u/shivamg783

**Context:**
\- Indian tax resident (previously lived in US)
\- Already have USD sitting in Bank of America (not remitting fresh money from India)
\- IBKR India appears to block crypto-related ETFs
\- Exploring Firstrade or IBKR US account to buy IBIT / DAPP

**Questions**:

1. Has any Indian tax resident here successfully bought IBIT / DAPP (or other US BTC ETFs) through a US broker?

2. Which broker worked (Firstrade / Schwab / IBKR LLC / others)?

3. Has anyone received a CA opinion or actually filed taxes on this? If yes, was it treated as:
   Foreign security capital gains (normal rules), or
   VDA (30%)?

4. Any practical compliance issues:
   \- Schedule FA disclosure
   \- Foreign account reporting
   \- Repatriation / documentation
   \- Does being an Indian resident itself create any restriction on holding US-listed BTC ETFs even if funds are already outside India?

**Current understanding (please challenge if incorrect):**

\- Direct crypto in India → VDA regime.
\- Unclear whether US-listed spot BTC ETFs are treated identically.
\- Existing overseas funds may be operationally different from fresh outward remittance.
\- Will get CA review before executing.

Looking for actual execution experience / CA input.

34M, India, married
20–25 year FIRE horizon

Allocation:

US Core (CSPX) ............. 30%
US Growth (CNDX) ........... 15%
Developed ex-US (IMAE) ..... 10%
US Infrastructure (PAVE) ... 5%

India Passive .............. 20%
\- Nifty 50 ................. 30%
\- Nifty Next 50 ............ 25%
\- Midcap 150 ............... 20%
\- Momentum 30 .............. 15%
\- Small Cap ................ 10%

India Active ............... 5%
Bitcoin (IBIT) ............. 10%
Gold (SGB) ................. 5%

Total US exposure .......... 60%
Total India exposure ....... 25%
Alternatives ............... 15%

Execution is monthly DCA via IBKR + Groww.

A few principles behind the design:

- USD-tilted for global diversification and currency exposure
- UCITS accumulating ETFs for tax-efficient compounding
- Mostly passive, with a small active sleeve
- Bitcoin capped at 10%
- Gold for portfolio stability
- No tactical trading or market timing

Looking for honest criticism rather than validation:

- What is the biggest weakness in this structure?
- What would you remove first if forced to simplify?
- Is 25% India exposure reasonable for an India-based investor?
- Is 10% Bitcoin sensible or excessive for a FIRE portfolio?
- Does the 5% PAVE allocation add value or just complexity?

Appreciate any feedback from people who have been investing for a decade+ or are already on the FIRE path.

34M, India, married
20–25 year FIRE horizon

Allocation:

US Core (CSPX) ............. 30%
US Growth (CNDX) ........... 15%
Developed ex-US (IMAE) ..... 10%
US Infrastructure (PAVE) ... 5%

India Passive .............. 20%
- Nifty 50 ................. 30%
- Nifty Next 50 ............ 25%
- Midcap 150 ............... 20%
- Momentum 30 .............. 15%
- Small Cap ................ 10%

India Active ............... 5%
Bitcoin (IBIT) ............. 10%
Gold (SGB) ................. 5%

Total US exposure .......... 60%
Total India exposure ....... 25%
Alternatives ............... 15%

Main questions:

1. Is this over-engineered?
2. Is 25% India too much/too little?
3. Is 10% Bitcoin too aggressive?
4. Does PAVE add value?
5. What would you remove first?

Trying to sanity-check my understanding before finalizing things with my CA/CPA. Looking for people who’ve actually handled similar US → India return situations.

