Mr. Kumar spent 23 years in Australia after moving from New Zealand. After his wife passed away, he found a new life in Chennai. Use his step-by-step retirement planning checklist for tax, super, healthcare, housing, and city fit.
Mr. Kumar moved from India to New Zealand in 1994, then Australia. After his wife passed away in 2013, he found a new life in Chennai. Here's his 8-year journey and practical advice.
If you are retiring in India after years in Australia, do not decide only on lifestyle. First pressure-test Australian tax residency, superannuation withdrawals, age pension assumptions, Indian tax residency, health insurance waiting periods, gated community versus senior-living support, and the city where you can build a real daily routine.
| Decision | What to resolve before moving |
|---|---|
| Tax residency | Confirm whether you remain an Australian tax resident and how India will tax your worldwide income after return. |
| Superannuation | Separate age pension assumptions from super withdrawals; the tax treatment can differ and should be reviewed before remitting money. |
| Healthcare | Buy or review India health insurance early because waiting periods and senior-age underwriting matter more after retirement. |
| Housing | Compare a regular gated community, a retirement community, assisted living, and a trial rental before buying. |
| Senior support | Decide whether independent living, retirement community support, elder-care coordination, or assisted living fits your next 5-10 years. |
| City fit | Test transport, pollution, hospitals, social circle, climate, food, and daily independence for at least a few months. |
Use this story with the return-to-India checklist, the RNOR status guide, and the NRI health-insurance guide before finalizing retirement dates.
Mr. Kumar's story works as a planning sequence because retirement is not only a city or lifestyle decision. Run the money, tax, healthcare, housing, and daily-routine checks before buying property or moving funds permanently.
Do not assume citizenship and tax residency are the same. Review Australian tax residency, Indian residency, DTAA position, and property-purchase timing with a qualified cross-border adviser before changing investment or remittance patterns.
Mr. Kumar treated each income stream separately instead of using one generic retirement-income bucket. Map age pension assumptions, superannuation withdrawals, dividends, India deposits, and monthly spending before deciding what to remit.
Compare health insurance, nearby hospitals, regular doctor access, emergency support, and whether a gated community, retirement community, or assisted-living setup fits your current health and independence level.
Spend a few months in the city before buying. Test transport, walking routes, pollution, climate, grocery access, social life, cultural interests, and whether the daily routine still works after the holiday feeling fades.
Expect slower banking, call centers, servants, paperwork, traffic, and unsolicited advice. Keep local backups for transport, food, payments, maintenance, and community support so daily friction does not become a retirement regret.
"I would not at this stage go back to Australia. I do love Australia, but I find that at this age, Chennai works better, India works better." Mr. Kumar's journey spans three decades across three countries. After losing his wife in 2013, his sons suggested he explore India. What started as a few months became 8 years. Here's his practical guide to retiring in India - from tax planning to lifestyle choices.
Mr. Kumar's journey began in Bombay's software industry:
"I was working in India in a few companies in Bombay in the software industry. I found I was not going anywhere. My wife Gita has siblings in Australia and New Zealand - that was the impetus. We applied for PR in New Zealand, got it in 93, moved there in 94."
"We were in New Zealand for about 4-4.5 years. It was tough initially - new country, new culture, new climate with four distinct seasons. The Kiwi English accent was very different. But we decided to move to Australia - her sisters were there and more opportunities for me. We moved to Brisbane and settled down quite fast."
After their sons got married in 2012, they planned to split time:
"We were thinking maybe spend more time in India - 6 months in India, 6 months there. With that in mind, we invested in an apartment in Kimberto. Unfortunately, fate thought differently - she died in 2013."
"I was living alone in a huge house, struggling to maintain it, cooking my own food. My son suggested: 'How about you explore spending some time in India? You've got people there, you can travel around, you know the place.' I came to India in 2017. My sisters were in Chennai. I had passion for Carnatic music from my wife who was a Veena artist. I was pleasantly surprised - there were concerts happening almost every day. A few months became a couple of years and I was happy in Chennai."
Australia has unique tax rules that Mr. Kumar spent years understanding:
"Australia is quite different from USA. You can be a citizen of Australia but not a resident for tax purpose. If you're a resident for tax purpose, you have to declare worldwide income. The residency status is quite difficult to work out - it's complicated."
