An Indian citizen or a foreign citizen of Indian origin who stays abroad for employment/carrying on business or vocation or under circumstances indicating an intention for an uncertain duration of stay abroad is a NONRESIDENT INDIAN (NRI). (Those who stay abroad on business visit, medical treatment, study or such other purposes, which do not indicate an intention to stay there for an indefinite period, will not be considered as NRIs). (Persons posted in U.N. organizations and officials deputed abroad by Central/ State Government and Public Sector Undertakings on temporary assignments are also treated as non-resident)
For the purpose of opening and maintaining bank accounts or investing in shares/securities or units of mutual funds, a person of Indian Origin (PIO) means a citizen of any country (other than Bangladesh or Pakistan),if: He/She at any time has held an Indian passport or He/She or either of his/her parents or grandparents was a citizen of India by virtue of the constitution of India or Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1995) or He/She is a spouse of an Indian citizen or of a person of Indian origin is also treated as a person of Indian Origin for the above purpose.
FII means an institution established or incorporated outside India, which intends to make investments in Indian securities and is registered with SEBI.
Indian banking system allows NRIs to open & maintain following three types of bank accounts:
Note : With effect from 01/04/2002, both NRSR and NRNR deposit schemes have been discontinued.
Non-Resident (External) Rupee (NRE) account is a rupee account from which funds are freely repatriable. This account allows NRI to transfer foreign earning easily to India and remit money to any place outside India. It does not require prior approval from the Reserve Bank of India. 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 generally non-repatriable. However, funds in NRO accounts can be remitted abroad subject to/as per various directives in force at the time of repatriation. More details can be found on the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) website www.rbi.org.in
Balances held in NRE accounts can be repatriated abroad freely, whereas funds in NRO accounts cannot be remitted abroad but have to be used only for local payments in rupees. Funds due to the non-resident accountholder which do not qualify, under the Exchange Control regulations, for remittance outside India are required to be credited to NRO accounts. Type of Account Currency Repatriable/ Non Repatriable NRE – Non Resident External INR Freely Repatriable NRO -Non Resident Ordinary INR Non Repatriable, Repatriable subject to RBI conditions FCNR – Foreign Currency Non Resident USD, GBP, Yen, Euro Repatriable
It stands for Foreign Currency Non Resident Account. This account can be opened in four foreign currencies, which are US Dollar (USD), Euro (EUR), British Pound (GBP) and Japanese Yen (JPY). NRIs with convertible currencies other than the four mentioned here may still open accounts by converting the currency into US$ or GBP. When the deposit matures, the amount of the deposit along with interest will be converted to the original currency at the prevailing rate at the option of the account holder.
No special approval is required. NRIs have been granted a general permission by RBI [Schedule 5 of the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2000] for investing in/redeeming units of the schemes subject to conditions set out in the aforesaid regulations.
Ministry of External Affairs (CPV Division), Government of India issues Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Cards to persons of Indian origin through Indian missions abroad. Specific information on rules, forms, particular offices, missions is available on the website.
Yes. The following summary outlines the various provisions related to investments by Non-Resident Indians (‘NRIs’), Persons of Indian Origin (‘PIOs’)in the Schemes of the Mutual Fund and is based on the relevant provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (‘the Act’), regulations issued under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 (collectively called ‘the relevant provisions’). Purchase Applications. NRIs can invest in most of the Mutual funds on a Repatriable/Non-Repatriable basis as per the provisions of Schedule 5 of the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2000 (‘the Regulations’) as explained below. A Common Application Form duly completed together with cheques or bank drafts should be submitted at Investor Service Centres. All cheques/demand drafts accompanying the application form must be made in favour of the scheme names. For e.g to invest in Reliance Growth Fund the cheque should be drawn in favour of the scheme i.e. “Reliance Growth Fund” and crossed “A/c payee” only and should be made payable at a city where the application is accepted by any Service Centres. You can also invest through Online Features, which allows you to transact online, if you have bank account with our partnered banks.
Repatriable basis:
To invest on a repatriable basis, you must have an NRE Bank Account in India. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted a general permission to Mutual Funds to offer mutual fund schemes on repatriation basis, subject to the following conditions:
The amount representing investment should be received by inward remittance through normal banking channels, or by debit to an NRE account of the nonresident investor.
