TOPIC : Residential Status

CA Rajalakshmi B
Residential Status and Scope of Total Income:

• The incidence of tax on any assessee depends upon his residential status under the Act.

• For all purposes of income-tax, taxpayers are classified into three broad categories on the basis of their
residential status viz.

• The residential status of an assessee must be ascertained with reference to each previous year.

• A person who is resident and ordinarily resident in one year may become non-resident or resident but
not ordinarily resident in another year or vice versa.
❖ Section 6 [Residence in India]:
A. Individuals [Resident and ordinarily resident/Resident but not ordinarily resident/Non-resident]
(Sec6(1)):
The residential status of an individual is determined on the basis of the period of his stay in India.
Basic conditions:
i. He has been in India for a period of 182 days or more during the previous year
OR
ii. He has been in India for a period of 60 days or more during the previous year and 365 days or
more during the 4 years immediately preceding the previous year.
Cases where condition (ii) is not applicable(ie 60 days condition will not be applicable but only 182 days
condition would be checked): Exception to second basic condition
(a) Where an Indian citizen who leaves India during the previous year for the purpose of employment outside India
(b) or as a member of the crew of an Indian ship;
(c) Where an Indian citizen or a person of Indian origin who, being outside India, comes on a visit to India during
the previous year [whose total income (excluding income from foreign sources) does not exceed ` 15 lakhs(≤15
lakhs)].
Additional condition: FOR ROR
1. He is a resident in at least 2 out of 10 previous years preceding the relevant previous year;
2. His stay in India in the last 7 years preceding the relevant previous year is 730 days or more.

Resident and ordinarily resident
[ROR]
Must satisfy at least one of the basic
conditions [(i) or (ii)] and both the
additional conditions [(1) & (2)]
Resident but not ordinarily resident Non-resident [NR]
[RNOR]
Must satisfy at least one of the basic Must not satisfy either of the basic
conditions [(i) or (ii)] and one or none conditions [neither (i) nor (ii)]
of the additional conditions [(1) or (2)
or neither]
(B) An Indian citizen or a person of Indian origin who, being outside India, comes on a visit to India during the previous year
(having total income, other than the income from foreign sources), exceeding Rs 15 lakhs during the previous year would be
resident if his period of stay is
o 182 days or more during the previous year [First condition]; or
o 120 days or more during the previous year and 365 days or more during the 4 years immediately preceding the previous
year [Second condition].

Such individual would, however, be resident but not ordinarily resident if he satisfies only the second condition mentioned
above but not the first condition (i.e., the period of his stay in India during the relevant previous year is ≥120 days but < 182
days).
[Clause (b) of Explanation (1) to Section 6(1) – Amended by Finance Act 2020]
 If he satisfies the first condition, he would be-
• Resident and ordinarily resident (ROR), if satisfies both the additional conditions [(1) & (2)] and
• Resident but not ordinarily resident (RNOR) if satisfies one or none of the additional conditions [(1) or (2) or
neither].
Note – “Income from foreign sources” means income which accrues or arises outside India (except income
derived from a business controlled in or a profession set up in India) and which is not deemed to accrue or
arise in India.
(C) Deemed resident [Section 6(1A)]:
An individual, being an Indian citizen, having total income, other than the income from foreign sources [i.e., income
which accrues or arises outside India (except income from a business controlled from or profession set up in India) and
which is not deemed to accrue or arise in India], exceeding Rs 15 lakhs during the previous year would be deemed to be
resident in India in that previous year, if he is not liable to pay tax in any other country or territory by reason of his
domicile or residence or any other criteria of similar nature.
However, this provision will not apply in case of an individual who is a resident of India in the previous year as per section
6(1)
How to determine period of stay in India for an Indian citizen, being a crew member?
Explanation 2 to section 6(1) provides that in the case of an individual, being a citizen of India and a member of the
crew of a foreign bound ship leaving India, the period or periods of stay in India shall, in respect of such voyage, be
determined in the prescribed manner and subject to the prescribed conditions.
According to Rule 126, for the purposes of section 6(1), in case of an individual, being a citizen of India and a member
of the crew of a ship, the period or periods of stay in India shall, in respect of an eligible voyage, not include the
following period:

