A 60-minute call with a CPA who knows US and Indian tax
Most US CPAs don't work with NRE accounts, and most Indian CAs don't file US returns. We answer the questions that involve both countries.
Many NRIs have two tax preparers who never talk to each other. Your US CPA in New Jersey may be very good with AMT and the Section 199A pass-through deduction but has never seen an NRO TDS certificate or a Section 24(b) interest deduction. Your CA in Mumbai may prepare your Indian return well and know the 12.5% LTCG rule, but has never filed Schedule B and doesn't know the DTAA tie-breaker test. So questions that involve both countries go unanswered. For example: should you claim the home loan interest deduction in India this year? Does a US passive activity loss carryover affect your Indian rental income?
The Cross-Border Tax Consult is a one-hour call with a CPA who has worked on US-India tax situations for 12 years. We don't prepare your return or replace your current preparer. We answer the questions that involve both countries. Common topics include DTAA tie-breaker analysis when you claim Indian tax residency, RSU vest timing when you move from the US to India, the Section 121 exclusion when you sell a US home before moving, planning around the RNOR period for people moving back, and Roth conversion timing when the conversion year overlaps with an RNOR year.
How it works
- Step 1Email us to bookTell us your time zone, the times that suit you, and the question or decision you want help with.
- Step 2Send your returnsYour recent returns and a one-page summary of your question. We send you a template for the summary.
- Step 3The call, then a memoA 60-minute call on the decisions you need to make. A written memo follows within 3 business days.
Come to the call with a list of the specific decisions you need to make. The memo sums up the advice, cites the relevant treaty article or code section, and says whether anything needs to be done before December 31. You can share it with your preparer or keep it for your records.
What this does not include
This is not return preparation, ongoing tax filing, or legal advice. It does not replace an enrolled agent or attorney for IRS examinations, audits, or formal disputes. For Streamlined Offshore Disclosure or an active IRS dispute, we refer you to a partner firm.
Our recommendation
If you might move back to India in the next two years, book the consult in October or November, before the tax year ends. Roth conversions, RSU sales, and 401(k) decisions all have December 31 deadlines. If you wait until April, after you have moved, it will be too late for some of them.
How this compares
| This consult | Your US CPA | Your CA in India | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $99 for 60 minutes | Varies | Varies |
| US tax rules | Yes | Yes | Usually not |
| Indian tax rules | Yes | Usually not | Yes |
| Questions that involve both countries | This is what the call is for | Often outside their work | Often outside their work |
| Written memo | Yes, within 3 business days | Varies | Varies |
| Prepares your return | No | Yes, the US return | Yes, the Indian return |
Common questions
Yes, at no extra charge. Most of these decisions affect your whole household.
Yes. Within 3 business days you get a 1 to 2 page memo that sums up what we discussed and any steps we recommend.
No. Active IRS examination requires representation by an enrolled agent or attorney with formal Power of Attorney. We refer those cases.