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.