NRE & NRO Accounts – Meaning, Comparison, Benefits, Taxation

An NRI (Non-Resident Indian) with earnings both abroad and in India often faces difficulties in managing his/her finances. They also find it challenging to track bank accounts in a different country, and even when trying to repatriate money to their home account. NRE & NRO accounts help with this. We have covered the following topics. Wondering how? Read on to find more about this.

Why do we have NRE & NRO Accounts

As per the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) guidelines, an NRI cannot have a savings account in his or her name in India. You must convert all your savings (money earned abroad) to a Non-Resident External Account (NRE) or Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) account. Therefore, continuing to use the savings account in the home country can attract hefty penalties. Opening an NRE or NRO account is, hence, a viable option for Non-Resident Indians. It can help NRIs in two ways. One, they can send their foreign earnings to India at any point. Two, they can also retain their income from India (via any assets) in the home country itself.

What is a Non-Resident Rupee (NRE) Account

The NRE account is an Indian rupee-denominated account, offering complete security. These accounts can be in the form of savings, current, recurring, or fixed deposits. The foreign currency you deposit into the account is converted to INR. You can transfer your funds (Principal & Interest amount) to a foreign account from an NRE account without any complications and restrictions. You need to note that the amount you deposit into these accounts must be earned outside India. The international debit card enables you to transact and withdraw money 24*7. Also, mutual fund investments to become effortless and instant if you link your NRE account number to the investment account. NRE account is primarily used for carrying out business, personal banking and making investments in India.

What is a Non-Resident Ordinary Rupee (NRO) Account

An NRO account is a savings or current account held by NRIs in India to manage their income earned in India. Account-holders can deposit and manage their accumulated rupee funds without any hassle. The account allows you to receive funds in Indian or Foreign currency. You can apply for an NRO account jointly with a resident Indian or even an NRI. It is even feasible to transfer money from your current NRE account. However, the interest you earn in this account is subject to TDS (Tax Deducted at Source). Tax Deducted at Source (TDS).

How to choose between an NRE & NRO Account

How is an NRE Account different from NRO Account?

Repatriation

NRO accounts have limited access for repatriation. An NRO account restricts you from remitting more than USD 1 million inclusive of taxes during an assessment year. You can repatriate the interest amount freely, but the principal amount can be repatriated only within set limits. It also requires an undertaking along with a certificate from a Chartered Accountant. However, repatriation is free for NRE account holders for both the principal and the interest amount.

Tax treatment

An NRE account is tax-free (no income tax, wealth tax, or gift tax) in India. On the other hand, the interest earned in NRO accounts and credit balances is subject to respective income tax bracket. They are also subject to applicable wealth and gift tax. You can avail the reduced tax benefit under the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).

Joint account holding

You can have a joint NRE account only if both the parties are NRIs. On the other hand, you can open an NRO account with another NRI or a resident Indian (a close relative) as mentioned under Section 6 of the Companies Act 1956.

How is an NRE Account similar to NRO Account

Both NRE and NRO accounts are Indian rupee accounts. You can open them as savings as well as current accounts. Also, the average monthly balance you must maintain for both accounts is Rs 75,000. The following table shows the differences between the NRE and NRO accounts:

FAQs

What's the ifference between NRE and NRO Account?

NRE Account: An NRE account is a bank account in India where NRIs can hold and manage their foreign earnings in Indian rupees. It is fully repatriable, meaning the funds can be freely transferred back to the foreign country without any restrictions. The account is maintained in Indian rupees and is not subject to Indian taxes.

NRO Account: An NRO account is a bank account in India used by NRIs to manage their income earned in India, such as rent, dividends, pensions, etc. It can also be used to deposit funds from foreign sources. Unlike the NRE account, the NRO account has restrictions on the repatriation of funds. A maximum of $1 million per financial year, subject to certain conditions, can be repatriated from an NRO account. The funds held in an NRO account are subject to Indian taxes.

Who can open NRE and NRO account? 

Both NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) and PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) can open NRE and NRO accounts.

Can I have both NRE and NRO account? 

Yes, NRIs are eligible to have both NRE and NRO accounts simultaneously. These accounts serve different purposes, as mentioned earlier.

Is NRE and NRO account mandatory for NRI? 

Opening an NRE or NRO account is not mandatory for NRIs. However, it is advisable to have these accounts to manage their finances effectively in India.

What are the tax implications on NRE and NRO account? 

NRE Account: The interest earned on NRE account balances is tax-free in India. Additionally, the principal and interest are exempt from wealth tax and gift tax.

NRO Account: The interest earned on NRO account balances is subject to income tax in India. The tax rate is based on the individual's income slab. However, there are certain deductions and exemptions available to NRIs to reduce the tax liability.

What is the taxable limit of NRO account? 

For an NRO account, the interest earned on the account balance is subject to income tax. The taxable limit depends on the individual's income slab and the prevailing tax laws in India.

Is there any tax on NRO account? 

Yes, the interest earned on an NRO account is subject to income tax in India. The tax liability is based on the individual's income slab.

Which account is better, NRE or NRO?

 The choice between NRE and NRO account depends on the individual's needs and requirements. If an NRI wishes to hold and manage foreign earnings in India and have full repatriability, an NRE account is more suitable. On the other hand, if the NRI has income earned in India that needs to be managed, an NRO account is appropriate.

Which is tax-free, NRE or NRO? 

The interest earned on an NRE account is tax-free in India, while the interest earned on an NRO account is subject to income tax. Therefore, the NRE account is tax-free in terms of interest income.