NRI Status, Tax & Compliance
Residential status, income tax, FEMA and compliance for NRIs and returning Indians.
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DTAA for NRIs: How to Stop Paying Tax Twice on the Same Income
A few years ago, a member in our WhatsApp community posted a message that stopped me in my tracks. “Mani, I just realized I paid tax on my Indian FD interest in both the US and India. That’s almost 45% gone. Is this even legal?” It was legal. But it was also completely avoidable. He […]
Read guideUS NRI Tax Filing Guide: Everything You Need to Know (2026)
Every January, the same message pops up in our WhatsApp groups. “Hey Mani, do I need to file taxes in both the US and India?” The short answer? Probably yes. The longer answer is what this guide is about. Because US tax filing as an NRI is one of those things that seems straightforward until […]
Read guideHow 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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DTAA for NRIs: How to Stop Paying Tax Twice on the Same Income
A few years ago, a member in our WhatsApp community posted a message that stopped me in my tracks. “Mani, I just realized I paid tax on my Indian FD interest in both the US and India. That’s almost 45% gone. Is this even legal?” It was legal. But it was also completely avoidable. He […]
US NRI Tax Filing Guide: Everything You Need to Know (2026)
Every January, the same message pops up in our WhatsApp groups. “Hey Mani, do I need to file taxes in both the US and India?” The short answer? Probably yes. The longer answer is what this guide is about. Because US tax filing as an NRI is one of those things that seems straightforward until […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
How US NRIs Should Report Indian Income on IRS Tax Returns (2026)
A member in our Texas WhatsApp group messaged me last April in a panic. “Mani, I just got a letter from the IRS. They’re asking about my NRO account interest. I didn’t even know I had to report that.” He’d been earning about Rs 45,000 a year in NRO interest. That’s roughly $540. He didn’t […]
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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