\*\*Background\*\*
Indian citizen
Moved to US on F1 in Sept 2016
Later moved to H1B
Returned permanently to India around 8 Dec 2024
No US visits during calendar year 2025
H1B expired Sept 2024
Never had Green Card

\*\*Current Residential Status Understanding\*\*
FY 2024–25 → likely NR in India
FY 2025–26 → likely RNOR
FY 2026–27 onward → likely ROR

\*\*Major Transactions / Events\*\*
\*\*Sept 19, 2025 — Major Liquidation (while physically in India)\*\*

Sold:
US stocks via Robinhood
Crypto via Robinhood + Coinbase
Important:
Sale proceeds stayed in Bank of America USA account. Funds not remitted to India yet

US side:
Filed 2025 US taxes as 1040-NR
No US capital gains tax paid/withheld on stocks or crypto
Only dividend withholding applied

\*\*Apr 18, 2026 — Roth IRA Dissolution\*\*
Zero US withholding
DTAA position used during withdrawal process

\*\*Apr/May 2026 — ETH Sale (\\\~$2,400)\*\*
Sold after likely becoming ROR

\*\*Main Questions\*\*
\*\*RNOR / India Taxation\*\*

\\- During RNOR period, are foreign stock gains generally outside Indian taxation if proceeds stayed abroad?

\\- Does physically being in India at the time of liquidation materially affect sourcing/taxability analysis?

\\- Is crypto treated differently from foreign stocks in RNOR cases?

\\- Does Schedule FA apply during RNOR for foreign accounts/assets?

\*\*Roth IRA\*\*
How are people practically handling Roth IRA withdrawals/distributions after becoming ROR in India?

Does India generally recognize the Roth’s tax-free nature under treaty interpretation, or are people paying slab tax in India?

\*\*US Filing Position\*\*
For 2025:
Is 1040-NR generally the correct filing position after permanently leaving US and having zero US days?

\*\*FBAR\*\*
Was FBAR likely required for calendar year 2024 given H1B status + return to India in Dec 2024?

Likely no FBAR requirement for 2025 after filing as NRA / 1040-NR?

\*\*Post-ROR Investing\*\*
Once fully ROR:
best practices for reporting IBKR/global investments?
handling US ETFs/dividends?
crypto taxation/reporting best practices?
any common mistakes to avoid?

Not looking for formal legal advice — mainly trying to understand how people/CPAs are practically interpreting these situations in real-world filings and audits.

Trying to sanity-check my understanding before finalizing things with my CA/CPA. Looking for people who’ve actually handled similar US → India return situations.

**Background**
Indian citizen
Moved to US on F1 in Sept 2016
Later moved to H1B
Returned permanently to India around 8 Dec 2024
No US visits during calendar year 2025
H1B expired Sept 2024
Never had Green Card

**Current Residential Status Understanding**
FY 2024–25 → likely NR in India
FY 2025–26 → likely RNOR
FY 2026–27 onward → likely ROR

**Major Transactions / Events**
**Sept 19, 2025 — Major Liquidation (while physically in India)**

Sold:
US stocks via Robinhood
Crypto via Robinhood + Coinbase
Important:
Sale proceeds stayed in Bank of America USA account. Funds not remitted to India yet

US side:
Filed 2025 US taxes as 1040-NR
No US capital gains tax paid/withheld on stocks or crypto
Only dividend withholding applied

**Apr 18, 2026 — Roth IRA Dissolution**
Zero US withholding
DTAA position used during withdrawal process

**Apr/May 2026 — ETH Sale (\~$2,400)**
Sold after likely becoming ROR

**Main Questions**
**RNOR / India Taxation**

\- During RNOR period, are foreign stock gains generally outside Indian taxation if proceeds stayed abroad?

\- Does physically being in India at the time of liquidation materially affect sourcing/taxability analysis?

\- Is crypto treated differently from foreign stocks in RNOR cases?

\- Does Schedule FA apply during RNOR for foreign accounts/assets?

**Roth IRA**
How are people practically handling Roth IRA withdrawals/distributions after becoming ROR in India?

Does India generally recognize the Roth’s tax-free nature under treaty interpretation, or are people paying slab tax in India?

**US Filing Position**
For 2025:
Is 1040-NR generally the correct filing position after permanently leaving US and having zero US days?

**FBAR**
Was FBAR likely required for calendar year 2024 given H1B status + return to India in Dec 2024?

Likely no FBAR requirement for 2025 after filing as NRA / 1040-NR?

