as short-term capital gain earned during the year in which the new asset is sold.

Sec. 54F also requires the assessee not to sell the new house within three years. In addition, he is expected not to purchase within 1 year or construct within 3 years, another residential house. If any of these conditions are not satisfied, the capital gain originally exempted shall be treated as long-term capital gain of the year in which the house is sold, or another house is purchased or constructed.

This penalty is different from that of Sec. 54 and creates confusion. We do not comprehend the wisdom of imposing different punishments for the same offence.

In the case of Sec. 54, the recent FA19 has extended the concession to two houses in place of one where the amount of the capital gain does not exceed ₹2 crore. This concession is available once in a lifetime of the assessee.

Sell Two, Buy One

What if someone has sold two flats? Should he buy two flats or one? The query is answered by DCIT Central Circle-32 v Ranjit Vithaldas [2012] 23taxmann.com 226 ITAT Mumbai Bench ‘A’ — If two flats are sold even in different years and capital gains from both flats is invested in one residential house, exemption will be available for each flat sold provided the time-limit for construction or purchase of the new house is satisfied.

Capital Gains Accounts Scheme, 1988 (CGAS)

For ascertaining that the assessee really intends to purchase a new residential house within the stipulated time, all scheduled banks have a special bank account designated as CGAS. The amount deposited in such accounts before the last date of furnishing returns of income or actual date, if earlier, along with the amount already utilised, is deemed to be the amount utilised for the purpose.

This means that the assessee can utilise this amount for any purpose whatsoever during intervening period — ACIT v Smt Uma Budhia (2004) 141Taxman39 (Kol.).

If the amount is not utilised wholly or partly for the stipulated purpose, then, the amount of capital gains related with the unutilised portion of the deposit in CGAS shall be charged as the capital gains of the year in which the period expires.

Circular 743 dt 6.5.96 states that when the account holder expires, the unutilised amount in CGAS account is not taxable in the hands of the legal heirs or nominees as the unutilised portion of the deposit does not partake the character of income in their hands but is only a part of the estate devolving upon them.

For most transactions in immovable property of an ROI, RBI has granted its general permission to ADs for administering and monitoring it. All situations not falling under the general permissions, including requests for acquisition of agricultural land by any ROI may be made to the Chief General Manager, RBI, Exchange Control Department, Central Office (External Payments Division), Amar Building, Fort, Mumbai 400001.

NRI or an OCI can but not a PIO (strange) can

Purchase any immovable property in India (except agricultural land, farmhouse etc.).

1. Get gift of immovable property in India from a Resident or from an NRI or an OCI who is a relative.

2. Acquire immovable property in India by way of inheritance. If the inheritance is from an ROI, then such ROI must have acquired the property in accordance with the then existing foreign exchange law.

3. Transfer immovable property to any Resident, NRI or an OCI.

4. Transfer by way of a gift any immovable property (other than agricultural land) to a Resident, NRI or OCI. Agricultural land may only be gifted to a Resident.

The following table summarises the various situations:

Particulars		Individuals
Purchase (other than agricultural land/ farmhouse/ plantation etc) from		Resident/ NRI/ OCI
Acquire as gift (other than agricultural land/ farmhouse/ plantation etc) from		Resident/ NRI/ OCI who is a relative
Acquire as inheritance from		a. Any person who has acquired it under laws in force b. Resident
Sell (other than agricultural land, farmhouse, plantation, etc.) to		Resident/ NRI/ OCI
Sell (agricultural land) to		Resident
Gift (other than agricultural land) to		Resident/ NRI/ OCI
Gift (agricultural land) to		Resident
Gift residential or commercial property		Resident/ NRI/ OCI

Rank Foreigners

Citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, China, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan, Macau, Hong Kong and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, irrespective of their residential status, need RBI prior permission to acquire or transfer immovable property in India. For this purpose, the term “citizen” shall include natural persons and legal entities. This prohibition shall not apply to an OCI. They can get it on lease, not exceeding 5 years. However, approvals, if any, required by other authorities such as the concerned State Government will have to be obtained. The visa should clearly indicate his intention to stay in India for an uncertain period to determine his residential status.

Foreign nationals of non-Indian origin who are ROI can inherit a property in India by way of inheritance (but not a gift) from a Resident. He needs to seek prior approval of RBI for selling or gifting an agricultural land, plantation property and farmhouses held by him in India. He cannot even be a joint 2nd holder along with an NRI or a PIO. Such a person who has acquired immovable property in India by way of inheritance or have purchased it with the specific approval of the RBI cannot transfer it without prior permission of RBI.

A rank foreigner who is a spouse of an NRI or an OCI may acquire one immovable property (other than agricultural land/ farmhouse/ plantation property), jointly with the spouse. The marriage should have been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the acquisition of such property.

Mortgaging property to party abroad requires RBI’s prior approval.

The payment of purchase price should be made from funds received in India through normal banking channels by way of inward remittance from any place outside India or funds held in any non-resident account maintained in India and no other mode such as traveller’s cheque, foreign currency notes, etc. No payment can be made outside India.

Acquisition by a Long-Term Visa (LTV) holder

A citizen of Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan belonging to minority communities in those countries viz., Hindus Sikhs Jains Buddhists Parsi and Christian, who is residing in India and has been granted (LTV) may purchase only one residential immovable property in India for self-occupation and only one immovable property for self-employment.

The property should not be in and around notified or cantonment areas. The person should submit a declaration to the Revenue Authority specifying the source of funds.

The property of such person may be attached/ confiscated in the event of his/ her indulgence in anti-India activities.

A copy of the documents of the purchased property shall be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Foreigners Registration Office, Foreigners Regional Registration Office and to the Ministry of Home Affairs Foreigners Division. Sale of the immovable property so acquired is permissible only after such person has acquired Indian citizenship. Prior sale requires approval of all these authorities.

Repatriation of Sale Proceeds

Repatriation of sale proceeds of residential property purchased by NRI is permitted to the extent of the amount paid for acquisition of immovable property in forex. Such repatriation is restricted to not more than 2 such properties. There is no restriction on repatriation of number of commercial properties. The balance amount, if any, can be credited to the NRO account and can be remitted under US$ one million facility.

Where the funds were raised by way of loans from ADs or housing finance institutions, repatriation can the extent of such a loan was repaid in forex.

Repatriation of amounts representing the refund of application or earnest money, purchase consideration made by the house building agencies, seller on account of non-allotment of the property, cancellation of bookings or deals, together with interest (net of income tax payable) may be allowed by the AD provided the original payment was made in forex.

Note that the right to repatriate is acquired by a person who was an NRI/PIO at the time of acquisition and who is an NRI/PIO at the time of the sale. The residential status between these two periods is immaterial.

If the sale takes place on or before the expiry of 2 years, provisions of STCG and if after 2 years LTCG will be attracted.

The remittance facility in respect of sale proceeds of immovable property is not available to citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, Afghanistan, Iran, Nepal, and Bhutan. The facility of remittance of sale proceeds of other financial assets is not available to citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Commission to Agents

AP (DIR) Circular 76 dt 24.2.04 permits ADs to freely allow, without RBI permission, remittance by way of commission to agents abroad for sale of residential flats or commercial plots in India up to US$ 25,000 or 5% of the inward remittance, per transaction, whichever is higher.

Remittance of Rent

The rental income being a current account transaction is repatriable irrespective of whether the property was purchased through forex or otherwise, subject to tax compliance.

Where the house is purchased through housing finance and it is rented out, the entire rental income, even if it is more than the prescribed installment, should be first applied towards repayment of the loan. If it is less than the prescribed installment, the borrower should remit the amount to the extent of the shortfall from abroad or pay it out of his NRE or NRO accounts in India.

Tax Provisions Self-Occupied House

Sec. 23 provides for determination of the annual value of house property, subject to the deduction u/s 24. Annual value of a house or part of a house shall be taken as nil if —

  a) It is in the occupation of the owner for his own residence, or

  b) It cannot be occupied by him because of his employment, business or profession at any other place and he has to reside at that place in a building not belonging to him. If the assessee has more than one self-occupied house, the annual value of only one of such houses, at his option, can be taken as nil.

  c) All the others will be deemed to have been let out. The option can change from year to year.

  d) FA19(interim) has modified Sec. 23, 24 and 54 to exempt notional rent on the 2nd residential house. Now one can have two separate self-occupied houses. Moreover, the tax concession on LTCG if the gains are invested in purchasing or constructing one residential house within certain stipulated time frame has been extended to two residential houses for a taxpayer having capital gains up to ₹2 crore. This benefit can be availed once in a lifetime.

Let-Out Property

If the authorities find that the actual rent charged by the owner is quite low, a notional rent value is arrived at by taking into consideration municipal valuation, fair rent and standard rent prevalent in the area. The Gross Annual Value of the property is arrived at by deducting from this rent, the property taxes paid to any local authority during the year only if these are borne and actually paid by the owner. Moreover, as per Sec. 25 the amount of such rent received subsequently by an assessee shall be deemed to be the income from house property of the FY in which such rent is received or realised, whether the assessee is the owner of the property or not in that FY.

Thereafter, in the case of rent actually received, or deemed to be received (more than two properties), Sec. 24 allows the following two further deductions:

  1. A standard deduction of 30% towards any repairs, maintenance costs etc.

  2. The interest payable on capital borrowed (inclusive of processing fee) for acquiring, constructing, repairing, renewing or reconstructing the property with a ceiling of ₹30,000 on self-occupied property. The limit of ₹2,00,000 is applicable on loans taken on or after 1.4.99 but only for acquiring or constructing. The lower limit of ₹30,000 continues to be applicable for loans taken for repairing, renewing or reconstructing. Complicated!

The interest can be claimed for any money borrowed be it from banks or friends and relatives, if you are able to prove actual use of the money borrowed is for the specified purpose.

Tenants paying rent on properties owned by NRIs are required mandatorily to apply TDS @31.2% irrespective of the amount payable.

Deductibility of interest up to ₹2 lakh, has 2 caveats —

  1. The house should be completed within 5 years from the end of the year during which the loan is taken, and

  2. This higher limit is applicable only for acquisition or construction but not for repairs, renewals or reconstruction.

There was (note the past tense) no limit on the deductibility of interest on loans taken for business, commercial or let-out properties. Sec. 71 relates to set-off of loss from one head against income from another. Sec. 71(3A) requires that after setting off the loss incurred due to interest payable for the FY against the rent (or deemed rent) received from the property during the year, the remaining loss, if any, can be set-off against any other head of income with a cap of ₹2 lakh. The unabsorbed loss, if any, shall be allowed to be carried forward for set-off in subsequent years in accordance with the existing provisions of the Act.

Both the concessions, deduction for repayment of capital u/s 80C and of interest u/s 24 are allowed only when the income from house property becomes chargeable to tax. In other words, the construction should be complete, the flat should be ready for occupation and the municipal annual value is known. However, if the interest payable is for a period prior to the year in which the property was acquired or constructed, it shall be deducted in 5 equal annual installments commencing from the year of purchase or construction. The ceilings are applicable to the aggregate of interest payable and the annual installments distributed over 5 years taken together. Similar facility is not available for repayment of capital u/s 80C.

If the construction or acquisition is completed any time in a FY, the interest paid during the entire FY is deemed to be the normal interest though a part of the FY is pre-construction period.

There is no restriction on the source of the funds borrowed to claim the exemption of interest. It is only the tax deduction u/s 80C that requires the loan to be taken from specified sources.

Interest on Borrowed Capital

While interest paid on borrowed capital for acquiring or improving a property can, subject to certain conditions, be claimed as deduction from income, it can also be included in the cost of acquisition or improvement on transfer, thereby reducing capital gains.

To prevent this double deduction, FA23 has amended Sec. 48 to provide that the cost of acquisition or the cost of improvement shall not include the amount of interest claimed u/s 24 or Chapter VIA

Housing Finance

The loans can be procured even to (i) purchase a piece of land, (ii) pay stamp duty and (iii) extend or improve an existing house. The security for the loan is always by way of creating equitable mortgage of the property in favour of the lender. Additionally, any existing or a new life insurance policy equal to the loan amount sanctioned should be assigned as collateral security.

The sanction is around 85% of the property cost and starts from a minimum of ₹25,000.

Equated Monthly Installments (EMI) is the fixed amount, required to be paid by the borrower every month till the end of the loan tenure. It consists of part principal and part interest. At start, the component of interest is understandably high. As time passes, it reduces and the component towards repayment of capital correspondingly increases.

Housing loan in rupees availed of by NRIs from ADs or Housing Financial Institutions in India can be repaid by the close relatives in India of the borrower.

RBI has made it mandatory for banks not to charge any penalty if borrowers pay back home loans taken on floating interest rates before the end of their repayment schedule. If you are in a fixed interest rate regime, you might face a penalty, which, in some cases may run up to 2% of the outstanding balance.

Where a mortgage was created by the previous owner during his/her lifetime and the same is subsisting on the date of his / her death, the successor obtains only the mortgagor’s interest in the property and by discharging the mortgage debt, he / she acquires the mortgagee’s interest in the property and thus, the amount paid to clear off the mortgage is the cost of acquisition of the mortgagee’s interest in the property which is deductible as the cost of acquisition u/s 48 of the Act. But, if the property is mortgaged by the assessee himself / herself, then the amount paid for discharge of the debt is not part of cost of acquisition — V. S. M. R. Jagdishchandran v CIT [1997] 93Taxman389 (SC) and R. M.. Arunachalam v CIT [1997] 227ITR222 (SC).

The expenses incurred towards society charges can be deducted from the rent for determining the taxable income.

Funds Borrowed Abroad for Purchase of Property in India

Sec. 25 specifically prohibits deductibility under the head ‘Income from house property’ of any annual charge or interest chargeable which is payable outside India on which tax has not been paid or deducted in India. What if the assessee treats this as his ‘business income?’ ROIs are prohibited by FEMA from indulging in business of real property. What if the interest is paid out of the repatriable interest earned on NRE, FCNR accounts? Sec. 14A introduced by FA01 states that the total income can be computed without allowing any deduction in respect of expenditure incurred in relation to income which does not form part of the total income.

This is in line with the intent of the tax legislation. The rent has its nexus in India and therefore it is taxable in India. The interest paid outside India is forex, not taxed in India.

As far as the deduction on repayment of the loans is concerned, it is available only if the loan is taken from specific approved sources and these do not include loans taken abroad.

House Held Jointly with a Resident

An NRI can be owner of a house jointly with a Resident. But there are some precautions to be taken —

  1. If he has paid his share of acquisition through forex, he should make direct payments to the builder. Sending drafts in the name of a friend or the joint holder may hamper repatriability when the house is eventually sold.

  2. The share of each holder should be well defined and ascertainable for computing the amount of income from housing property, either notional or otherwise. The contribution of the funds should also be preferably in the proportion of the defined share.

  3. Housing loans, if any, should be taken either strictly in individual names or jointly in the same ratio. This helps in arriving at the amount of tax concessions on housing finance.

  4. No loans are easily given on houses in joint names because, in the case of default, a part of a house cannot be confiscated. It is possible that you yourself do not need a loan. In that case, you can stand as a co-obligant or a guarantor to the loan taken by the joint owner.

Points to Ponder

  1. Housing loan is cheap, and the tax concessions make it cheaper. Therefore, take as large a loan as possible for as long a period as possible, even if you have enough funds on hand.

  2. Many NRIs treat purchase of a house as an investment offering hedge against inflation. When the market price of the property keeps pace with inflation you make payment against the original price with money that becomes cheaper and cheaper. Therefore, they buy a house and keep it under lock and key. In India, it is quite dangerous to give a house on rent. It is quite difficult to evict a non-cooperative tenant even if he stops paying rent. The judiciary is virtually non-existent.

  3. Do not buy a house just because of the tax benefits. There are better methods to save the tax. Similarly, do not buy a house as an investment. You will be putting too many eggs in one basket. Buy it, only if you need it for your personal use. Giving it on rent is fraught with risks.

Investment in India, particularly in shares, is known to be more rewarding than elsewhere in the global markets since the returns are significantly high and safe. It has become higher and safer particularly under the aegis of Modi. The economic health of the industries at large has improved considerably because of the policy of liberalisation and globalisation followed by the present government. Therefore, NRIs should invest in India (= Make in India) not only for their own benefit but also to boost the economy of their motherland.

FPI and FDI Merged

With an objective of simplifying the procedures, Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPI) and Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) have been merged.

NRI individuals and registered FIIs/FPIs can invest or trade in the capital of Indian companies listed on recognised Indian Stock Exchanges only through a registered broker.

ROIs cannot purchase, hold or receive as a gift, shares of Financial Services Sectors which cover Banks, NBFC, Insurance, ARCs, Stock Exchanges, Clearing Corporations, Depositories, Commodity Exchanges, etc., without approval of RBI.

An NRI or a non-resident entity can invest in India, except in prohibited sectors and activities. In the case of Bangladesh and Pakistan, its citizen or an entity incorporated in these countries, can invest only under the government route. Such a permission is not given to investment in defence, space and atomic energy and sectors/activities prohibited for foreign investment. RBI Circular (DIR) 1 dt 13.9.04 has lifted the restriction on dealing in Indian shares by Sri Lankan citizens.

NRIs resident in Nepal and Bhutan as well as citizens of Nepal and Bhutan are permitted to invest in the capital of Indian companies on repatriation basis, only if the amount of consideration for such investment is paid only by way of inward remittance in free forex through normal banking channels.

A.P. (DIR) Circular 22 dt 28.8.14 allows NRIs to invest, both on repatriation and non-repatriation basis, in non-convertible or redeemable preference shares or debentures as above.

An NRI can purchase shares, debentures, units of MFs, dated central and state government securities (other than bearer securities), treasury bills, units of domestic MFs, bonds issued by a PSU in India and shares in public sector enterprises being disinvested by the Government of India through stock exchanges, either directly or through a Resident trustworthy person, including stockbroker as his agent in India.

Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS)

Notification FEMA 361/2016-RBI dt 15.2.16 has defined an NRI to mean an individual NRI or a PIO with an OCI card. Under PIS, an NRI may acquire securities or units on a Stock Exchange in India on repatriation or non-repatriation basis, subject to the terms and conditions specified in Schedule-3 or Schedule-4 respectively. In the case of these Schedules, the term ‘share’ also includes convertible preference shares, convertible debentures and warrants of an Indian company or units of an investment vehicle, including REITs, InvIts, AIFs, etc.

An NRI should operate only through one AD. The bank shall ensure that amounts due to sale proceeds of shares acquired by modes other than PIS, such as underlying shares acquired on conversion of ADRs/GDRs, shares purchased outside India from other NRIs, shares acquired under private arrangement, shares purchased while he was a Resident, do not get credited or debited to his PIS accounts.

The system provides the facility to freeze the DP accounts for any debits or credits or both debits and credits.

The NRI shall operate on delivery basis for shares purchased and sold. In other words, short selling (sale without having the scrip in his godown) or day-trading is not permitted.

Schedule-3: Repatriable

PINS account is applicable only for NRIs and not for Residents, only for trading in Indian markets and not in any other foreign markets and only for equity trades and not for MFs.

RBI has authorized a few branches of a few banks to conduct the business under PIS on behalf of NRIs who have their PINS account/s with only one eligible bank in India. Transactions relating to their personal banking as well as on account of transactions relating to shares acquired other than under PINS including IPOs should be routed through their NRO account. This requirement is applicable only for equity trades and not for MFs.

Investment can be made on repatriation (through PINS-NRE) and on non-repatriation basis (through PINS-NRO). The individual can opt to have any one or both such accounts depending upon his need. The repatriation of the sale proceeds, net of taxes, from PINS-NRE are allowed if the original investments were made from funds from NRE account or by means of remittance from abroad.

There are certain specified limits imposed by FEMA on foreign investments to protect Indian Companies from being taken over. An NRI can purchase up to a maximum of 5% of shares. Additionally, there is an overall ceiling of 10% for all NRIs put together. This ceiling clubs together portfolio on repatriation as well as non-repatriation basis. The overall ceiling can be raised up to 24% if the company passes a special resolution to that effect in its general body meeting.

Non-PINS is an account which can handle shares acquired under IPO or received as gift or bought as resident Indian.

All this limit business need not bother you. RBI monitors this limit assiduously on a case-by-case basis and puts the scrip on ‘Caution List’ when the trigger limit is near the cap. Thereafter it grants permission on first-come first-served basis. When the limit is reached, such shares are kept on banned-for-purchase list.

An individual can have only one PINS account. For example, if he is having a PINS account with X-bank and he wants to shift to Y-Bank, then he must close the X-bank PINS and open a Y- bank PINS.

The routine personal banking transactions and those relating to shares acquired other than under PINS including IPOs should be routed through the normal NRO account.

Prohibited Transactions Under PINS ---

  1. Sale of shares, which were not bought under PINS such as gifts, subscription to IPOs or shares bought as resident Indian, or received as bonus. For instance, an individual who had bought some shares in the normal course when he was Resident cannot sell these under PINS. Similarly, if an NRI has gifted some shares from his PINS to another, these gifted shares cannot be held under PINS, even though this another person has PINS. In the case of bonus, it is like a fresh issue of shares at zero cost. Therefore, the company is required to inform RBI about the bonus shares it is issuing to NRIs. Also, since bonus is provided to all, overall percentage holding remains the same.

  2. Fresh subscription for the IPOs as an NRI. Under IPO, it is the responsibility of the company to inform RBI of the shares it is allotting to NRIs; therefore, these shares are not covered under PINS.

  3. Investment in Mutual Funds. Here, the voting right or the ownership of the shares remains with the AMC/trust and not the individual investing in the MF. Therefore, here also reporting is not required and these transactions are covered under non-PINS.

