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Tax guidelines and regulations for large money transfers into India

Failing to file could land both you and your recipient in tax trouble.

Leah Fallon
Leah Fallon

Updated . What changed?

Fact checked

India is the world’s leading remittance recipient, with more than $11 billion sent from the US to India in 2017 alone. Knowing how much you’ll pay in tax on money received from abroad to India and how the process works can help give you peace of mind when transferring money there.

Is there tax on money transfers from abroad to India?

There is no tax on money being transferred from abroad to India when it’s being sent to blood relatives. In general, “blood relatives” — including spouses, children and grandchildren, siblings or in-laws — do not pay tax on any amount that you send. Your recipient also won’t pay tax on any money sent as part of an inheritance or a wedding gift.

However, if you’re sending more than about $700 to someone in India who isn’t a blood relative, they’ll need to report it on their taxes — and you may need to report it to the IRS, regardless of blood relations. No matter how you send the money, your recipient could be on the hook for a gift tax if they aren’t a blood relative, as regulated by the Indian Income Tax Act.

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What are the penalties in India if my recipient fails to file?

If you don’t report a transfer on your taxes in India, you could be charged a 10%, 50% or 200% penalty on the taxes owed, depending on whether it was considered intentional or not.

With so much attention on money entering and leaving India, if you fail to report large sums, don’t know you have to report them or don’t report them correctly, it will likely be discovered. Make sure to declare any large remittance as income on your general tax return with the Indian Income Tax Department.

To avoid the severe penalties that could come with a failure to report large sums of money into the country, speak with a professional to guarantee that everything complies with the laws of both the US and India.

Do I have to report large transfers out of the US?

Generally, yes — though it depends on how much you’re sending and for what purpose. Gifts over $15,000, business transactions over $10,000 and any foreign account in your name that’s held more than $10,000 in the past year will need to be reported on your taxes.

By law, banks report all cash transactions that exceed $10,000 — and any transaction of any amount that alerts their suspicions. Money transfer businesses, which often solely send money between countries, sometimes have reporting thresholds as low as $1,000.
Sending a lot of money out of the country? Know what the IRS expects of you.

How much money can I send to India?

There’s no legal cap on the amount of money you can send, but some transfer providers will set their own limits. If you’re planning on initiating a large transfer, consider using a limit-free provider such as XE.

How will my recipient in India get the money?

Your recipient can pick up the cash in person or have the money deposited directly into their bank account or mobile wallet. Not every provider will offer all three options, so check before initiating a transfer.

In general, your recipient will provide ID or a confirmation number for the transaction to pick up the money in cash.
How to send money to India

Bottom line

If you’re sending money to a blood relative in India, they won’t have to worry about taxes — but if you’re sending money to a friend, they’ll need to report anything over ₹50,000 as income.

As with all international money transfers, be wary of potential fraud and only send money to people you know. Using a reputable provider can safeguard you from potential scams.

Frequently asked questions

I’m interested in starting an import/export business in India. How do I get started?

The US trades about $63.7 billion in goods and services with India. If you’re interested in getting in on that action, we’ve put together a guide to starting an import/export business with India that includes information on startup costs, registering your business and more.

Is dealing with the IRS a hassle when transferring large amounts?

If you follow the law and submit your legal documentation in a timely and accurate manner, you shouldn’t experience hassles with the IRS. If you choose not to follow the law, you may be on the hook for stiff penalties, including jail time.

Can I avoid IRS penalties if I fail to file?

Yes, you can avoid IRS penalties if you can show reasonable cause for your failure to file — such as a house fire, serious illness or natural disaster.

Picture: Shutterstock

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36 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    SnehaNovember 29, 2020

    I received 30000 cad as equalization amount on divorce..I want to send this amount to my father in india..do I have to pay taxes in canada

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      ZakNovember 30, 2020Staff

      Hi Sneha,

      Thanks for reaching out.

      Transfers over CAD$10,000 will automatically be reported to FINTRAC by the bank or money transfer provider you’re using to send the money. In short, whether you’ll need to pay taxes on it or not is dependent on how the equalization was paid to you: consulting with your attorney would be best in this situation to make sure you won’t face a tax penalty later on.

      Please refer to our Canadian guide for more information on money transfer taxes in Canada.

      Hope this helps,
      Zak

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    ShammiMay 7, 2019

    Hi! I sent Rs72,000.00 through wire transfer to non relative to India and they are telling me that the bank has deducted Rs.25,000.00 as TDS which looks very weird to me. It is Axis bank, is this true? Thanks

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      MaiMay 7, 2019Staff

      Hi Shammi,

      Thank you for reaching out.

      It shows that if your recipient in India is not related to you, any amount over 50,000 rupees that you send is taxable and must be declared as income.The amount of the tax will depend on your recipient’s income tax bracket.

