How to File a US Tax Return From India?

AB Posted by: Aniket Bansal
• 26 September, 2025
7 Reply

Here is the step-by-step process to file your US tax returns from India. 

1. First, you need to choose the right form: 

  • Form 1040-NR for the non-resident aliens
  • Form 8843 for the students and scholars claiming the tax exemptions
  • Form 8833 for claiming the US tax treaty benefits.
  • Schedule OI, form mentioning additional information for the NRIs. 

2. Then you need to file your tax return for the e-filing digital tax filing platforms, which are the fastest and most accurate tax filing platforms. Here are some of the best tax filing services which you can use: Spintax, TurboTax, and H&R. 

  • After choosing tax filing services, you need to organize your documents for filing US tax returns. 
  • You need to make separate folders for W-2s, property records, bank statements, and 1099s. 
  • You should have a scanned copy of the tax documents. 
  •  You must store previous years' records and show them in case of an IRS audit.

Tags : US Tax Return From India, US Tax Return

  • Shabbir degana 26 June, 2026

    I've been working in Hyderabad since 2022 and usually consult both an Indian chartered accountant and a US tax advisor. My goal is to make sure the information reported in both countries is consistent.

    The advice I received was to keep detailed records of income, investment statements, and taxes paid throughout the year instead of trying to collect everything at tax time.

    If you're filing from India for the first time, I'd recommend starting well before the filing deadline. International tax reporting can involve additional forms depending on your circumstances, and requirements may change from year to year.

  • Niranjan Harishchandra 19 June, 2026

    I file my own US return from Chennai using tax software. The software guided me through most of the questions, but I still spent time reading the IRS instructions before submitting anything.

    One thing I found helpful was maintaining a spreadsheet with my monthly salary, exchange rates, and taxes paid in India. It made it much easier to calculate my annual figures when filing.

    I also reviewed whether I had any foreign account reporting requirements because I held multiple Indian bank accounts. Those rules are separate from filing the tax return, so they're worth checking carefully each year.

  • Ramesh Babu Thondepu 11 June, 2026

    I've been living in Bengaluru for about four years and continue filing my US tax return every year. My income is entirely from my employer in India, so I also file an Indian tax return.

    The first year was definitely the most confusing because I had to understand the interaction between US and Indian tax rules. I ended up hiring a tax professional who specializes in expatriate tax filings, and that made things much easier.

    I kept copies of my Indian salary slips, Form 16, Indian tax payment records, and year-end bank statements. Having everything organized saved a lot of time when preparing the US return.

  • Gauri Saxena 01 October, 2025

    To get tax treaty benefits on the interest income, you can submit Form W-8BEN, for the investment income, and Form 8233 for the salary income. 

    Business and salary income can be deducted under Article 16 of the treaty.

  • harshit khandelwal 29 September, 2025

    Please tell me about the necessary documents for filing the US NRI tax returns?

    • SJ
      Shubham Jain 29 September, 2025

      Here is the list of documents that you will need to fill out our NRI US tax returns. 

       

      1. Mandatory Documents

      • Form W-2 if you are receiving a salary in the US. 
      • Form 1099, for the investment income, dividends, self-employment, and interests. 
      • Form 1099-NEC, if you are earning more than 600$ as an independent contractor. 

       

      2. Documents Required for Account Reporting and Foreign Income

      • If you have a foreign bank account of more than 10,000$, then you need to submit FBAR (FinCEN Form 114). 
      • If your financial limits are more than IRS limits, then you need to submit Form 8938.
      • To receive income from India, you need to submit Indian Income Tax Returns (ITR). 

       

      3. Other Supporting Documents

      • You need to submit a visa and a passport. 
      • ITIN or SSN. 
      • Your Statements of Investments. 
      • Form DS-2019 (J-1) or Form I-20 (F-1). 

       

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