Overview of Foreign Exchange

Management Act and Regulations

The Beginners Study Course

on
Foreign Exchange Management Act
WIRC
May 09, 2013

CA Manoj Shah
2

Transition from Foreign Exchange Regulation Act,

1973 to Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999

•
Post liberalization (i.e. New Industrial policy of 1991) there was need
to remove shackles of regulatory and legal provisions.
•
Need to consolidate and amend the law relating to foreign exchange
with the objectives of facilitating external trade and payments and
for promoting the orderly development and maintenance of foreign
exchange market in India.
•
Need to take various steps to make ‘New Industrial Policy’- workable
and meaningful.
•
Industrial licensing was made pragmatic and objective-oriented.
•
It was decided to review provisions of Foreign Exchange Regulation
Act, 1973 (FERA).
3

Transition from Foreign Exchange Regulation Act,

1973 to Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999

•
Intention was to bring provisions of FERA in line with emerging
trends of liberalization so as to remove obstacles in the inward flow
of foreign exchange and foreign investment.
•
Accordingly, on June 1, 2000, the Foreign Exchange Management
Act, 1999 (FEMA) brought in force to replace the then existing FERA.
•
It is an act to manage the foreign exchange of India as opposed to
FERA which was enacted to regulate/control the foreign exchange.
4

Structure of FEMA
•
Applies to the whole of India and all branches, offices and agencies
outside India which are owned or controlled by a person resident in
India.
•
FEMA has 49 sections of which 9 (section 1 to 9) are substantive and
the rest are procedural/ administrative
•
Section 46 of FEMA grants power to Central Government to makes
rules to carry out the provision of FEMA
•
Section 47 of FEMA grants power to RBI to make regulations to
implement its provisions and the rules made there under
•
RBI is entrusted with the administration and implementation of
FEMA
5

Substantive Provisions

Section Description

1 Application and Commencement of FEMA

2 Definitions
Provisions relating to Regulations and Management of
3 to 9
Foreign Exchange
10 to 12 Provisions relating to Authorized Person

13 to 15 Provisions relating to Contraventions and Penalties

Provisions relating to Adjudication, Appeal and Directorate
16 to 38
of Enforcement
39 to 49 Miscellaneous Provisions
6

Notifications under FEMA

•
RBI had initially issued 25 notifications, covering capital account
transaction prescribed in Sec 6(3) & certain miscellaneous
provisions
•
15 related to capital account transactions, 1 on Export of goods
and services and 9 for other regulations
•
The same term is defined differently in different notifications
For e.g. Person of Indian Origin (PIO) is defined differently in 3 notifications
namely:
§ FEMA 13/2000-RB pertaining to remittance of assets
§ FEMA 21/2000-RB pertaining to the acquisition and transfer of immovable
property in India
§ FEMA 24/2000-RB pertaining to investment in a firm or proprietary concern in
India
7

Person of Indian Origin

Under FEMA - 13/2000 (Remittance of Assets):-
'Person of Indian Origin' means a citizen of any country other than
Bangladesh or Pakistan if
a) He at anytime held Indian passport; or
b) He or either of his parents or any of his grand-parents was a citizen of
India by virtue of the Constitution of India or the Citizenship Act, 1955
(57 of 1955); or
c) The person is a spouse of an Indian citizen or a person referred to in
sub-clause (a) or (b);
8

Person of Indian Origin

Under FEMA - 21/2000 (Acquisition and transfer of immovable
property in India):-
'Person of Indian Origin' means an individual (not being a citizen of
Pakistan or Bangladesh or Sri Lanka or Afghanistan or China or Iran or
Nepal or Bhutan), who
a) At any time, held India passport; or
b) who or either of whose father or mother or whose grandfather or
grandmother was a citizen of India by virtue of the Constitution of
India or the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955)." (Recently included
vide Notification No.200 dated October 5, 2009)
9

