Author: Mani Karthik
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US NRI Tax Filing Guide: Do NRIs Have to Pay Double Tax
“Mani, do I have to pay taxes twice? Once in the US and once in India?” I get this question at least five times a week. Every single week. For the past seven years. And I get it. The fear of double taxation kept me up at night too when I was planning my move…
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How TDS Works for US NRIs in India (And How to Get a Refund)
My first TDS shock came in 2010. I had an NRO fixed deposit in India. Matured after a year. I expected the full amount plus interest. Instead, I received 70% of the interest. The bank had deducted 30% TDS. Nobody told me this would happen. I called the bank. “Sir, you are NRI. TDS is…
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Capital Gains Tax for US NRIs Selling Property in India
I sold my Bangalore flat in 2019. The buyer was ready. The price was agreed. Papers were signed. Then my CA called. “Mani, the buyer needs to deduct 20% TDS before paying you.” I did not know this. The buyer did not know this. We almost completed the transaction incorrectly. That one phone call saved…
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Tax on Rental Income in India for US NRIs
My flat in Kochi sat empty for three months after I moved to California. My mom finally said, “Why not rent it out? At least it will be maintained.” Great idea. Except nobody told me about TDS. Or that I would need to file ITR in India. Or that the tenant was supposed to deduct…
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How US NRIs Should Report Indian Income on IRS Tax Returns
The email from my CPA made my heart stop. “Mani, did you report your Indian mutual fund gains? The IRS classifies these as PFICs. You might owe penalties.” This was 2015. I had been filing US taxes for eight years. I thought I knew what I was doing. Turns out I had been making mistakes…
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DTAA Explained for US NRIs: How to Avoid Double Taxation Legally
I still remember the panic. It was 2016. I was sitting in my apartment in California, calculator in hand, trying to figure out my tax situation. I had rental income from a flat in Bangalore. A salary in the US. Some mutual fund gains in India. My rough math said I owed about 60% of…
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Return to India from Canada: A Complete Guide for NRIs Planning the Move
You moved to Canada for the promise – stable immigration, excellent healthcare, safe neighborhoods, and that coveted passport. Maybe you came as a student, transitioned to PR, and eventually became a citizen. Or perhaps you arrived through Express Entry, skilled worker programs, or family sponsorship. Now, years later, something has shifted. The long winters feel…
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Return to India from UAE: A Complete Guide for NRIs
That familiar routine – Friday brunch with friends, evening walks along the Marina, the comfort of a tax-free salary landing in your account each month. Life in the UAE has a rhythm that’s easy to settle into. But lately, something feels different. Maybe your parents are getting older and those quick weekend flights to India…
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Return to India from UK: A Complete Guide for NRIs Planning the Move
Sunday roast with friends. The reliable NHS. That feeling of finally having Indefinite Leave to Remain after years of visa stress. And yet, something keeps pulling you eastward. Maybe it’s the WhatsApp video calls with aging parents that never feel long enough. Or watching your kids grow up without cousins, festivals, and the chaos of…
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Return to India from USA: A Complete Guide for NRIs
That 2 AM phone call with your parents. The guilt of missing yet another family wedding. Your kids growing up without knowing their grandparents. The constant visa anxiety every time your H-1B renewal comes up. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I spent over a decade in the US before moving back…