Under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), resident Indians may invest up to $250,000 per year abroad. Routes: direct US brokers (Interactive Brokers, Schwab International), Indian apps with US access (INDmoney, Dhan, Vested and more — see all verified routes), or US-focused feeder mutual funds/ETFs. INDmoney also lists LSE-traded Global UCITS ETFs (MSCI World / ACWI) for one-ticket worldwide equity exposure — LRS/TCS/forex still apply. (Groww discontinued US investing in Sep 2024.)
Costs that surprise beginners
- TCS: 20% collected at source above ₹10 lakh/year remittance (adjustable against income tax, but a cash-flow hit).
- Forex spread: 0.5–1.5% each way on most apps.
- US dividend withholding: 25% flat for Indians.
- Indian tax: US-stock gains are taxed as capital gains in India (short/long-term rules apply).
Our US investing hub compares routes once broker reviews go live.
Educational content, not financial advice. Tax rules change — confirm with a CA.
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