Period to be excluded

Period commencing from: the Period ending on: the date

date entered into the
Continuous Discharge
Certificate in respect of joining
the ship by the said individual
for the eligible voyage
entered into the Continuous
AND Discharge Certificate in respect
of signing off by that individual
from the ship in respect of such
voyage.
 Eligible voyage :
(i) originated from any port in India, has as its destination any port outside India;
and
(i) for the voyage having originated from any port outside India, has as its destination any port in
India.
 Resident but not ordinarily resident [Summary):
A not-ordinarily resident person is one who satisfies any one of the conditions specified u/s 6(6): (Negative
Condition)
i. If such individual has been non-resident in India in any 9 out of the 10 previous years preceding the relevant
previous year,
ii. If such individual has during the 7 previous years preceding the relevant previous year been in India for a
period of 729 days or less,
iii. If such individual is
➢ an Indian citizen or person of Indian origin
➢ who, being outside India, comes on a visit to India in any previous year having total income, other than the
income from foreign sources exceeding ` 15 lakhs during the previous year,
➢ who has been in India for 120 days or more but less than 182 days during that previous year AND for 365 days
(or more) during 4 years immediately preceding the relevant previous year.

iv. If such individual is an Indian citizen who is deemed to be resident in India under section 6(1A) [It may be
noted that a Deemed Resident will always be a resident but not ordinarily resident]***
➢ RESIDENTIAL STATUS OF HINDU UNDIVIDED FAMILY (HUF) [Section 6(2):
A HUF would be Resident in India if the control and management of its affairs is situated wholly or
partly in India. If the control and management of the affairs is situated wholly outside India it would
become a non-resident.

If Control & Management of its affairs is wholly / Resident

partly situated in India
If Control & Management of its affairs is wholly Non-Resident
situated outside India

Resident and Ordinarily Resident (HUF):

For a HUF to be ROR, karta must be ROR. Ie HUF depends on karta to be ROR
If Karta is ROR HUF will be ROR

If Karta is RNOR HUF will be RNOR

If karta is NR HUF will be RNOR(becoz HUF per se is already a

Resident on the basis of control and management)
SCOPE OF TOTAL INCOME [Section 5]:

What is to be included in income depends upon:

(a) Who earns the income (Resident or Non resident)

(b) When income arises (whether in PY or not)

(c) Where income arises, whether actual or deemed (in India or outside India)

SCOPE OF INCOME= Residential status + Place and year of accrual.

 SCOPE OF TOTAL INCOME

R.O.R R.N.O.R N.R

Income received or deemed to be Income received or deemed to be Income received or deemed to be
received in India during the previous received in India during the previous received in India during the previous
year year year

Income accruing or arising or Income accruing or arising or Income accruing or arising or

deeming to accrue or arise in India deeming to accrue or arise in India deeming to accrue or arise in India
during the previous year during the previous year during the previous year

Income accruing or arising outside Income accruing or arising outside N.A

India during the previous year India during the previous year being
derived from:
(Even if such income is not received • Business controlled from India or
or brought in to India during the • Profession Setup in India
previous year)
Note: Past income (earned and received abroad) remitted to India in Previous year- Not included in all 3
Income Deemed to be Received [Section 7]:
The following shall be deemed to be received by the assessee during the previous year irrespective of
whether he had actually received the same or not:
a) Annual accretion to the credit of Recognized Provident Fund:
- Interest credited to recognized provident fund account of an employee in excess of 9.5% p.a.
- Excess contribution of employer in RPF (i.e. the amount contributed in excess of 12 percent of salary)
b) The taxable transferred balance from URPF to RPF (being the employer’s contribution and interest
thereon).
c) The contribution made by the CG or any other employer to the account of an employee under a
pension scheme u/s 80CCD.
❖ Income deemed to accrue or arise in India [Section 9]:
Certain types of income are deemed to accrue or arise in India even though they may actually accrue or arise
outside India.

The categories of income which are deemed to accrue or arise in India are:
1. Any income accruing or arising to an assessee in any place outside India whether directly or indirectly

a) through or from any business connection in India,

b) through or from any property in India,

c) through or from any asset or source of income in India or

d) through the transfer of a capital asset situated in India would be deemed to accrue or arise in India.
[Section 9(1)(i)]

❖ Income accrued in India is chargeable to tax in all cases irrespective of residential status of an assessee.

