NEW DELHI : A law requiring less than 120 days' stay in India to claim Non-Resident Indian (NRI) status needs to be changed, an association representing NRIs has demanded, citing economic disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The US-based Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) has asked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to change the provision, implemented through the Finance Act, 2020, saying it is a "hard blow" to many NRIs. "According to Income Tax laws, a person can qualify as an NRI if he stays in India for less than 120 days.
Then his global income is exempted from tax in India as an NRI. However, his income in India would still be taxed," chartered accountant Sunil Rawla said.