Schedule-4: Non-Repatriable

An NRI, including a company, a trust and a partnership firm incorporated outside India and owned and controlled by non-resident Indians, may acquire and hold, on non-repatriation basis, equity shares, convertible preference shares, convertible debenture, warrants or units, without any limit, either on the stock exchange or outside it. This will be deemed to be domestic investment at par with the investment made by residents.

An NRI may contribute, on non-repatriation basis, to the capital of a partnership firm, a proprietary firm, or a Limited Liability Partnership without any limit.

The consideration for investment under this Schedule shall be paid by way of inward remittance through normal banking channel from abroad or out of funds held in NRE / FCNR / NRO account maintained with a bank in India.

The sale/maturity proceeds (net of applicable taxes) of the securities or units acquired under this Schedule shall be credited only to NRO account irrespective of whether the consideration for acquisition was paid by direct remittances from abroad or the type of account maintained in India.

Trading Account

Any DP account which handles share transactions must have a related trading account to handle cash. 2. NRIs can transact over NSE or BSE through trading account. 3. Demat account can be held jointly or singly as per the preference of the customer. 4. Nomination facility is provided on the Demat accounts. 5. The system provides the facility to freeze the DP accounts for any debits or credits or both debits and credits. 6. Short selling (sale without having the scrip in his godown) or day-trading is not permitted for NRIs.

Assets Eligible for Repatriation— Summary

  1. Government dated securities/Treasury bills.

  2. Units of domestic mutual funds.

  3. Non-convertible Debentures of Indian companies.

  4. Shares and convertible debentures of Indian companies through stock exchange under Portfolio Investment Scheme.

  5. Shares and Convertible Debentures of Indian companies under the FDI scheme.

  6. Perpetual debt instruments and debt capital instruments issued by banks in India.

  7. Bonds issued by Public Sector Undertakings.

  8. Shares in Public Sector Enterprises being disinvested by the Government of India.

Assets on Non-Repatriation Basis — Summary

  1. The first 4 items listed above.

  2. Units of Money Market Mutual Funds.

  3. SEBI approved Exchange traded derivative contracts out of INR funds held in India on non-repatriable basis, subject to the limits prescribed by the SEBI.

  Note:NRIs are not permitted to invest in small savings or Public Provident Fund (PPF) or RBI Savings Bonds.

A Resident can transfer by way of sale, shares (including transfer of subscriber’s shares), of an Indian company under private arrangement to a person Resident Outside India.

General permission is also available for transfer of shares by way of sale under private arrangement by an ROI to a Resident.

Such general permissions also cover transfer of shares by a non-resident to an Indian company under buy back and / or capital reduction scheme of the company.

The sale consideration in respect of equity purchased by an ROI remitted into India through normal banking channels shall be subjected to KYC by the remittance receiving AD Category-I bank. If it is different from the AD handling the transfer transaction, the KYC check should be carried out by the remittance receiving bank and the KYC report be submitted by the customer to the AD carrying out the transaction.

Depository Receipts (DRs)

FCCBs / DRs may be issued in accordance with the Scheme for issue of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds and Ordinary Shares (Through Depository Receipt Mechanism) Scheme, 1993 and DR Scheme 2014 respectively.

DRs can be issued against the securities of listed or unlisted and private or public companies against underlying securities which can be debt instruments, shares, units, etc. DRs can also be issued by shareholders without involving the company, through the so-called unsponsored DR route. DRs can be freely held and transferred by both Residents and Non-residents. Since the tax benefits were intended to be provided in respect of sponsored DRs and listed companies only, the definition of DR has been changed to mean depository receipts issued to NRIs against i) ordinary shares of issuing company listed on a recognised stock exchange in India or ii) FCCBs of issuing company.

Therefore, i) the gains arising on transfer of such non-sponsored issues to NRIs outside India, would not be exempt u/s 115AC from capital gains and, ii) on conversion of these DRs into the underlying shares, the provision of Sec. 49(2ABB) shall not apply and the cost of acquisition of such underlying shares on conversion of DR shall be the cost at which the DR had been acquired by the investor.

The process of conversion of DRs into the underlying shares involves the non-resident holding the DRs in the overseas market giving instruction to his foreign broker who then delivers the DRs to the foreign depository delivering the underlying shares into a demat account of the foreign investor in India. The foreign depository thereafter cancels the DRs and issues an instruction to its local custodian in India who delivers the shares to the specified ‘DR type’ demat account and informs the foreign depository of the completion of the process. The foreign investor may choose to hold the underlying shares or sell them in India either on exchange through a SEBI registered broker or through private arrangement.

DRs listed on Stock Exchanges in the US are referred to as American Depository Receipts (ADRs) and other markets, like Singapore, Luxembourg, London, etc., are Global Depository Receipts (GDRs). In the Indian context, DRs are treated as FDI.

Limited Two-way Fungibility

A SEBI-registered stockbroker in India can purchase shares of an Indian company from the market for conversion into DR as required by overseas investors. Re-issuance of DRs would be permitted to the extent of DRs which have been redeemed into underlying shares and sold in Indian market.

Summary: Cases where Prior RBI Permission is Required

1. Transfer of capital instruments from resident to non-residents by way of sale where:

   (a) Transfer is at a price which falls outside the pricing guidelines specified by the RBI from time to time.

   (b) Transfer of capital instruments by the non-resident acquirer involving deferment of payment of the amount of consideration. Further, in case approval is granted for a transaction, the same should be reported in Form FC-TRS, to an AD Category-I bank for necessary due diligence, within 60 days from the date of receipt of the full and final amount of consideration.

2. Transfer of any capital instrument, by way of gift by a person Resident to a person Resident Outside India who is a close relative. The gift should not exceed 5% of the paid-up capital of the Indian company and each series of debentures/ MF scheme.

3. The value of capital instruments to be transferred together with any capital instruments already transferred by the transferor, as gift, to an ROI should not exceed the rupee equivalent of US$ 50,000 during the FY.

Indian Depository Receipts (IDR)

An Indian company can also sponsor an issue of IDRs where the company offers its Resident shareholders a choice to submit their shares to the company enabling it to issue IDRs abroad on the back of such shares. The proceeds of the issue are distributed amongst those Residents who offered their rupee denominated shares for conversion. The proceeds can be credited to their RFCD account in India. Moreover, where a Resident has since become an NRI, the sale proceeds can be credited to his foreign currency accounts abroad or in India.

Moreover, companies Resident Outside India, with prior approval of sectoral regulator, can issue IDRs denominated in Indian Rupees, through any domestic depository to Residents, NRIs and also SEBI registered FIIs. For raising funds through issuances of IDRs by financial and banking companies having presence in India, either through a branch or subsidiary, prior approval of the sectoral regulators is necessary.

There is an overall cap of US$ 5 billion for raising capital through IDRs. This cap is akin to the cap imposed on FIIs for investment in debt securities.

The FEMA Regulations shall not be applicable to Residents for investing in IDRs and subsequent transfer arising out of transaction on a recognized stock exchange in India.

To encourage greater foreign participation in the Indian capital market and to retain the domestic liquidity, SEBI has allowed partial fungibility to the extent of redemption of IDRs into underlying equity shares and re-conversion of equity shares of a foreign issuer (which has already listed their IDRs) into IDRs up to 25% of the IDRs originally issued. IDRs shall not be redeemed into underlying equity shares before the expiry of 1 year.

Residents, other than Indian Companies and MFs can hold the underlying shares only for sale within 30 days from the date of conversion of the IDRs into underlying shares.

Incidentally, gains arising on redemptions of IDR into the underlying equity shares, if not specifically exempt, would lead to the holder being subjected to tax, making any redemption unattractive — a point for CBDT to note.

Miscellaneous Provisions

Transfer of sale of not listed or thinly traded shares under private arrangement are subject to guidelines related with fixing of price, collection of proceeds, documentation, etc.

A Resident can sell shares (including subscriber’s shares), of an Indian company under private arrangement to an ROI, unless the shares are of an Indian company engaged in financial sector.

Companies incorporated in India can borrow in rupees by way of issue of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) to NRIs on non-repatriation or repatriation basis.

RBI ADMA Circular 27 dt 31.8.99 has granted general permission to Indian Proprietorship Concerns, Firms and Companies for issue of CPs to NRIs on non-repatriable, non-transferable basis.

Investment in Partnership Firm/Proprietary Concern

An NRI (other than a citizen of Bangladesh, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka) can contribute capital of a firm or a proprietary concern in India or any association of persons in India on non-repatriation basis.

Offshore Funds of Foreign MFs

India-dedicated offshore funds invest in the shares of Indian companies but are priced in a foreign currency. Such funds offer a lot of advantages to overseas investors —

  1. Currency risk is absent.

  2. Any income earned either through dividends or capital gains from offshore funds registered in Mauritius and other extremely tax-friendly regimes will not be taxed in India.

  3. Offshore funds have a lower expense ratio of around 1.75% against 2% on domestic funds, thanks to over-regulation.

Yes, there are some problems —

  1. Some offshore funds are priced on a weekly basis limiting the entry and exit facilities to once a week, causing liquidity problems.

  2. Usual currency risk also exists for funds which maintain their portfolios in rupees but the NAV is marked to market in US$.

  3. The time involved for the fund to sell the underlying investments in India can cause delays.

  4. The shares redeemed on any valuation day may be limited to 10% of the total number of shares prior to the valuation day.

Exchange Traded Derivatives Contracts

FIIs and NRIs may invest out of Rupee funds held in India on non-repatriation basis in such contracts subject to the limits prescribed by SEBI. Accordingly, the position limits for FIIs and NRIs shall be the same as the client level position limits.

For Index-based contracts, there is a disclosure requirement for any person or persons acting in concert who together own 15% or more of the open interest of all derivative contracts on a particular underlying index. For stock option and single stock futures contracts, the gross open position across all derivative contracts on a particular underlying security of an NRI shall not exceed the higher of (i) 1% of the free float market capitalisation in terms of number of shares, or (ii) 5% of the open interest in the derivative contracts on a particular underlying stock in terms of number of contracts.

These position limits would be applicable on the combined position in all derivative contracts on an underlying stock at an exchange.

An NRI is required to notify to the Exchange the names of the Clearing Member/s through whom he would clear his derivative trades. The exchange would then assign a unique client code to the NRI and monitor his position limits.

Now that there is enough clarity in respect of this new tax regime, it will surely bring in considerable growth in long-term foreign investment and Private Equity investment in India.

Notification FEMA 344/2015 RB dt 11.6.15 has defined ESOP to mean the option given to the directors, officers or employees of a company or of its holding company or joint venture or wholly owned overseas subsidiary, which gives such directors, officers or employees, the benefit or right to purchase, or to subscribe for, the shares of the company at a future date at a pre-determined price. ‘Sweat Equity Shares’ means such equity shares as issued by a company to its directors or employees at a discount or for consideration other than cash, for providing their know-how or making available rights in intellectual property rights or value additions, or by whatever name called.

An Indian company may issue ESOP or sweat equity to its own employees/directors or those of its holding company or joint venture or wholly owned overseas subsidiary who are Resident Outside India, provided such shares follow the sectoral cap applicable. Citizen of Bangladesh and Pakistan shall require prior approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board.

The equities should be issued within 180 days from the date of receipt of the inward remittance or by debit to the NRE/FCNR account. Transgression without prior permission of RBI, attracts penalty, unless the amount is refunded within this period.

Cashless ESOP

Under Cashless ESOP issued by a company outside India, the employees can hold stock options and shares granted by the parent organisation without any restrictions on its monetary value, provided it does not involve any remittance from India. However, the employees are bound to sell the shares immediately on the date of exercise. The difference between the sale consideration and the exercise price needs to be promptly repatriated to India. This scheme does not involve any cash outflow and therefore the RBI does not control the implementation of cashless ESOP.

Do cashless ESOP permit acquisition of stock options by employee of subsidiaries, branches, JVs of foreign corporations or is it restricted to employees of the parent corporations working in India? Can these be continued to be held post-retirement or on termination of employment? What about the legal heirs? Clarity is required.

JVs/WOS

RBI permits purchase of shares of a JV/WOS abroad of the Indian promoter company, which is engaged in the fields of software, by its employees / directors provided —

  a) The purchase consideration does not exceed US$ 10,000 per employee in a block of 5 calendar years.

  b) The shares so acquired do not exceed 5% of the paid-up capital of the JV or WOS outside India, and

  c) After allotment of such shares, the percentage of shares held by the Indian promoter company, together with shares allotted to its employees is not less than the percentage of shares held by the Indian promoter company prior to such allotment.

  d) Proceeds from sale of shares so acquired must be repatriated to India. In most cases, foreign companies with a stake of more than 51% are listed. So, employees are given ESOPs on the local shares.

The period of holding in such a case shall be reckoned from the date on which a request for redemption is made by the assessee. Sec 49(2ABB) has been inserted to provide that the cost of acquisition of shares acquired by a non-resident on redemption of GDRs shall be the price of such shares as prevailing on any recognized stock exchange on the date on which a request for redemption is made by the assessee.

The proceeds so raised must be kept abroad till actually required in India. Pending repatriation or utilisation of the proceeds, the Indian company can invest the funds in —

  a) Deposits with or Certificate of Deposit or other instruments offered by banks who have been rated by Standard & Poor, Fitch, IBCA, Moody’s, etc., and such rating should not be below the eligible rating stipulated by RBI. Current eligibility is at AA-

  b) Deposits with branches of ADs outside India, and

  c) Treasury bills and other monetary instruments with a maturity or unexpired maturity of one year or less.

Foreign ESOPs

Several multinational companies listed on an overseas stock exchange have issued stock options to employees of their Indian subsidiaries. Possibly the new Rule has meticulously avoided the words ‘listed in India’ following ‘recognised stock exchange’ to rope in such companies. However, the good work is undone by defining a ‘recognised stock exchange’ to have the same meaning assigned to it in Sec. 2(f) of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956. This raises some queries. Can a merchant banker situated abroad do the valuation by registering itself with SEBI? Unless these issues are addressed with clarity, we are in for many litigations. Indian companies listed abroad, also carry these question marks.

Since the sale does not take place in a recognised stock exchange in India, the LTCG gets taxed @20% with indexation benefits and STCG at rates applicable to the assessee.

If the employee does not have enough funds to exercise the option, he may use the ‘cashless exercise’ also known as ‘flipping the option’ by effecting the sale and purchase on the same day and pay the cost of acquisition out of the sale proceeds.

Such a transaction gives rise to short-term capital gains. A bit of aggression on the employee’s part can prevent this from happening. The employee should exercise the option by paying for the shares through a loan, if necessary, one year before effecting the sale. Of course, the cost benefit analysis of the tax saved vis-a-vis the interest paid on the loan will have to be carried out.

Where shares, debentures or warrants are allotted by a company, directly or indirectly, to its employees under ESOP and such shares are transferred by the employee by way of gift or irrevocable transfer, the market value on the date of such transfer shall be deemed to be the full value of the consideration. Such gift would attract provisions of capital gains.

One step forward, one step backward.

ESOP and Income Tax

Where the share is listed on a recognised stock exchange, its value shall be the average of the opening price and closing price on that date. If it is listed on more than one recognised stock exchange, the value shall be governed by the exchange which records the highest volume of trading in the share. Where the exchange quotes both ‘buy’ and ‘sell’ prices, the ‘sell’ prices of the first and the last settlement would be considered. If there is no trading on that date, the ‘sell’ price quoted nearest to immediately preceding such date shall be the value.

In the case of non-listed shares, the value shall be determined by a category-I merchant banker registered with SEBI. To avoid multiple valuations depending upon the vesting dates of different employees, the valuation done earlier, not exceeding 180 days, can be taken for the purpose. Thus, the company may have to ask for valuation from the merchant banker, at the most twice in one year.

Sec. 115ACA is applicable to a Resident employee of an Indian company, including its Indian and foreign subsidiaries, engaged in the specified knowledge-based industry such as Information Technology. It taxes @10% the Residents deriving income by way of dividends or LTCG arising from DRs purchased either directly or under its ESOP.

ESOP and Income Tax

Where the share is listed on a recognised stock exchange, its value shall be the average of the opening price and closing price on that date. If it is listed on more than one recognised stock exchange, the value shall be governed by the exchange which records the highest volume of trading in the share. Where the exchange quotes both ‘buy’ and ‘sell’ prices, the ‘sell’ prices of the first and the last settlement would be considered. If there is no trading on that date, the ‘sell’ price quoted nearest to immediately preceding such date shall be the value.

In the case of non-listed shares, the value shall be determined by a category-I merchant banker registered with SEBI. To avoid multiple valuations depending upon the vesting dates of different employees, the valuation done earlier, not exceeding 180 days, can be taken for the purpose. Thus, the company may have to ask for valuation from the merchant banker, at the most twice in one year.

Sec. 115ACA is applicable to a Resident employee of an Indian company, including its Indian and foreign subsidiaries, engaged in the specified knowledge-based industry such as Information Technology. It taxes @10% the Residents deriving income by way of dividends or LTCG arising from DRs purchased either directly or under its ESOP.

ESOP of Start-ups

Currently ESOPs are taxed twice (i) Tax on perquisite as income from salary at the time of exercise and (ii) Tax on income from capital gain at the time of sale.

The tax required to be paid while exercising of option may lead to cash flow problem if this benefit of ESOP is in kind. Therefore, a new Sec. 192(1C) has been inserted by FA20 to clarify that an eligible start-up deducts or pays tax on such income —

  a) after the expiry of 48 months from the end of the relevant AY or

  b) from the date of the sale of such specified security or sweat equity share by the assessee or

  c) from the date of which the assessee ceases to be the employee of the person,

whichever is the earliest based on rates in force of the FY in which the said specified security is allotted or transferred.

Consequential amendments have been carried out in Sec. 191 (for assessees to pay the tax direct in case of no TDS) and in Sec. 156 (for notice of demand) and in Sec. 140A (for calculating self-assessment amount).

There are only two investment avenues, besides Banks, where retail NRIs can invest freely with repatriation benefits. One is the stock market. Those who do not have time, energy, and inclination to track the markets in India may invest through MFs. As a matter of fact, even those who have time should invest through MFs, because an individual can never compete with the team of researchers the MFs employ. But, and this is a large but, before investing in MFs, you will do well to check whether your host country (particularly USA and Canada) allows you to invest in Indian MF schemes.

All the MFs have the twin objectives of mobilising the savings of the masses to channelise them into productive corporate investments and providing facilities to persons of even modest means of owning indirectly, equity shares, company bonds, debentures and government securities. An MF is a financial intermediary between investors and the markets (stock and debt). It protects the investor against capital risk by giving him the benefit of its professional expertise in investment management. MF’s constant supervision on the portfolio, which it holds on behalf of the investor and the diversification of large funds over a large portfolio throughout the spectrum of industries, is of great value to the investor.

Dividend & Bonus Stripping for Shares & Units

The 4 conditions applicable for Sec. 94(7) to be operational are —

  1. The purchase of shares or units is within 3 months before the record date for dividends.

  2. The sale of shares is within 3 months after the record date for dividends or bonuses. In the case of units this period is 9 months.

  3. The dividend is tax-free.

  4. The transaction results in a loss.

If all these conditions are simultaneously satisfied, loss arising to the taxpayer on the sale, to the extent it does not exceed the dividend, must be ignored.

Sec. 94(8) dealt with bonus stripping, only of MFs and not equities. The stipulation for its applicability is identical with that of dividend stripping with one difference. The loss, if any will also be ignored for the purposes of computing the income chargeable to tax. However, the amount of loss so ignored shall be deemed to be the cost of purchase or acquisition of the bonus units.

These provisions, inadvertently, did not apply to such stripping undertaken in case of securities (=shares), units of Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) or Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) or Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) as well the units of new pooled investment vehicles related with InvIT or REIT or AIFs.

Sec. 94(8) has been amended to make this provision applicable to securities. It has also modified the definition of unit, to include units of business trusts such as InvIT, REIT and AIF.

Which Scheme to opt for?

All MFs normally offer 3 schemes — Equity-based, Balanced and Debt-based, each with three options, Dividend paying, Dividend reinvestment and Pure-growth. Thus, there are nine options.

We do not like the balanced scheme since the investor can choose his own ratio, by going in separately for the Equity-based and Debt-based scheme. We also do not like the dividend paying or dividend reinvestment plan since dividend has become fully taxable. This leaves us with only 2 options — i) debt-based growth and ii) equity-based growth.

Conceptually, debt-based schemes are much safer than equity. Not true as has been proven by the large amount of defaults by borrowers of MFs forcing almost all of them to segregate their portfolios. This aspect is covered a little later.

Similarly, we do not like any specific sector-based schemes. For instance, at this juncture, the IT and pharma sectors are facing some problems with US policies but much as the fund manager would like to shift, even partly, he cannot do so.

That leaves only one scheme --- Multicap Equity.

Mark to Market

Strange but true, interest rates and prices of fixed income instruments have an inverse relationship. In other words, when the overall interest rates in the economy rise, the prices of fixed income earning instruments fall and vice versa.

To illustrate, let us assume that the current NAV of the MF is ₹10 and its corpus is ₹1,000 crore. This means that if the fund sells all the assets of the scheme and distributes the money on equitable basis to all the unit holders, they will receive ₹10 per unit. Now suppose, the interest rate falls from 6.0% to 5.4%. Immediately thereafter you wish to invest ₹1 lakh in the scheme. Realise that the entire corpus of the fund stands invested at an average return of 6.0%. If the Fund sells the units to you at its current NAV of ₹10, you will be allotted 10,000 units. This will benefit you immensely. You will be a partner in sharing the benefit of the higher returns of 6.0%, though the fund will be forced to invest your ₹1 lakh at the lower rate of 5.4%.