"My two years during COVID - I did lot of research. I used to do my own flowcharts: if this happens, if that happens, 183 days and this thing and that thing. Finally I got it fine-tuned for my requirement. Being a retiree helped a lot."
"I was able to manage my finances in Australia such that my tax there would be almost zero. Any returns on super would be zero, any tax on dividends would be zero. I repackaged my investments to zeroize my tax in Australia even after renouncing my tax residency status. This means I was paying tax in only one country - India."
"There is a DTAA that specifically mentions the pension you get because of age is not taxed in India. But the pension from your superannuation returns - the minimum 5% you must withdraw from your super - that will be taxed in India. I wasn't eligible for age pension because my savings threshold was too high. Whatever I withdraw, I bring from Australia and pay tax on that. I don't have a problem paying tax because I'm enjoying the system here."
Australian age pension (based on age) is NOT taxed in India under DTAA. But superannuation withdrawals ARE taxed in India. Consult a tax professional familiar with both countries.
Mr. Kumar evaluated both options:
"I visited a few retirement communities and spent couple of days in one in Chennai. Life becomes monotonous after some time. The most depressing part is you find lot of elderly people living alone in their 70s-80s, going on wheelchairs, people expiring every week. I said I'm not at that stage yet - I'm fit, I walk, I'm fairly healthy at 70. That life is not for me."
"My sons came to the rescue - said look for a gated community where you can meet people, get down from your apartment and meet 10 people around your age group. I found this place with about 1,500 apartments - very cosmopolitan, lot of NRIs from USA and London. I use swimming pool, gym, got a cook who comes and cooks for me. The lifestyle is fantastic. I would not at this stage go back to Australia."
"If you have a medical issue, then maybe think in that direction - you've got a nurse to look after you, someone 24/7. But for me, gated community works better because I can walk around, I'm independent, I live alone."
"India is paradise as long as you ignore the surroundings."
"One of the toughest things I found was the interference by people. You strike a conversation, casually mention something, and they start advising you - 'no no you should not do this, you should do this.' That's quite rampant in India. Also the WhatsApp university."
"Extreme poverty affects you because you don't have that overseas. You tend to help people, people ask you for money. I do that to maximum extent but you can't go on helping everyone."
"Very stressful initially. Everything takes time to get done. Servants are not 100% reliable - but when they come, they work hard. You have to be very patient dealing with call centers, banks, going to shops. In a mall, they come after you with a bag asking what you want. You have to adjust, accommodate, compromise."
"That doesn't mean India is bad. I found a lot of positives."
"You get to meet people - get down from your house, walk around, meet 10 people. They may be vendors, traders, but you get to talk to them, know their life, see how they cope. I didn't have that luxury in Australia. For me that is a huge thing."
"Internet connectivity is excellent - 5G phones. Apps for everything. Around that time, Ola and Uber revolution came about. It was easy to buy things and move around - no issue about bus or train. You can book a cab and move. Life was getting very comfortable."
"I had passion for Carnatic music from my wife who was a Veena artist. Chennai's Mylapore area is known for Carnatic music and South Indian culture. I was pleasantly surprised - there were concerts happening almost every day. I was able to go for a concert almost every day."
"Being a senior citizen, my requirements were less compared to those in their 40s with kids and struggling with career. Their requirements are much different. I was able to easily adjust."
"Do your homework thoroughly. Don't assume India is hunky dory and everything is fantastic. India is still developing with lots of issues. Understand those issues and see if you can work around them or still be happy with them."
"Look after your financial issues because taxation can kill you. Make sure you know the repercussions of moving in terms of tax implications."
"Come to India, spend a few months, travel around. Try to live as if you're living in India - Airbnb or apartment - get the taste of it. Then you can say 'this is a problem, this is not for me, I'm going back.'"
"Evaluate pros and cons of different cities. Bangalore is fantastic weather-wise but has other issues. Bombay is very expensive. Chennai is very hot. Your parents may be living in Noida so you might want to be near them. All these have to be considered."
"Assuming they can replicate their lifestyle in India from where they come from - not possible. Unless you go to a place like NRI township in Bangalore where everything is like USA. You can't just own a car and drive around - traffic is very bad. Things are difficult."