Person of Indian Origin

Under FEMA - 24/2000 (Investment in Firm or proprietary concern
in India):-
'Person of Indian Origin' means a citizen of any country other than
Bangladesh or Pakistan or Sri Lanka, if
a) He at any time held India passport; or
b) He or either of his parents or any of his grandparents was a citizen of
India by virtue of the Constitution of India or the Citizenship Act,
1955 (57 of 1955); or
c) The person is a spouse of an Indian citizen or a person referred to in
sub-clause (a) or (b);
10

Some of the important definitions

•
Authorized Person
•
Capital Account Transaction
•
Current Account Transaction
•
Export
•
Foreign Exchange
•
Person
•
Person Resident in India
•
Person resident outside India
•
Repatriate to India
•
Security
11

Current and Capital Account Transaction

•
Capital Account transaction means a transaction which alters assets
or liabilities including contingent liabilities outside India of person
resident in India and vice-versa. It’s a economic definition rather
than accounting or legal definition.
•
Current Account transaction is transaction other than a capital
account transaction.

Current Account transactions are freely permitted unless

prohibited - they are regulated by Central Government.
Capital Account transactions are prohibited unless generally
permitted - they are regulated by RBI.
12

Current and Capital Account Transaction

•
FEMA looks transaction from Balance of payment position of
Country
•
Examples -
– Import of machinery on payment of cash - Current A/c transaction
– Machinery is purchased on hire - Capital A/c transaction. There is an
obligated to make future payment to the non-resident
– Consideration for goods & Services – Current A/c transaction
– Transaction represents a creation or acquisition of wealth shares, loans
or immovable properties – Capital A/c transaction
13

Capital Account Transaction

§ RBI has been empowered under section 6(2) of FEMA to

specify, in consultation with the Central Government, any class
or classes of Capital account transactions which are
permissible [i.e. the transactions which are not included under
section 6(3)].
§ Section 6(3) of FEMA specifies the class of capital account
transactions which are regulated by RBI.
§ Every transaction listed in this section is regulated by a
corresponding notification
14

Capital Account Transaction

Sr. Transactions specified under section 6(3) Corresponding Notification

No.
1 Transfer or issue of any foreign security by a Notification No. 120 dated July 7, 2004 – Foreign Exchange
person resident in India Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security)
Regulations, 2004
2 Transfer or issue of any security by a person Notification No. 20 dated May 3, 2000 - Foreign Exchange
resident outside India Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person
Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2000

3 Transfer or issue of any security or foreign Notification No. 2 dated May 3, 2000 - Foreign Exchange
security by any branch, office or agency in Management (Issue of Security in India by a branch, office or
India of a person resident outside India agency of a person resident outside India) Regulations, 2000

4 Any borrowing or lending in rupees in Notification No. 3 dated May 3, 2000 - Foreign Exchange
whatever form or by whatever name called Management (Borrowing or Lending in Foreign Exchange)
Regulations, 2000

5 Any borrowing or lending in rupees in Notification No. 4 dated May 3, 2000 - Foreign Exchange
whatever form or by whatever name called Management (Borrowing and Lending in Rupees)
between a person resident in India and a Regulations, 2000
person resident outside India
15

Capital Account Transaction

Sr. Transactions specified under section 6(3) Corresponding Notification
No.
6 Deposits between persons resident in India Notification No. 5 dated May 3, 2000 - Foreign Exchange
and persons resident outside India Management (Deposit) Regulations, 2000
7 Export, import or holding of currency or Notification No. 6 dated May 3, 2000 - Foreign Exchange
currency notes Management (Export and Import of Currency) Regulations,
2000
8 Transfer of immovable property outside Notification No. 7 dated May 3, 2000 - Foreign Exchange
India, other than a lease not exceeding five Management (Acquisition and Transfer of Immovable
years, by a person resident in India Property outside India) Regulations, 2000
9 Acquisition or transfer of immovable Notification No. 21 dated May 3, 2000 - Foreign Exchange
property in India, other than a lease not Management (Acquisition and transfer of Immovable
exceeding five years, by a person resident Property in India) Regulations, 2000
outside India
10 Giving of a guarantee or surety in respect of Notification No. 8 dated May 3, 2000 - Foreign Exchange
any debt, obligation or other liability incurred Management (Guarantees) Regulations, 2000
-
by a person resident in India and owed to a
(i)