❖ Income is said to be received when it reaches the assessee; when the right to receive the income becomes
vested in the assessee, it is said to accrue or arise.
What is Business Connection?
➢ Business connection’ shall include any business activity carried out through a person acting on behalf of the
non-resident (Eg: Maintaining a branch office in India, Appointing an agent in India for the systematic and
regular purchase of raw material, having a financial association between resident and non-resident etc)

➢ Business connection is established where a person habitually secures orders in India, mainly or wholly for
such NR (Habitually concludes contract or Habitually maintain a stock or Habitually secure order)

➢ Business Connection shall not include the cases where the non-resident carries on business through a broker,
general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status.

➢ Independent status: Where a broker, general commission agent or any other agent not works mainly or wholly
on behalf of a NR or other non-residents under the same common control & management.

➢ Significant economic presence of a NR in India shall also constitute business connection india (FA 2021)
Note:
A. Existence of Professional connection amounts to existence of business connection. (for example when
foreign lawyer is called upon in India to plead the case in Indian courts.)

B. In the case of a business where all operations are not carried out in India, only such part of the income as
is reasonably attributed to the operations in India shall be deemed to arise or accrue in India.

Income attributable to the operations carried out in India includes:

(i) advertisement targeting customers residing in India or accessing advt. thro IPA (Internet Protocol Address)
located in India

(ii) sale of data collected from persons residing in India or using IPA located in India

(iii)sale of goods and services using data collected from persons residing in India or using IPA located in India.
Following cases shall not be treated as Business connection in India:

• Purchase of goods in India for the purpose of export

• Collection of news and views in India for transmission out of India.

• if the operations is confined to shooting of cinematography films

• Confined to the display of uncut and unassorted diamond in any special zone notified by CG
2. Salaries Earned in India [Section 9(1)(ii)]:

3. Salaries Payable by Indian Govt. [Section 9(1)(iii)]:

• Any income chargeable under head “salaries” payable by the Indian Govt. to a citizen of India for service
rendered outside India shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India.

• Foreign Allowances by the Govt. Employer - Section 10(7) –Exempted

• Any allowance or perquisite paid or allowed outside India, by the Indian Govt. to a citizen of India, for rendering
service outside India is fully exempt

4. INTEREST [Section 9(1)(v)] :

5. ROYALTY [Section 9(1)(vi)] :

5. Fees for Technical services [Section 9(1)(vii)] :

6.Gifts [Section 9(1)(viii)]

Payer : Resident
Payee: NR/Foreign Company
Sum of money received by NR or Foreign Company on/after 5th July 2019
Then such income shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India
INTEREST [Section 9(1)(v)] Under section 9(1)(v), an interest is deemed to accrue or arise in India
[Taxable in the hands of recipient] if it is payable by:

1. the Government; or

2. a person resident in India except where it is payable

a) in respect of any money borrowed and used for the purposes of a business or profession carried on by him outside
India OR

b) for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source outside India or

3. a Non-Resident when it is payable in respect of any debt incurred or moneys borrowed and used for the purpose of a
business or profession carried on in India by him. (Only Business)

IMP: Interest on money borrowed by the non-resident for any purpose other than a business or profession, will not be
deemed to accrue or arise in India.
ROYALTY/FEES FOR TECHNICAL SERVICES:

Royalty will be will be deemed to accrue or arise in India when it is payable by –

1) the Government; or

2) a person who is a resident in India except in cases where it is payable

a) for the transfer of any right or the use of any property or information or for the utilization of services for the
purposes of a business or profession carried on by such person outside India OR

b) for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source outside India; or

3) a non-resident only when the royalty is payable a) in respect of any right, property or information used or services
utilised for purposes of a business or profession carried on in India OR b) for the purposes of making or earning any
income from any source in India

Income deemed to accrue or arise in India to a non-resident by way of interest, royalty and fee for technical services
to be taxed irrespective of territorial nexus
Income shall be included in the total income of the non -resident, whether or not
(i) the non-resident has a residence or place of business or business connection in India; or

(ii) the non-resident has rendered services in India

Q 1 Mr. Anand is an Indian citizen and a member of the crew of a Singapore bound Indian ship engaged in
carriage of passengers in international traffic departing from Chennai port on 6th June, 2021. From the
following details for the P.Y. 2021-22, determine the residential status of Mr. Anand for A.Y. 2022-23,
assuming that his stay in India in the last 4 previous years (preceding P.Y. 2021-22) is 400 days.

