NRI, HNI and family office tax and structuring
This practice advises individuals and families on the tax, FEMA and succession side of their wealth: what to hold where, how a sale is taxed, how money moves across borders, and how it passes on. We advise on the tax and legal structure around your investments. We do not recommend securities or manage money.
When you need this
- You work or live abroad and hold property, bank accounts or investments in India.
- You are about to sell a property, shares or a business and want the tax cost before you sign.
- You are a founder or executive with ESOPs or RSUs, or a promoter taking a secondary sale.
- You are a resident with assets abroad that must be reported.
- You want a succession structure for a family business or a family's investments.
What we do
Residential status
Determination of your status for each year from days in India, and the consequences for what is taxed here.
NRI income tax
Taxation of Indian income, treaty relief, tax residency certificate and Form 10F, and foreign tax credit.
Property
TDS on sale by an NRI, lower-deduction certificates, and repatriation through Forms 15CA and 15CB.
Banking and FEMA
NRE, NRO and FCNR accounts, investment routes, gifts and the limits on repatriation.
Equity compensation
Tax on ESOP and RSU exercise and sale, including awards from a foreign employer.
Foreign assets
Disclosure in Schedule FA and compliance with the Black Money Act.
Family structuring
HUFs, family trusts, wills and gift planning, in coordination with your lawyer.
Promoter liquidity
Tax on secondary sales and buybacks, and planning around them.
Consolidated reporting
One net-worth statement across institutions and entities for families with several decision-makers.
How an engagement runs
- We map what you own, where, in whose name, and how it is held.
- You get a written tax and FEMA position for each asset or event.
- We carry out the filings and certificates, and review the plan each year.
What we need from you
- Passport and visa details with travel dates, the last three years' returns, property and share documents, bank and demat statements, and any ESOP or RSU grant letters.
Questions people ask
- How do I know if I am an NRI for tax purposes?
- It depends on the days you spent in India in the year and the preceding years. As a general rule you are a resident if you were in India for 182 days or more, or for 60 days plus 365 days over the previous four years; longer day limits apply to Indian citizens who visit India, and special rules apply to high-income individuals.
- Can I send the sale proceeds of my Indian property abroad?
- Yes, subject to tax having been paid and the documents being in order. From an NRO account, remittance is limited to a set amount each financial year, and Forms 15CA and 15CB are filed with the bank.
- I live in India but own shares and a bank account abroad. Do I need to report them?
- If you are a resident, yes. Foreign assets and income are disclosed in Schedule FA of the return, and omission can bring penalties under the Black Money Act.
- Is a will enough for succession?
- A will is the foundation. Trusts, HUF structures and gifts are used when you want control during life, want to avoid delay at death or need to manage property in more than one country. We work with your lawyer on the legal documents.
Related practices
Engagement terms and fees are agreed after the first conversation, based on scope and complexity.
Contact the Office