Q639. Proof of NRI Status for Indian Income Tax Office

Question: I am holding Indian passport and am Indian citizen. I go to UK for consultation work and spend quite a lot of time in London. As nri I can get tax benefit in India. How do I prove my nri status to the Indian tax department? What document is required and must I submit an affidavit Raj Sood

Answer: The tax department would decide on a person’s residential status for tax purposes based on residency period in India. A person’s resident or non-resident (NRI) status is generally based on the number of days spent in India. When filling your tax return in India, to prove your non-resident status you should include copies of passport to show/verify the number of days you spent abroad. Generally a person would be considered a RESIDENT of India for income-tax purposes if: 1. She/He lived in India for 182 days or more during the financial year OR 2. If she/he was in India for at least 365 days during the 4 years preceding that year AND at least 60 days in that year.