How is residential status determined in India for tax purposes?

residential status determination

Residential Status for Tax Purposes in India

Residential status is determined for every individual during the financial year (1 Apr-31 Mar). It determines whether the income is taxable in India or not.

Categories of Residential Status

There are three categories of residential status for individuals:

  • Resident and Ordinarily Resident (ROR)
  • Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident (RNOR)
  • Non-Resident (NR/NRI)

Here is how your status is determined.

Are you a resident?

You are a resident if you satisfy one of the following conditions:

Condition Requirement
Condition 1 Present in India for >= 182 days during the Financial Year
Condition 2 Present in India for >=60 days during the Financial Year and >=365 days in the preceding 4 financial years

Exceptions: The 60-day rule is relaxed to the 182-day rule in the following cases:

  • An Indian citizen leaving for employment abroad
  • An Indian citizen leaving India as a crew member of an Indian ship
  • An Indian citizen or person of Indian origin whose income sources from India exceed Rs. 15 lakh.

If neither of these conditions are met, you automatically become a non-resident.

Resident: Ordinary or Non-Ordinary?

A Resident must check two additional conditions to determine whether they are an Ordinary Resident (ROR) or not (NROR)

Additional Condition Requirement
AC1 Been a Resident in India in at least 2 of the 10 past Financial Years
AC2 Been Present in India for >=730 days in the last 7 Financial Years

ROR: Both of these additional conditions satisfied

RNOR: One or neither conditions satisfied

Tax Implications by Status

Status Indian Income Foreign Income
ROR Taxable Taxable
NROR Taxable Generally not taxable. Except business income from India or income set up a profession in India
NRI Taxable Not Taxable

For Companies and Other Entities

  • A company is a resident if it is incorporated in India or its Place of Effective Management (POEM) is in India during the year.
  • Hindu Undivided Families, firms and Associations of Persons are Residents unless control is effectively outside India

Additional Things to Keep in Mind

  • Resident status change year by year. It changes annually.
  • It is advisable to maintain travel records to prove your status.
  • Days of departure and arrival are counted as days in India.

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