• Income tax
• Social security
• Compliance obligations
• Immigration
• Other issues

An individual can be a resident and ordinarily resident (ROR), a resident but not ordinarily resident (NOR), or a non-resident (NR) for Indian tax purposes.

Tax Residential status for the tax year 2020-21 onwards shall be determined as follows:

An individual is taxed in India, based on their residential status under the Act. Residential stats as per the Act is determined, inter alia, based on the number of days of physical presence of the individual in India during the FY. Please note that part of a day, date of arrival/ departure from India are considered as full day of presence in India. The principles governing the determination of residential status are laid down in Section 6 of the Act.

As per the Act^[1], an individual is said to be ‘Resident’ in India in any tax year if they satisfy either of the following conditions:

• they are present in India in that fiscal year for a period of 182 days or more; or
• they are present in India for a period of 60 days* or more during the tax year and a total of 365 days or more during the 4 tax years immediately preceding the relevant tax year.

*The period of 60 days stands gets extended to 182 days / 120 days in the following cases:

• For a citizen of India who leaves India for the purposes of employment outside India or as a member of the crew of a prescribed Indian ship, in the year of departure, the 60 days condition is replaced with 182 days;
• For a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin who being outside India, comes on a visit to India in any tax year and their income, other than income from foreign sources, does not exceeds 1.5 million Indian rupee (INR) the 60 days condition is replaced with 182 days;
• For a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin who being outside India, comes on a visit to India in any tax year and their income, other than income from foreign sources, exceeds INR1.5 million the 60 days condition is replaced with 120 days.

If none of the above conditions are satisfied, the individual will qualify as a Non-Resident (NR) of India for that FY, unless they qualify as a Resident based on the deemed residency clause as mentioned below.

Deemed Resident

The individual, being a citizen of India, shall be deemed to be resident in India in any tax year, if they are not liable to tax in any other country/jurisdiction by reason of their domicile or residence or any other criteria of similar nature and their income, other than income from foreign sources, exceeds INR1.5 million.

A Resident individual could be Ordinarily Resident (OR) in India or Not Ordinarily Resident (NOR) in India as per the Act^[2] as explained below:

If the individual qualifies as a resident only based on the deemed residency clause or based on the reduced stay of 120 days or more as explained in the above paragraph, and does not satisfy any other basic condition, they would qualify as a NOR.

In other cases, the individual will qualify as an Ordinarily Resident (OR), if both the following additional conditions are satisfied:

• they have been “resident” in India in at least 2 out of the 10 tax years immediately preceding the relevant tax year; and
• their stay in India during the 7 preceding tax years immediately preceding the relevant tax year is 729 days or more.

If they do not satisfy either one or both the above-mentioned additional conditions, they would qualify as a NOR.

Taxation varies based on the residency status of the individual in a financial year.

• ROR – liable for tax on worldwide income
• NOR – liable for tax on income sourced /deemed to source from India or received/deemed to be received in India, or from income derived from a business controlled or set up in India
• NR – liable for tax only on income sourced /deemed to source from India or received/deemed to be received in India

Foreign nationals may be exempt from tax in India if their stay in India does not exceed 90 days, as prescribed in the Indian domestic law, or the number of days prescribed (generally 183 days) under various double taxation avoidance agreements (DTAA) into which India has entered with other countries/jurisdictions, subject to satisfaction of all other conditions.

Salary for services rendered in India is deemed to accrue in India and hence, is taxable in India for all individuals, irrespective of the place of receipt and residential status, subject to benefit, if any, under the DTAA. Generally, services rendered are equated with physical presence in India. Salary entitlements paid for leave periods which is preceded and succeeded by services rendered in India and forms part of the service contract of employment, are also deemed to have been earned for services rendered in India.

As mentioned above, salary for services rendered in India is taxable in India for all individuals. Further, salary received in India is taxable in India, irrespective of residential status of the individual and place of rendering services, subject to benefit, if any, under the DTAA/domestic tax laws of India.

