
After you go and settle overseas you can still maintain your existing NRO accounts and can also open new NRO or NRE [Non-Resident (External) Rupee Account] account.
Both are rupee denominated accounts and can be maintained in any form (savings, current, recurring or term deposit accounts). However, they differ in many aspects.
The main points of difference between NRE and NRO accounts are highlighted below:
1. Purpose: The basic purpose of NRO account is to keep your existing (i.e., before you become an NRI) funds and also the money you earn or acquire in India (e.g., rent, dividend, Indian Salary)after becoming an NRI.
Whereas NRE accounts are meant for foreign exchange earned outside India and transferred to India.
2. Currency: As obvious, NRO accounts are maintained in Indian Rupees. NRE accounts are also rupee denominated i.e., maintained in Indian rupees by converting the foreign exchange at the current prevailing exchange rates.
3. Kind of credits allowed: Local funds that aren’t eligible to be remitted abroad (i.e., funds which do not qualify under exchange control regulations, for remittance outside India) must be credited to an NRO account. Overseas funds or local funds that are allowed for overseas remittance can instead be credited to NRE account.
4. Inter-account transfers: You can make transfer from NRE to NRO account but not vice-versa. And once the funds stands transferred to NRO account, it can’t be transferred back to NRE account. Put another way, it becomes non-repatriable.
5. Taxation: NRO accounts interest is taxable under Indian income tax, whereas interest earned on NRE account is exempt (i.e., tax- free).
6. Repatriation: Funds in NRO accounts can’t be remitted abroad freely (i.e., can’t be taken outside the country). RBI has allowed remittances only up to USD one million (this limit includes sale proceeds of immovable property held by NRIs) per financial year (April – March) for bonafide purposes (e.g. education, medical expenses etc) to the satisfaction of the bank. However, current income (including interest, dividends, rent, pensions) is freely repartiable but subject to tax deduction at source.
On the other hand, the entire credit balance inclusive of interest earned from NRE accounts is freely repatriable without any restriction and without any reference to RBI.
7. Joint holdings: Joint holdings is allowed in both accounts but unlike NRO account (where joint holding with Indian resident is allowed), in case of NRE account joint holder also need to be an NRI.
Thus, if you wish, you can open a NRO account jointly with your relative residing in India. But remember that in such joint accounts, the funds of resident joint holder can’t be credited.
However, for operating both of these accounts, you can authorise an Indian resident – a friend or a family member whom you trust – to operate your account by submitting a ‘mandate letter’ (most banks have a readymade format) to the bank. The mandate operates like a power of attroney (POA).
8. Exchange Risk: Unlike NRO account, NRE account is exposed to exchange fluctuation risk.
All foreign exchange remittance received for credit to NRE accounts is first converted to Indian rupees at the prevailing exchange rate. But as repatriation is allowed in foreign currency (i.e., rupee again gets reconverted into dollars), therefore these accounts are susceptible to exchange loss which is basically of two kinds.
First, is the conversion loss – there is difference between buying & selling rate of banks and this difference has to be borne by the account holder. Second, is the day-to-day fluctuations in the exchange rates.
9. Rate of interest:
Interest on NRE savings deposits are also at the same rate as applicable to domestic saving deposits (currently the interest rate is 3.5%) while interest rates on NRE term deposits are regulated by RBI and are much lower than that paid on the NRO term deposits. These rates are pegged to international (LIBOR/SWAP) interest rates and are revised by RBI from time to time.
UPDATE (Feb’ 2012): In Dec’2011, RBI deregulated interest rates on NRI & NRO Deposits. The current position is as follows:
Interest Rate on NRO Deposits: As per RBI guidelines, Interest rates on NRO & NRE accounts can be less but cannot be more than the comparable domestic deposits. Accordingly, Interest rates offered by most banks in India on both NRO Savings & NRO FDs are almost at par with domestic rupee deposits with a few exceptions.
Interest Rate on NRE Deposits: Interest rate on NRE Savings Account is similar to that offered on NRO Saving Deposits and interest rates on NRE Fixed Deposits are also more or less same as offered on Domestic & NRO Fixed Deposits. In other words, after the RBI decision to give freedom to banks in fixing of interest rates on NRE Accounts, most of the banks have aligned their interest rates on NRE Accounts with that offered on NRO Accounts. Now, the major difference between NRO FDs & NRE FDs is that unlike NRO FDs, the duration of NRE FDs cannot be less than one year. Further, No interest is payable if NRE FD is withdrawn before completion of 1 yr.
