How this works
For every year you might return, from now to ten years away, we grow your savings abroad, convert them to rupees at the exchange rate you set, and take off conversion costs and tax on your profits. We add what you hold in India and subtract the cost of settling back. Then we live your life in India year by year: spending rises with inflation, any job income comes in after Indian tax, and your money earns the return you set. We find the smallest amount that lasts to the end of your plan. If you would bring home more than that, you are ready.
The best year to return
Each extra year abroad adds savings and lets your money grow, but it also adds a year of life in another country and shortens your time in India. The table shows the first year your money covers the life you want, and how much more each later year adds. If you could return now, it also shows how much monthly spending your money could support.
Retirement accounts
Taking money out of a retirement account before the allowed age usually means tax and a penalty. In the US, early withdrawals before age 59½ carry a 10% penalty on top of tax. Many returnees leave the account abroad and use it later, so that is the default here. Choose “cash them out” to see what you would lose.
What changes when you come back to India
- Your residential status for Indian tax changes, and for a few years you may be treated as a resident but not ordinarily resident, which can limit tax on income earned abroad. The rules are detailed, so check yours.
- Once you are a resident, income and gains from foreign assets are generally taxable in India and must be reported, including accounts and investments abroad.
- Your NRE and FCNR accounts and other NRI products need to be converted or closed according to the rules.
- Costs such as schools, healthcare and housing are often the biggest jumps, so put them into your monthly spending.
Frequently asked questions
Why leave money abroad instead of bringing it home?
For retirement accounts, leaving the money avoids early-withdrawal penalties. For normal savings, a higher return in India (and a weaker rupee over time) can favour bringing it home, but selling investments can trigger tax abroad, and a currency move can help or hurt. The tax and costs section shows what you lose by moving money.
What if I plan to work in India?
Enter your expected yearly CTC. Your take-home pay after Indian tax then pays for part of your spending, so you need a much smaller starting amount. The calculator keeps counting the job until the age you choose.
Does the result include my home abroad?
No. If you plan to sell a home, add the money you expect to receive to your savings, after costs and tax.
What about children, education and healthcare?
Add them to your monthly spending in India. School fees and health insurance are the costs that surprise most families.