NRI DTAA Quick Checker
Look up the maximum India-source withholding rate under your tax treaty — and the paperwork you'll need to actually claim it.
Your query
Required paperwork to claim treaty rate
- • Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) from US tax authority, current year
- • Form 10F filed electronically on the Indian income-tax portal
- • PAN (Permanent Account Number) — mandatory to avoid 20% TDS floor
- • Self-declaration of beneficial ownership + no permanent establishment in India
Country note — US
Worldwide income taxed. PFIC (Passive Foreign Investment Company) rules make Indian mutual funds a tax nightmare for US residents — Form 8621 filing required, punitive excess-distribution regime. Consider India-domiciled equity ETFs held directly, or invest via US-domiciled India ETFs (INDA, INDY) instead.
Reading a DTAA rate
India has bilateral tax treaties (DTAAs) with over 90 countries. Each treaty specifies the maximum rate at which India can tax specific types of income sourced from India — interest, dividends, royalties, capital gains, business profits, salary, etc.
In practice, the rate actually applied at source is the lower of the domestic Indian TDS rate or the treaty rate. You can only invoke the treaty rate if you have a valid Tax Residency Certificate from your country of residence, have filed Form 10F on the Indian e-filing portal, and hold an Indian PAN.
For capital gains and rent the treaty numbers are less useful — India generally reserves the right to tax at domestic rates, and you claim a foreign tax credit in your country of residence. The tool flags these clearly.
Educational tool — not investment advice
Calculations are based on the assumptions you provide. Tax rules are simplified and change frequently. Verify with a qualified Chartered Accountant or tax professional before acting. Past returns do not guarantee future results. Treaty articles evolve; MFN clauses in some treaties (e.g., India-Netherlands, India-France) can further reduce rates. Always confirm with a CA before invoking a treaty position.