person resident outside India

(ii) by a person resident outside India
16

Capital Account Transaction

•
Section 6(4) – a person resident in India may hold, own, transfer or
invest in foreign currency, foreign security or any immovable
property situated outside India if such currency, security or
property was acquired, held or owned by such person when he was
resident outside India or inherited from a person who was resident
outside India
•
Section 6(5) – a person resident outside India may hold, own,
transfer or invest in Indian currency, security or any immovable
property situated in India if such currency, security or property was
acquired, held or owned by such person when he was resident in
India or inherited from a person who was resident in India
17

Capital Account Transaction

Notification FEMA - 1/2000-RB dated 3-5-2000:
• Relates to permissible capital account transaction
• Capital account transactions of a person may be classified under the
following heads, namely-
A. Transaction, specified in Schedule I, of a person resident in India
B. Transactions, specified in Schedule II, of a person resident outside India
Subject to the provisions of the Act or the rules or the
regulations or directions or orders made or issued thereunder, any
person may sell or draw foreign exchange to or from an authorized
person for a capital account transaction specified in the Schedules
18

Capital Account Transaction

Schedule I: Classes of capital account transactions of persons
resident in India
a) Investment by a person resident in India in foreign securities
b) Foreign currency loans raised in India and abroad by a person
resident in India
c) Transfer of immovable property outside India by a person resident
in India
d) Guarantees issued by a person resident in India in favour of a
person resident outside India
e) Export, import and holding of currency/currency notes
f) Loans and overdrafts (borrowings) by a person resident in India
from a person resident outside India
19

Capital Account Transaction

g) Maintenance of foreign currency accounts in India and outside
India by a person resident in India
h) Taking out of insurance policy by a person resident in India from an
insurance company outside India.
i) Loans and overdrafts by a person resident in India to a person
resident outside India.
j) Remittance outside India of capital assets of a person resident in
India.
k) Sale and purchase of foreign exchange derivatives in India and
abroad and commodity derivatives abroad by a person resident in
India.
20

Capital Account Transaction

Schedule II: Classes of capital account transactions of persons resident outside India.
a) Investment in India by a person resident outside India, that is to say,
i. Issue of security by a body corporate or an entity in India and investment
therein by a person resident outside India; &
ii. Investment by way of contribution by a person resident outside India to the
capital of a firm or a proprietorship concern or an association of persons in
India.
c) Acquisition and transfer of immovable property in India by a person resident
outside India.
d) Guarantee by a person resident outside India in favour of, or on behalf of, a
person resident in India.
h) Import and export of currency/currency notes into/from India by a person
resident outside India. Deposits between a person resident in India and a person
resident outside India.
i) Foreign currency accounts in India of a person resident outside India.
21

Capital Account Transactions - Prohibited

•
No person resident outside India shall make investment in
India, in any form, in any Company or partnership firm or
proprietary concern or any entity, whether incorporated or
not, which is engaged or proposes to engage -
i. In the business of chit fund, or
ii. As Nidhi Company, or
iii. In agricultural or plantation activities, or
iv. In real estate business, or construction of farm houses, or
v. In trading in Transferable Development Rights (TDRs)

For the purpose of this regulation 'real estate business' shall not include
development of townships, construction of residential/commercial premises,
roads or bridges
22