Remuneration for services rendered by a foreign national, employed by a foreign enterprise during the individual’s stay in India, is exempt from tax in India if:

• the total period of the stay in India does not exceed 90 days in a financial year
• the foreign enterprise is not engaged in any trade or business in India
• the remuneration is not liable to be deducted from the income of the employer chargeable in India

To the extent that the individual qualifies for relief in terms of the dependent personal services article of the applicable DTAA, there will be no tax liability. The DTAA exemption will not apply if the Indian entity is the individual’s economic employer. In addition, any salary or local benefits received in India are not eligible for relief under the DTAA. Additionally, subject to satisfaction of conditions, credit of taxes against juridical double taxation can be claimed under relevant Article of the DTAA / Indian tax law in the India tax return.

Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) has been mandated for claiming DTAA benefits. In case a tax assessment is initiated, the taxpayer may be required to submit a TRC, issued by the Government of the respective country/jurisdiction or specified territory in which such taxpayer is resident, with the Indian Revenue authorities. In case where prescribed particulars are not mentioned in the TRC issued by the foreign government, then the individual has to furnish the requisite details in Form 10F.

Further, as per the Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) rules, following set of documents for claiming FTC in the India Tax Return:

1. Statement of income from the country/jurisdiction or specified territory outside India offered for tax for the previous year and of foreign tax deducted or paid on such income in a pre-prescribed Form No. 67 and verified in the manner specified therein. This Form is required to be submitted to the India tax authorities before filing of the India tax return for the particular FY.

2. Certificate or statement specifying the nature of income and the amount of tax deducted therefrom or paid by the assesse;

3. From the tax authority of the country/jurisdiction or specified territory outside India, from the person responsible for deduction of such tax or signed by the assesse.

Provided that the statement furnished by the assesse in 3 above shall be valid if it is accompanied by,-

• an acknowledgement of online payment or bank counterfoil or challan for payment of tax where the payment has been made by the assesse;
• proof of deduction where the tax has been deducted at source.

Individuals are taxable on income from one or more of the following categories:

• salaries
• income from house property
• profits and gains of a business or profession
• capital gains
• income from other sources

Income under each category is computed separately. The net result of all categories is aggregated to arrive at gross total income. Taxable income is determined by subtracting specified deductions from the gross total income. The benefits/amenities provided by employers to their employees are taxed as perquisites in line with the income tax rules.

Financial Year 2019-20:

* 300,000 in case of a resident individual of the age of 60 years or older but under 80 years.

** 300,001 in case of a resident individual of the age of 60 years or older but under 80 years.

* 500,000 in case of a resident individual of the age of 80 years or older.

** 500,000 in case of a resident individual of the age of 80 years or older.

• For resident individuals with taxable income of INR500,000 or below, a rebate of 100 per cent of such income tax or INR12,500, whichever is less shall be allowed.
• Surcharge for individuals at 10 percent on total income tax, if total taxable income is between INR5,000,001 to INR10,000,000. Marginal Relief is available.
• Surcharge for individuals is applicable at 15 percent on total income tax, if total taxable income is between INR10,000,001 to INR20,000,000. Marginal Relief is available.
• Surcharge for individuals is applicable at 25 percent on total income tax, if total taxable income is between INR20,000,001 to INR50,000,000. Marginal Relief is available.
• Surcharge for individuals is applicable at 37 percent on total income tax, if total taxable income exceeds INR50,000,000. Marginal Relief is available.
• Health and Education cess is applicable at 4% on total income tax (inclusive of surcharge, if any).

Note: There are certain prescribed incomes which are taxable at special rate of taxes. Also, for certain incomes, surcharge is capped at 15 percent, even in case where the income exceeds INR20,000,000.

Financial Year 2020-21:

Normal Provisions:

* 300,000 in case of a resident individual of the age of 60 years or older but under 80 years.

** 300,001 in case of a resident individual of the age of 60 years or older but under 80 years.

* 500,000 in case of a resident individual of the age of 80 years or older.

** 500,000 in case of a resident individual of the age of 80 years or older.

• For resident individuals with taxable income of INR500,000 or below, a rebate of 100 per cent of such income tax or INR12,500, whichever is less shall be allowed.
• Surcharge for individuals at 10 percent on total income tax, if total taxable income is between INR5,000,001 to INR10,000,000. Marginal Relief is available.
• Surcharge for individuals is applicable at 15 percent on total income tax, if total taxable income is between INR10,000,001 to INR20,000,000. Marginal Relief is available.
• Surcharge for individuals is applicable at 25 percent on total income tax, if total taxable income is between INR20,000,001 to INR50,000,000. Marginal Relief is available.
• Surcharge for individuals is applicable at 37 percent on total income tax, if total taxable income exceeds INR50,000,000. Marginal Relief is available.
• Health and Education cess is applicable at 4% on total income tax (inclusive of surcharge, if any).

