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Understandably, having an account for nonresident Indians is extremely important as it helps them manage their finances. Now, what is the NRI meaning? Simply put, they are individuals who stay in the country for less than one-eighty-two days during a financial year.
However, there are various nonresident Indian bank accounts. So, understanding these differences is quite crucial as it helps make a knowledgeable choice. On that note, this blog post discusses the key differences and benefits of NRE and NRO. So, do you know what nonresident external and nonresident ordinary accounts are? Let’s find out:
A Brief on NRE Accounts
An NRE account is a repatriable account. Hence, the funds in the account can be transferred to any country or be repatriated abroad. Notably, the accounts are maintained in Indian rupees. They can be opened by NRIs and PIOs or Persons of Indian Origin. The following are the key aspects:
- Earnings from NRE accounts (such as interest on deposits) are not taxed in India
- Funds in NRE accounts can be sent back abroad without any limitations
- NRE accounts may be credited with the money received from abroad. It may include salary and rent (besides dividends or others)
- Withdrawals from NRE accounts can be made in Indian rupees or foreign currency
Understanding What NRO Accounts Are
On the other hand, the NRO account is the non-repatriable. So, the money in these accounts can not be directly remitted outside the country. NRIs typically use NRO accounts to manage their local earnings, e.g., renting a property, investing in dividends, or any other local source. The key features include the following:
- You can credit an NRO account with any income earned in India or money transferred from an NRO account.
- The income earned from overseas remittances by NRO account holders is taxable in India, just as for resident Indians.
- NRO account holders can only make transactions in foreign currencies.
- Funds in nonresident remittance (NRO) accounts cannot be repatriated directly abroad. Nevertheless, the account holder can get foreign currency through authorized channels to make direct remittances.
Understanding the Differences between NRO and NRE Accounts
The following table illustrates the difference between NRE and NRO accounts:
| Parameters | NRE Accounts | NRO Accounts |
| Type | External savings or current account | Ordinary savings or current account |
| Benefits | • Tax-efficient for dealing with foreign income and assets
• A higher rate of interest than regular savings accounts accounts • Facilitate repatriation of capital overseas |
• Eases the burden of managing income earned in India
• Banks finally came within reach of customers • The opportunity to invest in Indian asset classes. • Conversion of funds into foreign money for transfer has been allowed. |
| Joint Account | Can be held jointly with another NRI but not with resident Indians | Can be held jointly with nonresident or resident Indians |
Final Words
In brief, NRIs should be aware of the critical variations and the advantages that differentiate NRE and NRO accounts in order to choose the best type of banking and investment strategy in India. Accordingly, people can get the most out of their accounts through tax benefits when they choose the right account type, repatriation flexibility and a wide range of banking services and products.
