NRI News Now: latest stories
New Indian rules for NRIs, explained. We read the gazette notifications, RBI circulars and ministry orders that affect non-resident Indians, explain what changed in plain English, and link the official source at the top of every story.
- 12:00 pm ISTRemittances
US 1% remittance tax: cash-funded transfers to India are taxed, bank and card transfers are not
Section 4475 has taxed some remittances from the US since 1 January 2026. Proposed IRS rules of April 2026 spell out which transfers to India pay the 1%.
Source: US Treasury and IRS, proposed regulations REG-114499-25, Excise Tax on Remittance Transfers, Federal Register, 13 April 2026 - 11:00 am ISTTax
ICAI handbook on NRI residential status maps the old and new Income-tax Acts and FEMA
ICAI's July 2026 handbook shows which Act decides NRI tax status for 2025-26 and for tax year 2026-27, where the wording shifted, and how FEMA differs.
Source: ICAI International Taxation Committee, Handbook on Residential Status for NRIs: Tax and FEMA Aspects (July 2026) - 10:00 am ISTVisa & OCI
No OCI re-issue for a new passport after age 20; cardholders must still update passport details online
With the e-OCI card launched on 30 June 2026, MHA dropped mandatory OCI re-issue on a new passport after 20. Holders still update passport details online.
Source: PIB, Ministry of Home Affairs: Union Home Minister launches FCRA 2.0 Portal and e-OCI Card, 30 June 2026 - 9:00 am ISTVisa & OCI
Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026: online-only OCI, e-OCI registration and a rule on minors' passports
MHA's rules of 30 April 2026 make OCI applications electronic, allow e-OCI registration, revise the revision process and bar minors holding two passports.
Source: Ministry of Home Affairs, Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026, G.S.R. 323(E), 30 April 2026 - 8:00 am ISTBanking & RBI
RBI ended its NRE and FCNR(B) deposit rate relaxation on 31 August 2026, a month earlier than announced
Banks could pay above the usual caps on fresh 3-year-plus NRE and 3-5 year FCNR(B) deposits from 17 June; a 25 August amendment cut the window short.
Source: RBI circular RBI/2026-27/243, Interest Rate on Deposits Third Amendment Directions, 25 August 2026 - 7:00 am ISTTax
Forms 15CA and 15CB are now Forms 145 and 146: what changes for NRIs moving money abroad
Since 1 April 2026, foreign remittance declarations are filed in Form 145 and the CA certificate in Form 146 under Rule 220 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026.
Source: Income Tax Department, FAQs on Form No. 145 (Income-tax Rules, 2026) - 6:00 am ISTProperty
Buying property from an NRI: from 1 October 2026, resident buyers can deposit TDS with PAN via Form 141
Income-tax (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026 let resident individual and HUF buyers skip TAN and report TDS on purchases from non-residents in Form 141.
Source: CBDT Notification No. 121/2026, G.S.R. 830(E), Gazette of India, 22 September 2026