Who is a Non Resident Indian (NRI)?
A Non Resident Indian (NRI) is a person resident outside India, who is a citizen of India or is a person of Indian origin.
Who is a Person of India Origin (PIO)?
A Person of Indian Origin means a citizen of any country (other than Bangladesh or Pakistan), if:
I. He at any time held an Indian passport; or
II. He or either of his parents or grand parents was a citizen of India; or
III. He is a spouse of an Indian citizen, or of a person referred to in (I) or (II) above.
What are the different types of rupee accounts permitted to be maintained?
The three types of rupee accounts permitted, that can be maintained by NRIs are as follows
I. NRE: Non-resident (External) Rupee Accounts,
II. NRO: Non-resident Rupee (Ordinary) Accounts
III. FCNR – B: Foreign Currency (Non –Resident) Accounts (Banks)
What are NRE and NRO accounts?
Non-Resident (External) Rupee (NRE) account is a rupee account from which funds are freely repatriable. It can be opened with either fund remitted from abroad or local funds maintained in NRE/ FCNR accounts, which can be remitted abroad. The deposits can be used for all legitimate purposes. The balance in the account is freely repatriable.
Non-Resident Ordinary Rupee (NRO) account is a rupee account and can be opened with funds either remitted from abroad or generated in India. The amounts in such an account are non-repatriable. However, funds in NRO accounts can be remitted abroad subject to/as per various directives in force at the time of repatriation.
Does an NRI require any approval from the RBI to invest in mutual fund schemes?
No approval is required.
Can an NRI invest in mutual funds in India?
Yes.
Note: With effect 08 Dec 2008 “U S Persons and Persons of Canada” will not be allowed to make any fresh purchase/additional purchase/switches in any scheme of ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund (Please refer addendum dated 04-December 2008 for more details).
Can an NRI invest in foreign currency?
An NRI cannot make the investment in foreign currency. He needs to give us a Rupee cheque from his NRE/NRO bank account in India. He may also send a Rupee cheque from abroad payable in a bank in India. However, for an NRI to invest, it is mandatory that he maintains a bank account in India.
What is the tax liability for dividend income received from your mutual funds?
As per Section 10(35) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, income received from mutual fund units specified under Section 10(23D) is exempt from income tax in India and the mutual funds are subject to deduction of distribution tax in debt oriented schemes. Hence all dividends are tax-free in the hands of non-resident investors and no TDS is applicable on the same. We request you to consult your investment advisor and/or Tax consultant for further details/ clarification.
When will the TDS certificate be issued?
TDS Certificates (Form 16A) are dispatched to the investors once in a quarter.
Is the indexation benefit available to NRIs?
Yes.
How will the redemption proceeds be paid to NRI
In the case of NRIs, where the investment is made out of inward remittance or from funds held in the NRE/FCNR account of the investor, the maturity proceeds/repurchase price of units (after payment of taxes) may be credited to the NRE/FCNR/NRO account of the non-resident investor.
Process for redemption proceeds where investments were made on non-repatriation basis
Where the purchase of units is made on a non-repatriable basis, the maturity proceeds/repurchase price of units (after payment of taxes) will not qualify for repatriation and may be credited to the NRO account of the non-resident investor.
Investments in units purchased in Rupees, where the investor was a resident of India and subsequently becomes a non-resident, will not qualify for repatriation of repurchase proceeds of units.
Investors are advised to contact their banks/tax consultants if they desire remittance of the income distribution on units abroad.
How to contact ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund from Overseas location
Investors can contact us on 022 -69104102 from Monday to Saturday 8 AM to 8 PM (IST) and 9 AM to 7 PM (IST) on Sunday or can write to us on enquiry@icicipruamc.com for any queries.
Tax Reckoner 2018-2019
As a seasoned financial expert with a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies surrounding Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and related financial matters, I aim to shed light on the concepts discussed in the provided article.
NRI and PIO Definition: The term "Non-Resident Indian (NRI)" refers to an individual who is a citizen of India but resides outside the country. Additionally, a "Person of Indian Origin (PIO)" is someone, excluding citizens of Bangladesh and Pakistan, who has held an Indian passport, has Indian lineage in their parents or grandparents, or is married to an Indian citizen or someone falling under the aforementioned categories.
Types of Rupee Accounts: For NRIs, there are three types of rupee accounts permitted:
- NRE (Non-resident External) Rupee Accounts: These accounts are freely repatriable, meaning funds can be transferred abroad. They can be opened with funds remitted from abroad or local funds maintained in NRE/FCNR accounts.
- NRO (Non-resident Ordinary) Rupee Accounts: NRO accounts can be opened with funds from abroad or generated in India. However, the funds in such accounts are non-repatriable, though they can be remitted abroad based on applicable directives.
- FCNR-B (Foreign Currency (Non-Resident) Accounts): These accounts are maintained in foreign currency and are repatriable. They are usually term deposits.
Investment in Mutual Funds by NRIs: NRIs do not require approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to invest in mutual fund schemes, and they can invest in mutual funds in India. However, there may be restrictions for specific categories of individuals, as mentioned in the note regarding "U S Persons and Persons of Canada."
Investment in Foreign Currency: NRIs cannot make investments in foreign currency directly. They need to provide a Rupee cheque from their NRE/NRO bank account in India or send a Rupee cheque from abroad payable in an Indian bank. Maintaining a bank account in India is mandatory for NRIs to invest.
Tax Implications on Dividend Income: According to Section 10(35) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, dividends from specified mutual fund units are exempt from income tax in India for non-resident investors. No TDS is applicable on these dividends.
TDS Certificate Issuance: TDS Certificates (Form 16A) for mutual fund investments are dispatched to investors once a quarter.
Indexation Benefit for NRIs: NRIs are eligible for indexation benefits.
Redemption Proceeds for NRIs: The redemption proceeds for NRIs depend on whether the investment was made on a repatriation or non-repatriation basis. Maturity proceeds can be credited to NRE/FCNR/NRO accounts based on the source of funds.
Contacting ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund from Overseas: Investors can contact ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund through the provided phone number or email for any queries.
In summary, the provided information covers various aspects of financial transactions and investments for NRIs, highlighting the nuances of accounts, mutual fund investments, tax implications, and redemption processes.