Get guidance on tax planning, lifestyle choices, and making the transition smooth.
You can be Australian citizen but not tax resident. If tax resident, you declare worldwide income. The residency status is complicated. Mr. Kumar spent 2 years researching with flowcharts on 183-day rules. Buying property in India can trigger Australian government attention.
Under DTAA, age pension is NOT taxed in India. But superannuation withdrawals (minimum 5% you must withdraw) ARE taxed in India. Mr. Kumar repackaged investments to pay zero tax in Australia and only pay in India.
Retirement communities can become monotonous with elderly people on wheelchairs and people passing away weekly. Gated communities offer independence, amenities like pool and gym, and cosmopolitan residents. Choose based on your health and independence level.
Pollution, non-existent footpaths, driving nightmares, corruption, interference by people, WhatsApp university, extreme poverty, unreliable servants, everything takes time. You must be patient with call centers, banks, and shops.
Meeting people easily, excellent internet and 5G, apps for everything (Ola, Uber), following passions like Carnatic music, lower requirements as senior citizen. Social connection that's hard to find abroad.
Assuming they can replicate their lifestyle from abroad - not possible. Traffic is bad, things are difficult. Don't assume India is perfect. Understand the issues and see if you can work around them or still be happy.
Get personalized guidance on financial planning, city selection, and lifestyle choices.
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0:00 Meet Mr. Kumar. So, we applied for PR in New Zealand. Finally got it in '93 and we moved there in '94. We were there for about 4 4 and 1/2 years and we decided to move to Australia. After spending close to 23 years in Australia, things have changed. 6 months in India, 6 months there. Somehow it was not fulfilling. Somehow I I found there was something missing for me. He talks about his financial planning. More it was financially more prudent for me to wait till my super was accessible. The residency status in Australia is quite difficult to work out. It's a bit complicated. The pension that you get because of the age that is not taxed in India.
0:52 And life in India for the last 8 years as well as his advice for future aspirants. And I was able to like like go for a concert almost every day. Very stressful initially. Everything takes time to get done. And then one of the toughest things I found in India was the They can replicate the lifestyle in India where from where they come from. We did not at this stage I would not go back to Australia. Before we dive into today's episode, please subscribe so you won't miss another real stories of families moving back to India. And also check out the link in the description below on how Desi Ritan can help you with your journey.
1:58 So, let's start a bit about your background and what made you to go abroad. I was working in India in a few companies in Bombay in the software industry. And I found that I was not going anywhere but just going along the in the industry and I have my wife Rita has siblings in Australia and New Zealand and they that was the impetus that drew me there. So, we applied for finally got it in '93 and we moved there in '94. with half a mind not sure whether it's going to work out because we had some initial some issues hiccups before with New Zealand but then this time it all fell in place. I got a job there.
2:49 Initially it was very tough for us mainly for my wife as a family it was a new country new culture new climate not in terms of weather but climate and four distinct seasons and maybe you can have in one day you can have four of them in Auckland. So, my wife was struggling and the English the Kiwi English accent was very different. So, we were struggling I mean in terms of settling down. But it took us a couple of years to settle down. The children like really loved the place. we were there for about 4 4 and 1/2 Australia.
3:34 Why? Because it was her siblings were there sisters were there and there were more opportunities for me in Australia than in New Zealand. So, we moved to Brisbane. It's just a kind of a celebris weather climate not too cold maybe a bit hot in summer but it was fine for us because we were from India. And even there we were settled down in we settled down quite fast and we are cruising along we we had a business restaurant business my sons were doing well. And then around the 2010 2011 they found partners like as in like serious relationship and one of them married a Punjabi Hindu other one married a Gujarati Hindu and they got married.
4:30 And at that time my wife and I were were thinking maybe spend more time in India with her siblings. She had got some siblings here also. And my siblings and maybe you know 6 months in India 6 months there. with that in mind we invested in an apartment in Coimbatore because it's a good good place to settle. so unfortunately fate you know thought differently and then she died in 2013.
