NRE Account Benefits: 6 Advantages of NRE Accounts Explained (2024)

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Key Takeaways: An NRE account offers several benefits including the facility to easily and quickly remit foreign earnings to India. Read on to know more about an NRE account benefits.

Even though NRIs live abroad, they have strong family and financial ties back in India. An NRE account helps NRIs easily manage their financial commitments in India, be it family expenses, investments or utility bills. You can deposit foreign currency earnings in your NRE account and withdraw in rupees to manage Indian expenses. The good thing is you can fully repatriate the amount you hold in an NRE account. Let us look at more NRE account benefits in this article.

Benefits of NRE account

Here are six benefits of an NRE account:

  • Exempt from Taxes: The interest earned on the principal amount in an NRE savings account is tax free.
  • Free and easy transferability: If you wish, you can transfer both the principal amount and the interest from an NRE account to an account in a foreign bank without any restrictions. You can also transfer funds quickly from an NRE account to another NRE account or an NRO account.
  • Useful for Investments: You can use funds in this account to make investments in India. Whether it is equity or debt mutual funds, you can get started seamlessly.

NRE Account Benefits: 6 Advantages of NRE Accounts Explained (1)

Open an NRE Savings Account


  • Joint Account Holding[1]: If both the account holders are NRIs, you can opt for joint account holding. You can also mandate a resident family member to operate the account on your behalf. However, please note that you can have a joint resident Indian account holder only on a ‘former’ or ‘survivor’ basis. This joint holder resident must be related, e.g., a parent.
  • Easy Withdrawal: With the help of an international debit card, you can withdraw money 24*7 from these accounts. You can also avail internet and mobile banking services that allow you to manage your money online.
  • Competitive Interest Rates: NRE accounts offer attractive interest rates. A DBS Treasures NRE account offers higher interest rates on NRE savings accounts.

What happens to your NRE account if you become a resident Indian again?

In case of a short visit, the NRE account can continue as it is. However, if you plan to become a resident Indian again, you would need to re-designate the NRE account to a resident account or a Resident Foreign Currency (RFC) account.

Final Note: NRE accounts bring a lot of benefits to NRIs, helping them manage their India financial affairs more efficiently and seamlessly.

Would you like to avail preferential rates on remittances to India? With DBS Treasures, you can have access to better rates and faster international money transfers. Know more!

References: 1

*This article is for information purpose only and is not a tax advice by DBS Bank. Sound professional advice should be taken before making any investment decisions. Bank will not be responsible for any tax loss/other loss suffered by a person actng on the above.

NRE Account Benefits: 6 Advantages of NRE Accounts Explained (2024)

FAQs

What are NRE account what are its advantages? ›

Funds in your NRE Savings account are fully repatriable. You can freely move funds (both, principal and interest amount) from India whenever you want. The interest earned on the funds in your NRE account will not be taxable in India, giving you more economic control over your financial wealth.

How does NRE account work? ›

An NRE Account or Non-Resident External Account offers you this facility. Here, your money is converted into Indian Rupee or INR at the time of deposit. This means that you can deposit money in any foreign denomination, e.g. US Dollar and withdraw it in Indian Rupees.

What are the benefits of NRE account in SBI? ›

Features
  • SMS Alerts.
  • Multi-City Cheque book (MCC)
  • International or Domestic Debit Card.
  • Internet banking.
  • To park your overseas earnings remitted to India and converted to Indian Rupees.
  • Account can be opened either individually or jointly with other NRIs / PIOs / OCIs.
  • Account types permissible:
Jan 14, 2022

What is the meaning of NRE? ›

Non-Residential External (NRE) and Non- Resident Ordinary (NRO) Accounts are the two major categories of accounts available for you, as an NRI. They happen to be amongst the most popular options if you wish to save money in India.

Can I withdraw money from NRE account outside India? ›

You can also withdraw money from this account for local disbursem*nts, remittances outside India, investment in shares, purchase of immovable properties or transfer to other NRE/ FCNR accounts.

Do NRE accounts need to pay tax? ›

Taxation of interest on NRE account

Any interest on the NRE account is fully exempt under Section 10(4)(ii) of the Income Tax Act without any limit. Since the interest on such deposits is fully exempt the bank will not deduct any tax on such interest at source.

