1. Your departure date can decide a whole year of tax
If you spend 182 days or more in India in the Indian tax year (April to March), you generally remain an Indian tax resident for that year, and your Singapore salary for those months can fall within India's tax net. Move in the first half of the year and you will typically be a non-resident from year one.
2. NRI does not mean "no Indian tax"
India keeps taxing what arises in India: rent from your flat, capital gains on Indian shares and mutual funds, dividends, and interest on your NRO account. Your Singapore salary is generally not taxable in India once you are a non-resident. NRE and FCNR interest is exempt.
3. Convert your bank accounts. It is a legal requirement, not admin
Once you move abroad for employment, FEMA requires your Indian resident savings accounts to be redesignated. NRO for your Indian income, NRE for money you send from Singapore. Your account number usually survives the change. If you have not opened a Singapore bank account yet, see our Banking & remittance guide for the fastest routes (DBS/OCBC open in under an hour).
4. Get your Singapore salary paid in Singapore
Have your salary credited to a Singapore account and remit money to your NRE account separately. Routing salary directly into an Indian account can create Indian tax exposure. Compare Wise, Instarem, SingX and DBS Remit in the Banking guide - the difference is typically S$60-90 per S$2,000 sent home.
5. The tax treaty helps, but only if you file the paperwork
The India-Singapore treaty can cut TDS on NRO interest from 30% to 15%. It is not automatic: each year you need a Certificate of Residence from IRAS (via myTax Portal) and Form 41 (formerly Form 10F) on the Indian e-filing portal, submitted to your bank before the interest is paid. Banks may still call these by their old names for a while.
6. Watch your India days if you earn there
Long trips home are easy from Singapore. If your Indian income exceeds ₹15 lakh in a tax year, keeping your India stay under 120 days protects your non-resident status. Count your days every year.
7. You may still need to file returns in both countries
In India: if your Indian income crosses the basic threshold, or to claim back excess TDS (rental and NRO-interest TDS refunds go unclaimed constantly). In Singapore: e-file by 18 April if IRAS asks you to; many employees are covered by the No-Filing Service and only need to review their pre-filled details.
First-year tax checklist
- Note your India departure date and run the 182-day count for the tax year of your move
- Convert Indian resident savings accounts to NRO promptly upon becoming non-resident under FEMA; open an NRE account
- Update KYC, FATCA/CRS and nominee details with Indian banks, AMCs and brokers
- Inform your Indian mutual fund houses and broker of your NRI status
- Once you qualify as a Singapore tax resident, apply for a COR from IRAS via the myTax Portal
- Complete Form 41 (formerly Form 10F) where required and submit it with your COR and any payer-specific declarations to the relevant Indian withholding agent, most commonly your bank
- Check whether you need to file an Indian return: income above the threshold, a mandatory-filing condition, or a refund or loss carry-forward to claim
- If IRAS requires you to file, e-file by 18 April; if you are under the No-Filing Service, review your pre-filled information by that date
- Recount your India days every tax year, especially if your total income, excluding income from foreign sources, exceeds ₹15 lakh (120-day limit)
Going deeper
Day-count rules, RNOR status for returnees, repatriation limits and treaty mechanics have real nuance. Read the official guidance at Income Tax India and IRAS, or speak to a qualified professional for your situation.
Disclaimer: This guide is general information for the community, not personal tax, legal or investment advice. Rules change; positions depend on individual facts. Last reviewed July 2026.