Tax impact in usa for dividend paid in india

This query is : Resolved 

11 April 2013 Hey,

What will be the Tax impact on an individual (citizen of USA & RNOR for India)who got dividend in India and same income is exempt to him in India & what will be effect of the same in USA Tax?

Will he be liable to pay tax on the exempt
(in India)dividend in USA ??

Regards & Thanks

11 April 2013 In USA he shall need to pay tax on the same however whether NRI can avail any benifit of Dividend Distribution Tax under India-USA Treaty , needs to be checked.

Anuj
femaquery@gmail.com

12 April 2013 Can you also inform me, where should I search for this in DTAA of India & USA ? Any Specific Article on DDT claim in DTAA ?

26 July 2025 Great question about cross-border tax on dividends!

Here’s a detailed breakdown:

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### 1. **Dividend Income in India for US Citizen (RNOR in India)**

* India **exempts dividend income** paid to shareholders under **Section 10(34)** (from companies on which Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT) is paid).
* So, **no tax liability in India** on dividends received by you.

---

### 2. **Taxation of Indian Dividends in the USA**

* The USA taxes its residents and citizens on their **global income**, regardless of source.
* Therefore, **dividends received from India will be taxable in the USA**.
* The exempt status in India does not automatically mean exempt in the USA.

---

### 3. **DTAA (Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement) between India & USA**

* The India-USA DTAA **does not specifically provide relief on DDT for dividends**.
* It provides **relief by way of credit** for taxes paid in India against US tax liability.
* Since India doesn’t tax dividend income directly (DDT is paid by the company), you won’t get a credit for DDT paid by the Indian company.
* So, the dividend income is taxable in the US, with no direct tax paid on that income in India, meaning no credit.

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### 4. **Where to Check in the India-USA DTAA**

* **Article 10** deals with **Dividends**.
* It specifies withholding tax rates and taxation rights.
* For example, if India withholds tax on dividends, the treaty limits the withholding rate (typically 15%).
* But since India exempts dividends by paying DDT at company level, no withholding applies to you.

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### 5. **Summary**

| Aspect | India Tax Treatment | USA Tax Treatment | DTAA Impact |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| Dividend Income | Exempt (due to DDT paid by company) | Taxable as global income | No credit for DDT, but credit for withholding tax if any |
| Claiming credit in USA | No direct tax paid by you in India | Full US tax liability applies | Credit available only if tax paid in India on dividends |

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### Final Notes:

* **You must report the dividend income in your US tax return (Form 1040).**
* You may get **foreign tax credit only if India deducts withholding tax** on dividends paid to you, but since India exempts dividend income via DDT, this is unlikely.
* Consult a US tax advisor familiar with international tax to ensure proper reporting.

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If you want, I can help find the exact text of Article 10 in the India-USA DTAA or help draft a summary for your US tax advisor. Would you like that?


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