Note: There are certain prescribed incomes which are taxable at special rate of taxes. Also, for certain incomes, surcharge is capped at 15 percent, even in case where the income exceeds INR20,000,000.

New Optional Tax Regime:**

This regime is introduced by the Finance Act, 2020 for individuals with modified tax slabs and rates. On satisfaction of certain prescribed conditions**, an individual may opt to compute tax in respect of total income (without considering prescribed exemptions/ deductions), as per the new slab rates, instead of the Normal Provisions (existing tax regime).

• For resident individuals with taxable income of INR500,000 or below, a rebate of 100 per cent of such income tax or INR12,500, whichever is less shall be allowed.
• Surcharge for individuals at 10 percent on total income tax, if total taxable income is between INR5,000,001 to INR10,000,000. Marginal Relief is available.
• Surcharge for individuals is applicable at 15 percent on total income tax, if total taxable income is between INR10,000,001 to INR20,000,000. Marginal Relief is available.
• Surcharge for individuals is applicable at 25 percent on total income tax, if total taxable income is between INR20,000,001 to INR50,000,000. Marginal Relief is available.
• Surcharge for individuals is applicable at 37 percent on total income tax, if total taxable income exceeds INR50,000,000. Marginal Relief is available.
• Health and Education cess is applicable at 4% on total income tax (inclusive of surcharge, if any).

Note: There are certain prescribed incomes which are taxable at special rate of taxes. Also, for certain incomes, surcharge is capped at 15 percent, even in case where the income exceeds INR20,000,000.

**Conditions under the New Optional Tax Regime

• The choice of the New Optional Tax Regime, albeit, comes with a few pre-requisite conditions such as:

Foregoing prescribed exemptions:

1. Leave travel concession [section 10(5) of the Act]

2. House rent allowance [section 10(13A) of the Act]

3. Allowances prescribed under section 10(14) of the Act, which illustratively includes Children Education Allowance, Children hostel Allowance, etc. However, the following list of allowances (being indicative) continue to be exempted, subject to conditions and notification in Rules:

(a) Transport Allowance granted to specified employee to meet expenditure for the purpose of commuting between place of residence and place of duty

(b) Conveyance Allowance granted to meet the expenditure on conveyance in performance of duties of an office

(c) Any Allowance granted to meet the cost of travel on tour or on transfer

(d) Daily Allowance to meet the ordinary daily charges incurred by an employee on account of absence from their normal place of duty

4. Allowance for income of minor [section 10(32) of the Act];

5. Exemption such as towards free food and beverage through vouchers provided to the employee (rules yet to be notified in this regard).

Foregoing prescribed deductions:

1. Standard deduction, deduction for entertainment allowance and employment/professional tax [section 16 of the Act]

2. Interest under section 24 of the Act in respect of self-occupied or vacant property referred to in section 23(2) of the Act

3. Loss under the head income from house property for rented house shall not be allowed to be set off under any other head and would be allowed to be carried forward as per extant law

4. Deduction from family pension [section 57(iia) of the Act]

5. Specified deductions under chapter VI-A of the Act (such as section 80C, section 80D, Section 80G, 80TTA etc.) except deduction on account of employer’s contribution toward new pension scheme [section 80CCD(2) of the Act]