This is injustice to the existing investors. Therefore, comes the ‘mark to market’ concept. The fund raises its NAV to ₹11.11. You will be allotted only 9,000 units and not 10,000. The returns on 9,000 units @ 6.0% would be identical with the returns on 10,000 units @ 5.4%.

Consequently, NAV rises when the interest falls and vice versa.

Capital Assured Schemes

The retail investor wants guarantee, any guarantee. In the past, in their effort to garner as many investors as possible in their fold, the MFs chose the simple way out by giving some assurance or the other, instead of launching on educating the investor. The way the MFs tried to take advantage of this weakness for assurance and their analytical ignorance is manifest from the fact that for one of their schemes, UTI assured respectable dividends but not the capital. All such MFs faced bad problems when the market went into a prolonged bear phase. The parents of the MFs had to rescue their children by funding the deficit.

Despite all this, there are still many investors who have fallen in love with some assurance without realising that the decision-oriented criteria should only be the brand image, the parentage and the ability of fund manager of the MF and not any assurance.

The MFs have discovered a way to guarantee capital and also derive some benefit from the share market. The idea is simple yet effective. Invest the entire capital in fixed income schemes and invest the interest received therefrom in equities. This way the capital remains intact while participating in equity upside, if any.

Numbers being easier to understand, let us assume that you have investible funds of ₹5 lakh. Here is what you do. Out of ₹5 lakh invest around ₹2 lakh in a bank 10-yr cumulative FD which gives 9.5% interest. Invest the rest ₹3 lakh in an equity-based MF. This ₹2 lakh FD would grow to ₹5 lakh in 10 years. Now, no matter what happens to the money invested in the MFs, at the end of 10 years, you will certainly have ₹5 lakh which is what you originally started with. The market value of ₹3 lakh of equity-based MF is an additional icing on the cake.

For ease of understanding and not to compromise simplicity over accuracy, we have left out the tax angle.

Surely, the MFs have a vast field from which they can choose guaranteed returns, and this would be much higher than the market rate. Moreover, there are tax benefits for MFs and not for others.

No wonder they say, a steady job and an MF is still the best defence against social security.

Liquid Schemes

MF houses have taken advantage of the advancement of technology in designing this product which is better than Saving Bank Accounts. Alternatively termed as ‘Any Time Money’, it allows instant withdrawals over telephones, SMSs and ATM cards issued by the fund houses. There is no exit load. The returns, though not assured, are around 8.0%, fully taxable. This is not much useful to NRIs because of the distance but can serve as emergency fund for family members in India.

Equity-based MF Schemes

Equity-based schemes of MFs have evolved as the best parking place for all investible funds. These have become more attractive than ever before because of the various tax concessions discussed earlier.

The one and the only disadvantage is the risk factor. The fortunes of equity-based schemes are linked closely with the market and its associated volatility. One can get incredibly good rewards but the possibility of losing one’s shirt (and also, in some cases, more intimate garments) cannot be lost sight of.

At this juncture, the markets have been sliding down because of several external factors such as Chinese meltdown, Global depression, European misery, Oil prices, etc., etc. The markets all over the globe have crashed but the Indian market has crashed much less than all the others, thanks to the Modi factor. Indian GDP is slated to grow significantly, thanks to the Modi factor.

Perhaps this is the right time to go for equity based.

Segregated Portfolios

SEBI has, vide circular SEBI/HO/IMD/DF2/CIR/P/2018/160 dt 28/2/2018, permitted creation of segregated portfolio of debt and money market instruments by MFs for stressed assets. All the existing unit holders in the affected scheme as on the day of the credit event shall be allotted equal number of units in the segregated portfolio as held in the main portfolio. On segregation, the unit holders come to hold same number of units in two schemes — the main scheme and segregated scheme.

Consequently, Sec. 2(42A) has been amended to provide that in the case of a capital asset, being units in a segregated portfolio, referred to Sec. 49(2AG), there shall be included the period for which the original unit or units in the main portfolio were held by the assessee.

Further, the cost of acquisition of units in the segregated portfolio shall be the amount which bears to the cost of acquisition of units held by the assessee in the total portfolio, the same proportion as the NAV of the asset transferred to the segregated portfolio bears to the NAV of the total portfolio immediately before the segregation of portfolios.

New Sec. 49 (2AH) has been inserted to provide that the cost of the acquisition of the original units held by the unit holder in the main portfolio shall be deemed to have been reduced by the amount as so arrived at u/s 49 (2AG).

Equity-Linked Saving Scheme (ELSS)

ELSS is a variant of equity-based schemes with a lock-in of 3 years (1 year if the investor expires), though all of them have one open-ended scheme and a few are with a term of 10 years. At least 80% of its corpus is statutorily required to be invested in equities, cumulative convertible preference shares and fully convertible debentures and bonds of companies. Investment may also be made in partly convertible debentures and bonds including those on rights basis subject to the condition that the non-convertible portion of the debentures shall be disinvested within 12 months. These restrictions enable the scheme to come under the umbrella of Sec. 80C within the overall general ceiling of ₹1,50,000.

ELSS, being equity-based is, in theory, highly risky. In practice, it is highly attractive. A savvy investor never has a short-term view. He looks at the macro levels. Since the fundamentals of most companies have become robust, the ELSS has beaten PPF by miles.

Consequently, though past performance is not a guide for its future achievements, in practice, ELSS has become highly rewarding.

Thanks to the mandatory 3-year lock-in, the fund managers have better freedom to play since he need not keep large funds liquid to meet repurchase demands. The mandatory requirement of equity exposure is minimum 80% as against 65% for normal equity-based schemes. We analysed the performance as on 31st January 2022 of all such schemes existing for minimum period of 3 years of all the MFs and found that the 3-yr weighted average returns worked out at 18.43% p.a., the max being 35.50% and min 10.90%.

Other Advantages

MFs schemes have become more flexible than flexibonds.

  1. Saving Bank Account: Deposit and withdraw whenever you feel like. Banks permit issue of cheques to third parties whereas withdrawal slips (= self-cheques) are for MF schemes.

  2. Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP): You can give standing instructions to receive some amount of your choice at a periodicity of your choice — annual, 6-monthly, quarterly, or even monthly! That is not all. You can ask for additional withdrawals whenever you need more funds. This becomes a pension plan.

  3. Systematic Investment Plan (SIP): You can make investments of an equal amount of money at regular intervals (monthly or quarterly) until you cancel the facility. You may either submit post-dated cheques covering a period of your choice or opt for the auto-debit facility. If you adopt this strategy, you will be averaging out the market movements and this is really a great advantage.

  4. One Plan Equals All: Can be converted into Tax-free Savings Bonds, Children’s Gift Growth Plan, Children’s College and Career Fund, Marriage Endowment Plan, etc.

Repatriability of Income

Normally, investments made by either direct remittance of forex from abroad or by applying NRE funds are repatriable and can be credited to NRE account. This is true in the case of investment in shares, MFs and immovable property in India. The income in India of an NRI from any source can be repatriated abroad after taxes are paid thereon.

However, in the case of shares, the transactions must be carried out from a Repatriable DP account. In other words, an NRI is required to have, if need be, separate DP accounts, one repatriable and the other non-repatriable.

In the case of MFs, on redemption, MFs issue a certificate indicating that the original amount was invested through an NRE account or direct remittance from abroad.

Tax Neutrality on Merger of MF Schemes

In the USA, very strangely, the number of MF Schemes is much higher than the number of listed shares. India is moving in that direction mainly because of the uncanny attraction of the retail investor to NFOs (= IPOs). Despite millions of rupees spent on the so-called ‘investor education’ the investor brings money to the Fund only when it floats a new scheme. He refuses to look at the old schemes, even those which have performed very well.

The fund manager is forced to offer brand new schemes with regular ferocity for garnering funds for his house. A natural outcome of this situation is that every fund house has many schemes which are clones. Since long, it had become urgently necessary to merge some of such schemes for better governance. Unfortunately, such mergers attracted provisions of capital gains and therefore any attempt in that direction by SEBI received lukewarm response.

Thankfully Sec. 47(viii) has now been inserted to provide tax neutrality when two or more schemes of equity-oriented fund or of other than equity-oriented fund get merged or consolidated.

Invest Directly in MFs --- Not Through Agents

SEBI has wisely opened the doors open for direct investments in MFs. Those who have the ability to select their own portfolio of MF schemes from amongst over 500 exisisting pure equity-based MF schemes, best suited to their personal needs, goals, risk appetite, etc., should adopt the direct route. The investor saves the fee paid by the MF houses to the agents which is --- no upfront; only trail between 0.5% and 1%. We are thankful to SEBI for this arrangement.

Caution --- Adopt the direct route if and only if you do have the capcity of choosing. Otherwise, take assistance from a good and trustworthy agent since his role in not only choosing the right portfolio for you consistent with your future requirements and risk appetite but also providing secretarial help in future is very important.

Invest Directly in Shares --- Not Through MFs

We have a suggestion which is a corrolary of the MF direct route. Those who have the ability to select their own portfolio of equities from amongst around 1,000 listed equities, should adopt the direct route. The investor saves the fee (=Total Expense Ratio) charged by the MF houses to the investors for their servies which range between 1.5% and 2.5%.

Caution --- Adopt the direct route if and only if you do have the capcity of choosing. Otherwise, take assistance from a good and trustworthy consultant whose charges are much less.

The Best Investment is in Listed Shares

Normally, this is considered as most risky and good to leave it alone. Unfortunately, the risk is least understood and most misunderstood phenomenon. In the case of shares this risk tends to be nil(!) if you have a long-term view.

Let us have a serious look at this long-term aspect. ---

  1. The Sensex was 100 in 1979 and now in 2022 it is hovering around 58,000 after 43 years. This means that if you had invested ₹100 in 1979 in a fundamentally good scrip, its current price would be around ₹58000. This is a return of around 16% p.a.!! Moreover, there is an additional stream of around 2% dividends received throughout these 43 years and the interest you earned thereon compounded over these many years. Most important — long-term capital gains are tax-free up to ₹1 lakh and even beyond that limit the tax rate is lower at 10%. Short-term gains are taxed @15% only.

  2. Yes, undoubtedly your wealth will rise respectfully, if and only if you do not get panicky and sell your holdings when the markets goes down alarmingly as it did, thanks to Harshad Metha (1992), Ketan Parikh (1997), World.com (2002), Lehman Brothers (2008), Enron (2009), etc., etc., more recently, Nirav Mody, Vijay Mallya and, most recently, Covid!

  3. Any transaction in the market has a buyer and a seller. Eventually, one of them earns and the other loses, absolutely in equal and opposite directions. In other words, if you take both together (say, belong to the same family) the transaction is profit/loss neutral. Taking a holistic view, for the entire family of all the traders in the market taken together, all the transactions are profit/loss neutral.

  4. A small correction. The cost per transaction, which has to be borne by both the buyer and seller consisting of brokerage, GST, STT, stamp duty, exchange charges, SEBI turnover fee, amount to around ₹704 per transaction value of ₹1,00,00. The community of investors taken together lose ₹1,408 per transaction.

  5. It is evident that the one and only way of benefiting from the stock market is to invest in good fundamentals as and when you have money to spare and do not indulge in panic selling even when the price of your scrip crashes along with the market.

  6. All fund houses talk repeatedly about the benefit of having a long-term view. But they do not walk the talk.

  7. Their charges for compensating them for their expenses related with choosing the best for you varies between 1.50% and 2.50% which includes brokerages, commission to agents, staff salaries, regulatory requirements, research and miscellaneous expenses, etc. This is charged to the investor and is declared in their offer document but since it is charged to NAV on daily basis, it is invisible to the investor. The same investor is reluctant to pay the consultant directly even if his charges are much lower since that is a visible loss.

  8. Keep in close touch with market news. Avoid the pitfall of sticking on to a favourite stock and being in denial of the adverse changes taking place in the company due to heavy competition, technological redundancy, fire, frauds, etc.

  9. Admittedly, you may want to switch your good investment for a better one. Do so if you have some conviction. But be careful. After all, a bird in hand is worth many in the market.

Lost Certificates

Excellent action taken by the recent FA23 --- For investors to reclaim unclaimed shares, and unpaid dividends from the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority with ease, an integrated IT portal will be established. We hope we are not wrong in assuming that this facility is available not only for shares but also all other instruments such as units of MFs, Co FDs, Bank deposits, etc., etc.

NRIs enjoy the benefit of ‘Special Provisions’ Contained in Chapter XII-A covering Secs 115C to 115-I, dealing with tax on incomes from certain Forex Assets (FEA) which the assessee has acquired, purchased or subscribed to in convertible forex. These are:

1. 1. Shares in an Indian company but not units of MFs.

2. 2. Debentures (convertible as well as non-convertible) issued by an Indian company which is not a private company as defined in the Companies Act 1956.

3. 3. Deposits with an Indian company which is not a private company as defined in the Companies Act 1956.

4. 4. Securities of the Central Government as defined in Sec. 2(2) of the Public Debt Act 1944.

Any income which is derived from FEA is connoted as investment income. The definition of FEA does not include bank deposits! But mostly, these can be brought under the purview of the provisions through the above mentioned point-3, ‘deposits with an Indian company’. All the banks (i) of which shares are listed in the stock market (e.g., SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank), (ii) which continue to be Indian companies (e.g., United Western Bank Ltd.) and (iii) nationalised banks which were originally incorporated as Indian companies before nationalisation are eligible for the concessions of special provisions.

None of the foreign banks, or co-operative banks are eligible for this facility, a point which dawns only when it is too late.

Salient Features

The NRI is given the option in respect of investment income to be governed either by the special or the general provisions of the ITA. This option can be exercised by expressing his desire through his return of income. He is free to decide for each FY as to whether he wants to opt for the special provisions or not.

If the individual opts for the special provisions, his total investment income, without taking any cognisance of any expenditure or allowances, particularly the income threshold or deductions under Chapter VI-A, is taxed as a separate block at a flat rate of 20% and @10% on LTCG, unless exempt.

In case the assessee has other taxable income in addition to investment income, the other income will be taxed at the rates as per the general provisions, where the income threshold and Chapter-VIA are operative.

U/s 115G it is not necessary to furnish a return of income if the total income consists only of investment income or income by way of LTCG or both and TDS has been correctly applied and there is no additional tax liability. In practice, it is better to file returns to establish continuity.

To avoid delays in remitting the sale proceeds of FEA, Sec. 204(iia) authorises an AD to deduct tax if it is not a short-term gain and remit the balance to the NRI or credit it to his NRE account.

U/s 115G it is not necessary to furnish a return of income if the total income consists only of investment income or income by way of LTCG or both and TDS has been correctly applied and there is no additional tax liability. In practice, it is better to file returns to establish continuity.

To avoid delays in remitting the sale proceeds of FEA, Sec. 204(iia) authorises an AD to deduct tax if it is not a short-term gain and remit the balance to the NRI or credit it to his NRE account.

U/s 115F, LTCG arising out of transfer of FEA is not charged to tax if the net consideration is reinvested in FEA within 6 months from the date of transfer. If part of the consideration is invested, proportionate deduction would be allowed. There is a lock-in of 3 years on the new asset acquired. If this new asset is transferred within that period, the exempted capital gains would be brought to tax as LTCG of the year in which the new asset is transferred.

When an NRI becomes a Resident, the Special Provisions continue to apply when the assets get eventually transferred.

Good News

A. Sinha & Rao Ranvijay Singh (AAR 762 of 2007 dt 3.3.08) held, — NRO deposits shall be treated as FEA and interest thereon shall be treated as investment income u/s 115C(c) which is liable to be taxed @ 20%. The only conditions applicable are that the funds in the account should be made from convertible forex and further that the account should be in a banking company which is not a private company as per Companies Act.

Some of the very enterprising ADs take advantage of ‘Special Provisions’ to bring down the TDS rate at 20.8% (Refer Chapter Tedious TDS) provided the account balance represents deposits made only in forex.

General Conditions

Use of credit card in India by an ROI shall not be deemed as borrowing or lending in rupees.

The rate of interest and margin on all loans may be decided by the ADs, subject to the latest RBI directives.

Funds borrowed either by a Resident or an ROI can be used for his personal requirements and/or own business but not for relending. Such investment includes purchase of immovable property or shares, debentures, bonds, etc., issued by companies in India, including margin trading or derivatives.

Loans can be granted against the security of NRE, FCNR and NRO term deposits but not SB. The term of the loan shall not exceed the balance maturity period of the deposit. Premature withdrawal of NRE/FCNR deposits is not available.

Loans to Depositor and 3rd Party against NRE/FCNR

An AD or its overseas branch or correspondent can grant loans against security of the funds to the account holder or a third party in or outside India.

Rupee loans may be granted by ADs provided —

1. There is no direct or indirect forex consideration paid to the NRI depositor for agreeing to pledge his deposits.

2. There is no transaction between the guarantor and the borrower involving forex until the guarantee is invoked or the loan is settled. If the guarantor is forced to discharge his guarantee, the NRI may enforce his claim against the Resident borrower. If the liability is discharged by payment out of rupee balances, the amount recovered becomes non-repatriable.

3. A Resident, being a principal debtor can make payment to any ROI who has met his liability. The amount remitted or credited shall not exceed the rupee equivalent of the amount paid by the ROI guarantor against the invoked guarantee.

Forex loans in or outside India can be granted by ADs provided ---

a) The document is executed by the deposit holder himself and not by his PoA or LoA holder.

b) If the repayment is made by using the NRO account, the interest should be charged at the full commercial rate in force.

c) FEMR (Deposit) permits a branch outside India of an AD to give a forex loan against the security of NRE or FCNR deposit.

Loans to NRIs

An AD can grant a loan in India in rupees to NRIs on non-repatriable basis against the security of shares or other securities or immovable property in India.

Temporary Overdrawing

ADs may allow overdrawing in NRE SB account, up to ₹50,000. Such overdrawing together with the interest should be cleared within 2 weeks, out of inward remittances through normal banking channels or by transfer of funds from other NRE/FCNR(B) accounts.

Borrowing by Residents from NRI Relatives

AP (DIR) Circular 24 dt 27.9.03 grants general permission to borrow up to US$ 2,50,000 or its equivalent on a repatriable basis by an individual Resident from his close NRI relative if —

a) The loan shall be free of interest.

b) The minimum maturity period of the loan shall be 1 year.

c) The amount of loan is received by inward remittance in free forex through normal banking channels or by debit to the NRE account of the NRI.

AP (DIR) Circular 95 dt 21.3.12 allows the borrower to repay in installments, interest and other charges directly to NRE account of the lender concerned.

Rupee Loan or Gift to an NRI/PIO Close Relative

A Resident individual is permitted to make a rupee loan or gift to a close relative NRI/PIO by way of crossed cheque or electronic transfer subject to:

a) The loan is free of interest and its minimum maturity of the loan is one year.

b) The loan (or Gift) should be within the overall LRS limit of US$ 250,000 per FY.

c) The loan shall be utilised for meeting the borrower's personal requirements or for his own business in India.

d) The loan (or Gift) should be on non-repatriable basis.

e) Repayment of loan shall be made by way of inward remittances through normal banking channels or by debit to the NRO or NRE account of the borrower or out of the sale proceeds of the shares or securities or immovable property against which such loan was granted.

Borrowing in Rupees by Residents, Non-repatriable

A Resident individual, partnership or proprietorship firm, may borrow in rupees on repatriable or non-repatriable basis from an NRI subject to —

a) The term of the loan does not exceed 3 years.

b) The rate of interest does not exceed 2% over the bank rate.

LOANS TO NRI EMPLOYEES

Indian companies can give term loans in rupees to their NRI/PIO staff for personal purposes, including purchase of housing property in India. The loan shall be granted in accordance with the Lender’s Staff Welfare or Housing Loan Scheme. The amount shall be credited to the employee’s NRO account. This facility is also available to employees of branches outside India for forex loans.

SEBI Circular CFD/DIL/3/2013, dt 17.1.13 states that listed entities are prohibited from framing any employee benefit schemes involving acquisition of own securities from the secondary market. This prevents such entities adopting a fraudulent and unfair trade practice of manipulating the price of the securities.

Loans for ESOP

ADs can grant Rupee term loans to their NRI/PIO employees for acquiring its shares under its ESOP subject to —

1. The loan should not exceed 90% of the purchase price of the shares or ₹20 lakh whichever is lower. Incidentally, these limits are also applicable to loans to Resident employees.

2. The amount shall be paid directly by the bank to the company and should not be credited to the borrowers’ accounts in India.

Loans to Foreign National Employees

ADMA Circular 36 dt 11.9.97 has imposed a ceiling of ₹5 lakh on loans granted to foreign nationals, not permanently Resident, for personal purposes such as purchase of household articles, etc. The same ceiling is applicable to liaison offices of the companies. The terms and conditions should be the same as those applicable to its staff Resident.

HOUSING FINANCE

An AD or an approved housing finance institution may provide housing loan to an NRI with Indian passport (and not to PIOs!) for acquiring a residential house in India. The loan is subject to:

• Term of the loan should not exceed 15 years.

• The quantum of loans, margin money and the period of repayment shall be at par with those applicable to Resident borrowers.

• The loan shall be fully secured by equitable mortgage of the property proposed to be acquired, and if necessary, also by a lien on the borrower’s other assets in India. A Resident close relative may also be taken as a co-obligant or guarantor.

• Repayment by close relative in respect of loan in rupees availed by NRI was restricted to housing loans only. AP (DIR) Circular 19 dt 16.9.11 has granted general permission to Residents to repay loans availed by their NRI close relatives for any purpose.

• The amount should not be credited to borrower’s NRE account.

