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Understanding Section 115h of the Income Tax Act

Updated on: 16 Jan, 2024 05:49 PM

As per the Income Tax Act of 1961, an individual can have 3 different types of residential statuses resident, resident not ordinarily resident, non-resident. An individual’s residential status depends on the number of days he/she has spent in the relevant country. However, this residential status keeps changing from year to year. Section 115H of the Income Tax Act applies to individuals who were NRIs in the previous year but have become residents in the current year.

What is Section 115H of the Income Tax Act?

Non-residents are allowed to avail of certain tax benefits under Chapter XII-A of the Income Tax Act. Under this chapter, the non-residents are allowed a special concession from tax on the income earned from foreign exchange asset investments. However, this special rate of tax is not applicable to resident Indians.

If an NRI becomes assessable as an Indian resident, they can avail of the benefits of Chapter XII-A. They have to present a written statement to the assessing officer. This statement should state their willingness to be covered under Chapter XII-A. This must apply to the investment income earned from foreign exchange assets.


What are the Benefits of Section 115H of the Income Tax Act?

If the non-resident provides a written statement to the assessing officer along with their Income Tax Return for the year in which they have to be assessed as a resident. In such a case, they can get the following benefits -

  • They can avail of tax concessions on the tax payable @20% for the income from investment in foreign exchange assets.
  • They can also avail of a 10% tax concession on Long-term capital gains. However, this tax benefit is available only for dividend income and specified assets.
  • NRIs can avail the benefit of a concessional tax rate until they convert the foreign exchange asset into money.
  • If the assessee owns a specified asset, he/she can enjoy discounted tax rates. These rates are applicable even if they transfer their convertible foreign exchange from one bank to another.

What are the Provisions Under Section 115H of the Income Tax Act?

Given below are the provisions given under section 115H of the Income Tax Act -

  • Any person of Indian origin can avail of the concessional tax rate benefits under section 115H. Even after being of Indian origin, if the individual is not a resident of India, he/she becomes a non-resident.
  • A foreign exchange asset denotes any asset acquired by the taxpayer in convertible foreign exchange.
  • A specified asset refers to the assets mentioned below. However, once the NRI becomes a resident Indian, he/she cannot avail of the benefits of income from shareholdings in an Indian company.
  • The following are covered under specified assets in section 115H -
    • Securities issued by the Central Government and defined by the Public Department Act 1944.
    • Shares of an Indian company.
    • Debentures issued by an Indian public company.
    • Deposits with an Indian public company.
    • Any other asset specified by the Central Government of this nature is also covered under section 115H.
  • If a non-resident furnishes their return under section 139 and conveys their willingness to be covered under section 115H in writing, they can get concessional rates of tax on the assets.
  • Dividend income is also included in asset specification since 1.04.2021.
  • A person is considered a resident if -
    • He/she stayed in India for 182 days or more in the relevant previous year.
    • He/she stays in India for 365 days or more in the 4 immediately preceding years and at least 60 days or more in the relevant previous year.
  • A person is considered RNOR if -
    • He/she is a resident in India for 2 years out of the preceding 10 years.
    • He/she has stayed in India for 730 days or more in the preceding 7 years.
  • A Person of Indian Origin (PIO), if he/she does not fall under the resident or RNOR category, they are considered a non-resident.

What are the Conditions for Availing the Benefits Under Section 115H?

NRIs can avail of the benefits under section 115H if they meet the following conditions -

  • Resident in a nation with which India has signed a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
  • They have to furnish a Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) issued by the tax authority of the nation in which they are resident.
  • The NRIs should possess an Indian PAN number.
  • Income earned by NRI from specified assets -
    • Foreign currency deposits in Indian banks
    • Debt securities issued by Indian companies
    • Units of equity-oriented mutual funds
    • Indian company's shares listed on a stock exchange.

Section 115H of the Income Tax Act offers NRIs significant tax advantages. To avail of these benefits, understanding the various aspects of section 115H is crucial. The best way to do this is to get advice from tax experts. Tax2win’s tax experts are always on their toes to help you with tax-related matters.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q- What is Section 115H?

Section 115H allows individuals to avail of concessional tax rates on certain specified incomes earned by non-residents. Specified incomes can be defined as the income earned from specified assets that include long-term capital gains, short-term capital gains, and dividend income.


Q- Who is an NRI or Non-Resident Indian under the Income Tax Act?

A non-resident is an individual who is a person of Indian origin but not a resident. If the individual’s grandparents or parents were born in India, then such a person is considered of Indian origin.


Q- Who can claim benefits under section 115H?

NRIs or non-resident Indians can claim the benefit of section 115H if they are residents in a nation with which India has signed the DTAA, furnished a tax residency certificate in the residing country, and earned income from specified assets under section 115H of the Income Tax Act.


CA Abhishek Soni
CA Abhishek Soni

Abhishek Soni is a Chartered Accountant by profession & entrepreneur by passion. He is the co-founder & CEO of Tax2Win.in. Tax2win is amongst the top 25 emerging startups of Asia and authorized ERI by the Income Tax Department. In the past, he worked in EY and comes with wide industry experience from telecom, retail to manufacturing to entertainment where he has handled various national and international assignments.

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