• Apart from the above-mentioned employee specific exemptions / deductions which are not available under the new Tax regime, following are other prescribed exemptions / deductions which are not available under the new Tax regime:
  • Exemptions under section 10(17) [i.e. exemption for specified members of government authorities], Section 10AA [i.e. exemption available to newly established Units in Special Economic Zones] are not available.
  • Few prescribed deductions from the income under the head business and profession shall not be available.
  • Any Deductions under chapter VI-A of the Act except for deduction under section 80CCD(2) and 80JJA shall not be available.
  • Certain prescribed set off of loss are not permissible.
• The New Optional Tax Regime (subject to above prescribed conditions and compliances) can be exercised every year, if the individual does not have business income. In case of individual having business income, option once exercised would be applicable for all subsequent years (with a one-time option to change), except where such person ceases to have any business income.
• An employee may, for the purpose of tax withholding on salary income, intimate the employer to withhold tax as per the Optional New Tax Regime prescribed under section 115BAC of the Act, Once opted, the employee will not be permitted to change the option during that particular financial year. The employee may, subsequently, select either of the two regimes, while preparing and filing their personal tax return, notwithstanding the choice intimated to the employer.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment, in a notification dated 1 October 2008, amended the “Employees Provident Funds Scheme, 1952,” and the “Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995,” collectively referred to as the Indian Social Security Scheme. Accordingly, the scope of the Indian Social Security Scheme was extended to specifically include a new concept of “International Workers” (IWs).

IWs include expatriates working for an employer in India to which the Provident Fund Act applies and Indian employees who have contributed to the Social Security program of a country/jurisdiction that has a Social Security Agreement (SSA) with India and are eligible for benefits under these SSAs. Accordingly, all the expatriates holding foreign passports will qualify as IWs in India.

Consequently, all employees who fall within the definition of IWs are required to become members of the Schemes under the Provident Fund Act unless they qualify as ‘excluded employees.

Recent amendment in PF and Pension Scheme

The Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India issued a notification providing that a Nepalese national and a Bhutanese national shall be deemed to be an Indian worker. This notification is effective from 2 November 2016.

IWs are excluded from contributing towards PF in India:

• if they are contributing to social security in their country/jurisdiction of origin; and obtained a Certificate of Coverage (COC) under the relevant SSA; or
• if they are deputed from a country/jurisdiction with which India has entered into a bilateral comprehensive economic agreement before 1 October 2008; or
• if they are a Nepalese national on account of Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 and the worker who are Bhutanese national on account of India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty of 2007, shall be deemed to be Indian workers. (Date of effect: 2 November 2016)

IWs (other than excluded employees) are required to contribute 12 percent of the specified salary (salary as defined under the EPF Act) towards Provident Fund in India. Employers are also required to contribute 12 percent of their employees’ specified salary to the scheme. A portion of employer’s contribution i.e. 8.33 percent of salary is mandatorily contributed into the pension scheme prior to 1 September 2014. The contribution must be deposited on a monthly basis by the 15th of the subsequent month. Necessary forms and returns must be filed with the authorities within the prescribed timelines.

Amendments in the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995

• As per notification issued by Government of India, Ministry of Labour & Employment dated 22 August 2014, the employee who is joining and becoming the member of the fund for the first time on or after 1 September 2014 and has a salary exceeding INR15,000 at the time of joining the fund is not eligible to become member of Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995.
• Therefore, the employer’s entire PF contribution of 12 percent will be contributed towards Provident Fund account and there will be no diversion of employer’s share to the Pension Fund.
• Thus, all International Workers who would be becoming the member of the Provident Fund for the first time on or after 1 September 2014 and have salary exceeding INR15,000 at the time of joining the fund are not eligible to become member of Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995.

Amendments in the Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976

• As per notification issued by Government of India, Ministry of Labour & Employment dated 22 August 2014; the wage ceiling has been enhanced from INR6,500 to INR15,000.
• The contribution towards EDLI scheme and its administrative charges will be subject to a salary cap of INR15,000 in case of International Workers.
• The contribution must be deposited on a monthly basis by the 15th of the subsequent month. Necessary forms and returns must be filed with the authorities by the prescribed timelines.

Social Security Agreements

As on 1 January 2019, India has signed Social Security Agreements (‘SSAs’) with 20 countries/jurisdictions viz., Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg, France, Korea, Netherlands, Hungary, Norway, Czech Republic, Sweden, Canada, Japan, Portugal, Finland Austria, Quebec, Australia and Brazil. Out of the 20 countries/jurisdictions, the countries/jurisdictions with which India has SSAs which are currently effective are as follows:

Further, Quebec, and Brazil has signed social security agreements, but they are yet to come into effect.

Withdrawal of social security contribution 

Provident Fund accumulations

The IWs who are covered under an operational SSA between India and any other country/jurisdiction can withdraw their accumulated PF balances on ceasing to be an employee in an establishment covered under the PF Act.

