Just realized you missed years of FBAR or US tax filings on your Indian accounts? The Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures exist for exactly this — here’s the general idea of how they work. Quick Summary The Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures (SDOP) and Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures (SFOP) let eligible taxpayers catch up on missed foreign…
Own Indian mutual funds and also file US taxes? They’re almost certainly classified as PFICs under US tax law — and that comes with unusually strict reporting rules. Here’s what that means. Quick Summary PFIC (Passive Foreign Investment Company) status applies to most Indian mutual funds under US tax law, given their passive-income structure. PFIC…
Have an Indian NRE, NRO, or fixed deposit account and hold US tax status? You may have an FBAR filing obligation you don’t know about. Here’s the general shape of it. Quick Summary FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) applies to US persons (citizens, Green Card holders, and certain residents) with foreign financial accounts whose aggregate balance…
Applying for Australian PR or citizenship? The Department of Home Affairs has specific document and translation standards for Indian birth certificates. Here’s what to prepare. Quick Summary Australia is a Hague Convention member, so apostille via the MEA is the correct authentication route. Translations must generally be done by a NAATI-certified translator (or equivalent accepted…
Applying for a Schengen D-visa or family reunion in Europe? Most Schengen countries require an apostilled, translated Indian birth certificate. Here’s what varies by destination country. Quick Summary All Schengen area countries are Hague Convention members, so apostille (not embassy attestation) applies. A certified translation into the destination country’s official language is almost always required…
Applying for UK Settlement (ILR) or a family visa? The Home Office has specific expectations for Indian civil documents. Here’s what to prepare. Quick Summary The Home Office generally accepts a certified copy of an Indian birth certificate; where none exists, an NABC with corroborating evidence is used. The UK is a Hague Convention member,…
Applying for Canadian PR through Express Entry? IRCC requires civil documents, including your Indian birth certificate, as part of your application. Here’s what to prepare. Quick Summary IRCC generally accepts a certified copy of your municipal birth certificate; if none exists, an NABC with supporting evidence is used instead. Canada is a Hague Convention member,…
Parents or grandparents had shares, fixed deposits, or insurance policies in India that seem to have simply disappeared? They likely haven’t — they’ve probably moved to a dormant or unclaimed asset fund. Here’s how to trace and recover them. Quick Summary Unclaimed shares and dividends get transferred to the IEPF (Investor Education and Protection Fund)…
US citizens and Green Card holders must keep filing US taxes even after moving assets or income through India — here’s what that actually involves. Quick Summary US citizens/Green Card holders file Form 1040 annually regardless of where they live. Foreign financial accounts (including Indian NRE/NRO/FD accounts) may trigger FBAR (FinCEN 114) and FATCA (Form…
Utility bills, property tax, society maintenance — someone still has to pay them while you’re abroad. Here’s how NRIs typically manage recurring India-based payments. Quick Summary Common recurring obligations: electricity/water bills, property tax, housing society maintenance, insurance premiums, and loan EMIs on Indian property. Missed payments on property tax or society dues can lead to…
