Seamless remittances
Apps integrate with Indian banks so the LRS wire is a few taps instead of a branch visit and a paper A2 form.
US MARKET ACCESS
LRS / US Demat
Use apps like INDmoney, Vested, or Groww to remit INR under RBI's LRS and trade US equities. The Indian app fronts a US-licensed broker; fractional shares are standard.
- Best for
- Retail / beginners
- Tax
- Indian CGT + TCS (US estate-tax risk)
- Complexity
- Low
- Effort
- Zero setup
[ 01 / THE ROUTE ]
The guided US market route
The most accessible way for Indian residents to buy US-listed stocks directly. Indian neo-brokers and bank-backed platforms handle the LRS wire, KYC, and tax statements; the actual shares sit with a US-licensed clearing partner (typically DriveWealth or Apex Clearing). You get a domestic UX, US-broker custody, and a single tax statement at year end.
[ 02 / WHY IT WORKS ]
Fractional investing
Own a slice of Berkshire Hathaway, Nvidia, or Microsoft for as little as $1. Fractional shares are standard across these platforms.
Pre-built tax reports
Indian-domiciled apps generate income-tax-compliant capital gains and dividend statements. You upload, you don't reconcile.
SIPC protection
Assets sit at the US clearing partner. SIPC covers up to USD 500,000 against broker failure (USD 250,000 of that for cash).
[ 03 / THE NUMBERS ]
Limit / Access
USD 250,000 per resident, per financial year
Tax treatment
STCG at slab (under 24m). LTCG 12.5% over 24m. TCS 20% on remittance above ₹10L per FY.
TCS is creditable against your final tax liability, not an additional cost.
US estate tax risk
Yes. US-situs assets over USD 60,000 may attract estate tax up to 40%.
Ireland-domiciled UCITS equivalents (such as CSPX vs SPY) sit outside US estate tax.
Min ticket
₹1,000+
Fractional shares supported by most providers.
Effort
Zero setup. INR-funded account at an Indian broker partner. KYC online.
[ 04 / WHERE YOU CAN OPEN ONE ]
Leading LRS platforms
Neo-brokers and bank-backed platforms
Editorial mentions only. AskNivesh does not earn referral fees from any provider listed here.
- Type:
- Neo-broker
- Custody:
- DriveWealth
Zero account-opening fees, intuitive UI, automated LRS via SBM Bank, comprehensive net-worth tracker.
- Type:
- Neo-broker
- Custody:
- DriveWealth
Pre-curated 'Vests' (thematic portfolios), strong Indian tax reporting, long-standing platform.
- Type:
- Neo-broker
- Custody:
- Apex Clearing / ViewTrade
Manage Indian MFs, Indian stocks, and US stocks in one app.
- Type:
- Neo-broker
- Custody:
- DriveWealth
INR-funded US stocks; fractional shares; thematic baskets.
Sources and as-of dates
- Limit / Access: RBI Master Direction on LRS (as of 2026-06-05)
- Tax treatment: Income-tax Act Section 206C(1G); Finance (No. 2) Act 2024 capital gains amendments (as of 2026-06-05)
- US estate tax risk: IRS non-residents with US assets (as of 2026-06-05)
- Min ticket: SEC fractional shares bulletin (as of 2026-06-05)