However, in case a person is not covered under SSA, they may withdraw the PF balance on retirement from service in the company at any time after 58 years of age or is faced with certain contingencies (death/ specified illnesses/ incapacitation).

Pension accumulations (Payable only if the employee is not eligible for Monthly Pension)

In relation to pension withdrawal, the lump sum refund will be available only to those employees who are covered under an SSA in force and who have not completed the eligible service of 10 years even after including the totalization of service under the respective SSAs. Employees not covered under an SSA will not get the lump sum refund.

NOTE: Employee who have joined or become members of EPFS on or after 1 September 2014 and have monthly salary (as defined in the EPF Act) in excess of INR15,000 would not be required to contribute towards pension scheme (EPS), therefore there would be no pension accumulation for those employees.

Monthly Pension

In case of employees (both from SSA as well as Non-SSA countries/jurisdictions) having 10 years or more contributory service, they would be qualified to receive a monthly pension.

The employees would also be entitled to receive monthly pension in cases where:

a) if they have rendered eligible service of 10 years or more and retires on attaining the age of 58 years; or

b) early pension, if they have rendered eligible service of 10 years or more and retires or otherwise ceases to be in the employment before attaining the age of 58 years of age.

NOTE: Employee who have joined or become members of EPFS on or after 1 September 2014 and have monthly salary (as defined in the EPF Act) in excess of INR15,000 would not be required to contribute towards pension scheme (EPS), therefore there would be no pension accumulation for those employees.

Upon arrival in India for employment purposes, employee should apply in the prescribed form for allotment of a Permanent Account Number (PAN) which is the individual’s India tax registration number.

Individuals are liable to discharge tax by way of advance tax if the tax liability (net of taxes deducted at source) exceeds INR10,000 in a particular financial year (per the due dates mentioned under the Act). Shortfall/delay in payment of advance tax will attract interest. The advance tax payments should be made in four installments - 15 percent by 15 June, 45 percent by 15 September, 75 percent by 15 December and 100 percent by 15 March.

Further, a resident senior citizen, not having any income from a business or profession, shall not be liable to pay advance tax.

A mandatory declaration needs to be provided by employee to employer for all the deduction / benefits to be claimed against the salary income (for e.g. Leave Travel Allowance, House Rent Allowance, etc.) in Form 12BB.

As per the domestic tax law in India, every individual is required to file India tax return for the respective financial year with the Indian-tax authorities by 31 July following the financial year end if:

• Their income chargeable to tax in India, without giving effect to exemption claimed upon sale of a Capital Asset, exceeds basic exemption limit (i.e. INR250,000); or
• Expenditure has been incurred by the taxpayer of an amount or aggregate of the amounts exceeding INR200,000 for self or any other person for travel to a foreign country/jurisdiction; or
• Expenditure has been incurred by the taxpayer of an amount or aggregate of the amounts exceeding INR100,000 towards consumption of electricity; or
• He/she qualifies as Ordinary Resident of India and
  • holds, as a beneficial owner or otherwise, any asset (including any financial interest in any entity) located outside India; or
  • has signing authority in any account located outside India; or
  • is a beneficiary of any asset (including any financial interest in any entity) located outside India.

Extensions of the filing deadline are not permitted in India. Where a taxpayer files a return after the due date, interest is levied at 1 percent per month (or part thereof) for each month of delay on the balance tax payable. Further, where a person fails to file India Tax Return within the time prescribed, late filing fees shall be charged as follow:

• INR5,000 if the return is furnished on or before 31 December*
• INR10,000 in any other case*.

*If the total income of the person does not exceed INR500,000, the fee payable for late filing of India Tax Return shall not exceed INR1,000.

The rate of penalty is 50 per cent of tax for under-reporting of income and 200 per cent of tax for misreporting of income

Further, for an individual of age 80 years or older at any time during the previous year, and who furnishes the India tax return in ITR 1 or ITR 4, it is not mandatory for the individual to e-file the return of income i.e. a paper return can be filed. For all other cases, e-filing of India tax return is mandatory.