5:06 Thanks for that and I'm sorry about the loss of your wife. I think this is a subtle point I think you mentioned which I wanted to expand. So, I think after kids got married I think you and your wife was planning to move to India you know spend 6 months in Australia 6 months in India. So, you mentioned about the lonely life. So, maybe you can describe and what was going on in your thought process like and also the kids response when you mentioned about hey I wanted to try living in India and Australia. Like how did it go and how was that conversations? Yeah yeah. So, well the kids got married in 2012 and and that's when we were thinking of like now the major responsibility is over and at that time we were thinking like all right now maybe we should think of spending more time in India. Her her my wife's mother was still alive in Bombay and she had two siblings in Bombay in India and I had three siblings in India four at that time sorry.
6:07 So that was it thought process and with that in mind we were we had which was under construction. but then in 2013 she expired suddenly and then the whole thought process changed and So, the the sons moved the moved out because they their house was ready and they they had children. now I got four grandchildrens by the way. I'm going four grandkids by the way. And and then that I was living alone working still working in IT in my work Suncorp. Yeah, the IT industry was undergoing some transformation yeah and a lot of tools were coming out and I was striving to cope.
6:58 And maybe my age was catching up with me. And at that time I was living alone my house it's a huge house and I was struggling to maintain it cooking my own food and living alone. That's when my sons suggested that how about you explore that possibility of spending some time in India because you got people there you can travel around you know the place you have lived there. So, with that in mind I came to India in 2017. And my sister was here in Chennai at that time. So, I was around the Mylapore area just known for its Carnatic music and the South Indian culture.
7:46 And I had passion for Carnatic music got it from my wife who was a veena artist. So, I was I was presently surprised to see that there were a lot of Carnatic concerts happening in Chennai almost every day. So, I used to go every every evening I used to go for a concert. So, and somehow I the one a few months became a couple of years and I was happy in Chennai. Around that time all these Ola and Uber and all the apps revolution came about. so it was easy to like buy things and then move around. No issue about you know bus or train all that thing.
8:33 So, you can you know you can book a cab and move around all that thing. So, it was life was getting very comfortable and I was quite happy about it. And then I was when I went for a visit to Australia in early 2020 and that's when COVID struck. and we were there I was there for 2 years and then came back I was in Bombay for a few months. And then I came back to Chennai and tried to re like resettle down. things had changed. My age approaching nearly 70. I could not sit at the concert for 2 and 1/2 hours to 3 hours. And so my focus changed to look out for my own health.
9:21 Like being fit and healthy. Yeah. And again my sons came to the rescue said no no no I think you should look for some bigger community where you can meet people. you get down from your apartment you meet 10 10 people around your age group. And I found this place and this is the one with the what 1,500 apartments and very highly cosmopolitan. a lot of NRIs live here. they have moved back from Australia and sorry from USA. And also from London they so it's quite a quite a well known good well good community with all amenities. And so I I use the swimming pool, I use the gym, and I I got a cook who comes and cooks for me. So life here is the lifestyle is fantastic.
10:18 Yeah. So I I I would not at this stage I would not go back to Australia. Of course, I'm not saying I I do love Australia but I find that at this age for me Chennai works better. India works better. Got it. >> So So right now, that's why I I love this place. No, yeah. Thanks for sharing this. Sounds like I think it was your kids who are open and suggested the you know, that India might be a better place for you to try it out. so maybe if we can
10:48 Talk a little bit about the planning. I know initial plan was to give it a try in India. And >> Yeah. few months became couple of years, and so on. I think then you kind of solidify your plan, like you know, make India as your home, but visiting Australia on a regular basis. Yeah. Maybe you can talk a little bit on the financial planning or any other planning, you know, you have done from your perspective to make the transition. Yes. Yeah. Now, Australia is a unique in the sense that see when I I do watch some of your programs, and most of them are from USA. Australia is quite different. you can be a you can be a citizen of Australia, but you need not be a resident for tax purpose.
11:35 So which means that if you're if you're resident for tax purpose, then you have to declare your worldwide income. So a lot of complexities around that that area. And so it took some time for me to master those issues, like okay, this is like this is like that. I I knew that India you have to pay tax. I mean, even on except if you get a aged pension, but I was not getting aged pension. I was getting my own super I was not eligible for aged pension because my saving threshold was a bit high. So I could not get that aged pension. So I knew I had to pay tax on the income in Australia in India.
