Money & Finance
NRI TDS Refund Checklist
Answer a few questions about your Indian income type, what TDS was deducted, your PAN and DTAA documents, and whether you've filed — to get a tailored document checklist, the likely next review step, and questions for your CA. Educational only, runs entirely in your browser.
Your situation
Tell us about your India income
Likely next review step
Answer a couple of questions to begin
Pick your India income type and whether TDS was deducted to see a tailored checklist, the likely next step, and questions for your CA.
Last updated: · General educational checklist; verify against current Income Tax Department guidance for the relevant financial / assessment year.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a tax calculator?
No. This is an educational checklist, not a calculator — it never computes a tax or refund amount. It maps your income type and a few situational answers to a tailored document checklist, the likely next review step, and questions to take to a CA. Your actual tax and refund depend on figures only you and your CA can compute for the current financial year.
Can an NRI in the USA get an Indian TDS refund?
Yes, if the TDS deducted on your Indian income (NRO interest, property sale, rent, dividends, or capital gains) is more than your actual Indian tax liability. You claim the excess by filing an Indian income-tax return for the assessment year and having it refunded to a pre-validated NRO account. Confirm specifics with a CA.
Why is TDS on NRO interest and property sales so high?
NRO interest is taxed at higher, NRI-specific TDS rates plus surcharge and cess, often from the first rupee. On a property sale, TDS is generally deducted on the entire sale price, not just your gain. Both are worst-case withholdings, not your final tax — the excess over your real liability is refundable when you file.
What documents do I need for a TDS refund?
At minimum: PAN; Form 26AS, AIS, and TIS; NRO/NRE statements; and the TDS certificate (Form 16A for interest/fees, Form 16B for a property sale). Property sales also need the sale agreement, purchase deed, and a capital-gains computation. If you're claiming a DTAA treaty rate, add Form 10F and a Tax Residency Certificate.
What is Form 13 and when should I use it?
Form 13 is an application for a certificate authorising a lower or nil rate of TDS on a specific payment, obtained before the income is paid. NRIs use it most for property sales, where default TDS on the full sale price dwarfs the tax on the actual gain — it reduces the withholding at closing instead of locking up your money until a refund.
What if my bank's TDS doesn't match Form 26AS?
You can only claim a refund for TDS that the department actually shows against your PAN in Form 26AS. If the bank or buyer deducted TDS but it hasn't appeared — because of a late deposit, wrong PAN, or wrong quarter — ask the deductor to correct their TDS return so the credit reflects, then file. Filing against a credit that isn't in 26AS invites a notice.
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