All individuals who are not domicile in India and came to India in connection with business, profession or employment are required to obtain a no objection certificate from the Indian tax authorities prior to leaving India. Further, all individuals who are domicile in India are required to intimate the Indian tax authorities at the time of leaving India.

As per the domestic tax law in India, any person responsible for payment of salary is required to obtain Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN) and withhold tax at appropriate rates on salary paid to the employees.

Further, the tax deducted must be deposited with the central government within 7 days from the end of the month of deducting the tax (for the month of March the tax needs to be deposited by 7 April, in case where taxes on non-monetary benefits are borne by employer or 30 April in other cases).

A certificate (namely Form No. 16 and Form 12BA) must be issued to the employee for the tax deducted within 2 months from the end of the financial year. The employer also must submit on a quarterly basis within prescribed statutory timelines (i.e. 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May), a return of tax deducted at source with the tax authority.

The Government of India (GOI) had issued detailed visa guidelines in 2009 in the form of FAQs. Since 2009, the said guidelines have been updated a number of times to simplify rules and provide clarifications.

Government of India in the year 2018 issued additional visa guidelines. Please refer to below link to access detailed 2018 guidelines:

Foreigners Division  There have been amendments in the visa guidelines in 2018 and early 2019. Following are the noteworthy changes:

e-Visa

• Currently, there are five sub-categories of e-Visa:
  • e-Tourist visa - For recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, and attending a short term yoga program
  • e-Business visa - For all activities that are permitted under normal BV
  • e-Medical visa - For medical treatment including treatment under Indian systems of medicine
  • e-Medical attendant visa - as attendant to e-Medical visa holder
  • e-Conference visa – For attending a conference/ seminar/ workshop organized by a Ministry or Department of the Government of India, State Governments or UT Administrations etc. & their subordinate/ attached organizations & PSUs.
• The foreign national may fill in the application for e-Visa online on the website:
• e-Visa facility is now available to nationals of 170 countries/jurisdictions and at 28 designated airports.
• e-Business Visa and e-Tourist visa may be granted multiple times in a year for a maximum period of 1 year with multiple entry facility
• In case of an e-Business Visa, the continuous stay in India cannot exceed 180 days during each visit.
• In case of an e-Tourist Visa, the continuous stay cannot exceed 90 days during each visit. However, nationals of USA, UK, Canada and Japan, can continuously stay in India for 180 days.
• For conference visa e-Event clearance module has been introduced for quicker security clearance from MHA.
• Facility of e-Landing Permit to cruise passengers for onshore sightseeing is now available at five major seaports together with biometric dispensation till December 2020.

Employment Visa (EV)

• Foreign nationals can now, subject to certain conditions and approval, change employment in India if it is between holding company, joint ventures and consortiums and its subsidiaries or between subsidiaries of holding company, joint ventures and consortiums.
• Assistant professor and above in central higher educational institutions may now get EV only if they draw an annual gross salary of INR0.91 million.
• Reduced salary threshold of INR0.91 million is no longer available to nationals of Afghanistan, China, Iran and Sri Lanka who are married to an Indian national.
• Foreign translators employed in BPO/ITES sector, ethnic cooks employed in commercial ventures, and teachers employed to teach particular subjects in foreign language may now get EV only if they draw an annual gross salary of INR1.625 million.
• Salary threshold of INR1.625 million is no longer applicable to foreign teaching faculty employed in South Asian University/Nalanda University and circus artists.
• In case the period of employment is less than 1 year, the salary threshold of INR1.625 million has to be worked out on pro-rata basis.
• Foreign journalists who intend to work in Indian media organizations as well as employees/ managers for non-journalistic activities are now eligible for EV.
• Employment visa can be extended in India up to 10 years without returning to their home country/jurisdiction. Earlier, the limit was 5 years.

Business Visa (BV)

• Foreign nationals are not eligible to visit India on BV to establish or to explore possibilities to set up proprietorship and partnership firms.
• Foreign academicians/experts coming under GIAN, crew members of scheduled/non-scheduled flights, etc. are also eligible to apply BV.
• B-sports visa may be granted to foreign nationals who are engaged in commercial sports events in India on contract.
• For calculation of 180 days or more in relation to registration requirement for a BV holder, the aggregate stay will be seen in a calendar year. 
• In case of urgent request, BV may be granted within 48 hours of filing of visa application.
• In addition to citizens of the USA, citizens of Canada, Japan, UK and South Africa may also be granted multiple entry BV with 10 years validity.
• A new business card scheme has been introduced for the businessmen from SAARC countries/jurisdictions which allows multiple entry for 3 years or more, quicker immigration clearance, etc.
• Business visa can be extended in India up to 10 years without returning to their home country/jurisdiction. Earlier, the limit was 5 years.

