LRS / US Demat
UP TO $250,000 / YEAR
Remit under RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme and trade US equities & ETFs via partnered Indian brokers with INR-funded accounts.
The Guided US Market Route
The easiest way for Indian residents to invest directly in the US stock market (NYSE and NASDAQ). Indian neo-brokers and traditional bank brokerages act as your frontend interface, while partnering with US-based clearing firms (like DriveWealth or Apex) to hold your assets securely.
Seamless Remittances
Platforms integrate deeply with Indian banks, turning the traditionally complex LRS wire transfer into a simple, app-based transaction.
Fractional Investing
Buy slices of massive companies. You can own a piece of Berkshire Hathaway or Microsoft for as little as $1, making US markets highly accessible.
Pre-Built Tax Reports
Unlike direct global brokers, these domestic facilitators generate Indian Income Tax-compliant capital gains and dividend schedules automatically.
SIPC Protection
Even though you use an Indian app, your assets are held in the US and are protected by SIPC up to $500,000 against broker failure.
Leading LRS Platforms
NEO-BROKERS & BANK PLATFORMS
LRS Limit Reminder: Under RBI guidelines, resident Indians can remit up to $250,000 per financial year across all purposes. Remittances above ₹7 Lakhs currently attract a 20% TCS, which can be offset against your total tax liability.
Crucial Estate Tax Warning: For Non-Resident Aliens (NRAs) investing in US-situated assets directly under their own names, the IRS levies a steep Estate Tax of up to 40% on portfolios exceeding $60,000 upon death. If your corpus is substantial, consult a professional to use Irish-domiciled UCITS ETFs (which bypass US estate tax completely) or corporate wrappers.
| PLATFORM | TYPE | US CLEARING PARTNER | STANDOUT FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|
| INDmoney | Neo-Broker | DriveWealth | Zero account opening fees, highly intuitive UI, tracks comprehensive net worth, automated SBM Bank tie-up for LRS. |
| Vested Finance | Neo-Broker | DriveWealth | Pre-curated 'Vests' (thematic portfolios), excellent Indian tax reporting, solid industry reputation and longevity. |
| ICICI Direct Global | Traditional Bank | Interactive Brokers (White-labeled) | High trust factor, seamless flow if you already bank with ICICI, connects with your existing ICICI Demat interface. |
| HDFC GlobalInvesting | Traditional Bank | Stockal (DriveWealth) | Trusted bank-backed ecosystem, easy LRS funding from HDFC accounts, broad research coverage. |
| Groww (US Stocks) | Neo-Broker | Apex Clearing / ViewTrade | Manage Indian mutual funds, Indian stocks, and US stocks within a single, highly popular app ecosystem. |