Up to USD 1 million per financial year from NRO accounts — and that ceiling applies to all your NRO accounts combined, not per account. NRE and FCNR balances are freely repatriable with no limit at all.

No. The limit resets on 1 April each year and any unused portion is simply lost. If you have a large amount to move, splitting it across two financial years is a common and legitimate way to stay within the cap.

You need prior approval from the RBI, which typically takes 60 to 90 days. Plan well ahead, or split the remittance across financial years to avoid the approval route entirely.

No. NRE and FCNR funds are fully repatriable with no cap and no Form 15CA/15CB. The USD 1 million ceiling applies only to NRO remittances. Many NRIs needlessly go through the NRO paperwork for funds that were never restricted.

Form 15CB is a certificate from a chartered accountant confirming that taxes on the money have been paid. Form 15CA is your own declaration, filed online, based on that certificate. Your bank will not process an NRO remittance without them.

Once your remittances exceed ₹5 lakh in a financial year. Below that threshold, Form 15CA Part A alone is generally enough and no CA certificate is needed. Since most repatriations exceed ₹5 lakh, 15CB is usually required in practice.

Yes. From 1 April 2026, under the Income-tax Act 2025, Form 15CA becomes Form 145 and Form 15CB becomes Form 146. Banks are transitioning, so confirm which format yours currently requires before filing.

Broadly: 30% on rental income, 30% on NRO interest, and 20% on dividends, each plus cess. Long-term capital gains are taxed at 12.5% plus surcharge and cess. NRE and FCNR interest is entirely tax-free.

Because for an NRI seller, TDS under Section 195 is deducted on the full sale value by default, not just on your capital gain. On a large sale this can lock up many lakhs of your money until you file a return and claim it back.

Apply for a lower-deduction certificate under Section 197 (Form 13) before the sale is completed. It tells the buyer to deduct TDS on your actual gain instead of the whole sale value — the single biggest cash-flow saver available to an NRI seller.

By filing an Indian income tax return. TDS for NRIs is deducted at flat rates that are often far higher than your real liability, and filing is the only way to reclaim the difference. A great deal of NRI money goes permanently unclaimed for this reason.

Often yes. The treaty between India and your country of residence may allow a lower withholding rate, but you must furnish a Tax Residency Certificate and Form 10F in time. Without them, the standard higher rates apply.

No, the transfer itself is not taxed. But it still counts against your USD 1 million NRO limit and still needs Form 15CA/15CB, because what matters is your non-resident status, not where the money physically sits.

Typically Form A2 (a FEMA declaration), the 15CA/15CB acknowledgements, and proof of the source of funds — a sale deed for property, rent agreement for rental income, or statements for dividends and interest. Missing source documents is the most common cause of delay.

Once the paperwork is complete, banks usually process the SWIFT transfer within a few business days, though the whole cycle including the CA certificate commonly runs one to two weeks. Start three to four weeks early if you are close to a year-end deadline.

No. It is an educational estimate using standard NRI TDS rates before any DTAA relief, and it excludes surcharge. Your actual position depends on your treaty, income mix and documentation. Confirm with your bank and a qualified tax advisor.