US NRI Guide

Your US NRI Toolkit

The US is one of the most complex countries for NRI tax compliance — the IRS taxes based on citizenship and residency, meaning your worldwide income is always on the radar. NRIWallah helps you navigate the cross-border maze.

Key things US NRIs need to know

1. Worldwide income reporting — the US taxes residents and citizens on all global income, including Indian rental income, FD interest, and capital gains.
2. DTAA relief — the India-US DTAA prevents double taxation. Use our US NRI tax calculator to estimate your position.
3. FATCA complications — many Indian mutual fund houses and banks restrict services for US-based NRIs. Check before investing.
4. FBAR filing — if your aggregate foreign (Indian) account balances exceed USD 10,000 at any point during the year, file FinCEN Form 114.

Getting started

• File Indian taxes first — India’s deadline (July 31) comes before the US extended deadline for expats. See our US tax guide .
• Open NRE/NRO accounts — convert your resident accounts. Our banking guide explains the difference.
• Compare remittance rates — the USD-INR corridor has competitive options. Use our INR converter .

Key US NRI facts

• Tax year: Calendar year (January to December)
• Filing deadline: April 15 (automatic 2-month extension to June 15 for expats)
• 401(k) / IRA: Tax-advantaged retirement accounts — always max employer match first
• FBAR threshold: USD 10,000 aggregate in foreign accounts
• FATCA Form 8938: Required if foreign assets exceed USD 50,000 (USD 200,000 for joint filers abroad)
• Indian mutual funds: PFIC rules may apply, making US tax treatment unfavourable — consult a cross-border tax adviser