Invest in US Stocks from India

FAQs

• What additional documents will be required to enable US Stocks for Upstox User?

  You don't need any additional documents to invest in US Stocks on Upstox.

  The step by step process to activate US stocks account is here.

  If you already have an Upstox account, just agree to the T&C and begin trading.If you don't have an account yet, follow the steps here.

• Can Indians invest in US Stocks?

  Yes. Under RBI's LRS, Indian residents can invest up to USD 250,000 per financial year in US-listed stocks and ETFs.

• What are fractional shares, and how do they make US stocks more accessible?

  Fractional shares let you buy a portion of a single share instead of purchasing the full share. This makes high-priced US stocks accessible even with a small amount.

• What is the minimum and maximum investment value?

  The minimum investment in US Stocks is USD 1.

  The maximum limit is USD 250,000 per person per financial year under RBI's LRS. This limit includes all money sent abroad for investments, travel, education, and other permitted purposes.

• What is TCS under US Stock remittance?
  • Remittances below ₹10 lakh in a financial year have ZERO TCS.
  • Remittances above ₹10 lakh attract 20% TCS, collected upfront and credited in full when you file your ITR.

  Note: Tax laws are subject to change. Please consult your tax advisor for advice specific to your circumstances.

• What is the taxation on sale of US Stocks Securities?

  Here's how taxation works for Indian investors holding US stocks:

  Capital gains from US stocks for Indian residents are taxed only in India and not in the US. Hence, the income is tax-free in the US and is taxed in India as per:

  • Short-term capital gains: if you sell within 24 months of buying, gains are taxed as per your income tax slab.
  • Long-term capital gains: if you sell after 24 months, gains are taxed at a flat rate of 12.5%.
  • Dividend tax: dividends declared by US companies are credited to your linked account after withholding tax (25% under DTAA, vs. 30% default). In India, this dividend income is taxable at your applicable slab rate. You can claim this as a foreign tax credit when filing your Indian tax return.
• What are US Market timings in IST?

  US Market Timings (IST)

  Session	US Time	Mar–Nov (Daylight Saving)	Nov–Mar (Standard Time)
  Pre-Market	4:00 AM – 9:30 AM	1:30 PM – 7:00 PM	2:30 PM – 8:00 PM
  Regular Market	9:30 AM – 4:00 PM	7:00 PM – 1:30 AM	8:00 PM – 2:30 AM
  After-Hours	4:00 PM – 8:00 PM	1:30 AM – 5:30 AM	2:30 AM – 6:30 AM

  Note:

  • The US follows Daylight Saving Time from approximately March to November, so market timings in India are 1 hour earlier during this period.
• What is W-8BEN & who needs to fill the same?

  Form W-8BEN is a U.S. tax form that enables eligible non-U.S. investors to claim treaty benefits. For Indian resident investors, this generally reduces U.S. dividend withholding tax from 30% to 25%. The form is completed as part of the account opening or enablement process.

• Who is US clearing broker that Upstox works with?

  Upstox works with Alpaca Securities LLC, regulated by the SEC and FINRA in the US. Investments are protected by SIPC up to USD 500,000 , including USD 250,000 for cash.

• Can Indians trade Futures & Options (Derivatives) Product on US Stocks?

  No. Indian residents are not permitted to trade derivatives in global markets.

• How can we add funds for US Trading in US Wallet?

  Kindly refer to the detailed Help Center article for adding funds here. Upstox has partnered with multiple payment gateways and partner banks. Any currency risks, fluctuations, charges, etc. are charged directly on a pass-through basis, and Upstox does not charge any commission on such transactions.

• What is the general turnaround time for adding funds to the US Wallet?

  The turnaround time varies from bank to bank. The average TAT is T+3 business days for funds to be remitted to the US broker.

• What is "Buying Power" or "Trading Power/Limit"?

  A mere deposit of funds does not give Buying Power / Trading Limit to users. Upstox transfers the funds to Alpaca Securities LLC; once received, Alpaca provides Buying Power to users.

• What is Global Access, and which regulatory authority governs Global Access Services?

  Global Access is a regulated framework established by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) that allows investors to access securities listed on foreign stock exchanges through authorised intermediaries in GIFT IFSC.

  Upstox Securities Private Limited is registered with IFSCA as a Broker Dealer (Registration No. CMI2026BDK1028), is a trading member of India International Exchange (India INX), and is authorised by IFSCA as a Global Access Provider Authorisation No. IFSCA/GAP/BD/2026-27/17 under the IFSCA circular “Regulatory Framework for Global Access in the IFSC” dated August 12, 2025.

• Who can open an account?

  Resident Indian individuals (investing under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme), Non-Resident Indians, and eligible foreign investors — subject to completion of our KYC requirements and applicable laws including FEMA.

• What can I invest in?

  You can invest in stocks and ETFs listed on US stock exchanges. In line with the IFSCA framework, we do not offer access to crypto assets or to certain restricted derivative products (such as index or single-stock derivatives that are available on IFSC exchanges). The complete list of available instruments is shown on our platform.

• How do I fund my account?

  Indian residents can add funds for US Stocks by transferring money from their own registered Indian bank account under RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). NRIs and foreign clients can add funds from their own eligible overseas or permitted bank accounts.

  Third-party transfers and cash deposits are not accepted. Once the funds are received, they are typically credited to your US Stocks trading account within 3–5 business days.

• Is there a limit on how much I can invest?

  For Indian residents, remittances are subject to RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) limit of USD 250,000 per person per financial year. This is a combined limit across all LRS purposes, including investments, foreign travel, and education.

  It is your responsibility to track your overall LRS usage across all banks and financial institutions. If your remittance exceeds the applicable threshold, your bank may deduct Tax Collected at Source (TCS) at the prevailing rate while processing the transfer. TCS can be adjusted against your Indian income tax liability, subject to applicable tax laws.

• What taxes apply to my US investments?

  Here's how taxation works for Indian investors holding US stocks:

  Capital gains from US stocks for Indian residents are taxed only in India and not in the US. Hence, the income is tax-free in the US and is taxed in India as per:

  • Short-term capital gains: if you sell within 24 months of buying, gains are taxed as per your income tax slab.
  • Long-term capital gains: if you sell after 24 months, gains are taxed at a flat rate of 12.5%.
  • Dividend tax: dividends declared by US companies are credited to your linked account after withholding tax (25% under DTAA, vs. 30% default). In India, this dividend income is taxable at your applicable slab rate. You can claim this as a foreign tax credit when filing your Indian tax return.
• How do I withdraw my money?

  You can place a withdrawal request on the platform. After settlement of any pending trades, funds are remitted from our segregated client account to your registered bank account. Withdrawals are processed within 3–5 business days. Cross-border transfers may involve correspondent bank charges as per the fee schedule. Funds are remitted only to your own registered bank account.