What are the features of NRE account? ›

A Non-Resident External (NRE) account is a rupee dominated account opened by an NRI to facilitate deposit of foreign currency earnings. The advantage of an NRE account is that it has high liquidity and allows for full repatriation of funds from the account to the NRI's country of residence when required.

What are the disadvantages of NRE account? ›

Deposits made in foreign currencies in an NRE account are subject to conversion into Indian rupees. Hence, such deposits might fluctuate in value due to appreciation of domestic currency (or depreciation of foreign currency), thereby incurring losses during repatriation.

How long can you keep money in NRE? ›

How long I can keep these accounts? A person can have an NRE account as long as one is a non-resident under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). A non-resident becomes a resident under FEMA as soon as he comes back to India for good or for an indefinite period.

Which NRE account is best? ›

Here are some important features related to some of the top NRE savings bank accounts for Non-Resident Indians in 2023.
  • DBS Bank NRE Account. ...
  • HDFC Bank NRE Account. ...
  • ICICI Bank NRE Account. ...
  • Kotak Mahindra Bank NRE Account. ...
  • RBL Bank NRE Account. ...
  • SBM Bank NRE Account. ...
  • State Bank of India NRE Account. ...
  • Yes Bank NRE Account.

Is there any tax on NRE account in India? ›

NRE accounts are exempt from tax. Neither the balance, nor the interest earned on these accounts is taxable. The interest earned on an NRO account is however taxable at 30% according to the Income Tax Act 1961. The principle amount in an NRE account, and the interest accumulated thereon is open to repatriation.

Can I spend money from NRE account? ›

Cash withdrawal limit of Rs. 25,000 per day and transaction limit (w.e.f. October 1, 2011) of Rs. 50,000 per day at merchant establishments.

Can I transfer money from my NRE account to abroad? ›

Yes, you can place the request for transfer of funds from NRE or FCNR (B) deposit which is yet not matured. However, deposit will be closed prematurely and the applicable premature penalty will be levied.

Should I report NRE to IRS? ›

Interest earned on NRE Account or NRO Account is Taxable in the U.S. including NRE FD, NRO FD interest. You have to add all your income from India to your US income and pay taxes if you are a Green Card holder, PIO, OCI, or legal resident (working on H1B, L1B, H4 EAD, or any other work visa in the USA).

Can I deposit cash in my NRE account in India? ›

Another question you may have is- can I deposit money in NRE account from India? You cannot transfer money to a NRE account from a savings account in India. However, you can transfer money from NRO to NRE account. You can also transfer money from one NRE account to another.

How do I transfer money from USA to NRE? ›

Here are the steps to transfer money to an NRE account:
  1. Gather the NRE account details.
  2. Choose how to make your transfer.
  3. Identify how much you want to send.
  4. Confirm the bank details and sending amount.
  5. Pay for the transaction.
  6. Submit the transfer.
Jun 6, 2022

What happens to my NRE account when I return to India? ›

Once you come back to India permanently, you are a resident as per FEMA. And residents are not permitted to keep a NRE account. Interest on NRE FD is tax exempted only for Non-Residents. Therefore from the day you come back to India any interest earned in NRE FD becomes taxable in your hand.

How do I deposit dollars into my NRE account? ›

There are several ways in which you can transfer money to your NRE savings account. You can use wire transfers or money transfer services offered by your bank. You can do a transfer through by depositing or mailing foreign currency cheques and demand drafts.

Is Pan required for NRE account? ›

PAN/Form 60 Rules for NRI/PIO/OCI

If PAN is not available, Form 60 declaration is mandatory. PAN Application Date and PAN Acknowledgment Number on Form 60 is mandatory if the customer's taxable income in India is Rs 250,000 or more.

What is the minimum balance in NRE account? ›

NRE SAVINGS BANK ACCOUNT
Account TypeNRE Savings bank Account(NRE SB)
NominationPermitted
Minimum BalanceRs. 1000/- (for Metro & Urban) Rs. 500/- (For SU/ rural)
Tax on Interest IncomeNo TDS on Income tax on interest earned
16 more rows

Can I get tax refund in NRE account? ›

NRIs can easily claim TDS refunds on income earned from India. Owing to Section 195 of the Income Tax Act, TDS deductions for NRIs are applicable to every type of income.