Particulars Date

Date entered into the Continuous Discharge Certificate in respect of joining

the ship by Mr. Anand 6th June, 2021

Date entered into the Continuous Discharge Certificate in respect of signing 9th December, 2021
off the ship by Mr. Anand
SOLUTION
• In this case, since Mr. Anand is an Indian citizen and leaving India during P.Y. 2021-22 as a member of the
crew of the Indian ship, he would be resident in India if he stayed in India for 182 days or more.

• The voyage is undertaken by an Indian ship engaged in the carriage of passengers in international traffic,
originating from a port in India (i.e., the Chennai port) and having its destination at a port outside India (i.e.,
the Singapore port). Hence, the voyage is an eligible voyage for the purposes of section 6(1).

• Therefore, the period beginning from 6th June, 2021 and ending on 9th December, 2021, being the dates
entered into the Continuous Discharge Certificate in respect of joining the ship and signing off from the ship
by Mr. Anand, an Indian citizen who is a member of the crew of the ship, has to be excluded for computing
the period of his stay in India. Accordingly, 187 days [25+31+31+30+31+30+9] have to be excluded from the
period of his stay in India. Consequently, Mr. Anand’s period of stay in India during the P.Y. 2020- 21 would be
178 days [i.e., 365 days – 187 days]. Since his period of stay in India during the P.Y. 2021-22 is less than 182
days, he is a non-resident for A.Y. 2022-23.
Q 2 Brett Lee, an Australian cricket player visits India for 100 days in every financial year. This has been his practice
for the past 10 financial years.
(a) Find out his residential status for the assessment year 2022-23.
(b) Would your answer change if the above facts relate to Srinath, an Indian citizen who resides in Australia
and represents the Australian cricket team?
(c) What would be your answer if Srinath had visited India for 120 days instead of 100 days every year,
including P.Y.2021-22?

(a) Determination of Residential Status of Mr. Brett Lee for the A.Y. 2022-23:-
Period of stay during previous year 2021-22 = 100 days

Calculation of period of stay during 4 preceding previous years (100 x 4=400 days)

2020-21 100 days

2019-20 100 days
2018-19 100 days
2017-18 100 days
Total 400 days
Mr. Brett Lee has been in India for a period more than 60 days during previous year 2021-22 and for a period of
more than 365 days during the 4 immediately preceding previous years. Therefore, since he satisfies one of the
basic conditions under section 6(1), he is a resident for the assessment year 2021-22.
Computation of period of stay during 7 preceding previous years = 100 x 7=700 days
2020-21 100 days
2019-20 100 days
2018-19 100 days
2017-18 100 days
2016-17 100 days
2015-16 100 days
2014-15 100 days
Total 700 days

Since his period of stay in India during the past 7 previous years is less than 730 days, he is a not-ordinarily resident
during the assessment year 2022-23. (See Note below)
Therefore, Mr. Brett Lee is a resident but not ordinarily resident during the previous year 2020-21 relevant to the
assessment year 2022-23.

(b) If the above facts relate to Mr. Srinath, an Indian citizen, who residing in Australia, comes on a visit to India, he
would be treated as non-resident in India, irrespective of his total income (excluding income from foreign sources),
since his stay in India in the current financial year is, in any case, less than 120 days.
 (c) In this case, if Srinath’s total income (excluding income from foreign sources) exceeds ` 15 lakh, he would be
treated as resident but not ordinarily resident in India for P.Y.2020-21, since his stay in India is 120 days in the
P.Y.2020-21 and 480 days (i.e., 120 days x 4 years) in the immediately four preceding previous years.

If his total income (excluding income from foreign sources) does not exceed Rs 15 lakh, he would be treated as
non-resident in India for the P.Y.2020-21, since his stay in India is less than 182 days in the P.Y.2020-21.

Q 3. Mr. B, a Canadian citizen, comes to India for the first time during the P.Y. 2017-18. During the financial years
2017-18, 2018-19 2019-20 ,2020-21, and 2021-22 he was in India for 55 days, 60 days, 90 days, 150 days and 70
days, respectively. Determine his residential status for the A.Y. 2022-23.

SOLUTION

During the previous year 2021-22, Mr. B was in India for 70 days and during the 4 years preceding the previous
year 2020-21, he was in India for 355 days (i.e. 55 + 60 + 90 + 150 days).
Thus, he does not satisfy section 6(1). Therefore, he is a non-resident for the previous year 2021-22.
Q 4. The business of a HUF is transacted from Australia and all the policy decisions are taken there. Mr.
E, the Karta of the HUF, who was born in Kolkata, visits India during the P.Y. 2021-22 after 15 years. He
comes to India on 1.4.2021 and leaves for Australia on 1.12.2021. Determine the residential status of
Mr. E and the HUF for A.Y. 2022-23.

