This calendar tracks the recurring, date-driven compliance obligations that apply to NRIs dealing with India -- income tax return and advance tax deadlines, quarterly TDS return deadlines relevant to buyers of NRI-owned property, and periodic bank KYC and OCI-related deadlines -- as a reference, not a substitute for confirming the current year's exact dates with a qualified advocate or chartered accountant, since due dates are occasionally extended by government notification.
Tax filing deadlines
Most NRIs with taxable Indian-source income follow the same annual income tax return timeline as
resident taxpayers, with a separate quarterly schedule for anyone required to pay advance tax.
| Obligation | Typical Due Date | Who It Applies To |
|---|
| Income Tax Return (ITR) filing, non-audit cases | 31 July following the financial year end | NRIs with taxable Indian-source income who are not subject to a tax audit |
| Income Tax Return (ITR) filing, audit cases | 31 October following the financial year end | NRIs whose Indian business or professional income is subject to a statutory tax audit |
| Advance tax -- 1st installment (15%) | 15 June | NRIs whose estimated annual tax liability exceeds Rs. 10,000 |
| Advance tax -- 2nd installment (45% cumulative) | 15 September | Same as above |
| Advance tax -- 3rd installment (75% cumulative) | 15 December | Same as above |
| Advance tax -- 4th installment (100% cumulative) | 15 March | Same as above |
TDS and repatriation-related deadlines
Where an NRI sells property or otherwise receives payments on which Indian TDS applies, the deduction
and reporting obligations fall mainly on the payer, but they set the practical rhythm the NRI seller or
payee needs to track to confirm compliance and claim TDS credit correctly.
| Obligation | Typical Due Date | Who It Applies To |
|---|
| Quarterly TDS return, Form 27Q (tax deducted on payments to non-residents) | 31 July, 31 October, 31 January, and 31 May, for each respective quarter | Buyers or payers who deducted TDS on a payment made to an NRI (e.g., a property buyer) |
| Form 15CA (and Form 15CB where applicable) | Before each foreign remittance from an NRO account | NRIs repatriating sale proceeds, rental income, or other NRO balances abroad -- event-based, not a fixed annual date |
| Section 197 lower/nil-TDS certificate application | Before the transaction giving rise to TDS, typically property sale | NRIs whose actual taxable gain is materially less than the full transaction value |
Periodic KYC and status-related deadlines
Beyond tax filings, a handful of recurring or trigger-based obligations affect NRE, NRO, and FCNR
accounts and OCI documentation, and missing them can quietly disrupt banking access or travel even though
no tax liability is involved.
| Obligation | Typical Trigger / Frequency | Who It Applies To |
|---|
| Bank re-KYC for NRE/NRO/FCNR accounts | Every 2, 8, or 10 years depending on the bank's risk categorization of the account | All NRI account holders |
| OCI card re-issuance | Once after a fresh passport is issued before the OCI holder turns 20, and once after a fresh passport is issued after the OCI holder turns 50 | OCI cardholders whose passport has been renewed |
| FCNR deposit maturity review | At each fixed-deposit maturity date (typically 1-5 years, as chosen at booking) | NRIs holding FCNR term deposits |
Does an NRI have to pay advance tax if TDS has already been deducted on their income?
Advance tax is generally required only on the portion of estimated tax liability, if any, that remains
after accounting for TDS already deducted at source -- if TDS fully covers the estimated liability for the
year, a separate advance tax payment may not be needed, but this should be checked against the specific
income sources involved.
What happens if an NRI misses the 31 July income tax return deadline?
A belated return can still generally be filed later in the assessment year, but it typically attracts a
late-filing fee under Section 234F and interest on any unpaid tax, and it can restrict the ability to carry
forward certain losses to future years -- filing on time avoids both consequences.
Are these compliance deadlines the same every year?
The recurring pattern (quarterly advance tax dates, the 31 July/31 October return deadlines, quarterly
TDS return dates) repeats each year, but the government occasionally extends specific due dates by
notification -- this calendar reflects the typical, ordinarily-applicable dates and should be checked
against the current year's notifications closer to each deadline.
