Over the last year, a noticeable shift has emerged across professional networks and family conversations alike: more Indians are leaving the United States and either returning to India or relocating elsewhere. This is not an emotional reaction or a short-term trend.
This blog explores who is leaving the US, why it is happening and most importantly what it means for your taxes before, during and after the move.
1. Students Whose Optional Practical Training (OPT) Has Ended: The First Tax Wake-Up Call
Thousands of Indian students have returned to India after their OPT or STEM OPT expired without securing long-term employment. While many assume that leaving the US automatically ends their tax obligations, that is often not true.
From a tax perspective:
• Income earned during OPT remains fully reportable in the US
• Bank interest, refunds, or stock-related income may still trigger filing
• Improper closure of US tax years can delay future visa or immigration plans
At FinPracto, we frequently see returning students facing Internal Revenue Service (IRS) notices simply because their final year was not closed correctly. Our team assists with correct final-year filings, refund optimisation and compliance closure so that past US obligations do not create future problems.
2. Job Holders Without H-1B Sponsorship: Residency Gets Complicated
A growing number of professionals had jobs but lost H-1B sponsorship due to policy uncertainty. This creates an unexpected tax issue: Dual-Status Taxation.
You may:
- Be a US Tax Resident for part of the year
- Become an Indian Tax Resident after returning
- Need to split income correctly between jurisdictions
Without proper planning, the same income can end up being taxed twice. FinPracto helps determine the correct residential status, apply the India-US Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and allocate income correctly between jurisdictions.
3. Those Who Missed the H-1B Lottery: Missed Planning Opportunities
Professionals who exhausted their H-1B lottery chances often exit quickly, without planning their tax exit.
This can lead to:
- Unreported ESOPs or RSUs
- Capital gains confusion on US investments
- Missed treaty benefits under the India-US DTAA
An unplanned exit often costs more than the move itself. FinPracto supports professionals with exit tax planning, reporting of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and treaty-based capital gains optimisation.
4. Laid-Off H-1B Employees: 60 Days, Lifelong Impact
For visa holders, layoffs are not just career events they are legal and tax emergencies.
Common issues we see:
- 401(k) withdrawals triggering penalties
- Forced liquidation of US investments without tax optimisation
- Loss of clarity on Social Security contributions
Tax decisions taken in panic can have irreversible long-term effects. FinPracto helps laid-off employees evaluate options around retirement accounts, investment liquidation and compliance timelines in a structured and tax-efficient manner.
5. Families Stuck in the Green Card Backlog: When Stability Matters More Than Status
Families who spent a decade or more in the US are increasingly choosing certainty over waiting.
However, long-term stay creates complex issues:
- US assets continue to attract reporting even after return
- Indian tax residency rules apply faster than expected
- Children’s accounts and investments need careful restructuring
This group requires structured repatriation planning, not last-minute filing. FinPracto assists families with asset realignment, foreign income reporting and long-term compliance planning across both tax systems.
6. Middle-Income Families Feeling the Cost Pressure
Rising living costs, flat wages and higher effective tax outflows have changed the math.
Many families are surprised to learn:
- Take-home pay erosion is partly tax-driven
- Cross-border income can be optimised with better structuring
- Poor tax planning makes relocation financially inefficient
The decision to leave often begins with lifestyle stress – but ends with tax consequences. FinPracto helps families model post-relocation tax outcomes so that the move improves financial stability.
7. Families Choosing to Return Home: The Most Emotional, Yet Tax-Sensitive Move
Not every decision is forced. Many families return to India for cultural, emotional and personal reasons.
Yet even voluntary returns involve:
- Exit tax planning
- Reporting foreign assets under Indian law
- Correct closure of US tax residency
Emotion should drive the decision – but structure must support it. FinPracto ensures that voluntary returns are supported by clean tax exits, proper foreign asset disclosures and seamless transition into Indian tax residency.
What This Trend Really Means for You?
This is not an exodus – it is a correction. The world has changed, opportunities are global and mobility is real. But tax laws have not become simpler.
Every move – forced or voluntary – creates reporting obligations that extend far beyond your last day in the US.
FinPracto’s Perspective
At FinPracto, we work closely with individuals, families, students and professionals navigating cross-border transitions, offering end-to-end support rather than one-time filings. Our role goes beyond US tax return filing.
We help you:
- Determine correct tax residency under Indian and US laws
- Avoid double taxation using the India-US Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA)
- Plan exits and re-entries efficiently
- Stay compliant with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the US and Indian tax authorities
Whether you are contemplating a move or have already returned, the right tax planning can protect your savings, your compliance and your peace of mind.
Coming back should feel like a return not a financial reset. With FinPracto, your transition is planned, compliant and financially efficient.
The people making this move are not one group or one story they are either the unlucky or the timed out, priced out, burned out or the ones who finally realized what really mattered.
Different journeys, common tax realities and that is where FinPracto steps in.
Also Read:
- Why HNIs Need Structure, Not Just Tax Saving?
- India Supreme Court 2026 Ruling
- HUF – A Legal Tax Structure Designed for Continuity
- Understanding FEMA Regulations for Foreign Investments in India