12:25 But the residency status in Australia is quite it's a bit complicated. But I had a good accountant. He said to yeah, you at this time you are resident of Australia for tax purpose. But the moment you buy an apartment, then you will have to rethink about that because Australian government will wake up. And so that was I was That's why I was postponing and postponing and not buying an apartment. Yeah. Then finally, I I I I was able to manage my finances in Australia such that I could package them in such a way that my tax there would be almost zero. Yeah. So like any tax any returns on your super would be zero.
13:14 Any any tax on your dividends would be zero. So I I packaged my investments or re-packaged them to almost zeroize my tax in Australia even even after renouncing my tax residency status for tax purpose. Yeah. If I can put it that way. which means that I was paying tax in only one country, in India. So I mean I did lot of lot of research. I mean, my 2 years when I was there during the COVID, I saw many people. I did did all the research. I I used to do my own flowchart. If this happens, if this happens, if that happens. 183 days and this thing and that thing and finally, I got but got it fine-tuned for my requirement. Yeah.
14:07 Being retiree helped a lot. Yeah. if I were working and earning money, then it's different. Now, you you you you have to pay more tax. So the tax system there was very skewed in the favor of retirees. Hm. you don't have to pay tax. So that is excellent system, and I really admire that system. Got it. And then if I heard you correctly, so age-based pensions are not taxed in India, even though you're getting that from Australia. >> Yes. Yes. So it's not >> a Yes, there is a DTAA called the double taxation avoidance agreement. And that specifically mentioned that the pension that you get because of age that is not taxed in India.
14:58 But the pension that you get from your superannuation returns, that which you like your like in Australia, you have to withdraw a minimum of 5% from your super. the your your own super. and which means that that amount which you withdraw will be taxed in India. So that according to my accountant all the people I spoke here will be taxed here. So I whatever I withdraw, I bring I don't have money in India. I only bring from Australia. And I pay tax on that. So I I don't have problem paying tax on that because I'm enjoying the the system, the facilities here. So Got it. it worked it worked for me.
15:44 It may not work for everyone. Yes.
15:47 I know it's been about 8 years living in India, right? And especially for someone who lived in abroad for 25 years. How was the life with the transition, with changes, initial struggles, or you know, now? Yeah. Yeah. It It was It was It was and is still very very difficult. Not in terms of weather. When weather fine, we I I can put my AC on at in the daytime, and the cars are air-conditioned, the halls are air-conditioned. But the the the environment here the lot of pollution, number one. If you go out, and then you you can't walk in the streets of India, any anywhere in India.
16:35 I mean I don't want to single out any city. footpaths are nonexistent. Almost, and they're heavily encroached with shops, you know. Owning a car I don't have a car here. Owning a car is another driving is a nightmare. there are potholes everywhere. so and then I don't even want to talk about corruption. so things are tough here. Things were tough for me. interference by people, you know. You strike a conversation with anybody, your family or friend, and just casually mention about something, then they start advising you. No, no, you should not do this. You should do this or you should do that.
17:27 That's quite rampant in India. Other thing is that like the WhatsApp university, you know. it's very difficult. I mean, I I always tell my family that India is paradise as long as you ignore the surroundings. So but that doesn't mean India is bad. I mean, I found a lot of positives in like you get to meet people. You You get down from your house. You You walk around. You get 10 people. They were vendors. They They may be, you know, traders. But you get to talk to them. You get to know their life.
18:12 I didn't have that luxury in Australia. So So for me, that is a huge thing, you know, get to meet people, talk to people, and you know, see how how they live, how they cope. Another bad thing about India is the extreme poverty. it does affect you because you don't have that thing in overseas. it does affect you. you know, you you tend to tend to help people. people ask you for money. They help. so I do that to a to maximum extent, but you can't go on helping people. Yeah. So that's another thing in India which is rampant. Got it. Otherwise, the people are great.
18:58 Infrastructure, I said about the internet connectivity, 5G phones, excellent. you got apps for everything. So a lot of plus points. Yeah. I'm sure no place is perfect. I think you have to take the But but then but then being a senior citizen, my requirements were less compared to a those in their 40s with their kids and struggling with a career in India. Their requirements are much different. Yeah. So I was able to easily adjust.
