Indian Americans with Assets in India & US Tax Compliance

Indian Americans with Overseas Assets & Income in India

It is very common for US persons who are originally from India to have a diverse cross-section of overseas assets, accounts, investments, and income sources. Our International Tax Law Specialist Team has represented many taxpayers who are originally from India with offshore voluntary disclosure and international tax compliance. It tends to become very complicated for Indian Americans with assets abroad in large part due to the differences in tax rules between India and United States. For example, while the PPF (Public Provident Fund) grows tax-free in India for 15 years – – but that growth is taxable within the US. Likewise, while Fixed Deposits (FDs) in India are oftentimes not taxed in India until they reach maturity, the accrued not distributed growth is taxable in the United States. Let’s go through some of the important basics for Indian Americans with assets and income sources in India:

US Tax Law

First, a brief introduction to how the US tax system works:

Who is Subject to U.S. Tax and Reporting?

Typically, a “U.S. Person” (not just U.S. citizens) is subject to U.S. Tax and Reporting.

Who is a U.S. Person (Individual)?

A U.S. Person individual is usually anyone who falls into the three (3) following categories:

• • • U.S. Citizen

    • U.S. Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card)

    • Most visa holders such B1/B2, H-1B, L-1, E-2, etc. (certain restrictions for F, J and other visas)

What is Worldwide Income & Reporting?

Worldwide income and reporting are just as bad as it sounds. You have to report ALL of your investments and income worldwide. It does not matter if you owned the accounts or assets before you came to the U.S. It also doesn’t matter if you pay tax and/or are TDS in India – or if it is tax-free in India.

Just because it is tax-free in India does not make it tax-free in the U.S.

10  Indian Investments Subject to U.S. Tax & Reporting

1. Fixed Deposits

Even though the FD does not distribute income during the growth period, it is earning income. While you may not touch or access the money during the growth phase (without being penalized), the income is still taxable and reportable in the U.S as it accrues.

2. U.S. Taxation of India Provident Funds

Just as with the FDs, if your PPF is accruing income, which is not being distributed, it is still “earning income” and is still taxable and reportable in the U.S.

3. Stock Certificates/Demat

Whether or not you have actual stock certificates or Demat, the values have to be reported. Since Demat is an “Account” and the actual stock certificates are not in an account, the reporting requirements are different.

Generally, the account is reported on the FBAR, and usually the Form 8938 “FATCA.” The certificates are reported on the 8938 but not the FBAR (since it is not in an “account.”) The thresholds for the 8938 vary extensively based on your U.S. Residence and marital status. You may have to file one form and not another form — it all depends.

* The stock earnings such as dividends and capital gains are also taxed and reported in the U.S. but Foreign Tax Credits may apply.

4. Mutual Funds

Mutual Funds are reported on the FBAR. The Mutual Fund is considered a PFIC which you may need to file on Form 8621.

The rules for PFIC are very, very complex. You may have additional reporting (unless you qualify for an exclusion/exception) and you may have additional tax (unless you made an election).

5. Bank Interest

Even if your bank interest is not in an FD, the interest is still taxable and reportable, since income is being earned on the money. This is also true of your NRE account growing tax-free in India.

6. Dividends

Dividends are taxable in the U.S., even if they qualify for tax-exempt treatment in India. Whether or not they are taxed now, or in the future will depend on whether the income is also PFIC income or not, and if so – if any elections have been made.

7. Capital Gains

Capital Gains are taxable in the U.S.

Certain exclusions for primary residence and other exceptions may apply to limit, reduce or avoid tax.

The Long-Term Capital Gain (LTCG) rules in the U.S. are different than India, so even though a sale may not qualify for LTCG in India, it may qualify for LTCG under U.S. investment tax rules.

8. Rental Income in India

This is a common misconception. Let’s say you earned $10,000 in rental income, but had $11,000 in expenses and taxes – no income to report, right?

Yes and No. Yes, you earned gross rent income, but no, you will have no net income. Nevertheless, the income and expenses have to be parsed out, and reported annually on a 1040 Schedule E.

9. Interest Earned on Future Property Development

This is very common in India. A client will have paid an up-front fee to a developer for a property(s) in India. During the time the property is being constructed, the investor (you) receive interest on the money you invested.

This ROI interest income must be included with your taxes.

10. Retirement Contributions

There is a Tax Treaty between the U.S. and India. Therefore, while the growth within a retirement fund may escape U.S. Tax (until distributed, unless exceptions apply), income contributions being diverted to the retirement do not usually escape U.S. tax.

10 Tax Tips (and Misconceptions) to be aware of:

1. Foreign Tax Credit

If you already paid tax on the income in India, you may be able to receive a Foreign Tax Credit in the U.S.

2. Foreign Tax Credit Refund

If the tax money you paid in India was refunded to you, it may not be worth the headache to claim the credit, since you will have to adjust your tax returns in the future.

3. Income/Gifts

If your parents are managing your accounts, and you let them keep the income (what a nice son/daughter you are), that does not default to income assignment. Rather, it generally means you report the income and you gave them a gift.

4. EPF

EPFs are through employment, and you may be able to defer tax on the growth, per the India-U.S. Tax Treaty

5. FATCA

Just because the FATCA Agreement may exempt certain foreign institutions from having to report accounts, does not mean you (as the individual investor) are exempt.

6. FBAR

If you have to file an FBAR you may also have to file a Form 8938 (or vice versa) – in other words, just because you file, does not mean you can avoid filing the other, if you meet the requirements for having to file both.

7. Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

You may be able to exclude certain earned (not investment) income if you meet either the Physical Presence Test or Bona-Fide Residence Test.

8. Transferring Account Ownership

Once you learn about reporting, the knee-jerk reaction is to consider transferring the accounts to another person. This only makes matters worse, because not only will you be out of compliance – but it will look bad to the IRS.

9. Calling the IRS Before Getting Into Compliance (Place Holder)

If you are considering getting into compliance, another knee-jerk reaction is to call the IRS to let them know you plan on getting into compliance. The problem is you may not even be on their radar. By calling them, you have now put yourself on their radar.

10. Be Cautions of Inexperienced Counsel

This has become an epidemic. Be sure to properly vet your attorney before retaining a firm.

What if You Have Unreported Income or Assets?

If you are out of compliance, the penalties can be severe. Therefore, you may consider entering IRS offshore voluntary disclosure/tax amnesty, before it is too late.

What Can You Do If You are Out of Compliance?

Presuming the money was from legal sources, your best options are either the Traditional IRS Voluntary Disclosure Program, or one of the Streamlined Offshore Disclosure Programs.

Golding & Golding: About our International Tax Law Firm

Golding & Golding specializes exclusively in international tax, and specifically IRS offshore disclosure. 

Contact our firm today for assistance with getting compliant.