PAN and Aadhaar for non-residents — can I handle this myself?
Some of it, yes — and we will say so on the call if that is the honest answer. The parts that are worth paying for are the ones where a missed election, a missed deadline or an unverified threshold costs more than the fee: the non-resident application route has its own documentation and attestation rules, and the biometric identifier requirements differ for non-residents.
What if I have already filed and got it wrong?
That is a common starting point. We re-derive the position, identify whether an amendment or a disclosure route is the right vehicle, and tell you which one preserves the relief that is still available. The order matters more than the speed.
How long will it take?
It depends on the documents rather than on us. Once the pack is complete most filings turn around inside a fortnight; anything that needs a certificate from a tax authority runs on that authority's timetable, which we tell you at the start rather than at the end.
Does a non-resident Indian still need a PAN card?
A PAN is generally required for a non-resident who has Indian-source income, holds Indian investments or property, or needs to file an Indian tax return, regardless of where they now live. The application process and required supporting documents differ from those for a resident applicant, since proof of address and identity has to reflect the person's non-resident status. We confirm whether a given non-resident's activity actually requires one before starting the application.
Is Aadhaar required for an NRI to file an Indian return?
Aadhaar is generally not compulsory for a non-resident filing an Indian tax return, and PAN remains the primary identifier used for that purpose. Some Indian services and portals still prompt for Aadhaar, which can cause confusion for someone who never enrolled or whose enrolment predates a move abroad. We clarify which identifier is actually needed for a given filing or transaction so a non-resident is not asked to obtain something the law does not require of them.
What changes for PAN once someone becomes a non-resident?
The PAN number itself does not change when someone's residency status changes, but the details tied to it, such as address and contact information, should be updated to reflect the move. Failing to update these can cause mismatches with bank or investment records that later complicate a filing or a repatriation request. We review a client's PAN-linked records against their current non-resident status as part of any broader filing engagement.
How does a non-resident file a tax return?
On the non-resident form for that country, reporting only the income that country may tax. In the US that is the 1040-NR; in Canada it is a T1 restricted to Canadian-source amounts, plus the elective returns under sections 216 and 217 where withholding on rent or pension income exceeded the real tax. The commonest error is filing the resident form by default and reporting worldwide income to a country with no right to it. See Form 1040-NR.
How does the treaty tie-breaker work when both countries say I am resident?
As a sequence, stopping at the first test that gives an answer: where you have a permanent home available; if in both or neither, where your centre of vital interests is; then habitual abode; then nationality; and if all of those tie, the two tax authorities decide by agreement. It is evidential rather than elective — you do not choose your treaty residence, you demonstrate it, which makes the record of homes, family and time the substance of the claim. See tie-breaking dual residency.
