As a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), there are various avenues you can choose from to earn good returns on your deposited funds. Non-Resident External (NRE) accounts and Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) accounts have been exclusively designed for NRIs and feature multiple benefits.
Find out more about both types of accounts and their respective features and benefits, along with their differences and more in the following sections.
The following are some of the major differences between an NRE and an NRO account:
Particulars |
NRO Accounts |
NRE Accounts |
Taxation |
NRO accounts are taxed as per the Indian legislation, under the Income Tax Act, 1961. Interest earned in such accounts may be taxed at around 30%. |
NRE accounts are not taxable, either on the principal amount or the interest earned. |
Repatriation |
NRO accounts do not allow you to freely repatriate or transfer your principal amount but only your FD interest. |
NRE accounts let you transfer your entire corpus to a foreign account, provided the account is owned by you. |
Currency |
Only INR is applicable |
Both INR and foreign currencies are applicable |
Joint Holding |
An NRI will be able to open either an NRE or NRO account easily with another NRI or Indian resident in a hassle-free manner. |
NRO accounts can only be opened with an Indian resident. |
Here are some benefits of opening an NRE account:
Both, the principal amount and the interest earned in such accounts are exempt from any taxation
Option to freely transfer funds from an NRE account to a foreign account without any restrictions
Funds in these accounts can be utilised for all your personal requirements or to conduct business in India
Facility to invest in Indian investment instruments by linking your NRE account with a trading account
Fund withdrawal by using an international debit card
Some of the advantages of opening an NRO account are:
Interest amount earned in an NRO account can be freely repatriable in INR to another account
Funds can be used as collateral to avail loans
Permission to remit up to $1 Million during the ongoing financial year after paying the applicable taxes
Under joint account, the Indian account holder can manage financial obligations within the country on the NRI’s behalf
Availability of high interest rates on NRI savings accounts
The choice between the two can depend on your financial requirements and whether you earn money in Indian Rupees or foreign cash. Another consideration is if an NRI prefers a repatriable or non-repatriable account.
It is recommended to keep these restrictions in mind, despite the fact that the interest rate is considerably larger than that of typical savings accounts. An NRE account is not free from taxation, but there is a chance that the exchange rate could vary based on the fluctuating foreign exchange rates.
However, an NRO account is ideal for those looking to retain their savings in Indian currency. You stay up to date with the latest FD rates to make the right financial decisions for yourself.
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