Does NRE account have interest? ›

No interest is payable if the deposit is withdrawn before one year. The interest shall be 0.50% or 1% below the rate applicable at the time of Deposits for the period Deposit has remained with the Bank or 0.50% or 1% below the contracted rate, whichever is lower.

How many NRE accounts can a person have? ›

Can an NRI maintain multiple accounts with different banks in India, simultaneously ? Ans.: Yes, there is no prohibition to open and maintain multiple accounts a/cs.

What is difference between NRI and NRE? ›

In terms of definition, the NRE full form is non-resident external. These accounts are used to deposit money that you are earning in foreign currency. On the other hand, an NRI (non-resident Indian) account is used to manage the money and earnings that are generated in India and in Indian rupees.

Can parents withdraw from NRE account? ›

The account holder can withdraw money from his/her NRE account. Other than that, his/her family members, or whoever has access to the account in India can withdraw money. This type of account is most commonly used because countless NRIs send money to their families in India.

Can US citizen hold NRE account? ›

You can open NRE account from USA to park their overseas income and convert it into INR. Account can be opened either individually or jointly with other NRIs/ PIOs/ OCIs and close relatives on 'former or survivor' basis. Interest earned on SBI NRE account is exempt from Indian Income Tax.

What is the penalty for not closing NRE account? ›

Under the Act, any individual who fails to adhere to the guidelines is liable to pay a penalty of up to 3 times the amount involved in the existing resident savings account or Rs 2 lakh when the sum is not quantifiable.

What if NRE account is not closed? ›

NRE account has to be re-designated to a Resident FD account and all NRE FDs must be closed. Some banks allow you to hold the same to Maturity, however, the interest will be fully taxable because as per FEMA regulation you become a Resident individual the day you return to India,” pointed out Billimoria.

Which Indian bank is best for NRE? ›

HDFC Bank, India's No. 1 Bank for NRI Services, offers you a range of banking tools custom-made for NRIs. We offer you a one-stop-shop for all NRI services, from banking to investment to loan.

Which is better NRI or NRE? ›

Though there are several differences between an NRE and NRI account, you will need both to manage your funds. An NRE account proves useful for your foreign earnings and you can even send money back to your country of residence freely. An NRI account helps keep your income earned in India safe and within India.

In which currency is NRE account maintained? ›

NRE accounts are INR denominated accounts which means all the funds you deposit are maintained in Indian rupee. When you deposit foreign currency into this account, the current exchange rate is applied by the receiving bank and Indian rupees matching the exchange rate are deposited in your account.

Can NRE account have Indian address? ›

No, an NRI doesn't need to provide a local Indian address at the time of account opening. The foreign address with its proof is a mandatory requirement for NRIs. Though it is not mandatory, an NRI can provide the local address with its documentary evidence for ease of operation or correspondence purpose if one desires.

Is TDS deducted from NRE account? ›

However, TDS shall not be deducted in case of any other income that is not liable to tax in India. For example, interest earned from NRE accounts in India is exempt from taxation in the hands of the NRI.

How many days can NRI stay in India? ›

The NRI status in India is attained by people who are Indian citizens but stay in India for less than 182 days in the preceding financial year or people who live outside India for employment, business, or any other purpose for an uncertain period.

How much cash can I deposit in my NRE account? ›

Funds can be transferred to NRE account within this USD 1 Million facility. Not repatriable except for all current income. Balances in an NRO account of NRIs/ PIOs are remittable up to USD 1 (one) million per financial year (April-March) along with their other eligible assets.

How much money can I keep in my NRE account in India? ›

NRE accounts are the perfect option for people looking to save their foreign income into a rupee-dominated account. And while there is no cash deposit limit in NRE account, it helps to stay aware of the changing policies regarding deposit limits, permissible credits and debits, and other RBI regulations.

How can I repatriate money from India to USA? ›

We will require the following documents for repatriation:
  1. Repatriation Application Form.
  2. Guidance to fill Repatriation Form.
  3. FEMA Declaration (this form is also referred to as A2 Form)
  4. Guidance to fill A2 Form.
  5. One Original copy of Form 15 CB (this form is to be provided by your Chartered Accountant)

How much money can NRI transfer to India in one year? ›

There is no ceiling on the money an NRI can send to India. This money, however, needs to be earned through legit means. You also have to pay the required taxes on this money in the country it was earned.