Current Account Transaction

•
Current account transaction is a transaction other than a capital
account transaction
•
Current account transactions are governed by Foreign Exchange
Management (Current Account Transaction) Rules, 2000 ("Current
Account Transactions Rules").
•
Current account transactions are divided into 3 schedules in
Current Account Transactions Rules:-
Schedule I – Prohibited Transactions
Schedule II – Transactions requiring prior approval of Government of India
Schedule III – Transactions requiring prior approval of RBI
23

Current Account Transaction

Illustrative transactions :
Schedule I :
1. Remittance out of lottery winnings
2. Remittance of income from racing/riding etc., or any other hobby
3. Remittance for purchase of lottery tickets, banned/prescribed
magazines, football pools, sweepstakes etc.
Schedule II:
4. Cultural tours
5. Remittance of container detention charges exceeding the rate
prescribed by Director General of Shipping
24

Current Account Transaction

Schedule III:
1. Gift remittance exceeding US$ 5,000 per remitter/donor per annum
2. Donation exceeding US$ 10,000 per remitter/ donor per annum
3. Release of exchange for meeting expenses for medical treatment
abroad exceeding the estimate from the doctor in India or hospital
or hospital/doctor abroad.
Note: Drawal of foreign exchange by resident individuals
towards remittance of gift or donations as per this Schedule III shall
be within the limit specified under the proviso of Reg. 4 (i.e. US$
2,00,000)
25

Capital Account Convertibility

•
There is no formal definition of Capital Account Convertibility
but Tarapore committee (set up in 1997) defined it as freedom
to convert local financial assets into foreign financial assets and
vice versa at market determined rate of exchange
•
Current Account Convertibility - it allows free inflow and
outflow for all purposes other than capital purposes. It allows
residents to pay and receive trade & service related payments.
India has adopted Current Account Convertibility in terms of
Article 8 of IMF Agreement in 1994.
26

A.P. (Dir Series) Circulars and Notifications

•
Directions issued by RBI u/s. 10(4) and 11(1) of FEMA to
Authorized Persons (AP)
•
These directions are called – A.P. (Dir Series) Circulars
•
APs are Authorized Dealers, Money Changers and banks who are
authorized to deal in Foreign Exchange
•
These Circulars are operational instructions to AP by RBI
•
Legal validity of these Circulars have been upheld in the case of
Prof. Krishnaraj Goswami v. RBI, [2007 (6) Bom. CR 565]
•
Court upheld the power of RBI to issue such Circulars based on
powers conferred to RBI u/s. 10(4) & 11(1) & negated the
contention that RBI has no jurisdiction to issue such Circulars
•
Master circulars issued by RBI every year on 1st July to subsumes
the position as on date and consolidates all the existing circulars
27

A.P. (Dir Series) Circulars and Notifications

•
Notifications are issued by the Central Government in the Official
Gazette
•
Section 47 of FEMA grants power to RBI to make regulations.
•
As on date, the total number of notifications issued by RBI stand at
255.
28

Foreign Direct Investment Policy

•
FDI framework is governed by FEMA as well as Consolidated FDI
policy- CFDIP
•
CFDIP is issued by Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion
(DIPP), Ministry of Commerce
•
CFDIP lays down the sectors in which FDI is allowed under
Automatic Route or Approval Route and the Sectors which are
prohibited for FDI
•
FDI under Approval Route is governed by FIPB which is a part of
Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
•
FIPB consists of Secretaries from various Ministries, such as
Finance, DIPP, External Affairs, Depart of Commerce etc.
•
In case of conflict with FDI Policy vis-à-vis FEMA , the FEMA
notifications will prevail
29

Foreign Direct Investment Policy

•
At times there could be delay on the part of RBI in amending
Notification dealing with FDI while there are changes in FDI policy
as pronounced by DIPP
•
However validity of CFDIP has been upheld by SC in a PIL- M.L.
Sharma V UOI, writ petition (Civil) 417 of 2012, order dated 15th
Oct, 2012.
•
In above petition, SC upheld the amendments to the FDI policy on
Retail Trading but asked Govt to bring the FEMA Notifications up to
date with FDI policy, though AP (Dir Series) Circulars were issued
by RBI with regard to opening up of Retail Trading
30