Non-Repatriable Basis:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted a general permission to Mutual Funds to offer mutual fund schemes on non-repatriation basis, subject to the following conditions: Funds for investment should be provided by debit to NRO account of the NRI investor. Alternatively, funds may be invested by inward remittance or by debit to NRE / FCNR Account. No permission of Reserve Bank either by the Mutual Fund or the NRI investor is necessary. Cheques may make payments payable at par where the application is accepted by any Investor Service Centres. Applications from FIIs should be accompanied by appropriate documentation supporting the status of the investor and should be sent to the AMC/ISC, so as to reach them not later than 7 days after the date of the subscription. Similarly, in case of an application under a Power of Attorney the original Power of Attorney or the relevant resolution/ authority to make the application (or a duly notarized certified true copy thereof), along with a certified copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association and/or bye laws and Certificate of Registration should be submitted to the Mumbai ISC within 7 days from the date of the application. The officials should sign the application under their official designation. The NRIs/PIOs may also be required to furnish other documents needed to process their investments.
An NRI cannot make the investment in foreign currency. He needs to give 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.
Repatriable Basis. Payments for the purchase of the units may be made by Indian Rupee drafts purchased abroad, or by cheques drawn on the NRE Account of the investor, payable at the city where the application form is accepted by any Investor Service Centres.
Non-Repatriable Basis. Payments for the purchase of the units may be made by Indian Rupee drafts purchased abroad, or by cheques / demand drafts drawn on the NRE / NRO account of the investor, payable at the city where the application form is accepted by any Investor Service Centres.
No
Redemption proceeds will be paid by cheque. The cheque will be payable to the first unit holder and will include the bank account number. Alternatively the redemption proceeds will be credited directly to the investor’s bank account. This facility is available with select banks as mentioned in our application forms. Redemption proceeds/repurchase price and/or dividend or income earned (if any) will be payable in Indian Rupees only. The fund will not be liable for any loss due to exchange fluctuations, while converting the Rupee amount into US Dollar or any other currency.
The investments shall carry the right of repatriation of capital invested and capital appreciation so long as the investor continues to be a resident outside India. 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 maintained with an authorised dealer in India [Clause 5(ii) of the Regulations].
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 [Clause 5(ii) of the Regulations]. Similarly, 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. The entire income distribution on the investment will, however, qualify for full repatriation. Investors are advised to contact their banks /tax consultants if they desire remittance of the income distribution on units abroad.
No. Investors need to contact authorized foreign exchange dealers for this service.
Under Section 2(42A) of the Income Tax Act, units of a mutual fund held as a capital asset for a period of more than 12 months immediately preceding the date of transfer, will be treated as a long-term capital asset for the computation of capital gains, thus qualifying for the long-term capital gains tax rate. In all other cases, it would be treated as a short-term capital asset and would be taxed at the short term capital gains tax rate.
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.
TDS certificate is issued in the name of the investor mentioning the details of the transaction and the tax deducted. The TDS certificate is commonly known as Form16 A.
TDS certificate (Form 16A) will be dispatched to the investor at his or her registered address along with the redemption warrant.
Yes, if units are held for more than 12 months i.e. on long-term capital gains.
No, Units issued to FIIs/NRIs will not be treated as assets as defined under section 2(ea) of the Wealth-Tax Act, 1957 and hence will not be liable to wealth tax.
No, Units cannot be redeemed or allotted on the basis of fax applications. A request that lacks a valid signature cannot be processed due to legal restrictions.
Yes, Unlike banks where a POA holder cannot open an account on behalf of the NRI/FIIs, in a mutual fund the POA has the authority to invest on behalf of the investor and sign documents for initial and additional purchases as well as redemptions. While applying for purchase of units the POA holder needs to submit the original POA or a copy duly notarized should be submitted. The Power of attorney should contain the signature of both the first holder and the POA holder Only when the POA is registered does the POA holder have the right to transaction behalf of the NRI/FII investor. His signature will be verified for processing any transaction/request.
Yes, the same rules apply for nominees to resident Indian accounts. An NRI can be a nominee to an account which is in the name of a resident Indian.
Visit the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) website at http://www.rbi.org.in