      Hope this helps! 😊

      Kind Regards,
      Mai

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    DipakMarch 25, 2019

    For sending remittance from UAE self bank account to India self bank account for investment purpose ( say FD or mutual funds etc.) is there any limit of amount per remittance or per year which can be sent . Remittances are sent through bank channels only.
    Is it necessary to inform the India IT Dept on such remittances.

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JeniMarch 28, 2019Staff

      Hi Dipak,

      Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.

      I’m afraid that you need to confirm the limit of remittance and other requirements with the banks you’re having transactions with in the UAE and India.

      I hope this helps.

      Thank you and have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    JaneFebruary 3, 2019

    My sister is transferring some Euros to India via Transferwise, is that money taxable in India?

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JhezFebruary 4, 2019Staff

      Hello Jane,

      Thank you for your comment.

      When you send money to India from an online remittance service, you will not be required to pay taxes on that amount if you are an NRI. However, if you are not an NRI then you will have to pay taxes on the global income.

      An NRI can transfer funds from UK to India in his NRE account securely and conveniently. NRIs don’t have to pay taxes when they transfer money to India. Since they already pay tax on the amount earned in the country where they are working, they are not required to pay further tax on the same money. This is irrespective of whether they keep the money in Indian Rupees or Euros.

      Regards,
      Jhezelyn

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    VictoriaJanuary 18, 2019

    If money transfer from Canada to India at around $355,000, does it transfer directly to the account of the Indian beneficiary?

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JeniJanuary 18, 2019Staff

      Hi Victoria,

      Thank you for getting in touch with finder.

      Basically, international bank transfers automatically send funds to the receiver’s bank account. However, transfer fees and exchange rates apply to the transaction, so it’s worth comparing specialist online money transfer companies to see if you might be able to find a better deal.

      I hope this helps.

      Thank you and have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    nilDecember 5, 2018

    if someone wants to transfer 70000dollars in my account do i need to pay any charges for that transaction

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      ValDecember 10, 2018Staff

      Hi Nil,

      Thank you for reaching out to finder and leaving a question.

      In general, if your recipient is a “blood relative” — including spouses, children and grand-children, siblings or in-laws — they do not pay tax on any amount that you send. Your recipient also won’t pay tax on any money sent as part of an inheritance or a wedding gift.

      However, if your recipient is not related to you, any amount over 50,000 rupees (about $750, depending on the exchange rate) that you send is taxable and must be declared as income.

      Regards,
      Val

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    seyjalDecember 3, 2018

    my mom friend from the Paris sent some cash to my mom by bank how can she got that money in her account.Is there any proceed to got that money in her account??

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      nikkiangcoDecember 3, 2018Staff

      Hi Seyjal,

      Thanks for reaching out! If your mom’s friend sent the funds to your mom’s bank account, this means that the money is already in her account. To withdraw the money in your mom’s account, you must ask permission from her as it is her own personal account and the bank won’t allow anyone else aside from your mom to withdraw any amount of money from her account without her approval. Hope this clarifies!

      Best,
      Nikki

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    PankajOctober 15, 2018

    My friend want to help me on buying home in india, and he will send 1.5 lakh every month from France. Do I need to declare anything? As he is sending to my personal account.

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JoshuaOctober 20, 2018Staff

      Hi Pankaj,

      Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)

      The answer would depend on different factors. For one, if your friend is a blood relative, then you won’t pay taxes. However, if your friend is not related to you, any amount over 50,000 rupees that he/she sends is taxable and must be declared as income.

      I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Joshua

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    rajOctober 9, 2018

    my mom friend from the uk sent some cash to my mom by bank true india amount 25000gbp to malaysia . i would like to know does my mom need to pay tax for the transfer??

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JoshuaOctober 13, 2018Staff

      Hi Raj,

      Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)

      That would depend on the nature of the money, how it was acquired, and its purpose. Moreover, it will also depend on whether your mom friend is blood-related to your mom. If the sender and recipient are not related to each other, any amount over 50,000 rupees sent must be declared as income and therefore, should be taxed.

      You would need to speak to a tax specialist to get a more personalized advice.

      I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Joshua

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    KaranSeptember 13, 2018

    My frnd want to send 10million dollars to India and invest here . for that I have to pay 58000Rs custom duty and 125500 RS for anti terrorist certificate. Is it true or fraud

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      johnbasanesSeptember 13, 2018Staff

      Hi Karan,

      Thank you for leaving a question.

      There is no limit to bring foreign exchange in India from the US. However, the aggregate value of foreign currency notes in excess of USD 5000 or equivalent and the aggregate value of foreign exchange in the form of currency notes, bank notes or traveller’s cheques in excess of USD 10,000 or its equivalent must be declared to the customs.
      The limit for foreign currency notes is USD 3,000 and must be declare by filing CDF (Currency Declaration Form) if it exceeds the limit. I am not sure on the exact amount that needs to be paid for customs and the anti terrorist certificate but you may contact the Commissioner of Customs office at +91 22 2681 6667 which is open 24/7 for further inquiry on this. Hope this helps!

      Cheers,
      Reggie

      Reply
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