Implementation -
IT Act vis–a–vis FEMA
•
Under Income Tax, issue is of taxability of income which is
determined for the full year, therefore generally amendments
are annual
•
Whereas FEMA regulations are for undertaking transaction
(generally between Resident & Non Resident) itself & therefore
clarity at the time of undertaking transaction is a must
•
Therefore amendments keep pace with changes taking place in
economy
31

Residential Status under FEMA

•
Under FEMA residential status is of two types:
– Person resident in India
– Person resident outside India
•
Under FERA citizenship was considered as deciding factor
•
FEMA lays emphasis on 'residing' which denotes permanency
32

Person Resident in India

Sec. 2(v) of FEMA:
•
Residing in India for > 182 days during the course of preceding F.Y. but
doesn’t include
– going out of India or staying outside India
•
for taking up employment
•
for carrying business or vocation
•
for any other purpose in such circumstances as would indicate his
intention to stay outside India for uncertain period

– coming to India or staying outside India otherwise than

•
for taking up employment
•
for carrying business or vocation
•
for any other purpose in such circumstances as would indicate his
33

Person Resident outside India

•
"Person resident outside India" means a person who is not resident
in India.
•
Person to be resident in India, has to reside in India for more than
182 days during the previous financial year
•
Exclusion to this is - if a person stays outside India for employment,
for vocation or for any other purpose for uncertain period, then even
if he has resided in India for more than 182 days he will become a
‘person resident outside India’
•
Moreover a person to be treated as person resident in India he has to
satisfy not only the condition of period of stay (i.e. 182 days) but has
to also comply with the conditions of the 'purpose' of stay i.e. for
taking up employment, carrying on business or vocation in India or
for any other purpose which would indicate his intention to stay in
India for an uncertain period
34

Person Resident outside India

•
RBI may ignore the arithmetic condition (i.e. of 182 days) and treat
the person who comes to or stays in India for any of the three
purposes set out in section 2(v)(i)(B) as ‘person resident in India’
even though he may not have resided in India for a period of 182
days or more during the preceding financial year. However legal
tenability of such a view cannot be said to be free from doubt.
•
RBI has a very narrow approach towards non resident acquiring
immovable property in India. It gives a weighted significance to the
arithmetic condition of staying in India for more than 182 days
during the preceding financial year.
•
RBI does not determine the residential status. Under FEMA,
residential status is determined by operation of law. The onus is on
an individual to prove his / her residential status, if questioned by
any authority.
35

Residential status under FEMA

•
Purpose under FEMA is different as compared to Income Tax
•
Under Income Tax, issue is of taxability of income which is determined
for the full year, therefore number of days concept has been adopted
under Income Tax.
•
Whereas FEMA regulates the transactions and provides guidance for
undertaking transaction itself and hence clarity on status at the time of
undertaking transaction is a must.
•
Though FEMA also uses the concept of number of days stay (of more
than 182 days but of preceding financial year) but importance is given
to intention of going out of India for employment, business or intention
to stay outside India for uncertain period.
Liberalized Remittance Scheme
(LRS)
37

LRS for Resident Individuals

•
A resident individual (including minors) is allowed to remit up to USD
200,000 per financial year (April-March) for any permitted current or
capital account transactions or a combination of both.
•
The limit of UDS 200,000 is available per resident individual per
financial year.
•
The permissible transactions under this scheme include acquisition of
immovable property/ shares-listed and unlisted/ debt instrument/
mutual funds/ any other asset outside India, etc.
•
For undertaking transactions under this Scheme, resident individuals
may use the prescribed application-cum-declaration form. PAN
number is mandatory to make remittances under the Scheme.
38