Project Visa (PV)

• A foreign national may now work at a place other than the location of the project.
• Foreign nationals who are in India on BV and were in India on PV earlier, may get their business visa extended in India. Earlier, a non-extendable BV was issued in such cases.

Intern Visa (IV)

• Foreign nationals may apply for a visa where gap between completion of graduation/post-graduation and the commencement of the internship is up to 2 years.
• For grant of an intern visa, an annual remuneration of INR360,000 will suffice.

Tourist Visa (TV)

• In addition to citizens of the USA, citizens of Canada and Japan may also be granted multiple entry TV with a validity of 10 years.

Foreigner’s registration

• A foreign national departing from India within 14 days of arrival on their first visit is not required to obtain registration with the FRRO/FRO.
• Children of age 12 years or older are now required to obtain registration from FRRO/FRO. Earlier, the prescribed age limit was 16 years.

Visa-on-Arrival

Visa-on-Arrival is also granted to the nationals of Japan, UAE and Republic of Korea visiting India for business, tourism, conference and medical purposes.

Permanent Residency Status (PRS)

• PRS may be granted for a period of 10 years to an individual foreign investor (other than a Pakistan national) who makes prescribed investment which results in employment of at least 20 resident Indians in every financial year. Before the grant of PRS the investor will be granted a B-4 visa (investor) for a period of 18 or 36 months.
• The investor’s spouse/dependents may be granted a dependent visa and may take up employment in the private sector or undertake studies in India without the need of an employment or student visa.
• The investor and their spouse/dependents need not register with the FRRO/FRO, and will be allowed multiple entry to India without any stay stipulation.

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card

In January 2015, the Indian government had merged the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) schemes through the citizenship (amendment) act 2015. Under the merged scheme existing PIO cardholders could enjoy the same benefits as that of OCI Cardholders and issuance of New PIO card was restricted. Accordingly, the government recommended that all PIO cardholders apply for OCI cards in lieu of their existing PIO cards. Bureau of Immigration will accept PIO cards as valid travel document till 30 March 2020 along with valid foreign passport and the Indian Immigration check posts will continue to consider all PIO cards valid for exit/entry into India till 30 March 2020.

Other e-Services

A web based portal has been introduced by MHA, GOI that offers online solution for application submission as well as for document upload in respect of all visa and immigration related services (such as Indian FRRO registration, visa extension, change of address/passport, visa conversion, exit permission, etc.)

Miscellaneous

• In emergent medical situations, foreign nationals can stay in India without converting their visa to Medical visa.
• Long term visa holders need not seek permission from FRRO/FRO concerned for attending conferences/ seminars/workshops.
• A foreign national can now apply for an Indian visa from any country/jurisdiction irrespective of their period of stay in that country/jurisdiction. The visa will be granted only after consulting the Indian mission concerned in the country/jurisdiction of origin/domicile.
• A foreign national who is already in India on business, employment, student, research visa, may with approval of FRRO/FRO attend any international conference/seminar/workshop, etc. 
• A foreign national other than a Pakistan national may stay in India as a tourist under any visa category.
• A foreign national while already in possession of Indian long term visa (e.g. EV, BV, etc.), may apply for short term visa (e.g. conference visa, e-visa, etc.) and can simultaneously keep both the visas. 
• A foreign national may apply for a police clearance certificate at the Indian mission/post in relation to their past stay in India.

Citizens of Maldives with a valid passport and visiting India for 90 days or less for tourism and medical purpose need not obtain an Indian visa.

In addition to India’s domestic arrangements that provide relief from international double taxation, India has entered into double taxation treaties with more than 100 countries/jurisdictions (comprehensive and limited) to prevent double taxation and allow cooperation between India and overseas tax authorities in enforcing their respective tax laws.

