Leaving India? See How Much You'd Keep
India's top tax rate of 30% plus surcharge (up to 37%) and 4% cess pushes the effective rate above 42% for high earners. Compare your take-home pay across low-tax destinations.
Annual Savings by Destination
Estimated additional take-home pay compared to staying in India, based on ₹2 crore annual income (~US $240,000).
| Destination | Est. Annual Savings |
|---|---|
| 🇦🇪UAE | +₹66 lakh |
| 🇲🇾Malaysia | +₹66 lakh |
| 🇰🇾Cayman Islands | +₹66 lakh |
| 🇧🇸Bahamas | +₹66 lakh |
| 🇹🇨Turks & Caicos | +₹66 lakh |
| 🇻🇺Vanuatu | +₹66 lakh |
| 🇲🇨Monaco | +₹66 lakh |
| 🇬🇪Georgia | +₹64 lakh |
| 🇵🇦Panama | +₹62 lakh |
| 🇹🇭Thailand | +₹48 lakh |
| 🇵🇹Portugal | +₹33 lakh |
| 🇸🇬Singapore | +₹27 lakh |
Calculate Your Exact Savings
Enter your income and see a side-by-side breakdown for every destination in under 30 seconds.
Open the Calculator →How Indian Tax Residency Works
India determines tax residency based on physical presence. Under the primary test, you are a resident if you are in India for 182 days or more during the financial year (April 1 to March 31). A secondary test applies to Indian citizens and PIOs with Indian income exceeding Rs 15 lakh: you may be deemed resident if you are in India for 60 or more days and 365 or more days in the preceding 4 years.
NRI (Non-Resident Indian) status is achieved by staying outside India for 182 or more days in a financial year. As an NRI, you are only taxed on income that is earned in or received in India. All foreign-source income is completely exempt from Indian tax.
NRE vs NRO Accounts: What You Need to Know
Upon becoming an NRI, you must convert your resident savings accounts to NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) accounts. Interest on NRO accounts is taxable in India at applicable rates. You can also open NRE (Non-Resident External) accounts for your foreign earnings; interest on NRE accounts is completely tax-free in India and the principal is freely repatriable.
The Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) allows Indian residents to remit up to $250,000 per financial year abroad. TCS (Tax Collected at Source) of 20% applies on remittances above Rs 7 lakh for investment purposes, though this is creditable against your final tax liability.
Why High Earners Are Leaving India
Under the New Tax Regime, India's income tax rates range from 0% to 30%, but the effective rate climbs much higher with surcharges (up to 37% on income above Rs 5 crore) and a 4% health and education cess. For high earners, the effective marginal rate exceeds 42%.
Combined with capital gains taxes, Securities Transaction Tax, and the TCS on foreign remittances, India's tax burden for professionals in tech, finance, and business is substantial. The UAE (with its large Indian diaspora), Singapore, Malaysia, and Georgia offer dramatically lower rates with established visa pathways.
Compare India vs Low-Tax Destinations
See detailed tax breakdowns at multiple income levels for the most popular destinations for Indian expats:
Essential Tools for Expats
Services that make the transition easier
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become an NRI?
Stay outside India for 182 or more days in a financial year (April to March). For Indian citizens with income above Rs 15 lakh, be aware of the stricter 60-day secondary test when visiting India.
What income is still taxed as an NRI?
Indian-source income only: salary earned in India, rental income from Indian property, capital gains on Indian assets, NRO account interest, and business income from Indian operations. Foreign income is fully exempt.
What about NRE and NRO accounts?
NRE accounts hold foreign earnings with tax-free interest and full repatriability. NRO accounts hold Indian income with taxable interest. Convert resident accounts to NRO upon becoming an NRI.
What is TCS on foreign remittance?
20% TCS applies on foreign remittances above Rs 7 lakh under LRS. This is a credit against your tax liability, not a final tax. It applies while you are still a resident making remittances before departure.