LRS for Resident Individuals

•
The limit of USD 200,000 under the Scheme also includes remittances
towards gift and donation by a resident individual.
•
A resident individual is permitted to gift in rupee to his NRI/PIO close
relative under the LRS and credit the same to his NRO A/c. [A.P.(DIR
Series) Circular No.17 dated September 16, 2011]
•
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 90 dated March 06, 2012:
– Remittances under the facility can be consolidated in respect of family
members subject to individual family members complying with the terms and
conditions of the scheme;
– Remittances under the scheme can be used for purchasing objects of art
subject to the provisions of other applicable laws such as the extant Foreign
Trade Policy of the Government of India.
39
FAQ on LRS by RBI

Q. What are the prohibited items under the Scheme?

Ans. The remittance facility under the Scheme is not available for the following:
– Remittance for any purpose specifically prohibited under Schedule-I (like purchase of lottery
tickets/sweep stakes, proscribed magazines, etc.) or any item restricted under Schedule II of Foreign
Exchange Management (Current Account Transactions) Rules, 2000;

– Remittance from India for margins or margin calls to overseas exchanges / overseas counterparty;

– Remittances for purchase of FCCBs issued by Indian companies in the overseas secondary market;
– Remittance for trading in foreign exchange abroad;

– Remittance by a resident individual for setting up a company abroad;

– Remittances directly or indirectly to Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius and Pakistan;

– Remittances directly or indirectly to countries identified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as
“non co-operative countries and territories”, from time to time; and

– Remittances directly or indirectly to those individuals and entities identified as posing significant risk
of committing acts of terrorism as advised separately by the Reserve Bank to the banks.
 Realisation, Repatriation and
Surrender of Foreign Exchange
41

Notification No.9
•
Draws its origin from Sec -8, 10(6) and 47(2)(c)
•
Sec 8 casts responsibility on Resident Indian to take all
reasonable steps to realize and repatriate to India FE within
such period and such manner as may be prescribed
•
Sec 10(6)-Any person other than AP who has acquired or
purchased & doesn’t use it for such purpose for which it was
acquired, or doesn’t surrender within such period as may be
prescribed- such act will deemed to be contravention
•
Sec 47(2)(c)- gives power to make regulations
42

Definition
•
Foreign exchange due means the amount which a person has
a right to receive or claim in foreign exchange
•
Surrender means the selling of FE to an AP in India in
exchange of Rupees
•
Reg 3 casts responsibility to realize & repatriate and in not to
indulge in any act which has the impact of delaying receipt of
FE or has the effect that FE ceases in whole or in part to be
receivable by him
43

Definition
•
Reg 4 manner of repatriation either to sell to an AP or hold it
an account with an AD to the extent specified (say EEFC A/c)
or use it for discharge of liabilities denominated in FE to the
extent specified by RBI
•
Reg 5 period of surrender of FE - A person other than
Individual Resident shall sell to AP (in terms of Reg 4) as
under-
– - for services rendered, settlement of any lawful obligation and
income on assets held outside India within seven days of its receipt
– - in all other cases within 90 days from the date of its receipt
44

Surrender of FE
•
Reg 6 Period of surrender in certain cases-
For Non Individuals
– acquired for purpose other than travel - to be surrendered (or
unused portion) within a period of 60 days from the date of its
acquisition or purchase
– acquired for travel- within 90 days from the date of return of the
traveler to India when the unspent FE is in the form of notes & coins
– within 180 days when the unspent FE is in the form of traveller’s
cheques
45

Period of surrender of FE by resident

Individuals
•
Resident Individual shall surrender the
received/realized/unspent/unused foreign exchange
whether notes/coins and Traveller’s cheques to an AP within
a period of 180 days from the date of such
receipt/realization/purchase/acquisition or date of his return
to India, as the case may be.
Possession and Retention of
Foreign Currency
47