19:31 Got it. one more question. I know you mentioned about living in a gated community now versus maybe I'm assuming it's an independent home before. So maybe I think I got a glimpse, but if there's anything that you can share some someone who is thinking about retiring in India, what would you suggest? yeah. I would say I would say are two things one can think about. One is a gated community like this where you get your cook or your servants come and cook for you or in a retirement community where there's a central canteen. You go and eat there. And so there's a menu fixed menu there and then every Monday is this every Tuesday is that and they have some some events and functions and all that.
20:26 But I I did go to a few of them just to see how they are and in fact I spent a couple of days in one of them in Chennai. I found that life becomes monotonous monotonous after some time there. And also the the most depressing part of that from my point of view is that you find a lot of elderly people living alone 70s 70s 80s and then having like going on a wheelchair. You know there are people also expiring dying like every every week like that. So it's kind of depressing. I said I'm not at that stage yet of my life. I'm I'm fit I walk I'm even though 70 I'm fairly healthy.
21:18 That that life is not for me. So if you have a problem medical issue then I would think maybe in that direction. Maybe you got a nurse to look after you. Some people can look after you 24/7. But for me this worked better because I can walk around I'm independent I live alone. so horses for courses. I mean so Got it.
21:42 Yeah. Is there anything that we haven't covered that you want to bring up? As in terms of advice for people >> Advice yeah. I would say I would say do your homework thoroughly. the first aspect is that don't assume India is hunky-dory everything is fantastic. India is still a developed country. India is still developing. There are lots and lots and lots of issues in India. so understand all those issues and see if you can work around them or see if you're able to still be happy even with those issues and look after your financial issues because the taxation can kill you.
22:30 So make sure you know the repercussions of your moving in terms of your tax implications. So so that's very important. And then if you got children education and all that you should think of all that. So it's not an easy thing need to do a lot of research. And and then zero in on the where you want to live how you want to live and whether you want to work from home or or do a business. That that will fall in place once you have done the research. Got it. Come come to India spend a few months travel around and then try to live as if you're living Airbnb or something some apartment then you get the taste of it and then you okay this is a problem no it's not for me I'm going back. Yeah.
23:22 I think that's a great advice if you have the flexibility better to spend few months as a resident not as a visitor so that you can get the And and the city city you want to be I mean Bangalore is fantastic weather-wise but then you got other issues Bombay very expensive. Chennai very hot you know you know all this you know pluses minuses pros and cons you have to evaluate. your your parents may be living in Noida so you might you might choose to Noida because there you want to be near the parents. So all these have to be considered. Yes.
23:54 Couple of quick rapid questions if you could sum up your experience living in India what would it be? everything takes time to servants are not that 100% reliable but then they when they come they work hard. So you have to be very patient dealing with call center dealing with banks going to shops it's not like in Australia or or anywhere else where they know what you're talking about. The the the in a mall if you go to a shop to buy textiles no they come after you with a with a bag and say look what are you what do you want? And so you know you have to you have to adjust Yeah. accommodate compromise. Yes.
24:51 And then what's one mistake most NRIs make when moving to India? again assuming that they can replicate the lifestyle in where from where they come from. Not not possible. Yeah. Unless unless you go to a place like Bangalore there's there's an NRI township in Bangalore. Everything is like what you have in USA. unless you you're in that category. but you can't replicate that lifestyle here it's completely different. You can't just own a car and say oh I'm going there with car I'm going by here. Fact fact the fact traffic is awesome very very bad. Yeah. And not organized so things are difficult things are difficult. Yeah.
25:40 No thanks a lot Mr. Kumar for taking the time and sharing your journey especially a lot of advice in terms of the in the financial planning or practicality of living in India and being patient and you know your own approach like you wanted to test it out and then you got an experience and then you how you even changed your decision process along the way. I think this is very helpful to our audience. So thanks again for sharing your story with us today. Thank you. It was a great pleasure to spend some time with you and I hope I can convey the message properly to people who are mainly from Australia who think of coming to here coming to India and settling down. I hope they do the research and then come back. Yeah thank you. Thanks a lot yeah.
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