• Where the property is rented out, the entire rental income, even if it is more than the prescribed instalments, should be adjusted towards repayment of the loan.

• Rate of interest shall conform with RBI and NHB directives.

• The property shall be used by the NRI for self-occupation on return to India and not for any other purpose.

Where the land is owned jointly by an NRI borrower with a Resident close relative, the relative should be taken as a co-obligant or guarantor. In such cases the payment of margin money and repayment of the loan installments should be made by the NRI. The loans can also be given to Residents with NRI as a co-obligant.

An NRI requires prior approval of RBI for mortgaging an immovable property to a party abroad.

AP (DIR) Circular 95 dt 26.4.03 has extended the loan facility for repairs, renovation and improvement of residential accommodation owned in India by NRIs as well as PIOs.

Change in the Residential Status of the Borrower

An AD may (or may not) allow continuance of loan or overdraft of a Resident who subsequently becomes an ROI. In such cases, payment of interest and repayment of loan may be made by inward remittance or out of legitimate resources in India of the borrower.

If a rupee loan was granted by a Resident to another Resident and the lender subsequently becomes an NRI, the repayment of the loan by the Resident borrower should be made by credit to the NRO account of the lender.

COMPANY DEPOSITS

Notification FEMA 5(R)/2016-RB amended up to 16/7/19 covers Acceptance of Deposits from NRIs, PIOs on Repatriation/ Non-repatriation basis.

Repatriation basis

A company incorporated in India may accept deposits from NRIs or PIOs, on repatriation basis subject to:

(i) The deposits should be received under a public deposit scheme.

(ii) An NBFC should be registered with the RBI and should have obtained the required credit rating.

(iii) The amount should have been received by inward remittance from outside India through banking channels or by debit to the NRE or FCNR (B).

(iv) For NBFC the rate of interest payable on deposits shall be in conformity with the RBI directions issued by RBI for such companies. In other cases, it shall not exceed the ceiling rate prescribed under the Companies (Acceptance of Deposit) Rules, 2014.

(v) The term of deposits shall not exceed 3 years.

(vi) The amount of aggregate deposits accepted by the company shall not exceed 35% of its net owned funds.

(viii) The payment of interest net of taxes may be made by remittance through an AD or by credit to the depositor's NRE/ FCNR(B)/ NRO/ account as desired by him.

(ix) The amount of deposits so collected shall not be utilised by the company for re-lending (not applicable to NBFC) or for undertaking any prohibited activities.

(x) The repayment of the deposit may be made by remittance from India through an AD or by credit to the depositor's NRE/ FCNR(B) provided the depositor continues to be a non-resident at the time of repayment. It may also be credited to the depositor's NRO account, at the depositor's option.

Non-repatriable basis

A proprietorship concern or a firm in India and a company incorporated in India, may accept deposits on non-repatriation basis from NRIs or PIOs subject to:

(i) In the case of a company, the deposits may be accepted either under a private arrangement or public deposit scheme.

(ii) The amount of deposit shall be received by debit to NRO account only, provided that the amount of the deposit shall not represent inward remittances or transfer of funds from NRE/ FCNR (B) accounts into the NRO account.

(iii) The amount of deposits accepted shall not be allowed to be repatriated outside India.

(iv) All the rest of the conditions are identical with those on repatriable basis.

This happens to be most risky investment especially at the current juncture of unbridled scams.

During the process of liberalisation and globalisation, India has given the NRIs a plethora of investment opportunities, on repatriable and non-repatriable basis. However, the authors of legislation entrusted with implementing the vision have not done their homework properly. This has resulted in an NRI walking on the red carpet laid for him with ‘WELCOME’ signs being entrapped.

Take the case of an NRI intending to purchase a residential property. He is told that — If the consideration is paid out of forex remitted through normal banking channels or the funds held in NRE, repatriation of the amount equivalent in forex paid for the acquisition is permissible when he sells the property for a maximum two such properties. Even the properties purchased out of NRO funds (non-repatriable) can be remitted under the US$ one million facility. (Refer Chapter, Forex Remittances — NRIs). Excellent!

When he sells it, he finds that u/s 195(1), the buyer must apply TDS on the capital gains incurred by the NRI seller. How does the buyer know what is the capital gain of the seller? Well, simple! He applies TDS on the entire sale consideration. This is harsh.

Another way is by way of the seller paying the tax on the capital gains incurred by him even before the due dates for paying the tax. Thereafter, the buyer makes an application to the AO to indicate the amount of TDS by his general or special order and on receiving such order applies the TDS indicated in the order. This is nicely explained in Syed Aslam Hashmi v ITO [2012] 26taxmann.com6.

To reduce the compliance burden on one-time transactions, Sec. 194(IA) allows submission of PAN in place of TAN for reporting of TDS from payment over a specified threshold made for acquisition of immovable property (other than rural agricultural land) from a Resident to a Resident. This facility has now been extended to NRIs.

What if the NRI does not have a PAN? Fortunately, FA16 has taken a corrective action by amending Sec. 206AA enabling the NRI to submit any other document that provides the required information.

An NRI seller has several options to save this tax on capital gains such as buying another house or investing in REC/NHAI Bonds within 6 months of the incurrence of the LTCG.

The benefit of (i) setting off the basic threshold against the capital gains and (ii) filing Form-15G or 15H for non-deduction of TDS are not available to NRIs. The only way of avoiding TDS for an NRI as provided u/s 195(2) is to request the ITO (Form-13) for issuing a certificate to the person who is responsible for applying TDS (Form-15AA) allowing them not to apply TDS or apply it at lesser rate. The main question is — why should any AO issue any order unless he likes the face of the applicant?

Fortunately, this knotty problem has been addressed by converting the current manual process into a faceless one by use of modern technology to reduce the time and manner related with the application form and determination of appropriate TDS.

TDS Rates

Though, for ease of understanding, we have not mentioned the applicability of cess @ 4% on TDS, note that it is always applicable for NRIs but not for Residents. Yet another injustice.

What is the sanctity of having different rates for different incomes? (See Table-1). It behoves the Department to have a standard uniform rate, convenient for itself as well as the taxpayers. The TDS is not the final tax payable. Advance tax is a close relative of TDS. Moreover, the balance tax, if any, is paid along with filing of his tax returns.

Table-1: TDS Rates

Type of Income	%
Investment income = dividends on stocks, LTCG from financial assets other than listed shares and interest on a savings or money market account.	20
LTCG from listed/unlisted shares	10
Other LTCG, unless exempt	20
Sec. 111A: STCG from listed shares & Equity-based Units of MFs	15
Interest payable on money borrowed in foreign currency	20
Income under Special Provisions	20
Winnings from lotteries, crossword, puzzles, horse race, etc.	30
LTCG under Special Provisions	10
Royalties & Fees for Technical Services payable by the Government or an Indian concern	10
Any other income	30

TDS Thresholds

TDS is not required to be applied if the payments do not exceed prescribed threshold limits — however, these thresholds are applicable only to Residents and RNORs. For NRIs, all payments are subject to TDS without any threshold as per the provisions of Sec. 195.

Because of technological advancements and availability of KYC of the depositor, it is now possible for a bank to add the interest paid to the depositor by all its branches put together. Therefore, FA15 requires the TDS to be applicable at bank level and not branch level. We are afraid that soon this provision will become applicable at the level of all the banks put together.

Non-Resident Entertainer

U/s 194E, TDS rate is 20% for payments made to an NRI:

a) sportsman (including athlete), who is not a citizen of India, or

b) sports association or institution, or

c) entertainers (such as a theatre, radio or television artists and musicians) who are not citizen of India. The term, ‘entertainer’ is not defined anywhere, and this might lead to ambiguity and consequent litigations related with its scope and applicability.

Payment to Contractors / Professionals

U/s 194M, an individual responsible for paying any sum to any Resident for carrying out any work (including supply of labour for carrying out any work) as per a contract, or by way of commission or brokerage or by way of fees for professional services, is liable to apply TDS @5% if such sum or aggregate of such sums paid during an FY is equal to or more than ₹50 lakh.

Salary Paid Outside India

Expatriate employees’ salary for working in India is chargeable to tax in India, whether a part or the whole of the salary and allowances are received in or outside India. This issue was raised in CIT v Eli Lilly & Co. (India) P Ltd., which was decided by the Supreme Court on 25.3.09. It held, “TDS had to be applied on the salary and allowances paid abroad, even if the Indian Company was unaware of the payments made abroad by the foreign employer of the expatriate. It is the duty of the Indian company to apply TDS even on salary and allowances paid abroad by the foreign company, particularly when no work stood performed for the foreign company and the total remuneration stood paid only on account of services rendered in India during the period in question.”

Jewellery

Sec. 206(c) requires the seller of bullion and jewellery shall, at the time of receipt of such amount in cash, collect tax @1% of sale consideration from every buyer of bullion and jewellery, if it exceeds ₹2,00,000. Payment by any other means does not attract this provision.

Dematted Securities

U/s 193(ix) no TDS is applicable on any interest payable on any security issued by a company, where such security is in demat form and is listed on a recognised stock exchange in India. To deter under reporting of interest by the recipient, FA23 has deleted this Section.

Procedure for Refund of Tax

In the case of NRIs there are many circumstances where income does not either accrue or it accrues but the excess amount has been paid as TDS. This may happen where the contract is cancelled in part or full or change of law or because of a mistake. This warrants refund to the Resident responsible for applying TDS, but he could not do so because the refund is payable to the person who has earned the income and not to the deductor.

Circular 7/2007 dt 23.10.07 has solved this difficulty by allowing this amount to be refunded directly to the deductor.

The amount paid into the Government account in such cases to that extent, is no longer ‘tax’. In view of this, no interest u/s 244A is admissible on such refunds. Similarly, no expenses related with amount representing TDS refunded is allowable.

Such a refund should be granted only after obtaining an undertaking that no certificate u/s 203 has been issued to the NRI. If it has been issued, the person claiming the refund should either retrieve it from the NRI or should indemnify the Department from any possible loss on account of a separate claim of refund for the same amount by the NRI. The refund should be granted only if the deductee has not filed return of income and the time for filing it has expired.

The limitation for making a claim of refund shall be 2 years from the end of the FY in which TDS is applied. However, all pending cases may also be considered.

Sec. 197A read with Rule 29C provides for furnishing declarations by only a Resident individual in Form-15G Form-15H (for senior citizen) in order to enable the payer to make the payment without TDS if the tax payable on the estimated total income is nil.

Can TDS be Avoided or Mitigated?

Yes, all individuals, including NRIs can apply to his ITO for deduction of income tax at a lower or nil rate. The ITO, after examining the veracity of the claim, may (or may not) issue an appropriate certificate to that effect within one month from the date of application (Instruction No. 1/2014, dt 15.1.14).

Almost always, this turns out to be a fruitless exercise. Firstly, for obvious reasons, it is difficult to convince the ITO and secondly, if the sanction is granted, it is applicable for only the current FY. Moreover, such a certificate is interim or tentative or provisional in nature and would not bar the AO from initiating proceedings by changing of his opinion — Areva T&D the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court, held on 25.4.11.

This leaves only the avenue of filing returns and this is a smooth process. All that you must do is to appoint an accountant in India specialising in the field of filing returns.

We have two suggestions.

1. A large amount of your money in NRO account is repatriable and can be shifted over to your NRE account. Take this action regularly. The interest rates in NRO and NRE are mostly identical. NRE is tax-free without any limit and NRO is taxable.

2. Shift over from Bank FDs to MF schemes (or better, directly in listed shares. Both are excellently tax efficient.

Forex Income: Conversion into Rupees

As per Rule 115, the rate of exchange for the calculation of the value in rupees of any forex income shall be the telegraphic transfer buying rate of such currency as on the specified date.

Telegraphic Transfer Buying Rate (TTBR) and Telegraphic Transfer Selling Rate (TTSR) are the SBI rates for buying and selling forex made available through a telegraphic transfer.

For following incomes, specified date means the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which:

a) Salary is due or is paid in advance or in arrears.

b) Interest on securities is due.

c) Profits and gains from the business of operation of ships which is deemed to accrue or arise in India.

d) Dividend is declared, distributed or paid by the company.

e) Capital gains where the capital asset is transferred.

For following incomes, specified date means the last day of the previous year unless such income is received in, or brought into India by the assessee or on his behalf before the specified date in accordance with the provisions of FERA (now FEMA):

a) Income from house property.

b) Profits and gains of business or profession (other than from operation of ships).

c) Income from other sources (other than dividends and interest on securities).

For capital gains arising from the transfer of shares or debentures of an Indian company, the rate of exchange shall be —

a) For converting the cost of acquisition: Average of TTBR and TTSR of the forex initially utilised for purchase of the asset.

b) For converting expenditure incurred in connection with its transfer: Average of the TTBR and TTSR.

c) For converting full value of consideration received or accruing on its transfer: Average of the TTBR and TTSR.

d) For reconverting capital gains computed in the forex initially utilised for its purchase into rupees: TTBR of such currency as on its date of its transfer.

However, where TDS is required to be applied on such incomes, the specified date would be the date on which the tax was required to be deducted and the exchange rate would be the TTBR of such currency on this date.

No TDS on Interest from Offshore Banking Units

U/s 197A interest paid by an offshore banking unit on interest paid on deposits made on or after 1.4.05 by an NRI or RNOR is not chargeable to tax u/s 10(15)(viii) and consequently, no TDS need be applied. CBDT Circular 26/2016 dt 4.7.16 has observed that any branch of a bank, Indian or foreign, located in Special Economic Zone is treated as an offshore bank.

Non-furnishing of Returns for 2 Years

FA21 inserted Secs 206AB and 206CCA to help application of TDS/TCS for a person who has not furnished returns for two years immediately preceding the FY in which TDS/TCS is required to be applied, and for which the time limit for filing return u/s 139(1) has expired; and the aggregate of TDS/TCS in his case is ₹50,000 or more in each of these two previous years.

To ensure that all the persons in whose case significant amount of tax has been deducted, do furnish their return of income, these Sections have been amended to reduce the period of two years to one year.

Moreover, to lessen the additional burden, taxpayers covered u/ss 194-IA, 194-IB and 194-M for whom simplified tax deduction system has been provided without requirement of TAN, provisions of Sec. 206AB will not apply in relation to transactions on which tax is to be deducted.

TDS on Sale of Immovable Property

Sec. 194(IA) provides for application of TDS @1% by any person buying an immovable property (other than agricultural land) from a Resident, where the consideration for the transfer, along with the related stamp duty, is ₹ 50 lakh or more.

In order to remove inconsistency, it is proposed to amend Section 194-IA to provide that in case of transfer of an immovable property (other than agricultural land), TDS is to be deducted at the rate of one per cent. of such sum paid or credited to the resident or the stamp duty value of such property, whichever is higher. In case the consideration paid for the transfer of immovable property and the stamp duty value of such property are both less than fifty lakh rupees, then no tax is to be deducted u/s 194-IA.

TDS on Business or Profession

As per Sec. 28(iv), the value of any benefit or perquisite, whether convertible into money or not, arising from business or exercise of profession is to be charged as business income in the hands of the recipient. To ensure better compliance of this requirement, a new Sec. 194R has been inserted requiring the person responsible for providing to a Resident, any such benefit or perquisite, shall apply TDS @10% of the value of such benefit or perquisite. The amount is required to be paid to the exchequer in cash even if the benefit or perquisite, is in kind.

This Section shall not apply ---(i) if the value or aggregate value of the benefit or perquisite does not exceed ₹20,000 during the FY and (ii) The individual or HUF whose total sales, gross receipts or turnover does not exceed ₹1 crore in the case of business or ₹50 lakh in the case of profession during the immediately preceding FY.

Tax Treaty Relief on TDS u/s 196A

Sec. 196A provides for TDS on income from MF units to an NRI @20%. FA23 has amended Sec. 196A(1) to provide that the TDS would be at the rate which is lower at 20% and the rate provided in agreement in the case of a payee to whom such agreement applies and such payee has furnished the tax residency certificate referred to in Sec. 90(4) or Sec. 90A(4).

Any person, after becoming an NRI is required to inform the following institutions about change in his residential status:

a) banks where he has savings or term deposits,

b) companies where he has shareholding in physical form,

c) DPs where he has demat accounts, and

d) MFs whose units he holds.

The banks will redesignate the person’s running accounts as NRO. The companies and DPs will inform RBI to enable it to monitor the limit on shareholding of all NRIs put together and the MFs will monitor the TDS and repatriability of the funds.

In practice, most of the NRIs do not inform. Fortunately, many of them do not face any problems because the regulatory mechanism is not yet in place. Obviously, a few are apprehended, and we hope you are not one of them. Realise that nothing is gained by breaking this rule.

It is also necessary to file the tax returns with status as an NRI. If the Indian income is below the taxable threshold, there is no need to file the returns, and if these are to be filed, an NRI need not have a PAN. It is prudent to file the returns to maintain continuity and possess the card which you may need sometime.

Even after becoming an NRI, one is free to deal with all the investments and assets held prior to becoming an NRI any which way he desires. The only restriction is that, in theory, the original corpus is non-repatriable whereas in practice, it can be remitted under the one million per FY facility. Income arising out of these assets is repatriable subject to tax compliance.

It is advisable to give a Power of Attorney (PoA) to a trustworthy Resident for ease of operations of bank accounts, investments and other financial transactions. All AD banks have their own Letter of Authority (LoA) for the limited purpose of effecting local disbursements and withdrawals for household expenses. Note that all the Post Office Schemes, including PPF are not available for NRIs.

Returning NRIs

A person who returns to India permanently, becomes a Resident from the very day of his arrival for FEMA and is required to take within a reasonable period, the following actions —

1. Inform the banks, MFs, DPs, etc. about the change in his status. Then these entities will redesignate these as Resident accounts.

2. The NRE and FCNR accounts can be closed either immediately or allowed to run up to their maturity. Such deposits are treated as Resident deposits from the date of return. The originally contracted rates of interest will continue to be applicable until the maturity of the accounts. The FCNR remains tax-free if and only if the returning NRI becomes an RNOR but the NRE becomes taxable from the day of his return, irrespective of the status. Premature withdrawals attract penal provisions.

3. There is also an option of transferring part or full balance to the credit of NRE and FCNR accounts to RFC account within a reasonable period from the date of the arrival in India. There is no penalty for such transfers.

If an NRI is on a short visit to India, the account may continue to be treated as non-resident account even during his stay in India.

If the required actions are not taken in a reasonable time, one would be violating FEMA. He would also lose the benefit of Special Provisions as discussed in a previous chapter. What is reasonable time is not indicated in the Act and there are many who do not inform for years on the grounds that they might decide to go abroad once again. Acceptance of such an intention by the AO would depend upon the rent received by him.

Keeping Assets Abroad

FEMA Sec. 6(4) permits an NRI returning to India permanently to continue to hold, own, transfer or invest in foreign currency, foreign security or any immovable property situated outside India, if such assets were acquired, held, or owned by him when he was an ROI or inherited these from an ROI. The income and sale proceeds of assets held abroad need not be repatriated.

Similarly, Sec. 6(5) permits an ROI to hold, own, transfer or invest in Indian currency, security or any immovable property situated in India if such currency, security or property was acquired, held or owned by such person when he himself was a Resident or inherited these from a Resident.

This general permission will not apply in respect of any asset received after becoming a Resident by way of gift or inheritance from abroad. Similarly, the benefit is not available on earnings from employment secured after the return. If the ex-NRI wishes to retain such assets abroad or liquidate them and deposit the money in an RFC account, he must apply for permission to RBI.

The Indian rupee has virtually become fully convertible. NRIs need no longer hesitate to grab good investment opportunities in their motherland without any fear of not being able to repatriate the funds abroad, when needed. As a matter of fact, the convertibility has reached such a level that they can remit even their non-repatriable funds without much of a difficulty. These are the funds they owned before leaving India or inherited assets thereafter or invested their forex earnings in India on non-repatriable basis.

Remittance of Current Income

Sec. 2(j) defines ‘current account transaction’ to mean a transaction other than a capital account transaction and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing it includes —

1. Payments due in connection with foreign trade, other current business services and short-term banking and credit facilities in the ordinary course of business.

2. Payments due as interest on loans and as net income from investments.

3. Remittances for living expenses of parents, spouse and children residing abroad. and

4. Expenses in connection with foreign travel, education and medical care of parents, spouse, and children.

Remittance of current income of an NRI like rent, dividend, pension, interest, etc., net of TDS, is freely allowed. It can also be credited to NRO if he has such an account. It can also be credited to NRE provided the AD bank is satisfied that the credit represents current income and the procedure for tax compliance has been followed correctly.

Remittance of Pension Received in India

Pensioners who have become NRIs face additional requirements. They must furnish the life certificate issued by an authorised official of the Embassy/High Commission of India or Consul of Indian Consulates or a Notary Public or an Officer of an Indian Authorised Bank attached to its branch in the country where the pensioner is residing, once in a year, in November. Additionally, a non-re-employment certificate is required if the pensioner is alive and a no non-remarriage certificate is required by those who get family pensions as prescribed in the pension scheme (Annexures XVIII & XXVI.) The change in the citizenship by any NRI pensioner will not affect his entitlement to the pension.

The paying branches will credit the amount of pension (net of TDS) due every month to the NRO Account of the pensioner.

Pension credited to the Pensioner’s NRO Account may be remitted by the bank to the Pensioner outside India, in case the Non-Resident Pensioner so desires, either by remittance or by credit to his NRE account.

The paying branch should return PPOs (Preferred Provider Organization, means a healthcare system that provides discounts to subscribers for services they receive from certain healthcare providers) of such NRI pensioners who are drawing pension from them and are unable to furnish the prescribed life certificate to the pension sanctioning authority for arranging future payments to them.

