🇬🇧

India-United Kingdom DTAA

Treaty signed: June 25, 1993  |  Effective from: October 25, 1993

● Live · Rates served from /api/tax-rules/dtaa/GB

Dividends

undefined%

Interest

undefined%

Royalties

undefined%

Capital Gains

Fees for Technical Services

undefined%

NRI / Practical Note: UK-resident Indians (NRIs in the UK) with Indian-source income (rent, interest, dividends) can claim the lower DTAA rate instead of standard Indian withholding tax rates. India-sourced income must still be declared in the UK (with credit for Indian taxes). NRI bank accounts (NRE/FCNR) are exempt from Indian tax and may or may not be taxable in the UK depending on remittance basis.

Key Treaty Provisions

  • Comprehensive treaty covering all major income heads: dividends, interest, royalties, FTS, capital gains, pensions
  • UK residents can claim Indian TDS as a credit against UK income tax under the credit method
  • Permanent Establishment (PE) - business profits taxable in India only if UK company has a PE in India
  • The MLI has modified this treaty - Principal Purpose Test (PPT) now applies, denying benefits if the primary purpose was to obtain treaty benefits
  • Pension income: taxable only in the country of residence, not the source country

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DTAA rate for interest income from an NRO fixed deposit for a UK-based NRI?

Under the India-UK DTAA, interest income is taxable in India at 15% (vs standard TDS of 30% for NRIs). You must submit TRC and Form 10F to the bank to claim the lower 15% rate.

I am a UK-based Indian freelancer earning consulting fees from India - what TDS applies?

Fees for Technical Services (FTS) are taxable at 15% under the India-UK DTAA. The Indian payer must deduct TDS at 15% (instead of 20%) if you provide TRC + Form 10F. You then declare this income in the UK and claim a credit for Indian taxes paid.

Does the Principal Purpose Test under MLI affect India-UK DTAA claims?

Yes. India and the UK have both ratified the OECD Multilateral Instrument (MLI). The Principal Purpose Test (PPT) now applies - if tax authorities determine that obtaining a treaty benefit was one of the principal purposes of an arrangement, the benefit can be denied. Genuine investments are unaffected.

Browse all articles

20 articles
Art. 1
Persons Covered

Article 1 of the India-United Kingdom DTAA governs persons covered.

Art. 4
Resident

Article 4 of the India-United Kingdom DTAA governs resident.

Art. 5
Permanent Establishment

Article 5 of the India-United Kingdom DTAA governs permanent establishment.

Art. 7
Business Profits

Article 7 of the India-United Kingdom DTAA governs business profits.

Art. 8
Shipping, Inland Waterways, and Air Transport

Article 8 of the India-United Kingdom DTAA governs shipping, inland waterways, and air transport.

Art. 9
Associated Enterprises

Article 9 of the India-United Kingdom DTAA governs associated enterprises.

Art. 1015%
Dividends

Dividends paid by a company resident in one State to a resident of the other State may be taxed in the recipie

Art. 1115%
Interest

Interest arising in one State and paid to a resident of the other may be taxed in the recipient's State, with

Art. 1215%
Royalties

Royalties paid to a resident of the other State may be taxed in the recipient's State; the source State retain

Art. 12A15%
Fees for Technical Services

FTS - payments for managerial, technical, or consultancy services - are taxed at the treaty rate where a speci

Art. 13
Capital Gains

Article 13 allocates taxing rights over capital gains between India and United Kingdom.

Art. 14
Independent Personal Services

Article 14 of the India-United Kingdom DTAA governs independent personal services.

Art. 15
Income from Employment

Article 15 sets the taxing rights for salaries earned by an employee of one State who works in the other.

Art. 17
Artistes and Sportspersons

Article 17 of the India-United Kingdom DTAA governs artistes and sportspersons.

Art. 18
Pensions

Article 18 of the India-United Kingdom DTAA governs pensions.

Art. 19
Government Service

Article 19 of the India-United Kingdom DTAA governs government service.

Art. 23
Elimination of Double Taxation

Article 23 sets out the mechanism by which double taxation is eliminated - typically through a foreign tax cre

Art. 25
Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP)

MAP allows the competent authorities of India and United Kingdom to resolve disputes - particularly transfer p

Art. 26
Exchange of Information

Allows the competent authorities to exchange information necessary to apply the treaty or domestic tax laws.

Art. 29
Entitlement to Benefits (PPT / LOB)

Treaty benefits are denied where the principal purpose of the transaction was to obtain them.

Free for your first 5 clients - forever

Your CA practice deserves better tools.

Start free, grow at your pace. Migrate from ClearTax or Winman in minutes. No contracts. No per-filing surprises.

500+ CA practices · Setup in under 30 minutes · Data stays in India