Why Every NRI Should File a NIL Income-Tax Return in India
Many NRIs assume that if they do not earn income in India, there is no requirement to file an Indian income-tax return (ITR). While technically NRIs are taxed only on income earned or accrued in India, not filing a return—even with NIL income—can lead to avoidable compliance issues later.
Filing a NIL ITR is often a prudent compliance step rather than a legal formality.
Tax Position for NRIs
Under Indian income-tax law, NRIs are liable to tax only on income sourced in India. Foreign income remains outside the Indian tax net. However, the absence of taxable income does not always eliminate the need—or the benefit—of filing a return.
Why Filing a NIL ITR Makes Sense
Even when there is no taxable income, filing a NIL return offers several practical advantages:
- Establishes and documents your NRI residential status with the tax department
- Reduces the risk of automated tax notices, especially where there are significant NRE/NRO bank transactions
- Captures TDS credits, enabling refunds where tax has been deducted at source
- Creates a clean financial trail, which is critical for future repatriation of funds, property sales, or major investments in India
Advisory Insight
A NIL ITR functions much like an insurance policy—low effort, minimal cost, and long-term protection. It helps ensure continuity in compliance and avoids the burden of explanations or corrective filings in the future.
How We Help
NS Global Consultants Pte Ltd provides comprehensive NRI tax and compliance services, including:
- Filing of NIL and regular income-tax returns
- Review of NRE/NRO transactions and TDS credits
- Residential status evaluation
- Advisory support for repatriation, property transactions, and long-term tax planning
Our approach ensures that your Indian tax records remain accurate, compliant, and audit-ready—year after year