The change in the citizenship by any NRI pensioner will not affect his entitlement to the pension.

The pensioner can get refund of TDS due, if any, by filing returns in India.

Remittance up to US$ 1 million

ADs allow remittance of assets up to US$ 1 million per FY to —

1. A foreign national (not being a PIO or a citizen of Nepal or Bhutan), if he or she —

(a) has retired from employment in India;

(b) has inherited the assets from a person [referred to in Sec. 65 of FEMA] Resident Outside India who, when he was Resident held, owned, transferred, or invested in Indian currency, security or any immovable property situated in India or inherited it from a person who was a Resident; and

(c) is a non-resident widow or widower and has inherited assets from the person’s deceased spouse who was an Indian citizen Resident.

2. An NRI or a PIO,

(a) out of balances held in NRO which may include sale proceeds of immovable property acquired by the NRI out of the resources in India, or by way of inheritance or gift;

(b) out of assets acquired under a deed of settlement made by either of his/her parents or a relative. The settlement should take effect on the death of the settler. Any settlement without the settler retaining life interest may be reckoned as transfer by way of gift.

ADs also allow remittance of balance amount, held by a foreign student in a bank in India, after completion of studies or training in India. In case the remittance is made in more than one installment, all these should be made through the same AD.

Where the remittance is to be made from his NRO, the AD should obtain an undertaking from the account holder stating that the remittance is sought to be made from the remitter’s balances held in the account arising from legitimate receivables in India and not by borrowing from any other person or a transfer from any other NRO account. If such is found to be the case, the account holder will be liable for penal action.

ADs also allow Indian entities to remit their contribution towards PF, superannuation or pension fund in respect of their expatriate staff Resident but ‘Not Permanently Resident’ in India.

Remittance of assets on hardship ground more than US$ 1 million in an FY would require RBI’s prior approval.

It is necessary to produce documentary evidence in support of the acquisition, inheritance, or legacy of assets by the remitter. Additionally, proof of tax compliance is also necessary.

This US$ 1 million facility is over and above the repatriation of the sale proceeds of immovable property purchased through forex (Refer Chapter Immovable Property).

AP (DIR) Circular 117 dt 7.5.12 has now permitted the transfer of such funds from his NRO account to NRE account within the overall ceiling of US$ one million per FY. The tax, if any, must be paid out of the sale proceeds. The rest of the amount can be remitted abroad or credited to NRE.

The remittance facility in respect of sale proceeds of immovable property is not available to citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, Afghanistan, Iran, Nepal, and Bhutan. The facility of remittance of sale proceeds of other financial assets is not available to citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.

For arriving at annual ceiling of remittance, sale proceeds of shares and immovable property owned or held by the citizen of foreign state on repatriation basis in accordance with the FEMR — Acquisition and Transfer of Immovable Property in India and Transfer of Indian Security by an ROI shall not be included.

NRI Pensioners

The pensioner must furnish the life certificate issued by an authorised official of the Embassy/High Commission of India or Consul of Indian Consulates or a Notary Public or an Officer of an Indian Authorised Bank attached to its branch in the country where the pensioner is residing, once in a year, in November.

The pensioner must furnish other certificate viz. non-employment/re-employment certificate, Re-marriage/Marriage certificate as prescribed in the pension scheme (Annexures XVIII & XXVI.)

The paying branches will credit the amount of pension (net of TDS) due every month to the NRO Account of the pensioner.

Pension credited to the Pensioner’s NRO Account may be remitted by the bank to the Pensioner outside India, in case the Non-Resident Pensioner so desires, either by remittance or by credit to his NRE account.

The paying branch should return PPOs (Preferred Provider Organization, means a healthcare system that provides discounts to subscribers for services they receive from certain healthcare providers) of such NRI pensioners who are drawing pension from them and are unable to furnish the prescribed life certificate to the pension sanctioning authority for arranging future payments to them.

The change in the citizenship by any NRI pensioner will not affect his entitlement to the pension.

The pensioner can get refund of TDS due, if any, by filing returns in India.

Surrendering Forex

An individual who is not a Resident should surrender forex due or accrued as remuneration for services rendered, whether in or outside India, or in settlement of any lawful obligation, or an income on assets held outside India, or as inheritance, settlement, or gift within 7 days from the date of its receipt of and within 90 days in all other cases.

If such a person has acquired or purchased forex for any purpose mentioned in the declaration made by him to an AD and does not use it for such purpose or for any other permissible purpose shall surrender the unused portion thereof to an AD within 60 days from the date of its acquisition or purchase by him.

Where the forex acquired or purchased is for foreign travel, then, the unspent balance shall be surrendered within 90 days from the date of return of the traveller to India when the unspent forex is in the form of currency notes and coins and within 180 days when it is in the form of traveller’s cheques.

To Be or Not to Be

India is a great parking place for investible funds of NRIs. The money multiplies faster here. This opportunity should not be lost just because it has now become possible to convert rupees in forex and remit it abroad. The limit of US$ 1 million can be used every FY. Therefore, NRIs should indulge only in need-based remittances.

Other Issues

1. A foreigner who has come to India for study or training and has completed it may remit the balance in his account, representing funds derived out of remittances received from abroad or forex proceeds of FE sold to an AD or stipend or scholarship received.

2. Foreign nationals on temporary visit are allowed to take back the unspent amount of forex against Encashment Certificate or Bank Certificate in Form-ECF or Form-BCI respectively. Both the ECF and BCI are valid only for 3 months for reconversion of rupees into forex in all the cases, temporary visits or otherwise. Take care.

3. Rupee loans can be availed by foreign nationals or liaison offices of foreign companies only for personal purposes such as purchase of household articles up to a maximum of ₹5 lakh on the total borrowings of the depositor and his dependents from all the banks.

4. The RBI has, in a press release dt 2.5.03 clarified that foreign nationals, including PIOs, while in India, are free to pay charges towards booking airline and train tickets, hotels, hospitals, etc. either in Indian rupees or in equivalent forex.

5. Notification FEMA 5/2000-RB dt 3.5.2000 allows diplomatic missions, diplomatic personnel, and non-diplomatic staff, who are the nationals of the concerned foreign countries and hold official passport of foreign embassies to hold deposits maintained in foreign currency accounts, subject to the conditions stipulated therein.

6. Notification GSR 90(E) dt 18.9.07 permits ADs in India to effect remittance of assets of Indian companies under liquidation subject to compliance with the order issued by a court, Official Liquidator, or the liquidator in the case of voluntary winding up.

Payment in Rupees

The following transactions are permitted by the RBI —

1. Requests for cash by foreign visitors or NRIs may be acceded up to US$ 3,000 or its equivalent.

2. Any person, to receive any payment in rupees —

(a) By order or on behalf of a ROI during his stay in India out of rupee funds provided to him by sale of forex to an AD or a money changer in India.

(b) Against a foreign bank cheque, draft, traveller’s cheque or foreign currency notes. The forex so received shall be sold to an AD or a money changer within 7 days of its receipt.

(c) By a postal or money order issued by a post office outside India.

3. A Resident, to make any payment in rupees —

(a) Towards meeting expenses of a ROI who is on a visit to India on account of boarding, lodging and related services or travel to and from and within India.

(b) To an ROI, by means of a crossed cheque or a draft for purchase of gold or silver in any form imported by such person in accordance with the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulations) Act, 1992 or under any other law, rules or regulations for the time being in force.

(c) To bear the medical expenses of a visiting NRI / PIO who is a close relative.

4. A company in India, to make payment in rupees to its whole- time director who is an ROI and is on a visit to India for the company’s work and is entitled to payment of sitting fees or commission or remuneration, and travel expenses to and from and within India, provided the requirements of any law, rules, regulations, directions for making such payments are duly complied with.

RBI permits more than sufficient forex for specific needs of all Residents, inclusive of those who have permanently returned to India. Therefore, it is advisable not to have any RFC, RFCD and EEFC accounts or leave forex abroad only for availing forex or maintaining its repatriability.

General Conditions

All forex transactions have been classified either as capital or current account transactions. Those which do not alter the assets or liabilities of a person, including contingent liabilities, outside India are current account transactions.

Remittances of forex to Nepal, Bhutan, Mauritius, Pakistan or Bangladesh, Cook Islands, Egypt, Guatemala, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nigeria, Philippines, and Ukraine are prohibited. There are no restrictions towards remittances to Mauritius and Pakistan for permissible current account transactions.

As per Sec. 5 of FEMA, Residents are free to buy or sell forex for any current account transaction except for specifically prohibited transactions.

Foreign visitors are allowed to convert up to US$ 5,000 in rupees.

It is not mandatory for ADs to endorse the amount of forex sold for travel abroad on the passport of the traveller, unless the traveller himself desires to have the details recorded. For a private visit, it should invariably be endorsed. In the case of a child travelling on a parent’s passport, the endorsement is made on the joint passport.

Residents may take or send up to two commemorative coins outside India, other than those covered by the Antique and Art Treasure Act, 1972. FEMR (Possession and Retention of Forex) allows a Resident to possess foreign coins without any limit.

Traveller’s cheques should be signed by the traveller in the presence of an authorised official.

All applications for forex exceeding prescribed limits (as described later) should be referred to — The Regional Office of the Exchange Control Department under whose jurisdiction the applicant is functioning or residing. AP (DIR) Circular 31 dt 18.10.02 states that a Nodal Officer has been appointed at each Regional Office of RBI to dispose of applications on the same day itself and forward by fax or e-mail. The circular lists the name, telephone and fax number and e-mail address of the Nodal Officer at each Regional Office.

There are certain transactions such as cultural tours, advertisements in foreign print media, hiring charges of transponders, membership of P&I Club, etc., where prior approval of the Government of India is required for remittance. This Rule does not apply where the payment is made from funds held in RFC or EEFC Account of the remitter.

Surrendering Unused Forex

Permissible forex can be drawn 180 days in advance. In case it is not possible to use it within this period it should be surrendered to the AD. Again, on return from a foreign trip, travellers are required to surrender unspent forex held in the form of currency notes and traveller’s cheques within 180 days of return. Following are the limits for possession or retention of forex —

(a) Possession without limit of foreign coins by any person.

(b) Retention by a Resident of foreign currency notes, bank notes and foreign currency travellers’ cheques not exceeding US$ 2,000 or its equivalent in aggregate provided it —

• was acquired while on a visit to any place outside India by way of payment for services not arising from any business in or anything done in India.

• was acquired as honorarium, gift, services rendered or in settlement of any lawful obligation from any person not Resident and who was on a visit to India.

• was acquired by way of honorarium or gift while on a visit to any place outside India.

• represents unspent amount of forex acquired by him from an authorised person for travel abroad.

Current Account Transactions Liberalised

RBI Circular 76 dt 24.2.04 has removed or diluted the requirement of RBI’s prior approval relating to current account transactions on remittances by Residents in following cases —

1. Remittances up to US$ 25,000 or 5% of the inward remittance, per transaction, whichever is higher.

2. Payment for securing health insurance from a company abroad.

3. Earnings of artistes e.g., wrestler, dancer, entertainer, etc.

4. Commission to agents abroad for sale of residential or commercial plots in India, exceeding 5% of the inward remittances. ADs now may freely allow such remittances up to US$ 25,000 or 5% of the inward remittance, per transaction, whichever is higher.

5. Short-term credit to overseas offices of Indian companies.

6. Where export earnings of the advertiser were less than ₹10 lakh during each of the preceding 2 years.

7. Where the agreement for technical collaboration had not been registered with RBI. Henceforth, ADs may allow remittances for royalty and payment of lump sum fee, provided the royalty does not exceed 5% on local sales and 8% on exports and lump sum payment does not exceed US$ 2 million.

8. Use of trademark or franchise in India. However, RBI’s prior approval will continue to be required for remittance towards purchase of trademark or franchise.

9. Henceforth, the proposal for hiring of transponders by TV Channels and internet service providers will require prior approval of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.

Foreign Assets of a Resident

U/s. 6(4) of FEMA, a Resident may hold, own, transfer or invest in forex, foreign security or immovable property situated outside India if such assets were acquired, held or owned by him when he was an ROI or inherited these from an ROI. Circular AP (DIR) 90 dt 9.1.14 has clarified that such assets cover —

1. Forex accounts opened and maintained by such a person.

2. Income earned through (i) employment or business or vocation outside India taken up or commenced or (ii) from investments made or (iii) from gift or inheritance received.

3. Forex including any income arising therefrom, and conversion or replacement or accrual to the same, held outside India by a Resident acquired by way of inheritance from an ROI.

Such a Resident may freely utilise all his eligible assets abroad as well as income therefrom or sale proceeds thereof received after his return to India for making any payments or any fresh investments abroad, provided the cost of such investments and/or any subsequent payments received therefrom are met exclusively out of funds forming part of eligible assets.

Resident individuals (not corporates, partnership firms, HUF, Trusts, etc.) including minors can remit up to US$ 2,50,000 for any permitted capital or current account transactions or a combination of both. If the remitter is a minor, the LRS declaration form must be countersigned by the minor’s natural guardian.

There are no restrictions on the frequency of remittances under LRS. However, the total amount of forex purchased from or remitted through, all sources in India during the FY should be within the cumulative limit of US$ 2,50,000.

Remittance is on a gross basis and not on net of repatriation from abroad. This means that once a remittance has reached the LRS limit, no further remittance is possible during the FY even if some of the proceeds of the investments have been brought back into India during the same year.

Resident (not permanently Resident) individuals who have remitted their entire earnings and salary and wish to further remit ‘other income’ may approach RBI through their AD bank for consideration.

The individual will have to designate a branch of an AD through which all the remittances under the Scheme will be made. The applicants should have maintained the bank account with the bank for a minimum period of one year prior to the remittance only for capital account transactions (not for current account transactions). He must furnish Form A-2 regarding the purpose of the remittance along with all other documentation as required by the AD. The remitter needs to possess a PAN card.

However, if the amount does not exceed US$ 25,000 or its equivalent and the payment is made by a cheque or demand draft drawn on the applicant's bank account, a simple letter from the applicant (containing the basic information, viz., names and the addresses of the applicant and the beneficiary, amount to be remitted and the purpose of remittance) will suffice if the forex being purchased is for a permissible current account transaction. ADs shall prepare dummy A-2 for statistical inputs for Balance of Payment.

The permissible capital account transactions by an individual under LRS are —

1. Opening forex account with a bank abroad.

2. Purchase of immovable property abroad.

3. In case members of a family pool their remittances to purchase a property, then the said property should be in the name of all the members who make the remittances. It can also be purchased with balances held by the Resident in his RFC bank account.

4. Making investments abroad (for acquisition of shares, ESOPs, ESOPs linked to ADR/GDR qualification shares, investment in units of Mutual Funds, Venture Funds, unrated debt securities, promissory notes, etc.).

5. Setting up Wholly Owned Subsidiaries and JVs abroad.

6. Extending loans in INR to NRI relatives.

For remittances pertaining to permissible current account transactions, if the applicant is a new customer of the bank, ADs should carry out due diligence on the opening, operation and maintenance of the account. Further, the AD should obtain bank statement for the previous year from the applicant to satisfy themselves regarding the source of funds. If such a bank statement is not available, copies of the latest Income Tax Assessment Order or Return filed by the applicant may be obtained. He must furnish the ‘application-cum-declaration’ for purchase of forex in the specified format along with Form A-2 regarding the purpose of the remittance and declare that the funds belong to him and will not be used for purposes prohibited or regulated under the Scheme.

Fund or non-fund-based facilities (= loans) can be entertained by the ADs to their Resident individual customers to facilitate remittances only for current (not for capital) account transactions under LRS.

Remittance can be consolidated in respect of close family members subject to the individual members being compliant. However, clubbing is not permitted of other family members for capital account transactions such as opening a bank account, making investment, purchasing property, etc., if they are not the co-owners or co-partners of the transaction. Further, a Resident cannot gift forex to another Resident, for the credit of the latter’s forex account held abroad under LRS.

An offshore banking unit in India cannot open forex accounts in India for Residents under the Scheme.

Expenses incurred by individuals for the following purposes are subsumed under LRS:

1. (a) Private visits to any country (except Nepal and Bhutan).

2. (b) Gift or donation.

3. (c) Going abroad for employment.

4. (d) Emigration.

5. (e) Maintenance of close relatives abroad.

6. (f) Travel for business or attending a conference or specialised training or for meeting expenses for meeting medical expenses, or check-up abroad, or for accompanying as attendant to a patient going abroad for medical treatment/ check-up.

7. (g) Expenses in connection with medical treatment abroad.

8. (h) Studies abroad.

9. (i) Any other current account transaction.

In respect of such activities, note the following:

1. Any Resident individual or entity such as a trust, company, partnership firms, etc., may remit up to US$ 2,50,000 in one FY as gift to a person or as a donation to an organization outside India. A Resident cannot gift to another Resident for the credit of the latter’s forex account held abroad under LRS.

2. A Resident is free to send outside India (export) any gift article, which may be free to be exported as per the extant Foreign Trade Policy, of value not exceeding ₹5 lakh. Such gifts may be sent outside India without furnishing the declaration in Form EDF / SOFTEX.

1. Receiving grant / donation from abroad is under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 1976 which is administered and monitored by the Ministry of Home Affairs whose address is — Foreigners Division, Jaisalmer House, 26, Mansingh Road, New Delhi-11001. No specific approval from RBI is required.

3. For medical expenses, or check-up abroad, AD banks may allow amount exceeding the LRS limit provided the request is supported by an estimate from a hospital or doctor in India or abroad. Otherwise, a self-declaration in Form A2 and ‘Application cum declaration for purchase of forex’ is sufficient. Additionally, an amount up to the LRS limit is available to an attendant accompanying the patient.

4. The Scheme also covers expenses incurred in going abroad for employment, emigration, maintenance of close relatives abroad, studies abroad and any other current account transaction. However, for expenses in connection with emigration, medical treatment or studies abroad, individuals may be permitted to exceed LRS limit, if it is so required by the country of emigration, medical institute offering treatment or the university.

5. A Resident individual may give a loan (or a gift) to a close NRI relative under the LRS by way of crossed cheque or electronic transfer, subject to —

1. (a) It is free of interest and the minimum maturity is 1 year.

2. (b) It should be credited to the NRO account of the NRI.

3. (c) It shall not be remitted outside India. It should be utilised for the borrower’s personal requirements or his own business in India.

6. Where an AD in India has granted loan to an NRI, a Resident close relative is permitted to repay the loan taken by NRI.

7. General permission is available to persons other than individuals to remit towards donations up to 1% of their forex earnings during the previous 3 FYs or US$ 5 million, whichever is less, for (a) creation of Chairs in reputed educational institutes, (b) contribution to funds (not being an investment fund) promoted by educational institutes and (c) contribution to a technical institution or body or association in the field of activity of the donor company.

Other Investments Outside India

Resident individuals can use LRS for making investments in —

1. MFs, Venture Funds, unrated debt securities, promissory notes, immovable property, shares of both listed and unlisted overseas company, debt instruments and any other asset outside India such as objects of art subject to the Foreign Trade Policy.

2. ESOPs and ESOP-linked ADRs / GDRs offered by a foreign company to a Resident employee or a Director of an Indian office, etc. (Refer Chapter Employees’ Stock Option). Purchase of foreign securities under ADR/GDR linked stock option schemes by Resident employees of Indian companies in the knowledge-based sectors, including working directors provided purchase consideration does not exceed US$ 50,000 or its equivalent in a block of 5 calendar years.

3. Qualification shares for becoming a director of a company outside India to the extent prescribed as per the law of the host country where the company is located provided it does not exceed the limit prescribed under the LRS.

4. Shares of a foreign entity in part / full consideration of professional services rendered to the foreign company and in lieu of Director’s remuneration.

The investor can retain and reinvest the income earned from portfolio investments made under the Scheme.

However, a Resident individual who has made overseas direct investment in the equity shares and compulsorily convertible preference shares of a Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India, within the LRS limit, then he/she shall have to comply with the terms and conditions as prescribed under FEMR (Transfer or Issue of any Foreign Security) Notification No. 263/ RB-2013 dated August 5, 2013.

Remittance facility under the Scheme is not available for —

a) purchase of lottery tickets/sweep stakes, proscribed magazines, etc.)

b) margins or margin calls to overseas exchanges / overseas counterparty.

c) purchase of FCCBs issued by Indian companies in the overseas secondary market.

d) trading in foreign exchange abroad.

e) Capital account remittances, directly or indirectly, to countries identified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as “non-cooperative countries and territories”, or entities identified as posing significant risk of committing acts of terrorism.

Note that there are no restrictions towards remittances for current account transactions even to Mauritius and Pakistan.

Sec. 206C has been amended to levy TCS on overseas remittances under LRS (@5% and in non-PAN/Aadhaar cases @10% on amount more than ₹7 lakh. The rate is lower at 0.5% in case the remittance is towards repayment of loan, obtained from a banking company (including any bank or banking institution) or any other notified financial institution for the purpose of pursuing higher education for which deduction u/s 80E is available. The loan may be taken by the student himself, or his spouse and parents (Refer Chapter Income Tax).

The seller of an overseas tour program package is also required to collect TCS from the buyer @5% on the entire amount without any threshold. Since overseas travel is also covered under LRS, a buyer may make payment to seller indirectly through an AD or directly to the buyer. In either case, there is no threshold. To avoid double collection of tax, AD need not apply TCS if it finds that TCS has already been applied and paid.

Two points to be noted carefully.

