Non-resident Indians (NRIs) are not required to quote Aadhaar number while filing income tax returns back home.

It was recently announced in Indian parliament that it is mandatory to mention Aadhaar card number in every income tax return. This announcement prompted many NRIs to file petitions to Indian missions requesting that they be exempted from this as they do not have Aadhaar card.

Meenakshi J. Goswami, commissioner of income tax (media & technical policy) and central board of direct taxes’ official spokesperson, said in a statement that such mandatory quoting of Aadhaar shall apply only to a person who is eligible to obtain an Aadhaar number. As per the Aadhaar Act 2016, only a resident individual is entitled to obtain Aadhaar.

Clarifying on the definition of who a resident is, the statement said: “Resident is an individual who has resided in India for a period or periods amounting in all to 182 days or more in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of application for enrollment. Accordingly, the requirement to quote Aadhaar as per Section 139AA of the Income tax Act shall not apply to an individual who is not a resident as per the Aadhaar Act 2016.”