In a nutshell, NRE accounts offer all the facilities (except returns) of NRO accounts plus free repatriation and tax exemption (also no TDS hassles being tax free), but with the accompanied exchange risk.
Also see:
Dear Sirs,
ReplyDeleteBy opening NRO account (for the purpose of depositing local currencies) if money is non-repatriable,then it is better to have ordinary savings account. Is it illegal to have opened Savings account by Non-resident Indian? if so how to manage if one becomes non-resident for initial period for some years and resident for later period and then again becoming non-resident thereafter? Can anyone enlighten me please?
First, know that you’re allowed to repatriate USD one million every year from your NRO account.
ReplyDeleteSecond, it is indeed illegal for a non-resident to open a saving bank account other than a NRO or NRE account.
Third, at the time of change of your residential status from resident to non-resident or non-resident to resident, you just have to inform the bank and they will redesignate your ordinary saving account to NRO savings account or vice-versa.
Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteI had opened and transacted in Shares through resident sb+demat account being an NRI not knowing that it is illegal. Whats the best way to correct it? Is there any fines applicable?
RM
RM,
ReplyDeleteGet in touch with your bank and tell them about it.
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeleteI have a savings account in India. I have been employed by a company outside India a month back. Now, is it mandatory to change that savings account to an NRO account? Or do we have to convert the savings account to an NRO Account. Is it possible (and legal) to transfer funds from an NRE to a regular savings account in India?
Also enlighten me where will I be able to find a detailed description of both NRE & NRO Accounts & distinction between them since I am unable to find a website which gives thorough knowledge on the same.
Pl. enlighten me on the above.
Regards,
Ashmil Desai
Dear sir,
ReplyDeleteIf the repatriation is allowed from NRO a/c subject to bonafide purpose,then why NRI open an a/c like NRE.
Alok Sinha
excellent article, Fisher, keep up the good work
ReplyDeleteKind Regards,
Shyam
Dear sir,
ReplyDeletecan my rental income credit in NRE account. if yes than shall i have to pay tax.can i deposit my cheque directly to bank for credit in my account.
I opened a NRI aacount in PNB recently. I wonder if I should have opened a NRO account instead. I am an NRI and would like to have the repatriation possibility as well as enjoy the maximum rate of interest.Does one have the option of depositing INR in the NRI account.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the deciding factors which should be considered or an NRI / NRO account.
Dear Sir,
DeleteThe Best account for Repatriation and tax free is NRE Account / NRE Term deposit. Where as NRO is non patriable. Only if you have any income like rents from india or any monthly income or any cheque deposits from india then you require NRO account.Simple terms Money from NRO account should be within india and cannot go out from india. But NRE can be tranfered back to any abroad account.
Believe me or not, this is the ultimate article that I was looking for.I was quite confused about these NRI and NRO and NRE..... jargons, but after going through this article my mind is at peace.
ReplyDeleteThanks to the author.. )
Dinesh
As far as i know there is no such account called NRI account. there are only NRE and NRO for NRI people.
ReplyDeletecorrect me if i am wrong
very good classification..It would be perfect if the author could add more about what other kind of investments that can be made through the NRE account besides the current, savings and FD and what will be the overseas tax applications be on the interest earned on the NRE investments.
ReplyDeleteIf a overseas citizen of india returns and takes up employment, can he continue with his NRE account and is the interest earned there taxfree?-K S Shenoy
ReplyDeleteMy son who lives in USA has opened NRO FD accounts in India by transferreing US dollars recently to get the same interest rates like a domestic FD., since the NRE FD used to give very little interest rates although it is tax free. Now, TDS at 30% is being deducted and he has to file income tax return also every year. Now recently, all banks have started giving almost the same interest rates, like domestic FDs for NRE FD accounts. So, my son wants to convert the present NRO FDs to NRE FDs. Straight away this is not possible, I am sure. But, upto one million dollars he can repatriate the amount with the consent of RBI and then again open NRE FD afresh by transferring dollars. Am I right? If I am not right, What is the exact procedure then, please explain. You can also send me an e.mail. vrrao2122@gmail.com. Thanks in advance. V.R.Rao.
ReplyDeleteOne more difference between NRE and NRO account is that you can deposit INR into NRO account but not on NRE, which makes NRO better option for keeping rental income.
ReplyDelete