Possession and Retention of Foreign Currency

- Notification 11
•
Draws its origin from Sec 9(a), 9(e) & 47(2)(d), 47(2)(g)
•
Provisions of realization and repatriation not to apply in
certain cases
•
Definition-
– To Possess or To Retain - in physical form
48

Limits on possession or retention of foreign

currency
•
Foreign coins- without any limit by any person
•
Foreign currency notes, bank notes and Traveller’s cheques - not
exceeding USD 2,000 or its equivalent
•
Mode of acquisition-
1) payment from services rendered abroad while on a visit outside India-
provided it is arising from any business in or anything done in India
2) acquired from non resident who is on a visit to India as honorarium, gift or for
services rendered or in settlement of any lawful obligation
3) Was acquired by way of honorarium or gift while on a visit to any place
outside India
4) Represents unspent amount of FE acquired by him from an AP for travel
abroad
Deposits Scheme under FEMA
50

Deposits By Non-residents

•
Deposit, a capital account transaction referred to in section
6(3)(f) and sub-section (2) of sec. 47 of FEMA, includes
deposit of money with a bank, company, proprietary
concern, partnership firm, corporate body, trust or any other
person.
•
Acceptance of deposits by an AD/AB from Person Resident
outside India (PROI) would be as under:
Ø
Non-resident (Ordinary) Account Scheme (NRO Account)
Ø
Non-resident (External) Account Scheme (NRE Account)
Ø
Foreign Currency (Non-resident) Account Banks Scheme
(FCNR(B) Account)
51
Deposits schemes under
FCNR /NRE /NRO account

Foreign Currency (Non-

Non-Resident (External)
Non-Ordinary Rupee Resident) Account
Particulars Rupee Account Scheme (NRE
Account (NRO Account) (Bank) (FCNR(B)
Account)
Account)

Person resident outside NRI (Individuals /

NRI (Individuals / entities of
India (Individuals / entities entities of Bangladesh /
Who can open Bangladesh / Pakistan
of Bangladesh / Pakistan Pakistan nationality /
an account nationality / ownership
nationality / ownership ownership requires RBI
requires RBI approval)
requires RBI approval) approval)

Non-Repatriable (Except
Repatriable /
under USD 1 million per F.Y. Repatriable Repatriable
Non-Repatriable
scheme)

Current, Savings, Recurring Current, Savings, Recurring or

Type of account Term deposits
or Fixed Deposit Accounts Fixed Deposit Accounts

Two or more NRI of Indian

Joint accounts Jointly with residents Same as NRE account
nationality or origin
52
Deposits schemes under
FCNR /NRE /NRO account

Particulars NRO Account NRE Account FCNR(B) Account

Remittance in permitted Remittance in permitted

foreign currency, Deposit by foreign currency, proceeds
Major account holder during of foreign currency / bank
Permissible temporary visit to India, notes tendered during Same as NRE account
Credits Transfer from rupee account of temporary visit to India,
non-resident banks, Dues in transfer from other NRE /
India of accountholder FCNR account etc.

Major Local rupee payments, Local disbursements,

Permissible Remittance outside India of remittance outside India, Same as NRE account
Debits current income in India (net of transfer to other NRE /
taxes) FCNR account etc.
53
Deposits schemes under
FCNR /NRE /NRO account

Non-Resident (External) Foreign Currency (Non-

Non-Ordinary Rupee
Particulars Rupee Account Scheme (NRE Resident) Account (Bank)
Account (NRO Account)
Account) (FCNR(B) Account)
• For personal purpose or
business purpose except
§ Rupee loan against
for relending or agricultural
security of fixed deposits
/ plantation activity or for
for personal purpose or
investment in real estate
business purpose except
Loan – to business
for relending or Same as NRE account
account holders • For direct investment in
agricultural / plantation
India in firms / companies
activity or for investment
on non-repatriation basis
in real estate business • For purchase of flat in India
§ Overdraft
for own residential
purpose
54
Deposits schemes under
FCNR /NRE /NRO account

