Durban to Mumbai: India's 2024-26 Changes for SA Indians

South Africa has an Indian community dating back to 1860 — one of the largest and oldest Indian diasporas in the world. Many are in Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Pretoria, with deep multi-generational ties to India via family property and investments.

Your India-South Africa DTAA gives you 10% on interest and 10% on dividends. SARS (South African Revenue Service) issues TRCs; the process is via eFiling.

These treaty rates are unchanged in 2024-26.

**Section 148** window cut to 3/5 years. September 2024.

**Faceless mandate** for international tax reassessment confirmed by Supreme Court (July 2025).

**Budget 2024** 12.5% flat NRI property LTCG, no indexation. From 23 July 2024.

**Black Money Act safe harbour** raised to ₹20L for movable foreign assets.

For multi-generational SA Indian families with inherited Indian property, Budget 2024 is the most significant. The removal of indexation can substantially change the capital gains calculation on long-held properties.

Many SA Indian families hold Indian property that was bought or inherited decades ago. Under the old regime, 15-20 year hold periods gave indexation benefits that wiped out 60-80% of the nominal gain. That's gone.

Before selling, get a proper cost-basis documentation together, run the numbers with a CA, and apply for Form 13 Section 197 lower-TDS certificate. The defaults now hit harder than most families expect.