Help the NRI in the US for global income tax filing

Help the NRI in the US for global income tax filing

by | Mar 12, 2019 | global income tax, NRI, tax filing, Tax Planning, Tax Preparation, taxes

Help the NRI in the US for global income tax filing

The deadline for filing your taxes is approaching fast. For the current assessment year, the deadline is the 15th of April.The deadline of filing your taxes for 2018. The entire income tax filing and return process can be a bit overwhelming for some.

However, if you are aware of the different steps and take a more structured approach, it won’t seem as daunting as it does now. Here are some simple steps and tips to help you get through the tax season.

Global Income

Irrespective of whether you are a US resident or citizen (includes NRI, OCI or PIO), you are liable to pay taxes on your global income.

Salary

US Citizens who earn a part of their income in India are liable to pay the taxes in the USA. If you earn a salary in both the countries, you will have to pay taxes for the country where your current residence is at.

However, if you had earned your salary before moving to the USA and have paid the liable taxes, you can take tax credits and adjust the taxes with your US income. You can use the Form 1040 to declare your salary and Form 1116 for any tax credits.

Freelancing or contracts

For consultants who are working in the USA and earn money in India from their respective company, must pay taxes as well. It doesn’t matter if you have a bank account in India or the USA, you are liable to pay taxes. Such income must be reported in Schedule C of Form 1040.

Rent

For NRIs who have rental properties back home, the income generated from it will be taxed in the USA. But the question arises should you pay taxes in India as well? This is where the DTAA or the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement comes into the picture. As per the agreement, you will have to pay taxes in India for the income generated in India by renting your house.

You must report the income from renting properties in your Form 1040 and claim for tax credits. The Schedule E of Form 1040 is where this declaration would go. For availing tax credit, you will have to fill up the Form 1116.

Capital gains

The capital gains are applicable to various assets such as shares, mutual funds, lands, selling of properties etc. Any gains that you make on these assets are under the purview of capital gain taxation. It usually is split into short-term capital gains and long-term capital gains.

When it comes to land, property or any other physical assets, if you hold them for three years and then decide to sell, long-term capital gains would be applicable. Should you decide to sell these assets within 3 years of buying them you will have to pay short-term capital gains.

For mutual funds and shares, the holding duration is lower at 1 year. If you plan to sell shares or redeem any mutual fund units post the completion of a year, you will have to pay long term capital gains on them, if the gains exceed INR 1 lac. For instruments sold before that, short-term capital is applicable.

All these incomes should be declared in Schedule D of your Form 1040. And if you have paid any taxes, you can claim for tax credits by filling up Form 1116.

These are some of the major income sources and their implications on your tax filing and returns. Being aware of them will ensure that you can make the most of tax returns.

5 Things you should know when transferring money from India to USA and USA to India

5 Things you should know when transferring money from India to USA and USA to India

by | Mar 12, 2019 | global income tax, Investment & Income, Tax Planning, Tax Preparation

5 Things you should know when transferring money from India to US and US to India

The chances of you crossing the border relocating to a different place for work or other reasons is much higher than what it was some time back. Be it a vacation, studies, work or travel from work, reasons are plenty. And one of the fundamental things that you would need during these trips is transferring money.

Since two different country and currency is involved, transferring of money is not that straight forward. There are a few things that you should be aware of if you want to transfer money either from India to the USA or vice versa. Here are some of these factors.

  • Exchange Rate

This is one of the leading factors that you should have in mind during transfers between India and the USA.

  • Look for vendors that offer the lowest exchange rates, as it eats into the amount that you wish to transfer.
  • While it is mandatory for transfer companies to mention the exchange rates in the USA, no such rules exist in India.
  • You also would need to look into the hidden charge’s association with the transfer so as to ensure that the maximum amount remains with you.
  • You also have the option to look into live financial charts to know the right time to exchange money.
  • Lastly, there are certain taxes that are applicable to the transactions. So, you need to be conscious of that as well.

  • Transfer Fees

The companies in charge of transferring money charge a small portion as transfer fees. Needless to say, it varies from companies.

  • If you are someone who wants to transfer smaller amounts on a regular basis, opt for a company that charges fees on the total transaction amount.
  • However, for larger transfers, it is recommended to go for companies charging a flat transaction fee.

  • Transfer Limits

When it comes to transferring money, you are bound to come across some limits or the other. The limits can either be imposed by the companies in charge of the transfer or by local laws. Thus, do not forget to look into the limits on offer by different transfer companies.

  • Transfer Duration

Another important factor that might influence your decision to choose a vendor or transfer company is the transfer duration.

  • Wire transfer is one of the oldest and most trusted forms of fund transfer. However, it usually takes about 3-5 working days.
  • Some vendors might offer a quick turnaround time for transfer.
  • The duration to transfer cryptocurrency can be much shorter, in some cases even a few minutes.
  • Depending on the urgency, you can decide which vendor to opt for.

  • Wire Transfer

One of the easiest ways to transfer funds between India and the USA is via wire transfer. Here are some things to consider in a wire transfer.

  • It is a slightly more expensive option compared to other options available.
  • Wire transfer is more convenient when you compare them with bank drafts.
  • On average they take any time between 1 to 5 working days to transfer the fund.

The options are a bit limited when it comes to transferring funds between India and the USA. However, depending on your need and amount, you can choose from either utilizing your existing bank or forex companies for the transfer.

As a general rule of thumb, the transfer fees and charges related to forex companies is lower when pitched against banks. The above should help you handle money transfers between India and the USA in a much more organized way.