NRI selling property in India: all you need to know

If you’re a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and own property in India, you might be wondering how to sell your property from the USA.

This guide walks through how you can sell your Indian property, and also introduces Wise as a fast, secure and low-cost way to send payments from India to the USA and 80+ other countries around the world.

Learn more about Wise

Can a NRI sell property in India?

A NRI is permitted under Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rules to sell a property they own in India. There are restrictions about who they’ll be able to sell properties and land to¹:

• Most properties can be sold to a resident of India, or another NRI
• Agricultural land, plantations and farmhouses can only be sold to residents of India

Once you’ve sold the property you may be able to repatriate the funds to the US — but the rules around this will vary based on the value of the payment and the way you acquired the property in the first place. We’ll cover this in more detail later.

Can a NRI sell agricultural land in India?

Under normal rules, NRIs are not allowed to buy or own agricultural land, plantations or farmhouses.

However, it’s possible as a NRI that you could hold these types of real estate if you were an Indian resident at the time of buying it, or if you’ve inherited it from a family member.

If you own agricultural land in India and want to sell it you will only be able to sell to a resident of India.

Are there any restrictions or requirements for a NRI selling inherited property in India?

A NRI selling inherited property in India can sell the property in the same way as any other NRI — but may be subject to a few additional rules when it comes to repatriation of funds.

Under FEMA Section 6(5), you won’t be able to take the profits from selling an inherited property out of India without RBI permission. Get professional advice if this is your situation.

How to sell property in India from USA

If you intend to sell your Indian property without being in the country to oversee the sale, you’ll need to appoint a representative to act on your behalf.

This is done through your local Indian embassy or consulate, by giving power of attorney (PoA). The process may vary slightly between different locations, but you’re likely to need to do the following²:

Send INR to USD with a fast and secure Wise transfer

Sending money from India to the US? Save with Wise.

Wise transfers are fast, cheap and secure. You’ll always get the mid-market exchange rate with just low, transparent fees to pay.

If you’re planning an international payment and would rather wait until the time’s right to get the best available exchange rate you can also set up a Wise rate alert.

Simply enter the rate you’d like to get for your transfer to be notified when it’s available.

Create a Wise
account in minutes 🚀

Tax implications of selling property in India as a NRI

When you sell a property in India you’ll be liable for a few costs including real estate agent fees. You’ll also usually need to pay tax on the sale, including capital gains tax.

If you’re selling a property as a NRI, the buyer will be required to retain tax deducted at source (TDS) of 20% of the capital gain in most cases. If you’ve owned the property for less than 2 years, you may need to pay 30% capital gains tax.

Tax exemptions

If you’ve sold a home or other property in India and intend to reinvest the money you may be able to get some capital gains tax exemptions under FEMA Section 54, 54F and 54EC³.

To benefit from exemptions under section 54 you’ll need to have held the property for at least 2 years prior to selling it, and reinvest the capital gains made in another property in India.

The property you reinvest the profits from can be bought up to one year before, or 2 years after the sale of the original property. FEMA sections 54F and 54EC work in a similar way, but 54F covers the sale of non residential properties, and 54EC involves reinvesting capital gains in certain specified bonds to gain an exemption from capital gains tax⁴.

NRI selling property in India: tax implications in the US

The US has a double taxation arrangement with India which means you should not have to pay tax in the US if you’ve already paid the same tax in India. However, you may still need to report the sale to the IRS even if you don’t have to pay any additional tax.

If you hold the equivalent of over 10,000 USD in an overseas account at any point in the calendar year, you may need to submit an IRS Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)⁵.

If you then repatriate the profits from the sale of the property you’ll typically have to report this transfer using IRS Form 3520. Check your obligations with a tax professional as the paperwork and processes involved can vary depending on your situation.

How do you avoid double taxation?

India and the US have a double taxation treaty in place. That means you shouldn’t need to pay the same taxes twice when you sell your property in India.

However, you’ll likely still need to report the sale of your property to the IRS even if no tax is due. Get professional advice to make sure you don’t pay more taxes than you need to.

Documents you’ll need to sell property in India as a NRI

The exact paperwork you need may depend on the type and value of the property, and what you expect to do with the funds.

Your solicitor can walk you through the documents needed in your specific situation which are likely to include:

Can you do it without RBI permission?

a NRI can sell property in India without RBI permissions. If you’re a PIO you can sell to a resident of India or a NRI without advance permission, but if you intend to sell your property to another PIO you’ll need to get RBI approval in advance⁶.

Do you need to have a PAN card?

You’ll need to provide your Permanent Account Number (PAN) or card when you carry out any real estate transactions, or when you repatriate funds from the sale of a property.

Selling a property overseas can prove tricky — not least because you may not be able to personally oversee the transaction.

Use this guide to start your research into the best way to sell an Indian property as a NRI, and get reputable local support and professional advice to make sure everything goes smoothly.

And once it’s time to send your money back to the US, check out Wise as a smart way to save money on currency conversion and international transfers.