TIPS FOR NON-RESIDENT INDIANS (PART 3 OF 5)

E. ACCOUNT CHANGES FROM RESIDENT INDIAN TO NON-RESIDENT INDIAN

·         The status of an investor, whether resident or non-resident, is an important detail that is recorded at the time of investment.
·         Operationally, there is a difference in the way the investment account of a resident investor and a non-resident investor is managed on factors such as taxation, funds and paperwork.
·         The investments made by an NRI are subject to some restrictions, which also apply to the use and transfer of funds based on its source.
·         To enable monitoring the investment activities of an NRI, the change in his status from resident investor (RI) to non-resident investor (NRI) has to be registered in the investment records and bank accounts.

1. Bank account
·         On becoming an NRI, a resident investor has to open a non-resident external (NRE) / non-resident ordinary (NRO) / FCNR(B) account with the bank.
·         The existing resident rupee account should either be closed or designated as an NRO account.

2. Demat account
·         On becoming an NRI, one needs to open a new depository account with the ‘NRI’ status.
·         The balance held in the demat account with ‘resident’ status should be transferred to the new account.
·         The securities in this account are treated as non-repatriable.

3. Trading account
·         A new trading account needs to be opened for investments made as an NRI.
·         One can also have separate trading accounts for NRO and NRE account-linked transactions.

4. Portfolio Investment Scheme
·         The NRIs can invest in the stock market only through the portfolio investment scheme (PIS).
·         For this, they need to apply to the designated branch of any authorized dealer category-I bank.
·         For PIS investments, if the demat account is held with another DP, fortnightly disclosures of holdings must be made to the bank operating the PIS.

5. MF investments
·         The changes in address and bank details have to be intimated to the mutual fund AMCs.
·         The KYC change form needs to be sent to the KYC registration agency for change of details, address and bank details.
·         Once the investor becomes an NRI, TDS will be deducted on gains made on sale/redemption of mutual fund investments as applicable.

6. PAN records
·         It is best to update the change of address in the PAN records by applying in the prescribed form available online.