Friday, 28 February 2025

Selling Property in India: How NRIs Can Repatriate Funds

Introduction: Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) selling property in India often face complexities in transferring sale proceeds abroad. Understanding tax implications, RBI regulations, and FEMA guidelines is crucial to ensuring a smooth repatriation process.

 

NRI Property Sale in India ...


🏡 Step 1: Understanding Repatriation Rules the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allows NRIs to repatriate up to USD 1 million per financial year from India, provided the funds comply with tax and legal guidelines. Here’s what you need to know:

Type of Property: Residential or commercial (agricultural land, farmhouse, and plantations cannot be repatriated).
Holding Period: Long-term capital gains (held for 2+ years) are taxed at 20% with indexation.
Eligible Accounts: Funds must be routed through an NRO account before repatriation.


📜 Step 2: Tax Implications & TDS Deductions Before repatriating, NRIs must comply with tax norms:

📌 TDS Deduction: Buyer deducts 20% TDS on long-term capital gains (plus surcharge & cess). If the property is sold within 2 years, TDS is 30% as per short-term gains.
📌 Capital Gains Tax: Filing an ITR (Income Tax Return) is mandatory to claim tax refunds (if applicable).
📌 Lower TDS Certificate: If applicable, NRIs can obtain a Lower TDS Certificate (Form 13) from the Income Tax Department.


🏦 Step 3: Documentation for Repatriation To repatriate funds, NRIs must submit the following to their bank:

Form 15CA & 15CB: Required for tax compliance (CA-certified).
Sale Deed & Bank Statements: Proof of transaction & property sale.
NRO Account Details: Funds should be credited to the NRO account before repatriation.
PAN & Tax Payment Receipts: To verify tax compliance.


🌏 Step 4: Repatriation Process Through Banks

Bank’s facilitate repatriation once compliance is met:

1️ Deposit Sale Proceeds in an NRO account.
2️
Submit Repatriation Request to the bank along with necessary documents.
3️
Bank Verification & RBI Compliance Check.
4️
Funds Transferred to an overseas bank account (within the permitted limit).

 

💡 Tips for Smooth Repatriation
📌 Plan in Advance: Understand tax laws before selling the property.
📌 Seek Expert Advice: Consult a CA for tax planning & FEMA compliance.
📌 Use DTAA Benefits: To avoid double taxation in India and the country of residence.

 

🚀 Conclusion: Selling property in India as an NRI requires adherence to tax laws, FEMA, and RBI rules. With proper documentation and tax compliance, repatriating funds can be a seamless process. Seeking professional guidance ensures a hassle-free experience.

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