SOLUTION
a) During the P.Y. 2020-21, Mr. E has stayed in India for 245 days (i.e. 30+31+30+31+31+ 30+31+30+1
days). Therefore, he is a resident. However, since he has come to India after 15 years, he does not
satisfy the condition for being ordinarily resident.
Therefore, the residential status of Mr. E for the P.Y. 2020-21 is resident but not ordinarily resident.

b) Since the business of the HUF is transacted from Australia and policy decisions are taken there, it is
assumed that the control and management is in Australia i.e., the control and management is wholly
outside India. Therefore, the HUF is a non-resident for the P.Y. 2021-22.
Q 5. Compute the total income in the hands of an individual aged 35 years, being a resident and ordinarily resident,
resident but not ordinarily resident, and non-resident for the A.Y. 2022-23 –

Particulars Amount (`)

Interest on UK Development Bonds, 50% of interest received in India 10,000
Income from a business in Chennai (50% is received in India) 20,000
Short term capital gains on sale of shares of an Indian company received in London 20,000
Dividend from British company received in London 5,000
Long term capital gains on sale of plant at Germany, 50% of profits are received in India 40,000
Income earned from business in Germany which is controlled from Delhi (` 40,000 is received in
India) 70,000
Profits from a business in Delhi but managed entirely from London 15,000
Income from house property in London deposited in a Bank at London, brought to India (Computed) 50,000
Interest on debentures in an Indian company received in London 12,000
Fees for technical services rendered in India but received in London 8,000
Profits from a business in Mumbai managed from London 26,000
Income from property situated in Nepal received there (Computed) 16,000
Past foreign untaxed income brought to India during the previous year 5,000
Income from agricultural land in Nepal, received there and then brought to India 18,000
Income from profession in Kenya which was set up in India, received there but spent in
India 5,000

Gift received on the occasion of his wedding 20,000

Interest on savings bank deposit in State Bank of India 12,000
Income from a business in Russia, controlled from Russia 20,000
Dividend from Reliance Petroleum Limited, an Indian Company 5,000
Agricultural income from a land in Rajasthan 15,000
 R.O.R R.N.O.R N.R (Rs)
(Rs) (Rs)
Particulars
Interest on UK Development Bonds, 50% of interest received in 10,000 5,000 5,000
India
Income from a business in Chennai (50% is received in India) 20,000 20,000 20,000
Short term capital gains on sale of shares of an Indian company 20,000 20,000 20,000
received in London
Dividend from British company received in London 5,000 - -
Long term Capital gains on sale of plant at Germany, 50% of 40,000 20,000 20,000
profits are received in India
Income earned from business in Germany which is controlled 70,000 70,000 40,000
from Delhi, out of which ` 40,000 is received in India
Profits from a business in Delhi but managed entirely from 15,000 15,000 15,000
London
Income from house property in London 50,000 - -
deposited in a Bank at London, later on remitted to India
Interest on debentures in an Indian company received in 12,000 12,000 12,000
London
Fees for technical services rendered in India but received in 8,000 8,000 8,000
London
Profits from a business in Mumbai 26,000 26,000 26,000
managed from London
Income from property situated in Nepal and received there 16,000 - -
Past foreign untaxed income brought to India during the
previous year - - -

Income from agricultural land in Nepal, received there and

then brought to India 18,000 - -

Income from profession in Kenya which was set up in India,

received there but spent in India 5,000 5,000 -

Gift received on the occasion of his wedding [not taxable] - - -

Interest on savings bank deposit in State Bank of India 12,000 12,000 12,000
Income from a business in Russia, controlled from Russia 20,000 - -
Dividend from Reliance Petroleum Limited, an
Indian Company 5,000 5,000 5,000

Agricultural income from a land in - - -

Rajasthan [Exempt under section 10(1)]
Gross Total Income 3,52,000 2,18,000 1,83,000
Less: Deduction under section 80TTA
[Interest on savings bank account subject to a maximum of
`10,000] 10,000 10,000 10,000
Total Income 3,42,000 2,08,000 1,73,000