There is a likelihood that there could be Permanent Establishment exposure, for overseas company in India (due to presence of secondees in India) and this may need a separate examination from corporate tax perspective.

Wealth Tax has been abolished from the tax year 2015-16 onwards

India has a dual-GST model for levy of GST i.e. Central GST and State GST which is applied on all Intra-state supply of goods and / or services and for inter-state supplies (including imports) Integrated GST is levied.

The standard rate of GST is 18 percent. There is a reduced rate at 12 percent that among other supplies apply to fruit juices, medicines and paper. There is a super reduced rate at 5 percent that among other supplies apply to food grains, tea and fertilizers. There are exempt supplies that include fresh fruits/vegetables, cereal, and bread to mention a few. A higher rate of 28 percent that applies to certain specified luxury/sin goods include cars and tobacco.

Export goods / services are zero rated including supplies to Special Economic Zones.

In addition, customs duty is payable on import of goods in India.

The Indian Transfer Pricing Regulations were introduced in 2001 and are largely in line with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Transfer Pricing Guidelines (last updated in 2017). Since their introduction in 2001, the Indian Transfer Pricing Regulations have come of age — both in terms of quality of audits as well as the revenue generated for the Indian government. Further, over the past few years, there has been significant guidance from Income Tax Tribunals and higher Appellate Authorities on various fundamental transfer pricing issues across industries.

The Indian Transfer Pricing Regulations extend to international as well as certain domestic transactions between associated enterprises. The Regulations have been developing over the years and now also aim to cover: debts arising during course of business; business reorganizations or restructuring (included irrespective of whether the same has an impact on current year’s profits, income, losses or assets); and intangible properties including marketing intangibles, human assets or technology related intangibles, etc. The introduction of the Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) program in 2012 has been followed by the introduction of APA rollback regulations in 2015. Therefore, APAs in India can now provide certainty for up to a period of 9 years.

In 2017, the Government also revised the existing Safe Harbour rules (SHRs) where most of the safe harbor rates were rationalized and safe harbor provisions on receipt of low value adding intra-group services were introduced. These SHRs were earlier applicable up to FY 2018-19 and have been recently extended to FY 2019-20. Provisions relating to secondary adjustments and thin capitalization were also introduced in 2017 in the Indian regulations. To further align the Indian Transfer Pricing regulations with the global best practices, the concept of range (earlier only statistical concept of Arithmetic Mean was used) and the use of multiple year data was also introduced in 2015.

OECD Transfer Pricing guidelines have been revised in 2017 based on the final recommendations issued by OECD under Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Plans. India has also been a part of the BEPS initiative and has been introducing some of the final recommendations in Indian TP regulations.

With regard to the requirements set out under BEPS Action 13, India has already introduced three-tier documentation structure i.e. in addition to local file provisions that existed, provisions regarding Master File and Country-by-Country (CbyC) Report have also been added with effect from the fiscal year beginning 1 April 2016. Section 286 was inserted in the Income Tax Act, 1961 along with subsequent amendments in the Income Tax Rules 1962 (the Rules) to govern the same. Local file related regulations continue as is with a requirement to maintain local file on a contemporaneously basis if value of transactions exceed INR one crore.

Indian transfer pricing authorities have already been adopting the OECD’s approach on BEPS in relation to intangible-related returns and concurs that such returns should reside with the entity which makes strategic decisions around creation of the intangibles, and not with the entity which has mere ownership of title and funding capacity. India therefore believes that by adopting the ‘‘significant people functions’’ approach in determining the economic owner of intangibles, the disconnect between profit and economic activity will be significantly resolved.

There is no separate Local Data Privacy Act. However, the same forms part of Information Technology Act, 2000. Further, there is internal data privacy policy within the firm.

Per the Exchange Control Regulations, a foreign citizen resident in India or an Indian citizen employed by a foreign company having an office/branch/subsidiary/joint venture/group company in India may open, hold, and maintain a foreign currency account with the bank outside India and receive the whole salary payable to the individual in that account provided that income tax is paid on the salary accrued in India.

A foreign citizen resident in India employed with an Indian company can open, hold, and maintain a foreign currency account with a bank outside India and can remit the whole salary received in India to such an account overseas provided the income tax is paid on the entire salary in India.