India entry snapshot for US Companies
Why US companies choose India
Senior engineering and finance talent at 20–30% of US equivalent cost. India's talent pool for SaaS, fintech, and analytics is among the deepest globally.
IST (UTC+5:30) gives US companies a near-24-hour development cycle when combined with US East and West Coast teams.
India is the world's fastest-growing major economy. Many US companies start with a GCC and expand into full commercial operations serving the Indian market.
The India-US DTAA reduces withholding tax on dividends, royalties, and fees. Properly structured, most US companies pay 10–15% WHT instead of 20%.
How US Companies incorporate in India
We assess your sector, FDI route, and applicable DTAA to recommend the right entity type. For USA & Canada companies, this includes reviewing intercompany pricing implications from day one.
Parent company documents need apostilling or equivalent authentication in USA & Canada. For foreign director KYC, this adds 3–5 days. We advise on exactly which documents are needed.
SPICe+ filing — company name, directors, registered office, PAN, TAN, GSTIN. Certificate of Incorporation typically in 7–12 working days after document submission.
Foreign Currency Gross Provisional Return — mandatory FEMA filing after share allotment. For USA & Canada companies, the valuation methodology and exchange rate documentation must align with your home jurisdiction requirements.
Bank account, GST registration, TDS, payroll, transfer pricing policy, and compliance calendar. Full operational readiness.
Key tax points for US Companies in India
India-US DTAA: dividends taxed at 15–25% (vs 20% domestic), royalties at 10–15%
Transfer pricing under Section 92 (India) mirrors US Section 482 — same arm's length standard
Form 3CEB (India TP certificate) equivalent to US Form 5471 disclosure
US GILTI considerations apply to India subsidiary income — structure early to minimise exposure
Delaware parent + India subsidiary is the most common structure — we set both sides up
How it works in practice
US SaaS platform incorporated in India in 19 days
Series B company needed an India entity before their first Bangalore engineering hire. Delaware parent, India subsidiary, intercompany service agreement, and TP documentation all required simultaneously.
Private limited company incorporated, FCGPR filed, TP policy aligned with US Section 482 arm's length standard, and first payroll run — all within 30 days.
Clean TP documentation from day one. No FEMA notices. Passed first India transfer pricing scrutiny with zero adjustment.
Common questions from US Companies
Ready to get started? Book a free 30-minute consultation.
Expert team reviews your situation and gives you a clear structure recommendation. No commitment. Written summary after the call.