Non-Resident (External) Foreign Currency (Non-

Non-Ordinary Rupee
Particulars Rupee Account Scheme (NRE Resident) Account (Bank)
Account (NRO Account)
Account) (FCNR(B) Account)
Loans / overdrafts to R / Fund based / non-fund bases
firms / Indian companies to R / firms / India
Loan – to third Same as NRE account
against security of FD in companies against security
parties
NRO account subject to of FD in NRE account subject
conditions to conditions
Fund based or non-fund
Loan – outside Same as NRE account
Not allowed based to or in favour of NRI
India
or to third parties
55

Transfer from NRO to NRE

•
By virtue of AP (DIR Series) Circular No. 117 dated May 7,
2012 issued by RBI, transfer of funds from NRO account to
NRE account is permitted, subject to the overall ceiling of USD
1 million per financial year and after payment of tax, as
applicable (i.e. as applicable if funds were remitted abroad).
56

Notification No.10- Foreign Currency Accounts

by Persons Resident in India
•
Draws its origin from Sec 9(b) and 47(2)(e)
•
Sec 9(b)- refers to exemption from realization and repatriation
in certain cases
•
Definition:
‘Foreign Currency Account’ means an account held or
maintained in currency other than the currency of India or Nepal
or Bhutan
•
Exchange Earners Foreign Currency A/c- EEFC
•
As the name suggests earnings in FE is a must to have this
account (from trade/services)
57

Foreign Currency Accounts by Residents..

Continued..
•
Capital account proceeds such as investment (FDI)/loans etc.,
cannot be credited to this account
•
Presently 100% of FE can be credited to this account
•
EEFC A/c offers interest
58

EEFC ACCOUNT

•
Permissible debits include:
q All permissible current account transactions
q Trade related loans/advances by an exporter to his importer
customer subject to regulations of Notification 3- Borrowing &
Lending in FE
q Sch I to Notification 10 lists down other permissible credits and
debits
59

Resident Foreign Currency A/c – RFC

•
Resident Indian can maintain RFC A/c with AD in India
out of FE
q received as pension/superannuation or other benefits from his
employer outside India
q Realization on conversion of assets referred to in Sec 6(4) &
gift or inheritance from a person referred to in Sec 6(4)
• Bal in RFC is free from all restrictions regarding utilization
of foreign currency bal including any restriction on
investment in any form
60

RFC (Domestic) A/c

•
Resident Individual can open out of FE in the form of
currency notes, bank notes and travelers cheques out of:
q fees for services rendered outside India while on a visit outside
India- provided services are not arising from any business or
anything done in India
q from NR who is on a visit to India as honorarium, gift or for
services rendered or in settlement of lawful obligation
q Unspent amount of FE remaining out of balance acquired for
travel outside
q Earnings of export of goods / services / royalty / honorarium or
any other lawful means
61

RFC (Domestic) A/c.. Continued..

•
Debits - all permissible current & capital account
transactions
•
RFC Domestic Account does not offer any interest and has
to be in the nature of current account
62

Opening FC A/c outside India

•
Regulation 7(4A) of Notification 10:
A firm or a company or a body corporate or proprietary concern
may open an office/branch outside India and can have bank account
in the name of office or branch outside India
•
Remittance toward overseas branch/office can be up to 15% of
Avg annual TO of last two years or 25% of net worth whichever is
higher for INITIAL EXPENSES and
•
10% of Avg annual TO of last two years for RECURRING EXPENSES
•
Purchase of office equipment & other assets will not be regarded
as Capital Account transaction
63

Opening FC A/c outside India.. Contd..

•
Lease period of office up to 5 years is also permissible.
•
Acquisition of office or lease exceeding 5 years shall be governed by
Notification 7 Acquisition of IP outside India- which permits
acquisition office by an Indian company having office/branch
abroad
CA Manoj Shah