1. As per FEMA an individual becomes an NRI when he goes abroad for taking up an employment outside India or for carrying on a business or vocation etc. On the same lines, a student is treated as NRI when he goes abroad for pursuing higher studies. (Refer Chapter Students Studying Abroad). This new provision of applying TCS is applicable only when funds are remitted abroad through LRS which is available only to Residents. Consequently, the TCS of 0.5% is applicable when the student himself has repaid the loan when he is a Resident (before or after going abroad) or by his spouse or parents who are Residents. Repayment by the student when he is an NRI (either through an overseas account or through NRE / NRO account) does not attract any TCS.

2. This TCS is like TDS and it is not a fresh tax payable. It can be adjusted against the final tax liability of the person through filing of tax returns.

TCS on Liberalised Remittance Scheme

FA23 has increased TCS w.e.f. 1-7-23 on certain foreign remittances and on sale of overseas tour packages by amending Sec. 206C(1G) as indicated in the following Table. The present rates and the new rates are on the amount or the aggregate of the amounts being remitted by the buyer in the FY. This is extremely alarming.

If you plan to spend ₹3 lakh on a tour abroad, you will have to shell out ₹60,000 for TCS against ₹15,000 earlier. If you plan to buy foreign stock worth ₹8 lakh abroad a ₹1.6 lakh TCS has to be paid verses ₹5,000 only previously. This appears ghastly but thankfully, you are allowed to adjust this TCS on the actual tax payable during the FY.

TCS RATES
Remittance Purpose	Present		Existing
	Rate	Threshold	Rate	Threshold
Foreign Education with a loan	0.5%	₹7 lakh	No Change
Foreign Education (no Loan)/Medical treatment	5.0%	₹7 lakh	No Change
Overseas Tour Package	5.0%	Nil	20%	Nil
Any Other	5.0%	₹7 lakh	20%	Nil

ADs are permitted to issue International Debit Cards (IDCs) which can be used by a Resident individual for drawing cash or making payment to a merchant establishment overseas during his visit abroad. IDCs can be used only for permissible current account transactions and the usage of IDCs shall be within the LRS limit.

AD banks can also issue Store Value Card, Charge Card, or Smart Card to Residents travelling on private or business visit abroad which can, besides the above facilities, be also used for drawing cash from ATM terminals. the use of such cards is limited to permissible current account transactions and subject to the LRS limit.

Resident individuals maintaining a forex account with an AD in India or a bank abroad, are free to obtain International Credit Cards (ICCs) issued by overseas banks and other reputed agencies. The charges incurred against the card either in India or abroad can be met out of funds held in such accounts or through remittances from India only through a bank where the card holder has a current or savings account. Such remittances should be made directly to the card-issuing agency abroad, and not to a third party. The applicable credit limit will be the limit fixed by the card issuing banks. The LRS limit shall not apply to the use of ICC for making payment by a person towards meeting expenses while such person is on a visit outside India. Use of ICCs/ IDCs can be made for travel abroad in connection with various purposes and for making personal payments like subscription to foreign journals, internet subscription, etc.

Incidentally, if an individual holds two or more ICCs, his limit on forex usage gets increased.

Use of these instruments for payment in forex in Nepal and Bhutan is not permitted.

Foreign Securities & Residents

General permission has been granted to a Resident for purchase or acquisition of securities —

1. a) Out of funds held in RFC account.

2. b) Bonus or Rights shares on existing holding of forex shares.

3. c) Gift from a person Resident Outside India.

4. d) Under Cashless ESOP of a company incorporated outside India, provided it does not involve any remittance from India.

5. e) Inheritance from a person whether Resident in or outside India.

6. f) When not permanently Resident, out of his forex resources outside India.

7. g) Purchase of shares of a JV/WOS abroad of the Indian promoter company by the employees or directors of Indian promoter company which is engaged in the field of software where the consideration for purchase does not exceed US$ 10,000 or its equivalent per employee in a block of 5 calendar years.

A Resident individual holding qualification or rights shares may sell these provided the sale proceeds are repatriated to India through normal banking channels and documentary evidence thereof is submitted to the AD.

The investor can retain and reinvest the income earned on investments made under the LRS. He is not required to repatriate the funds or income generated out of investments made.

Dividends as well as STCG received from abroad are chargeable to tax in India in the hands of the investor at the normal rates of tax, based on their slab rate. LTCG in the case of foreign companies is charged to tax @ 20% after claiming the benefits of indexation. The investor has the right to claim the benefit of DTAA.

Gifts of Securities

As per AP (DIR) Circular 14 dt 15.9.11, a Resident who proposes to gift to an ROI any security including shares or convertible debentures requires RBI’s prior approval. The limit on value of security to be gifted together with any security already gifted by the transferor, has been raised from US$ 25,000 during a calendar year to US$ 50,000 per FY.

Pledge / Sale of Foreign Securities

The shares acquired by Residents in accordance with the provisions of FEMA can be pledged for obtaining credit facilities in India from an AD Category-I bank or a Public Financial Institution. He may also sell such shares provided the proceeds are repatriated not later than 90 days from the date of sale.

Miscellaneous Provisions

In addition to all this, exchange to the extent needed may be released by the ADs for the following purposes:

• Remittance by tour operators or travel agents to overseas agents, principals, hotels, etc.

• Fee for participation in global conferences and specialised training.

• Remittance for participation in international events and competitions (towards training, sponsorship, and prize money).

• Film shooting.

• Disbursement of crew wages.

• Remittance towards fees for examinations held in India and abroad and additional score sheets for GRE, TOEFL, etc.

• Skills / credential assessment fees for intending migrants.

• Visa fees.

• Processing fees for registration of documents as required by the Portuguese (or other) Governments.

• Registration, subscription and / or membership fees to International Organisations.

• Other permissible current account transactions without any limits subject to the AD verifying the bona fides.

• Securing health insurance from an insurer abroad.

Small Value Remittances

ADs may release forex not exceeding US$ 25,000 for all miscellaneous non-trade current account transactions based on a simplified application-cum-declaration version of Form-A2 in place of the normal Form-A2. The payment should be made by a cheque drawn on the applicant’s bank account or by a DD.

Post Office

GSR 405(E) 3.5.2000, of RBI permits anyone to buy forex from any post office, in the form of postal orders or money orders.

Export and Import of Indian Currency

This is covered in Chapter, Baggage Rules.

Expenses of an ROI

A Resident can pay in Indian Rupees towards meeting expenses on account of boarding, lodging and services related thereto of an ROI who is on a visit to India, including tickets for his visits within India or even to any third country. For instance, Residents can book ticket for his travel from London to New York, through domestic or foreign airlines in India. This would be a part of the traveller’s overall entitlement under LRS.

Where the medical expenses in respect of NRI close relative are paid by a Resident individual, such a payment being a Resident-to-Resident transaction may be covered under the term ‘services related thereto’.

Each person coming to or going out of India, whether Resident or tourist, an Indian or foreigner, must know the Baggage Rules in India to avoid subsequent heartaches.

General Provisions

• No import license or Customs Clearance Permit (CCP) is required for the clearance of goods as bona fide baggage.

• There is no provision in the baggage rules to endorse the value of the baggage in passports. Passenger desiring a proof can request for endorsement at the back of the return ticket.

• The allowances are per individual and cannot be pooled with that of another, even between husband and wife.

• A passenger may request the customs for issue of an import/export certificate for articles of high value such as video cameras, cassette recorders, jewellery, etc., at the time of his arrival or departure to facilitate its re-import or re-export subsequently, without affecting the free allowance available. Normally, such goods are packed and therefore, it is inconvenient to take these out for inspection of the officer. In such cases, the certificates can be issued in advance, valid for 1 year in custom houses, international airports and seaports.

• Carrying narcotic drugs is strictly prohibited and the punishment can be serious.

• Import of consumer goods in commercial quantity is not treated as part of bona fide baggage.

• Goods brought through a carrier or courier are not ‘gifts’ or ‘personal baggage’ of the carrier. These will be classified as imported goods requiring a valid import licence. The rates are governed under the Courier Imports (Clearance) Regulations, 1998 (Circular 56/95-Cus. dt 30.5.95).

• There is a procedure prescribed whereby the passengers leaving India can take the export certificate for the various high value items such as camera, video camera, as well as jewellery from the Customs authorities. Such an export certificate facilitates re-importation of such goods while bringing back the things to India as no duty is charged. The advantage of having the Export Certificate is that the concessions you are entitled to, when you return, are not affected.

• Passenger may request detention of dutiable or prohibited articles for being returned to him while leaving India. The request can be made either for payment of duty or for re-export or subsequent production of documents. The request for detention cannot be entertained after the goods have been confiscated and/or penalty imposed.

• If the passenger does not come for clearance of the goods within the specified period as indicated in the receipt, the authorities can dispose of the goods, deduct customs duty and incidentals and refund the balance.

Classes of Articles

Articles specified in Annexure-I are prohibited. Only one unit of the first 14 items specified in Annexure-II can be imported whereas items in Annexure-III can be imported in any quantity, subject to the overall limit applicable to the passenger. Quantities exceeding the limit are subject to a concessional duty (Refer Valuation of Goods & Custom Duty).

Items which attract general allowance for duty-free imports are given in Table-1. Items for personal use are available in Table-2 whereas household items are available in Table-3.

Annexure-I (Applicable to Rule 3, 4 or 6)

a) Firearms.

b) Cartridges of firearms exceeding 50.

c) Cigarettes exceeding 100 or cigars exceeding 25 or tobacco exceeding 125 grams.

d) Alcoholic liquor or wines more than two litres.

e) Gold or silver, in any form, other than ornaments.

f) Flat Panel (LCD/LED/Plasma) Television.

Annexure-II (Applicable to Rule 6)

1. Colour Television or Monochrome Television.

2. Video Home Theatre System.

3. Dish Washer.

4. Domestic Refrigerators of capacity above 300 litres.

5. Deep Freezer.

6. Video Camera with or without combination of one or more of (a) Television Receiver; (b) Sound recording or reproducing apparatus; (c) Video reproducing apparatus.

7. Cinematographic films of 35 mm and above.

8. Gold or Silver, in any form, other than ornaments.

Annexure-III (Applicable to Rule 6)

1. Video Cassette Recorder or Video Cassette Player or Video Television Receiver or Video Cassette Disk Player.

2. Digital Video Disc Player.

3. Music System.

4. Air Conditioner,

5. Micro Oven.

6. Word Processing Machine.

7. Fax Machine.

8. Portable Photocopying Machine

9. Washing Machine.

10. Electrical or Liquefied Petroleum Gas Cooking Range.

11. Personal Computer (Desktop Computer).

12. Laptop Computer (Notebook Computer).

13. Domestic Refrigerator of capacity up to 300 litres.

Table-1 : General Duty Free Allowance Items

Air conditioner	Exposure meter	Processed food
Bedding	Films	Radio
Bicycle	Fishing rod	Raincoat
Binocular	Flash units	Razor & blades
Blanket	Food processor	Record player
Blender	Frying pan	Refrigerator
Calculator	Games	Room heater
Car coat	Garments	Rotisserie
Car stereo	Glassware	Service trolley
Carpet sweeper	Gloves	Sewing machine
Cassette player	Golf set	Shoes & socks
Cassette recorder	Hair clipper	Slide projector
Cassette tape	Hair dryer	Smoking pipe
Cheese tins	Handbag	Sports equipment
Chewing gum	Handkerchief	Stationery
Chocolates	Wall pictures	Still camera
Cigarette	Headgear	Tape recorder
Cigarette lighter	Headphone	Telephone set
Clock	Health equipment	Textiles
Coffee maker	Heating tray	Time piece
Confectionery	Iron	Toaster
Cooking stove	Iron board	Toiletries
Cosmetics	Juice extractor	Toys
Costume jewellery	Kitchen utensils	Tuner
Crockery	Knitting machine	TV Set
Curios	Lacquer-ware	Two-in-one
Cutlery	Meat grinder	Umbrella
Decoration pieces	Medicines	Under garments
Deep freezer	Mixer	Vacuum cleaner
Deck amplifier	Mosquito destroyer	Vase
Dictaphone	Movie camera	Video camera
Digital audio disc	Movie projector	Video player
Digital clock	Music system	Video tape
Dinner set	Musical Instrument	Voltage regulator
Dish washer	Nail cutters	Wallpaper
Doorbell	Ordinary typewriter	Washing machine
Dry fruits	PC	Water cooler
Electric fan	Perfume	Water heater
Electric iron	Phonograph records	Water/air purifier
Electric toaster	Photographic outfits	Weighing scale
Electric micro-oven	Playing cards	Wig
Electronic typewriter	Polish	Wristwatch
Embroidery	Pressure cooker

Table-2: Personal Effects

Bedding	Handkerchiefs	Pants	Sarees
Blankets	Hair dryer	Petticoats	Salwars
Bedsheets	Hair curler/styler	Perfumes	Shoe polish
Sleeping bag	Hearing aids	Toilet articles	Shoe brush
Boiler suits	Headgear	Cosmetics	Spectacles
Blouses	Chair for Invalid	Suits	Tops
Dresses	Jeans	Shirts	Towels
Dentures	Lungis	Shoes	Underwear
Frocks	Neckties	Socks	Umbrella
Gloves	Nighties	Shaving kit	Walking stick

Table-3 : Household Effects

Blender	Kitchenware	Toaster	TV
Crockery	Linens	Utensils	Music System
Cutlery	Liquidizer	Air Conditioner	Camera
Iron	Oven	PC	Typewriter
Egg beater	Pressure cooker	Refrigerator	Tapes
Glassware	Rotisserie	Deep Freezer	Films
Juicer	Tableware	VCR/VCP	Vehicles

As per Circular 72/98-Cus. dt 24.9.98 personal effects would also include the following:

a) Personal jewellery.

b) One camera with film rolls not exceeding twenty.

c) One video camera / camcorder with accessories and with video cassettes not exceeding twelve.

d) One pair of binoculars.

e) One portable colour television (not exceeding 15 cm in size).

f) One music system including compact disc player.

g) One portable typewriter.

h) One perambulator.

i) One tent and other camping equipment.

j) One computer (laptop/notebook).

k) One electronic diary.

l) One portable wireless receiving set (transistor radio)

m) Professional equipments, instruments and apparatus of appliances including professional audio/video equipments.

n) Sports equipments — one fishing outfit, one sporting firearm with 50 cartridges, one non-powdered bicycle, one canoe less than 51 metres long, one pair of skids, two tennis rackets, one golf set consisting of 14 pieces with a dozen golf balls.

o) One cell phone. Satellite phone is not permitted to be imported except against a licence to be issued by the WPC wing of Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

p) Cinematographic films exposed but not developed.

Duty-Free Items

All over the world, no duty is levied on used personal effects, (excluding jewellery), required for satisfying daily necessities. Though there is no limit, the number of items should be reasonable. One wristwatch, irrespective of its value, is personal effects. The Indian Customs Baggage Rules, 2016 have done away with different allowances for persons under or over 10 years of age. Infants can have freedom only for used personal items and not any duty-free allowance.

Residing in India (Rule-3)

A Resident tourist is a person with an Indian passport or a foreigner normally residing in India, who has gone abroad on a short trip. The duty-free allowance for such a tourist returning after a trip abroad is ₹50,000 and ₹15,000 for the foreigner. This is in addition to the items mentioned in Annexure-I.

Nepal, Bhutan or Myanmar (Rule-4)

For passengers coming from Nepal, Bhutan or Myanmar (Burma) other than by land route, and for those coming from Pakistan by land route, the allowance is ₹15,000.

Professionals (Rule-5)

A person who is engaged in a profession abroad or is transferring his residence to India shall be allowed, in addition to the allowances mentioned in Rule-3 and Rule-4 above, the following additional concessions—

1. 3 to 6 months: ₹60,000.

2. 6 months to 1 year: ₹1,00,000.

3. 1 year to 2 years: ₹2,00,000, provided the passenger should not have used this concession in preceding 3 years.

4. Over 2 years: ₹5,00,000, provided —

1. a) the minimum stay abroad is 2 years immediately preceding the date of arrival in India. Shortfall up to 2 months in stay abroad can be condoned by Deputy or Assistant Commissioner of Customs if early return is on account of (i) terminal leave or vacation (ii) any other special circumstances for reasons to be recorded in writing.

2. b) Total stay in India during the two preceding years should not exceed 6 months. This condition can be waivered by Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs for reasons to be recorded in writing.

3. c) Passenger should not have availed this concession in the preceding 3 years. No condonation of this condition is possible.

This concession is not available to those who were merely on training abroad, unless the passenger is a government official deputed on training abroad.

This concession cannot be availed in conjunction with TR concessions specified by Rule-8. These allowances are in addition to those offered by Annexures I, II and III.

‘Professional equipment’ consists of portable equipment, instrument, apparatus, and appliance as are required in the profession by a carpenter, plumber, welder, mason, and the like and shall not include items of common use such as cameras, cassette recorder, dictaphone, personal computer, typewriter, and other similar articles.

Jewellery (Rule-6)

The limit to import, free of duty, on jewellery is up to weight of 20 gms with a value of ₹50,000 for males and up to weight of 40 gms with ₹2,00,000 for females. This rule is also applicable to a person transferring residence.

Even an infant can enjoy this full concession provided the jewellery is for bona fide use of the infant. The value of jewellery is determined at the prevailing international rates. Import of old jewellery for conversion into new one and subsequent re-export is not permitted.

There is no value limit on the export of gold jewellery through baggage, if it constitutes the bona fide baggage of the passenger (F. 495/19/93-Cus VI, dt 6.10.94). Note that incentives for export of jewellery through legal commercial channels are more attractive.

Commercial export of gold jewellery through the courier mode is permitted subject to observance of prescribed procedures.

Foreign Tourists (Rule-7)

Foreign Tourist is a person not normally Resident who enters India for a stay of not more than 6 months, in any 12 months, for legitimate non-immigrant purposes, such as touring, recreation, sports, health, family reasons, study, pilgrimage or business. Such a tourist, either of Indian origin or otherwise is allowed used personal effects and travel souvenirs if these are for his personal consumption. Balance should be re-exported when he leaves India.

Tourists of Indian origin can avail the general allowances available to passengers who are Indian Resident or a foreigner residing in India as per Rule-3 or Rule-4. Tourists of foreign origin can bring articles up to ₹8,000 and travel souvenirs (other than those mentioned in Annexure-I) for personal use or gifts.

There is no free allowance for tourists of Nepalese or Bhutanese origin coming from their respective countries.

A tourist of (i) Pakistani origin coming from Pakistan other than by land routes and (ii) of any origin coming from Pakistan by land route, can bring articles up to ₹6,000 for making gifts.

The land routes are —

Amritsar         Amritsar Railway Station, Attari Roads, Attari Railway Station & Khalra.

Baroda           Assara Naka, Khavda Naka, Lakhpat, Santalpur Naka & Suigam Naka.

Delhi               Delhi Railway Station.

Ferozepur      Hussainiwala.

Jodhpur         Barmer & Munabao Railway Stations.

Baramullah      Adoosa.

Poonch           Chakan-da-bagh.

Under Public Notice 34-ITC(PN)/78 dt 16.5.78, an NRI or a PIO, major or minor, who is normally Resident abroad is entitled to import articles of personal and household effects up to ₹5,000, subject to certain conditions. Baggage of family members may be pooled or treated separately. This allowance should be allowed irrespective of educational qualification or profession of the tourist. For example, goldsmith can bring with him his plumbing tools.

Transfer of Residence (Rule-8)

A person on Transfer of Residence (TR) to India is a person whose minimum stay abroad is of 2 years immediately preceding the date of his arrival on TR. He can bring with him any used personal and household articles, other than those listed at Annexure I or II, but including all the items in Annexure III. The total stay in India on short visits during these 2 preceding years should not exceed 6 months and he should not have availed this concession in the preceding 3 years. The concessions can be availed only once in 3 years. This condition cannot be relaxed.

In case there is a shortfall of up to 2 months in the stay abroad and if his early return is on account of terminal leave or vacation or any other special circumstances, it can be condoned by Assistant or Deputy Commissioner of Customs. Only the Commissioner can extend the period of stay in India of 6 months in deserving cases.

Persons who had availed TR were required to stay in India for minimum one year after their return; not anymore.

Indian diplomats, if called back to India in public interest before the stay of 2 years, are also eligible for the concessions provided a certificate to that effect from the ministry of external affairs is produced and the items have been in use and possession of the diplomat for more than 6 months.

Articles allowed free of duty are — used personal and household articles, other than those listed in Annexure I or Annexure II but not Annexure III. This is in addition to the allowances offered by Rule-3 and Rule-4 and Rule-6.

TR is not available to each member of the family if they are having a common establishment and staying together. Not more than one unit of each item can be imported by a family.

The passengers, including foreign nationals, will have to pay duty on brand new items for personal use or gifts. Any article will be presumed to be in use if it has been in possession of the passenger for one year. Physical appearance that an article looks new is no ground for denying TR benefit. Purchase bill is to be taken as sufficient evidence. TR benefit must be allowed unless the revenue has sufficient evidence to prove otherwise — Jiwa Singh v. Union of India and Another 1990 (45) ELT 229 (Del.).

Even if the goods are liable to confiscation, exemption of TR cannot be denied — Naresh Lokumal Serai v Commissioner of Customs (Export) Raigad 2006 (203) ELT 0580 Tri-Bom.

TR for Foreigner Specialist

A foreigner with special technical knowledge or experience, finding that he cannot take the benefit of TR for one reason or another, (e.g., his resident permit of visa is for less than one year) may be allowed with prior approval of RBI, to get his goods released on giving a suitable bond. Other conditions of TR would prevail. The bond can be cancelled when he gets the visa extended.

