Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and PIO under FEMA

  • Blog|FEMA & Banking|
  • 4 Min Read
  • By Taxmann
  • |
  • Last Updated on 6 December, 2022
 
There are many Indians staying abroad. Many of them have taken the citizenship of that country, but they have their roots in India. Such ‘non-residents of Indian nationality or ‘persons of Indian origin residing abroad’ are often called ‘NRI’. They are given several facilities in India without losing their status as ‘foreign citizens’.

Definition of NRI:

Non-Resident Indian’ (NRI) means an individual resident outside India who is citizen of India or is an ‘Overseas Citizen of India’ cardholder within the meaning of section 7(A) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

‘Overseas Citizen of India’

Cardholders registered as such under Notification No. 26011/4/98 F.I. dated 19.8.2002 issued by Central Government are deemed to be ‘Overseas Citizen of India’ cardholders’.
 
Thus, a person resident outside India will be ‘NRI’, if
 
  1. He is citizen of India
  2. He is an Overseas Cardholder.
For the purpose of Foreign exchange Management Regulations, 2000, NRI means a person resident outside India who is a citizen of India.
 

Person of India Origin:

Person of Indian Origin’ (PIO) means a citizen of any country other than Bangladesh or Pakistan, if:

    1. He at any time held an Indian passport;
    2. He or either his parents or any of his grandparents was a citizen of India by virtue of the Constitution of India or the Citizenship Act, 1955
    3. The person is a spouse of an Indian citizen or a person The definition has been modified for various purposes in various regulations. For the purpose of Foreign Exchange Management Regulations, 2000, citizen of ‘Sri Lanka’ is also excluded in addition to citizen of Bangladesh and Pakistan.
 

Income Tax Definition:

Income tax classifies persons as ‘Resident’, ‘Resident but not ordinarily resident’ and ‘Non-resident’. The definition under FEMA and definitions under Income Tax are not same, and there are variations, though sometimes they match.

Investment Facilities are available to NRI and PIOs at a glance.

NRIs and PIOs have been given some special facilities for investment in India. These are, of course, in addition to facilities available to other foreign investors. They also have some facilities after return to India. These are discussed at appropriate places, but summarised below to know facilities at a glance.

a. Bank Accounts and Deposits

    1. NRE Account    
    2. FCNR (B) account    
    3. NRO Account

b. Repatriation:

Upto USD 1 million per year from NRO account, subject to income tax deduction (TDS)

c. Investment on repatriation basis:

    • FDI    
    • Government dated securities/treasury bills
    • Units of domestic mutual funds    
    • Bonds issued by PSU in India    
    • Shares in PSU dis-invested by Government of India    
    • Shares and convertible debentures under the FDI scheme    
    • Shares and debentures of Indian companies through PIS    
    • Deposits with Indian companies, NBFC, Housing Finance companies, and other Financial Institutions    
    • National Pension Scheme    
    • Investment Vehicle

d. Investment on a non-repatriation basis:

    • Units of money market mutual funds of India    
    • Capital of firm or proprietary concern in India, not engaged in agricultural or plantation activity or real estate business    
    • Chit funds    
    • Postal savings

e. Immovable Property:

    • Immovable property other than agricultural/plantation property or a farm house  
    • Sale proceeds to the extent of repatriable funds used in acquiring immovable property can be repatriated without any lock-in period upto two residential properties    
    • Refund of application/earnest money together with interest subject to TDS, if original payment was made out of NRE/FCNR (B) account or inward remittance

f. Transmission of Inheritance:

No permission required

g. Housing Loans:

NRI/PIO can obtain housing loans for purchase of property in India.

h. Facilities to returning NRI/PIO:

    • May continue to hold, own transfer or invest in foreign currency, foreign security or any immovable property situated outside India, if such currency, security or property was held or owned when resident outside India    
    • RFC account. Proceeds of sale of assets held outside India can be credited to RFC account.

i. Rupee Loan employees of India companies for acquiring ESOP:

Banks can give rupee loans to NRI employees of Indian companies for acquiring shares of companies, within limits.

Returning NRI/PIO can keep assets out of India.

As per section 6(4) of FEMA, a person resident in India may hold, own, transfer or invest in foreign currency, foreign security or any immovable property situated outside India, if it was acquired when he was resident outside India or was inherited. He can utilize these asset broad freely.

Repatriation of income and sale proceeds in India of assets held abroad by NRI:

Provisions of RBI (FED) Master Direction No. 19/2015-16 dated 1-1-2016 are as follows:
 
NRIs may repatriate income and sale proceeds of assets held abroad by them, who have returned to India for permanent settlement.
 
Similarly, if assets were acquired abroad through remittances under LRS, repatriation of income and sale proceeds of such assets may be made.

Fresh investment out of assets abroad, even after return to India:

A person resident in India may freely utilise all his eligible assets abroad as well as income on such assets or sale proceeds thereof received after their return to India for making any payments or to make any fresh investments abroad without approval of RBI.
 
The cost of such investments and/or any subsequent payments received therefore should be met exclusively out of funds forming part of eligible assets held by them abroad. The transaction should not be in contravention to extant FEMA provisions.

Retaining investment abroad made under LRS:

An investor can retain and reinvest the income earned on investments made under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme of RBI (FED) Master Direction No. 19/2015-16 dated 1-1-2016.

To make your research efficient and a lot more time-saving, subscribe to FEMA, Banking & Insurance Laws Module.
 
Related Articles:

Disclaimer: The content/information published on the website is only for general information of the user and shall not be construed as legal advice. While the Taxmann has exercised reasonable efforts to ensure the veracity of information/content published, Taxmann shall be under no liability in any manner whatsoever for incorrect information, if any.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Everything on Tax and Corporate Laws of India

To subscribe to our weekly newsletter please log in/register on Taxmann.com

Author: Taxmann

Taxmann Publications has a dedicated in-house Research & Editorial Team. This team consists of a team of Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, and Lawyers. This team works under the guidance and supervision of editor-in-chief Mr Rakesh Bhargava.

The Research and Editorial Team is responsible for developing reliable and accurate content for the readers. The team follows the six-sigma approach to achieve the benchmark of zero error in its publications and research platforms. The team ensures that the following publication guidelines are thoroughly followed while developing the content:

  • The statutory material is obtained only from the authorized and reliable sources
  • All the latest developments in the judicial and legislative fields are covered
  • Prepare the analytical write-ups on current, controversial, and important issues to help the readers to understand the concept and its implications
  • Every content published by Taxmann is complete, accurate and lucid
  • All evidence-based statements are supported with proper reference to Section, Circular No., Notification No. or citations
  • The golden rules of grammar, style and consistency are thoroughly followed
  • Font and size that's easy to read and remain consistent across all imprint and digital publications are applied