How much money can an Indian citizen transfer abroad? ›

How much money can be transferred abroad annually? The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has a limit of $2,50,000 (INR 2,04,50,250) per financial year for foreign remittances. This includes both personal and business-related transactions.

How does IRS know your foreign income? ›

One of the main catalysts for the IRS to learn about foreign income which was not reported is through FATCA, which is the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. In accordance with FATCA, more than 300,000 FFIs (Foreign Financial Institutions) in over 110 countries actively report account holder information to the IRS.

Is India income taxable in USA? ›

According to Article 15 of the DTAA, a person who is a particular country's resident but has income from a foreign country source, his income would be taxed 'only' in the residential country. This means if an NRI works in the US and his income comes from an Indian source, he has to pay only US taxes.

Does the IRS go after expats? ›

Further, expatriated individuals will be subject to U.S. tax on their worldwide income for any of the 10 years following expatriation in which they are present in the U.S. for more than 30 days, or 60 days in the case of individuals working in the U.S. for an unrelated employer.

Can I send rupees to NRE account? ›

No, it's not possible to transfer INR to an NRE account. Because of the way the account is structured, INR deposits are not supported to NRE accounts.

Can I transfer money from NRE account to another bank account in India? ›

Fund transfer from NRE account to other bank account is possible however IMPS is not possible from NRE to other bank NRE account.

Which account is better NRE or NRO? ›

You should opt for NRE Accounts if you want to hold or maintain your overseas earnings in Indian currency. NRE Accounts are also suitable if you wish to keep your savings liquid. You should opt for NRO Accounts if you want to save your earnings from India in Indian currency itself.

What are the cons of NRE account? ›

Deposits made in foreign currencies in an NRE account are subject to conversion into Indian rupees. Hence, such deposits might fluctuate in value due to appreciation of domestic currency (or depreciation of foreign currency), thereby incurring losses during repatriation.

How much money we can keep in NRE account? ›

Funds can be transferred to NRE account within this USD 1 Million facility. Not repatriable except for all current income. Balances in an NRO account of NRIs/ PIOs are remittable up to USD 1 (one) million per financial year (April-March) along with their other eligible assets.

Can I keep foreign currency in NRE account? ›

A Non-Resident External (NRE) account is a savings account in which you can deposit foreign currency earnings and freely repatriate monies held in the account back to your country of residence.

Can I keep INR in NRE? ›

Funds originating from a foreign country (foreign currency) can be deposited in both NRE and NRO accounts. However, funds originating in India i.e. in Indian Rupees or INR can be deposited only in NRO Accounts and not an NRE Account.

Is PAN card required for NRE account? ›

PAN/Form 60 Rules for NRI/PIO/OCI

If PAN is not available, Form 60 declaration is mandatory. PAN Application Date and PAN Acknowledgment Number on Form 60 is mandatory if the customer's taxable income in India is Rs 250,000 or more.

Which bank NRE account is best? ›

Here are key features of some of the top NRO savings bank accounts for Non-Resident Indians in 2023.
  • Citi Bank NRO Account. ...
  • DBS Bank NRO Account. ...
  • HDFC Bank NRO Account. ...
  • ICICI Bank NRO Account. ...
  • Kotak Mahindra Bank NRO Account. ...
  • RBL Bank NRO Account. ...
  • State Bank of India NRO Account. ...
  • Yes Bank NRO Account.

Can I withdraw dollars from NRE account? ›

The main purpose of these accounts is that they enable the account holder to deposit money in foreign currency. The account holder can withdraw money from his/her NRE account.

Can I deposit cash in my NRE account? ›

Yes, you can deposit cash in your NRE account, provided the deposits are in specific foreign currencies, as permitted by the RBI. Since the NRE account is rupee-dominated, the deposits are converted to INR.

How do I transfer money from NRE to overseas? ›

To add a beneficiary to remit funds from NRE account to Self-account held with Overseas Bank please follow the below steps:
  1. Access your Net Banking account using your Customer ID and IPIN.
  2. Click on the option for "Fund Transfer " tab.
  3. Click on the option "Repatriation of Funds (Add Beneficiary)" under "Request option"

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