The Indo-Pak Baggage Rules

The Baggage Rules, 1998 (as amended in 2006), are applicable also to Indians and Pakistanis arriving from Pakistan ever since the Indo-Pak Baggage Rules have been rescinded. For export of baggage of those proceeding to Pakistan, export trade control concessions contained in Handbook of Import-Export Procedure are applicable. All the provisions regarding the Baggage Rules, 1998 will be applicable to passengers arriving from Pakistan.

Unaccompanied Baggage (Rule-9)

Passengers can send their baggage through cargo as unaccompanied baggage provided it has been in possession abroad of the passenger and has been dispatched 1 month after his arrival in India or such further period as Deputy or Assistant Commissioner of Customs may allow. The baggage may land in India 2 months in advance before the arrival of the passenger or within such period not exceeding 1 year as the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner may allow, for reasons to be recorded in writing.

These Rules shall apply to such baggage, unless specifically excluded. re is no free allowance for such baggage which is chargeable to Customs duty @ 35% ad valorem + 3% Education Cess.

Avoid sending used personal effects through unaccompanied baggage. The provisions of Rule-8 are extended to unaccompanied baggage, except where they have been specifically excluded. Consequently, in our opinion, the concessions to the extent of shortfall availed on the accompanied baggage can be claimed on unaccompanied baggage.

The unaccompanied baggage should be in the possession abroad of the passenger and shall be dispatched within one month of his arrival in India and land in India up to two months before the arrival of the passenger. The Deputy / Assistant Commissioner of Customs may allow an extension of this period not exceeding one year, for reasons to be recorded, if he is satisfied that the passenger was prevented from arriving in India within the stipulated period due to circumstances beyond his control.

Such baggage can also be received by a friend or relatives of the passenger.

NRIs passing through India in transit may also pay the freight in rupees only if it was obtained by sale of forex by the traveller.

The freight rates are normally half the usual cargo rates with a minimum charge for 10 kgs. Freight on accompanied baggage can be accepted in rupees if the fare of the traveller to India was collected in rupees either in India or abroad.

Public Notice 29/86 states that no demurrage is chargeable for storage of baggage since it is baggage and not cargo. This also applies to cases where the goods were detained at the instance of the customs — R. K. Pariyar v. International Airport Authority of India, 1993 (63) ELT 411 (Del).

Crew Members (Rule-10)

Any individual coming to India for a short stay who typically makes more frequent visits, and an airline crew, may bring petty items like chocolates, cosmetics, cheese, and other petty gift items up to ₹1,500 per visit.

He is not allowed to bring costly gadgets like air conditioners, music system, refrigerators, etc., on payment of baggage duty without an import licence, except where such items have been specifically permitted under the Exim Policy in force or under public notice or order issued by the DGFT.

A crew member of a foreign-going vessel is treated on par with Resident passengers for his baggage at the final pay off on termination of his engagement and Rule-3 to Rule-9 would be applicable. In addition, he would also be eligible to the concessions related with import of gold and silver since a retired employee ceases to be a member of the crew.

A foreign-going vessel includes a vessel —

a) of a foreign government taking part in a naval exercise.

b) or aircraft proceeding to a place outside India for any purpose whatsoever. and

c) engaged in fishing or any other operation outside the territorial waters of India.

Certain goods are prohibited (banned) or restricted (subject to certain conditions) for import and/or export. These are goods of social, health, environment, wildlife and security concerns. While it is not possible to list all the goods, more common of these are:

1. Export of most species of wildlife and articles made from wild flora and fauna, such as ivory, musk, reptile skins, furs, shahtoosh, etc.

2. Trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

3. Export of goods purchased against forex brought in by foreign passengers are allowed except for prohibited goods.

4. Export of Indian Currency is strictly prohibited. However Indian residents when they go abroad can take with them Indian currency not exceeding ₹25,000.

5. Tourists while leaving India can take with them foreign currency not exceeding an amount brought in by them at the time of their arrival in India. As no declaration is required to be made for bringing in forex / currency not exceeding equivalent of $10,000, generally tourists can take out of India with them at the time of their departure forex/ currency not exceeding the above amount.

6. Indian residents going abroad are permitted to take with them foreign currency without any limit so long as the same has been purchased from an authorised forex dealer.

7. Pornographic material and pirated goods and good infringing any of the legally enforceable.

8. Intellectual property rights.

9. Antiquities.

10. Live birds and animals including pets.

11. Plants and their produce, e.g., fruits, seeds.

12. Endangered species of plants and animals, whether live or dead.

13. Any goods for commercial purpose: for profit, gain or commercial usage.

14. Radio transmitters not approved for normal usage.

Following items are prohibited from being carried either in checked-in or hand baggage —

• Briefcase with built-in alarms or lithium batteries and/or pyrotechnic materials.

• Compressed gases, toxic, refrigerated liquids, like camping gas devices.

• Corrosive products, acids, mercury, alkali and wet batteries.

• Flammable liquids, coal gas, paints and thinners.

• Asbestos materials.

• Oxidising agents such as chloride of lime and peroxide.

• Flammable solids, matches and material which ignite easily substances capable of spontaneous combustion or which on contact with water emit flammable gases.

• Poisonous and infectious substances.

• Radioactive substances.

Handbag cannot carry Gels, Alcohol, Liquids, Creams, Lotions, Sharp articles, etc.

Satellite phone is not permitted to be imported except against a licence issued by the WPC wing of Ministry of Communication and Information Technology

Firearms

Import of firearms is strictly prohibited. Import of cartridges more than 50 is also prohibited. However, in the case of persons transferring their residence (as per conditions specified in the rules) to India for a minimum period of one year, one firearm of permissible bore can be allowed to be imported subject to the conditions that: (i) The same was in possession and use abroad by the passenger for a minimum period of one year and that such firearm can be disposed of after ten years of its import. However, this facility can be availed only once. (ii) The passenger has a valid arms licence from the local (Indian) authorities. (iii) The customs duties as applicable shall be paid.

Thanks to the terrorists, it is exceedingly difficult to get any permission.

Renowned shooters and rifle clubs can import arms and ammunition, of permissible bore for their own use and even for gift purpose, on the recommendation of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports. An application must be made using Form given in Appendix-8 of the Handout of Procedures to DGFT.

Export of Antique items is prohibited. Artifacts / items over 100 years old are considered antiques.

One Laptop Computer Imported as Baggage Exempt

Notification 11/2004 dt 8.1.04 has exempted from the duty one laptop computer (notebook) when imported into India by a passenger of the age of 18 years or above (other than a member of the crew).

Import of Baggage of Deceased Person

Used, bona fide personal and household effects belonging to a deceased person can be imported free of duty subject to the condition that a Certificate from the concerned Indian Embassy or High Commission is produced regarding the ownership of the goods by the deceased person — MoF Notification 103 (F. 56/7/Cus VI) dt 19.7.69. In such a case, the value should be ignored, especially when the person is the widow of the deceased person — Padma K. Fokul Fandhi v Collector of Customs, Mumbai 1995 (78) ELT 265 (Tribunal).

Replacement of Defective Items

Notification 49/96 Cus dt 23.7.96 exempts articles and component parts thereof when imported for replacement of defective items.

Pets, Wild Animals

Export of most species of wildlife, exotic birds, wild orchids and articles made from flora and fauna such as ivory, musk, reptile skins, furs, tiger skins, shahtoosh, etc., is prohibited.

Import of pets up to two numbers per passenger are allowed as baggage only to persons transferring their residence to India after two years of continuous stay abroad in terms of Baggage Rules, 1998 subject to production of required health certificate from country of origin and examination of the said pets by the animal quarantine officer without an import licence issued by DGFT.

Gifts

A Resident is free to send outside India (export) any gift article, which may be free to be exported as per the extant Foreign Trade Policy, subject to the exporter submitting a declaration that the gifted goods are not more than ₹5,00,000. Such gifts may be sent outside India without furnishing the declaration in Form EDF/ SOFTEX.

Any person may buy from any post office any forex in the form of postal orders or money orders. Import of goods which are otherwise freely importable is also permitted without requiring a CCP. In other cases, the permit is issued on an application by the Licensing Authority on merits of each case.

A gift to an entity in India can be made subject to —

a) It is made for donee’s personal use.

b) It is made by post or otherwise.

c) It does not contain vegetable seeds exceeding one pound in weight, bees, tea, books, literature which is prohibited, canalised items, alcoholic beverages, and consumer electronic items (except hearing aids, lifesaving equipments, apparatus and appliances and parts thereof).

d) Consumer goods made to charitable, religious or educational institutions and others specified by central government.

e) CIF value of the gift parcel does not exceed ₹5,000, vide Notification 87/99 Cus dt 6.7.99. Postal charges or the air freight shall not be considered for determining the value limit.

f) Under para 11.4 of Import Export Policy 1997-2002, goods of value not exceeding ₹15,000 in a licensing year may be exported as a gift. Items in the negative list of exports require a licence except in the case of edible items.

Postal Imports

Remittances against bills received for imports by post parcel may be made by ADs, provided such goods are normally despatched by post parcel. The parcel receipts must be produced as evidence of despatch through the post and an undertaking must be furnished in Postal Appraisal Form or Customs Assessment Certificate as evidence of import within 3 months from the date of remittance, even if the parcel has already been received in India. Where goods are not of a kind normally imported by post parcel or where the AD is not satisfied about the bona fides of the applicant, the case should be referred to the RBI for prior approval with full particulars together with relative parcel receipt and Postal Appraisal Form or Customs Assessment Certificate.

ADs may make remittances towards import of books by post parcel by booksellers or publishers against bills received for collection, irrespective of the amount involved, against endorsement on the import licence wherever applicable in the normal course. They may also make remittances even if import licences covering the imports have been issued after the date of import subject to endorsement on such licences.

Import & Export of Currency

Travellers going out of India can purchase forex currency notes and coins up to US$ 3,000 per visit. Balance amount can be carried in the form of store value cards, traveller’s cheque or banker’s draft. This facility is per individual, including children, major or minor.

However, travellers proceeding to Iraq and Libya can draw up to US$ 5,000 or its equivalent per visit and those proceeding to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russian Federation and other Republics of Commonwealth of Independent States can draw entire forex (up to US$ 250,000) in the form of notes or coins. For travellers proceeding for Haj / Umrah pilgrimage, full amount of entitlement (US$ 250,000) in cash or up to the cash limit as specified by the Haj Committee of India, may be released by the ADs and FFMCs.

Normally, tourists, while leaving India, can take with them forex not exceeding an amount brought in by them at the time of their arrival in India. As no declaration is required to be made for bringing in currency notes up to equivalent of US$ 5,000, generally they can take with them at the time of their departure currency notes not exceeding this limit.

A Resident of India, who has gone out of India on a temporary visit may bring into India at the time of his return from any place outside India, Indian currency notes up to ₹25,000.

Any person Resident Outside India, not being a citizen of Pakistan and Bangladesh and not a traveller coming from and going to Pakistan and Bangladesh and visiting India may bring Indian currency notes up to ₹25,000 while entering only through an airport. Any person Resident who had gone to Pakistan and / or Bangladesh on a temporary visit, may bring into India at the time of his return, Indian currency notes up to ₹10,000 per person.

A person coming into India from abroad can bring with him forex without any limit. However, if the aggregate value in the form of currency notes, bank notes or traveller’s cheques brought in exceeds US$ 10,000 and/or the value of foreign currency alone exceeds US$ 5,000 or its equivalent, it should be declared to the Customs Authorities at the Airport in the Currency Declaration Form (CDF), on arrival in India. ADs and their exchange bureaux are required to issue Encashment Certificates (EC) in Form-ECF in all cases of purchase of forex from the public, irrespective of whether the Currency Declaration Form (CDF) has been submitted or not by the tenderer of the forex and whether the tenderer requests for the certificate or not. In the absence of encashment certificate, unspent local currency held by non-resident visitors will not be allowed to be converted into forex.

Permissible forex can be drawn 180 days in advance by an individual Resident. Forex for travel abroad can be purchased from an authorized person against rupee payment in cash below ₹50,000. However, if the sale of foreign exchange is for the amount equivalent to ₹50,000 and above, the entire payment should be made by way of a crossed cheque, banker’s cheque, pay order, demand draft, debit card, credit card or prepaid card only. There is no forex exchange counter after immigration.

Weight & Size of Baggage

This is based on weight or number of bags, depending upon the airline. Each passenger is normally allowed to carry as free baggage allowance 40 kgs in first class, 30 kgs in executive class and 20 kgs in economy class. However, a lady’s handbag, reasonable reading material, purse, overcoat, wrap, blanket, umbrella, walking stick, a small camera, binoculars, infant’s carrying basket, infant’s en-route food for consumption, any prosthetic device for passenger’s use such as crutches, collapsible wheelchair, etc., are allowed free.

Each passenger can checked-in bags, each one not exceeding linear dimension (length + breadth + height) of 158 cms and weighing not more than 32 kgs. Passengers in any class with infants (paying 10% of adult fare, not entitled to a separate seat) are allowed one extra piece of checked-in bag up to 10 kgs with total linear dimension not exceeding 115 cms, plus other items as they are allowed under the weight system.

First class and Executive class passengers can carry two handbags in the cabin, the total weight of which should not exceed 12 kgs. The economy class passenger can carry only one bag of not more than 8 kgs. The individual dimensions of each piece should not exceed 55 cms × 40 cms × 20 cms. One stroller per child within the allowance is permitted.

A passenger can book additional seat at normal fare to carry hand baggage, the total weight of which is under 75 kgs per seat.

If the bag exceeds the prescribed limits in weight or dimensions, the excess baggage rate is charged which is normally @1% of the normal first-class one-way fare per kilogram. This slightly varies depending upon the airline and the destination.

Travellers on flights originating from Jammu, Srinagar and Leh are not allowed to carry any hand baggage.

Loss, Delay or Damage of Baggage

The airlines reimburse the loss arising out of delay or damage of lost baggage, but the rates differ depending upon the air line. Air India pays US$ 20 per kilo for checked baggage and US$ 400 per passenger for unchecked baggage unless a higher value is declared in advance. No liability is undertaken for goods which are fragile or perishable. For travel wholly between one US point to another, the US law requires the airlines to pay at least US$ 1,250 per passenger.

If a passenger wishes to cover the risk comprehensively, he may go in for insurance of unbreakable articles at a nominal premium of approximately 1% of the insured value declared. Insurance companies make payment on depreciated value of the goods. The passenger is also entitled for compensation if his goods are damaged provided, they were properly packed. The payment towards settling the claim may take between 3 weeks and 3 months.

Until the baggage is traced, the airlines meet the essential expenses of the passenger. The amount depends on the profile of the passenger including the class in which he was travelling and the distance from his residence.

In case the baggage has been lost or mishandled by the Airlines, a simplified procedure is in place for clearance of such baggage which allows the passenger to have delivery of his baggage at his doorstep by the Airlines. There is no need to handover the passport or the keys of the bag to the airlines. The passenger must first file a property irregularity report (PIR) along with a declaration indicating contents in the missing baggage. The passenger is required to obtain a certificate to that effect from the airlines and get it countersigned by Customs indicating specifically the unutilized portion of the free allowance. This would enable the passenger to avail the unutilized portion of the duty-free allowance when his baggage is delivered by the airlines. The examination of the mishandled baggage would be carried out in the presence of the passenger.

Detained Baggage

A passenger may request the Customs to detain his baggage either for re-export at the time of his departure from India or for clearance subsequently on payment of duty. The detained baggage would be examined, and full details will be inventorised. Such baggage is kept in the custody of the Customs. If he does not come within the time limit specified in the detention receipt, the Customs can dispose the goods.

When a contraband article is seized, a panchanama should be made at spot. Sometimes, it may not be possible to do so because of lack of facilities. Panchanama must be witnessed by persons who are locally available for giving evidence later, if required. Merely because some employees were called as they happened to be available, it is no ground to view their evidence with suspicion — Sec. 108, para 13 of the Custom Act, 1962.

Take Care

Some touts and unauthorised persons operate, particularly in the unaccompanied baggage centre of Air Cargo Complexes. It may be quite possible that some of the assessing officers are hand in gloves with them. How else can you explain the presence of these shady characters in the complex? If you keep your list ready, you have nothing to worry. However, the procedures are quite complicated, and it is better to employ a recognised clearing agent.

Whenever a dispute arises in respect of bona fide nature of the baggage sought to be cleared under TR, the matter can be brought to the notice of the additional deputy collector of customs for appropriate decision.

Valuation of Goods & Custom Duty

In view of the difficulty encountered in fixing the value of used items, the government has fixed tariff value of a few items usually imported by the passengers as baggage. In other cases, the value is fixed based on purchase bills, depreciation (mostly in the case of cars) and other available data. Normally, the value as declared by the passenger is accepted unless proved otherwise. The burden of proof lies on the Department. The rate of exchange as in force on the date on which a bill of entry is presented will be taken for ascertaining allowances and duty.

If there is any unutilised portion of duty-free allowance, a set-off of that portion is allowed before charging the duty. No such set-off is allowed on unaccompanied baggage.

Duty Rates

The goods over and above the free allowances shall be chargeable to customs duty @ 35% + an education cess of 3%. The effective rate is 36.05%.

The rate of duty applicable on these products over and above the above-mentioned free allowance is as under:

(i) Cigarettes BCD @100%+ educational cess @ 3%.

(ii) Whisky BCD @150% + ACD @ 4% + no education cess.

(iii) Beer BCD @100% + ACD NIL + 3% education cess.

The rates of duty are liable to frequent changes and therefore you will do well by checking the latest rates applicable.

Misdeclaration or non-declaration attracts penal actions. Goods up to ₹500 more than the declared quantity may be allowed clearance on payment of duty. Excess beyond this limit up to ₹2,000 may be allowed on payment of duty and fine. Goods beyond this limit up to ₹5,000 may attract penalty besides confiscation whereas goods more than ₹5,000 may attract, besides other actions, prosecution.

Special Concession

As per Notification 13/2004-Cus dt 8.1.04 w.e.f. 9.1.04, total exemption on items listed in Annexure-II and concessional duty @15% ad valorem for those in Annexure-III is charged to —

(a) any person returning to India after having stayed abroad for at least 365 days during the 2 years immediately preceding the date of arrival in India. Refer Rule 5 for whom duty-free allowance is ₹75,000. The person should declare in writing that the goods have been in his possession abroad or the goods are purchased from a duty-free shop located in the arrival hall.

(b) any person on a bona fide Transfer of Residence (TR) to India as part of his bona fide baggage. Refer Rule-8 for whom duty-free allowance is ₹5,00,000. The person should give an additional declaration affirming that no other member of the family has availed of or would avail of this benefit.

Notification 48/2007-Cus dt 12.11.07 permits Government of India officials proceeding abroad on official postings to carry along with their personal baggage, food items strictly for their personal consumption.

Clearance Channels — Green & Red

The green channel is for those not having any dutiable or restricted goods whereas the red is for others. If the goods pass the conditions applicable to the green channel, only 10% of the packages will be opened for examination by the customs. Full examination will be resorted to only in cases of doubts arising out of such percentage examination. Passengers are normally cleared on an oral declaration. It is prudent to have a list of the articles giving their description and value along with all purchase receipts for articles brought as baggage.

Mishandled Baggage

In case the baggage has been lost or mishandled by the Airlines, a simplified procedure is in place for clearance of such baggage which allows the passenger to have delivery of his baggage at his doorstep by the Airlines. There is no need to handover the passport or the keys of the baggage to the airlines. The passenger must first file a property irregularity report (PIR) with the airlines for the missing baggage. At the same time, he must file a declaration indicating contents in the missing baggage. The passenger is required to obtain a certificate to that effect from the airlines and get it countersigned by Customs indicating specifically the unutilized portion of the free allowance. This would enable the passenger to avail the unutilized portion of the duty-free allowance when his baggage is delivered by the airlines. Finally, the passenger is required to submit all these documents with the concerned airlines for clearance and delivery of goods on his behalf. The examination of the mishandled baggage would be carried out in the presence of the passenger.

Mandatory Declarations

It is obligatory for disembarking passengers to declare details of plants, seeds, other planting materials, meat and meat products, dairy products, live or ornamental fish, poultry, and poultry products. It is also obligatory to declare goods more than the free allowance, prohibited or restricted goods, including narcotic drugs, wildlife and its products, arms, explosives, and commercial goods at the Red Channel Counter. Attempt to import these goods through non-declaration can lead to penal consequences, including arrest.

Registration for Foreign Nationals

Anyone entering India on a student, employment, research, medical, medical attendant, or missionary visa, which is valid for over 180 days, is required to register with the Foreigners Registration Officer under whose jurisdiction he proposes to stay, within 14 days of arrival in India.

Foreigners visiting India on any other category of visa that is valid for over 180 days are not required to register themselves if their actual stay does not exceed 180 days on each visit. If such a foreigner happens to find that his stay would go beyond 180 days, he should get himself registered before he crosses the limit.

Foreign nationals who are exempt from registration are —

(a) those having visa for 180 days or less.

(b) children under 16 years of age, irrespective of the type of visa.

(c) those holding OCI card.

Irrespective of the type of Visa, Pakistani nationals are required to register within 24 hours and Afghanistan nationals within 14 days of their arrival in India.

If at any time, a foreigner proposes to be absent from the registered address for a continuous period of 8 weeks or more or is changing the address or is finally departing from India, he shall, before leaving inform in person, or through an authorised representative, or by registered post to his jurisdictional Registration Officer.

For updated information and in case of any difficulty or complaint, you can contact the Customs Officer (PRO).

Motor Vehicles

Cars are excluded from definition of baggage. Import of passenger cars, Jeeps, multi-utility vehicles and motorcycles, etc., both new and second hand, can be imported against an import licence and on payment of customs duty. However, the following persons do not require licence —

(a) Individuals coming to India for permanent settlement after 2 years of continuous stay abroad provided the car has been in his possession for a minimum of 1 year abroad. Short visits to India are to be ignored as provided for in the baggage rules. Consequently, such individuals cannot import brand new cars.