**Post-ROR Investing**
Once fully ROR:
best practices for reporting IBKR/global investments?
handling US ETFs/dividends?
crypto taxation/reporting best practices?
any common mistakes to avoid?

Not looking for formal legal advice — mainly trying to understand how people/CPAs are practically interpreting these situations in real-world filings and audits.

Trying to sanity-check my understanding before finalizing things with my CA/CPA. Looking for people who’ve actually handled similar US → India return situations.

**Background**
Indian citizen
Moved to US on F1 in Sept 2016
Later moved to H1B
Returned permanently to India around 8 Dec 2024
No US visits during calendar year 2025
H1B expired Sept 2024
Never had Green Card

**Current Residential Status Understanding**
FY 2024–25 → likely NR in India
FY 2025–26 → likely RNOR
FY 2026–27 onward → likely ROR

**Major Transactions / Events**
**Sept 19, 2025 — Major Liquidation (while physically in India)**

Sold:
US stocks via Robinhood
Crypto via Robinhood + Coinbase
Important:
Sale proceeds stayed in Bank of America USA account. Funds not remitted to India yet

US side:
Filed 2025 US taxes as 1040-NR
No US capital gains tax paid/withheld on stocks or crypto
Only dividend withholding applied

**Apr 18, 2026 — Roth IRA Dissolution**
Zero US withholding
DTAA position used during withdrawal process

**Apr/May 2026 — ETH Sale (\~$2,400)**
Sold after likely becoming ROR

**Main Questions**
**RNOR / India Taxation**

\- During RNOR period, are foreign stock gains generally outside Indian taxation if proceeds stayed abroad?

\- Does physically being in India at the time of liquidation materially affect sourcing/taxability analysis?

\- Is crypto treated differently from foreign stocks in RNOR cases?

\- Does Schedule FA apply during RNOR for foreign accounts/assets?

**Roth IRA**
How are people practically handling Roth IRA withdrawals/distributions after becoming ROR in India?

Does India generally recognize the Roth’s tax-free nature under treaty interpretation, or are people paying slab tax in India?

**US Filing Position**
For 2025:
Is 1040-NR generally the correct filing position after permanently leaving US and having zero US days?

**FBAR**
Was FBAR likely required for calendar year 2024 given H1B status + return to India in Dec 2024?

Likely no FBAR requirement for 2025 after filing as NRA / 1040-NR?

**Post-ROR Investing**
Once fully ROR:
best practices for reporting IBKR/global investments?
handling US ETFs/dividends?
crypto taxation/reporting best practices?
any common mistakes to avoid?

Not looking for formal legal advice — mainly trying to understand how people/CPAs are practically interpreting these situations in real-world filings and audits.

**Final Allocation (₹50k/month):**
• **Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250** — 40% — ₹20,000/month
→ Primary India growth engine

• **Motilal Oswal Nifty Midcap 150** — 20% — ₹10,000/month
→ Growth + survivability balance

• **UTI Nifty Next 50** — 20% — ₹10,000/month
→ Future large-cap leaders

• **UTI Nifty200 Momentum 30** — 15% — ₹7,500/month
→ Factor diversification / trend capture

• **UTI Nifty 50** — 5% — ₹2,500/month
→ Stability + liquidity ballast during crashes

**Goal:**
Maximize long-term India equity compounding through passive SIP investing.

Separate USD stock exposure and active Indian stock portfolio already exist, so this is purely the India passive allocation bucket.

Long horizon, high risk tolerance, comfortable with major drawdowns and multi-year recovery periods.

**Main Questions:**
\- Any structural weakness in this setup?

\- Is 40% Smallcap too aggressive even for long-term investing?

\- Would you increase/decrease Momentum or Nifty 50 allocation?

\- If your ONLY objective was maximizing long-term India equity wealth creation, what would you change?

Hello,
Did anyone had a luck opening a RFC account here in India? Mostly banks are denying as they’ve never opened one around my area. Any suggestions?