A home loan is sanctioned to the NRIs for any of the following housing finance schemes:
Your eligibility is calculated in the same way as it is calculated for resident Indians. More emphasis is laid on the following criteria in the appraisal of a NRI case:
The housing finance offered to NRIs normally do not exceed 5 years. However, some HFCs (Housing Finance Companies )offer loans for a term of 7 years. The repayment for the loan is by way of EMIs. The EMIs begin only after the entire loan is disbursed. In case of a part disbursement, you pay simple interest at the rate applicable on the loan amount that is disbursed to you.
The loan towards the house has to be paid upfront for the entire tenure of the loan by way of direct remittances from abroad through normal banking channels or from such accounts as may be permitted by RBI from time to time. As of today, the payments are done through NRO, NRE, NRNR and FCNR accounts. These accounts change on the basis of RBI permissions to each HFC.
No tax benefits are available for NRI customers unless you file returns and thereby become eligible to avail of the tax benefits as mentioned under Home Loans.
NRIs are required to submit additional documents than is normally required for a resident Indian.
A specified form called the IPI 7 needs to be filed with the central office of the RBI along with the title deed or any other certified copy of the document proving that the NRI has executed an agreement to purchase property within the country. The form has to be filed within 90 days of the purchase of property and has to be accompanied with a bank certificate stating the consideration paid for the purchase. Permissions are generally granted without undue delays if all the relevant papers are submitted. There is no limit on the number of investments or the quantity of investments that can be made in real estate. The immovable property can be purchased by inward remittances from any place outside India or through funds maintained in NRI accounts in the banks within the country.
“Income from house property ” this is the term used for the income that is derived from renting out a property. The Annual value will be subject to taxation after allowing deductions for (a) 30% of annual value (b) interest payable on borrowed capital for acquisition of property. Annual value is higher of (i) Actual rent received/ receivable or (ii) fair rent of the property. If the property is let out as a complete business centre wherein the purpose is to provide a composite service of providing fully furnished infrastructure for commercial use, the income will be taxed as business income. TDS would have to be deducted from Rental income.
NRIs/OCBs (Overseas Corporate Bodies) can open the following types of accounts with banks in India, which hold authorized dealer licenses, as also other banks, specifically authorized by the Reserve Bank to maintain accounts in the names of NRIs/OCBs.
NOTE: A person, resident in India, who is earning foreign exchange, is also permitted to maintain a Foreign Currency account in India with an authorized dealer bank, to the extent of 50% of such foreign exchange earnings, under the Exchange Earners Foreign Currency Account (EEFC) Scheme.