(b) Legal heirs or successors of a deceased relative residing abroad.

(c) A physically handicapped person if the vehicle is specially designed for him. Only one vehicle is allowed, and it shall not be sold within 2 years.

A second hand or used vehicle means a vehicle that has been sold, leased or loaned prior to its importation into India. It shall not be older than 3 years from the date of manufacture and shall have a minimum roadworthiness for 5 years.

In all the cases, the new as well as the old vehicles shall have:

(a) A speedometer indicating the speed in kilometres per hour.

(b) Right hand steering and controls. Manufacturers can import left hand drive vehicles only for testing and research.

(c) Photometry of the head lamps to suit keep-left traffic.

Motor cars, motorcycles and scooters, new or old, are chargeable to customs duty based on their list price prevailing in the country of their manufacture on the date on which the bill of entry is presented. Trade discount and depreciation are to be adjusted. Depreciation for used cars is taken from the date of registration to the date of shipment or the date of departure of the owner from abroad, whichever is earlier. Freight, insurance and landing charges are to be added to the price to arrive at the final assessable value.

Import of new vehicles is permitted only through Customs ports at Nhava Sheva, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi Air Cargo and at ICD Tughlakabad.

Car Registration Licensing and Insurance

You must register and license your vehicle unless you are visiting India for less than 3 months. This is required even if you have been exempted from import duty. You will have to submit a Customs Declaration Form and an undertaking for the re-export of the vehicle. You must take your vehicle for registration to the Regional Transport Office as soon as possible and obtain a licence. An international driving license is valid in India.

You will be required to show to the RTO that you are adequately insured covering all the risks, including third party liabilities before you register your vehicle.

As per Sec. 139A it is mandatory to quote PAN on challans for any payments due to the Department. Moreover, it is compulsory to quote PAN in all documents pertaining to some financial transactions, mainly purchase and sale of shares and MF schemes. Because of the distance, NRIs find it difficult to obtain a PAN mainly due to lack of understanding of the exact requirements. This is an attempt to clarify the position in detail.

It is mandatory to possess PAN for filing tax returns and for some specified transactions. PAN is also necessary while opening an account with a DP for share transactions in demat format. For others, though not mandatory, it is advisable to possess PAN.

Detailed instructions including the form etc., are available on the official website. The following is the link for the same: https://www.tin-nsdl.com/services/pan/pan-index.html

Those who are not able to obtain PAN for one reason or the other but are holding securities in physical form and desire to sell the same, may be permitted to open a ‘limited purpose account’ without PAN subject to —

• These accounts will be ‘suspended for credit’ which means, only credits arising out of corporate benefits and demat of physical certificates will be permitted.
• These accounts cannot be used for getting credit from IPOs, any off-market or secondary market transactions, etc.
• These accounts can remain operational only for a limited period of 6 months to regularise the account. The DPs shall freeze non-regularised accounts thereafter.
• The account holders can sell the securities lying in these accounts only through a registered broker on the stock exchange.

Where there is difference in the maiden name and current name of the investor, DPs can collect the PAN card proof as submitted by the account holder. However, this would be subject to the DPs verifying the veracity of the claim of such investors by collecting sufficient documentary evidence in support of the identity of the investor.

Aadhaar

It is not necessary for any NRI to possess an Aadhaar card though it is advisable to have one since it is slowly becoming the only source of identification of an individual for many financial transactions. An NRI can now get an Aadhaar only when he is physically present in India, irrespective of any other consideration, particularly the number of days stay in India. However, he need not apply for the same, unless there are special reasons for him to possess it.

NRIs with Indian passport can apply for biometric ID on arrival or by scheduling a prior appointment, thus doing away with the requirement for a mandatory 182-day waiting period.

1. A valid Indian passport will be accepted as a proof of identity, address, and date of birth.

2. In case the passport does not have Indian address, he shall be allowed to submit any of the other UIDAI-approved documents as proof of address.

3. NRI will be provided with an appointment facility where people outside the country also can apply for a time slot and specify the place, they would like to go to get their Aadhaar made.

KYC Norms for Mutual Funds

It is compulsory for all the MFs w.e.f. 3.3.08 to comply with KYC norms for all the applications including New Fund Offer applications of ₹50,000 or more. This requirement is applicable even to joint holders.

Application forms are separate for individuals and non-individuals. These can be downloaded from the website of AMFI/MFs or obtained from any distributor.

If you have multiple folios within one Fund, you can instruct the MF to update the KYC against all the folios. A copy of the receipt allotted while submitting the KYC Form is required to be attached along with all new investment applications.

Power of Attorney (PoA)

Though the purchases can be made through direct remittances, it is obvious that an NRI requires to have a person in India to whom he has donated his PoA to dabble in shares on his behalf. Can he arrange for a PoA from abroad? Of course, yes. Let us take the case of UK. All that he must do is to —

a) Print the PoA on a stamp paper of the required denomination as per UK Law and contact the Indian Embassy in UK.

b) The person executing the PoA will sign in the presence of a notary who countersigns every page of the PoA.

c) Arrange to send the PoA to the stamp office in India for getting it stamped for a denomination of ₹100.

d) The person accepting the PoA will sign in the presence of the notary who attests his signature.

The authorities may feel that this is quite easy. We do not.

The Government had introduced on 31.03.1999 PIO Cards for PIOs settled throughout the world. Now OCI cards have come into existence and have some better features.

OCI facility is available to any overseas Indian (other than a person who was a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh any time) if his home country allows dual citizenship under their local laws. On the other hand, the OCI card is not available to a person who was or is a citizen of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka at any time.

Such a foreign national should have been —

1. a) Eligible to become citizen of India on 26.01.1950. Any person who or either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents was born in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935 (as originally enacted), and who was ordinarily residing in any country outside India was eligible to become citizen of India on 26.01.1950, or

2. b) Was a citizen of India on or after 26.1.50, or

3. c) Belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947. Such territories are — (i) Sikkim from 26.04.1975, (ii) Pondicherry from 16.08.1962, (iii) Dadra & Nagar Haveli from 11.08.1961, and (iv) Goa, Daman and Diu from 20.12.1961.

4. d) His children and grandchildren, even if minors are also eligible.

A person who is already holding more than one nationality can also be an OCI if the local laws of at least one of the countries allow dual citizenship in some form or other.

An OCI card holder does not possess dual citizenship or nationality.

Advantages

• Multi-purpose, multiple entry, life-long visa for visiting India. Unlike the Indian visa that requires you to pay the fees at each application, the OCI card is a one-time cost. You only have to pay for it once and it is valid for your lifetime, meaning thereby that you do not have to go through the hassle of renewing it again and again.

• OCI does not require registration with local police authority for stay over 180 days.

• The press note dt. 2-12-05 by Ministry of Home Affairs states that one of the benefits of OCI is — Parity with NRIs in respect of all facilities to the latter in economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties. We know that a PIO also cannot acquire any agricultural/plantation properties. This note has clarified that an NRI does possess such a right. We had a doubt regarding the same.

• Facilities as available to children of NRIs for obtaining admission to educational institutions in India, including medical colleges, engineering colleges, institutes of technology, institutes of management etc., under the general category.

• As per Sec. 5(1g) of the Citizenship Act, 1955, a person who is registered as OCI for 5 years and is Residing in India for 1 year out of the above 5 years, is eligible to apply for Indian Citizenship to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Central Government. The same rule applies to minor children (even foreign-born) and spouses of foreign origin, married to Indians.

Disadvantages

A person who is already holding more than one nationality can also be an OCI if the local laws of at least one of the countries allow dual citizenship in some form or other. However, India doesn’t allow dual citizenship. As soon as you get your foreign citizenship, in order to apply for an OCI card, you must first surrender your Indian passport to the nearest Indian mission or consulate. This can be a difficult decision for you as it means giving up your Indian citizenship.

Consequently, the disadvantages are loss of the right to ---

a) Appointment to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of any State.

b) Vote in India.

c) Undertake certain activities without obtaining special permission or license from the Indian government. These activities include working in certain professions, such as journalism, mountaineering, filming of documentaries etc. If you want to undertake any of these activities, you will need to get prior approval from the concerned authorities in India. If you want to find additional information about these activities, go to the Govt. of India’s OCI services portal.

Procedure

Every registered OCI will be issued a registration certificate which is printed like an Indian passport in different colours and an OCI visa sticker will be pasted in the person’s foreign passport. Both these will have all necessary security features, including photograph.

An eligible person may apply to the Indian Mission or Post of the country of his nationality or of any other country if he is ordinarily residing there, along with the necessary proofs of his eligibility.

Application Form-XIX can be used directly on-line or downloaded from www.mha.nic.in and submitted through post. It can be jointly used by a family consisting of spouses and up to two minor children. Part-A of the Form can be filed on-line. A bar code and a reference number will be generated automatically as an acknowledgement. Part-B can be downloaded and printed on computer or written by hand in block letters. Printed Part-A and Part-B of the application form must be submitted in duplicate with all necessary enclosures. The concerned office will issue an acknowledgement number which can be used for enquiries in future.

If the applicant is not in the country of citizenship, the application can be submitted to the Indian Mission or Post of the country where he is ordinarily residing. If the applicant is in India, it can be submitted to the FRRO Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Amritsar or to CHIO, Chennai or to the Under Secretary, OCI Cell, Citizenship Section, Foreigners Division, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Jaisalmer House, 26, Mansingh Road, New Delhi-110011. Central processing of applications will occur in New Delhi. Ministry sends OCI cards to embassy/consulate.

An application where there is no reporting of criminal case against the applicant will be granted OCI within 30 days whereas in other cases it may take 120 days. An OCI certificate acquired based on concealed information or misrepresentation, will be cancelled and such persons will be blacklisted for entry into India.

A registration certificate in the form of a booklet will be issued and a multiple entry, multipurpose OCI ‘U’ visa sticker will be pasted on the foreign passport of the applicant. For this purpose, the applicant must send the original passport after receipt of the acceptance letter or verification of the application on-line.

In the case of loss of or damage to the certificate, an application must be made to the same Indian Mission or Post which issued the certificate. A new OCI ‘U’ visa sticker will be issued. However, the applicant can continue to carry the old passport wherein OCI ‘U’ visa sticker was pasted along with new passport for visiting India without seeking a new visa, as the visa is valid for lifelong. Ditto for renewal of the foreign passport.

In the unlikely case of a person desiring to renounce OCI, he can use Form-XXII and send it to the Indian Mission or Post where OCI registration was granted.

New Relaxation

On 30-3-21, the Indian embassy in the USA on its website declared, “'Henceforth, an OCI cardholder travelling on the strength of an existing OCI card bearing old passport number is not required to carry the old passport. However, carrying the new (current) passport is mandatory.”

Cost of OCI Card

Applications for OCI can only be made online at ociservices.gov.in. A person making an application is required to submit a photograph and several identification documents to prove they meet the eligibility criteria and must pay an application fee. Applications made from outside India are charged a fee of US$ 275 and in India is charged ₹15,000. Renewal cost is $275 abroad and ₹1,400 in India. Renewal charges are US $25 abroad and ₹1,400 in India.

Child of Parents Who Renounced Citizenship

As per Sec. 8(2) of Indian Citizenship Act, 1995 every minor child of a person who has renounced his Indian citizenship ceases to be a citizen of India. Such a child may, within one year after attaining full age make a declaration that it wishes to resume Indian citizenship. The applicant will have to provide a renunciation certificate of parents and submit it online along with a fee. The receipt will have to be submitted with the Indian mission concerned or district collector (if already staying in India) for signing the declaration and affirm oath of allegiance before the authority. Those willing to resume their citizenship will be required to provide copy of the passport, proof of nation of citizenship and details birthplace, add nationality.

Policies of Insurers Outside India

A Resident may take and continue to hold a life or general insurance policy, including health insurance issued by an insurer outside India provided aggregate remittances including amount of premiums do not exceed limit under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme of $2,50,000. for health insurance and RBI specific or general permission for life insurance.

No person shall take or renew any general insurance policy covering any property in India with an insurer whose principal place of business is outside India without IRDA permission.

Where the premium on a general or life insurance policy has been paid by making remittance from India, the policy holder shall repatriate to India through normal banking channels, the maturity proceeds or amount of any claim within 7 days from the receipt thereof.

Medical insurance policies in forex can be issued to Indian citizens who have gone abroad for employment and studies. Even when the premium can be paid in Indian rupees, some foreign insurers insist on payment in forex. Such payments are covered under the maintenance quota released by ADs.

Now, a difficulty. It was noticed that many of foreign insurers structured an extremely low-cost, single-premium special insurance policy but were essentially investment products to attract HNIs in India. Many of the buyers used their undisclosed funds lying abroad to pay the premium without declaring it. To counter such actions, the Foreign Exchange Management (Insurance) Regulations, 2015 has prescribed the requirement for a prior approval for obtaining or continuing to hold such policies issued by a foreign insurer.

Understandably, an NRI who has returned to India permanently is an exception to this rule and can continue to hold and maintain such policies purchased when he was an NRI until their maturity.

Policies Issued by Indian Insurers

Resident of India who has gone abroad may take general/health insurance policy permitted by IRDA from Indian insurer on payment of premium in INR, where claims arising under the policies outside India are to be settled in foreign currency.

Resident Outside India may take general/health insurance policy as permitted by IRDAI from Indian Insurers. Claims arising under the policies are to be settled in INR if payment of premium is in INR and in any currency if payment of premium is in foreign currency. However, Insurance cover on risks inside India (including All Risks Insurance) on assets in India owned by Indian branches/offices of foreign companies, banks, etc., may be issued only in INR.

Insurers may issue general as well as life policies denominated in forex through their offices in India or abroad to NRIs provided the premiums are collected in forex or out of NRE accounts of the insured or his family members. For policies denominated in rupees, premium through NRO accounts can be accepted.

Policies may be issued in forex to Residents of Indian nationality or origin who have returned to India after being NRIs, provided the premiums are paid out of forex remittances or from their RFC accounts.

Foreign currency Policies issued by overseas offices of Indian insurers may be transferred to Indian register, together with the related actuarial reserves, when the policy holder returns to India. However, if the policy is in force for at least 3 years prior to policy holder’s return to India and the policy holder wishes to retain and continue the forex policy, ADs can accept premium payments through foreign remittances or the RFC account of the policy holder. If the premiums are continued to be paid in forex, the maturity proceeds or the amount of claim can be credited to his account abroad or the RFC account in India.

Resident beneficiaries of forex life insurance policies are being permitted to retain the proceeds in their RFC/RFCD Accounts.

Proceeds of policies denominated in forex or the rupee policies for which premia are paid in forex or out of NRE accounts can be credited to NRE Account of the NRI.

The restrictions regarding export of policies stand withdrawn.

Conversion of life policies of Resident in rupees into forex or transfer of records of such policies to a country outside India requires RBI prior approval.

Settlement of Claims – Maturity, Surrender Value, etc.

The basic rule for settlement of claims on rupee life insurance policies in favour of claimants Resident Outside India is that payments in forex will be permitted only in proportion in which the amount of premiums paid in forex in relation to the total premiums payable. Where such a person is an NRI, the amounts can be credited to his NRE account, if it is so desired. Resident beneficiaries may credit proceeds to their RFC/RFCD accounts if they so desire.

Claims in respect of rupee life insurance policies issued to NRIs for which premia have been collected in non-repatriable rupees may be paid only by credit to NRO account if the claimant is NRI and ordinary account if he is a Resident.

If a beneficiary residing outside India desires remittance abroad, he should apply to RBI for its approval in Form-A2 together with Form-LIM(1), through his bank for the approval.

Where the policies are assigned to an overseas bank, the credit in rupees of any claim to the overseas assignee’s account with an AD, requires RBI permission.

In case of cashless international health insurance products remittances may be allowed to the hospital which has provided the treatment/Third Party Administrator with which the insurer or the hospital has entered a contractual arrangement in accordance with applicable IRDAI regulations or to the insured person Resident Outside India.

Notes:

Where rupee policies are issued on life of a non-resident Indian national under the Married Women’s Property Act, the beneficiaries will be the wife and/or children of the policy holder. He may appoint a bank in India or a relative as special trustee to receive the claims and distribute the same to the beneficiaries.

RBI’s prior approval is required for assignment of rupee life insurance policies held in Indian register by a Resident in favour of an NRI or by an NRI in favour of another NRI in a different country, except where the assignment is without consideration in favour of the policy holder’s non-resident wife or dependent relatives. Applications to RBI should contain full details regarding beneficiaries and exact way their shares will be disposed of by the special trustee.

Miscellaneous

• Premiums due on rupee policies issued to Indian nationals Resident in Myanmar may be accepted in rupees in India from friends, relatives of the policy holders subject to the condition that all payments under the policies will be made to the policyholders only in rupees after their arrival in India for permanent settlement. Cases of Chinese and Pakistani policyholders should be referred to RBI.
• Indians, Nepalese and Bhutanese resident in Nepal and Bhutan as well as offices and branches of Indian, Nepalese and Bhutanese firms, companies or other organizations in these two countries are treated as Resident for purpose of transactions in INR. Payments in foreign currency towards claims under general/health insurance policies will require prior approval of Reserve Bank, except where premium thereon was also collected in foreign currency.
• Life insurance policies are regarded as securities.
• AP (DIR) Circular 76 dt 4.2.04 states that approval from Ministry of Finance (Insurance Division) for securing insurance on health from a company abroad is no more required and ADs may freely allow such remittances.
• Insurers may pay commission in forex to their agents who are permanently Resident Outside India although part of the business booked by them may be on the lives of Residents and related premiums are paid in rupees.

The most unfortunate reason for India being a poor country is its richness in gold. As per a report published on 18-5-19 it was estimated that Indian households hold over 25,000 tonnes (= ₹1.41 lakh crore; $1,726 billion!) of the yellow metal. This is an unproductive asset. Everyone realises that even if a part of it is converted into productive capital, it will be a great help in poverty eradication. Experts estimate that around 100 tonnes of gold is smuggled into the country every year.

To curb this menace, the government had promulgated Gold Import Scheme, granting general permission to those NRIs and PIOs who have stayed abroad for at least 6 months to bring as a part of their baggage gold up to 10 kilos and silver up to 100 kilos in any form, including ornaments or articles, provided the import duties are paid in forex, either abroad or here in India. Short visits up to 30 days shall be ignored unless the passenger has availed of the exemption under this scheme during this period. The prescribed quantity cannot be brought in installments within the prescribed period of 6 months.

Originally, the scheme was designed to discourage those indulging in hawala and smuggling. There was a yawning gap between the landed cost of gold or silver and its market price in India. To begin with, the import duty was ₹250/10 gms on gold and ₹500/kg on silver. It was an instant success. The recent FA23 has placed it at ad volerum 15.75% (= 16.38% with 4% cess) for gold and 10% (10.4% with 4% cess)for silver.

To avoid any disputes arising from under invoicing, the government fixes import tariff value which is the base price at which the customs duty is determined through notifications issued from time to time (normally on fortnight basis).

Has the Scheme Remained Attractive? See following Table.

NRI IMPORT SCHEME : PRECIOUS METALS
	Computed on :	7-3-21
Overseas Price
Gold	$ 1,813.78	Per Ounce
Silver	$ 20.09	Per Ounce
Import Duty - ₹
Gold – 16.38% ad valorem	₹ 7,820	per 10gms
Silver – 10.40% ad valorem	₹ 5,560	per Kilo
1 Ounce =	31.1034768	gms
1 $ =	₹ 81.87	rupees
	GOLD - 10 gms	SILVER - 1kg
Price - Indian	56,510	63,390
Overseas	47,742	52,881
Margin	8,768	10,509
Duty	7,820	5,500
Profit	948	5,010

Note: Excess Baggage Tariff of Airlines has been ignored.

It is obvious that no one would like to import any gold or silver through their baggage. The customs duty on precious metals will certainly boost smuggling.

Most importantly, the government has reduced the quantity of gold allowed to be brought by eligible passengers returning from abroad from 10 kgs to 1 kg and of silver from 100 kg to 10 kg.

This is not the end of story. Since the principal supply is the sale of gold, the GST rate of 3% shall be levied on the total value of jewellery, whether or not making charges is shown separately. There are some more kinks. When you sell the precious metals in India and earn a profit, it would be considered as either a short-term gain or a long-term gain if you sell it after 3 years of its purchase by you or as business income since your intention while buying it was to sell. In any case, you may be entitled to claim expenses incurred ‘wholly and exclusively’ for the purpose of earning the profit or the capital gains. We claim that the cost of the airline ticket is an expense incurred for this transaction. Whether or not it is incurred wholly and exclusively for buying and selling gold can be a matter of dispute.

All this has rendered the precious metal import scheme unattractive, and we are back at square one where smugglers thrive.

The passenger can bring the precious metals himself or import it within 15 days of his arrival. To avoid the hazards of carrying the gold personally, he can use customs bonded warehouses of SBI or Metal and Mineral Trading Corporation at Mumbai, Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, and special delivery centres. If he has paid the duty abroad and is found ineligible to import it after his arrival in India, refund would be given to him. He must file a declaration on a prescribed form before the customs officer at the time of his arrival stating his intention of using the warehouses and pay the duty before clearance.

Smugglers have found ways to outsmart customs officials. All that they do is to declare bentex jewellery as gold, while going abroad. This jewellery is then dumped in the visiting country, and real gold jewellery is brought while returning to India. Some enter India from neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bangladesh.

To Sum

We are surely back at square number one. Smuggling coupled with hawala has become once more extremely rewarding.