Business
What are the ‘hidden charges’ on forex transactions: RBI issues draft rules on charges; what could change? – The Times of India
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a draft proposal aimed at making cross-border payments more transparent and consumer-friendly. With this, the bank aims to address long-standing complaints about hidden charges and unclear pricing in foreign exchange transactions.A large number of individuals face difficulties while making overseas payments for education, living expenses, travel, investments or remittances, mainly due to complex processes and high service costs.In many cases, customers only discover the true cost of a transaction after it has been completed. This includes charges such as fees, margins and intermediary costs that are either bundled into exchange rates or deducted later without a clear explanation.To address these issues, the RBI has proposed new regulations that would require banks and other authorised dealers to disclose the total cost of foreign exchange transactions upfront, before a customer agrees to the deal. The move is intended to help customers compare charges across service providers and make more informed decisions, according to ET.
What the RBI has proposed
Under the draft circular, authorised dealers such as commercial banks and certain financial institutions will be required to clearly communicate all transaction-related costs in advance. This includes commonly used foreign exchange transactions such as:
- Foreign exchange cash (T+0): Same-day currency exchange
- Tom (T+1): Settlement on the next business day
- Spot (T+2): Settlement within two business days
The disclosure requirement will cover both foreign exchange transactions and related derivative contracts used by retail customers.The RBI observed that a similar step was taken in January 2024, when authorised dealers were mandated to disclose mid-market rates for forex and foreign currency interest rate derivatives. The new proposal builds on a similar framework by extending transparency to the full cost structure of transactions.What counts as “total transaction cost”Before entering into a foreign exchange transaction, authorised dealers will now have to provide a complete breakdown of costs. According to Hemal Shah, Partner and Leader – Treasury and Commodity Advisory, Risk Consulting, EY India, this would include:
- The foreign exchange rate applied
- Currency conversion charges
- Sending or outward remittance fees
- Receiving fees, if applicable
- Charges levied by intermediary or correspondent banks
- Any other fee linked to executing the transaction
Importantly, these details must not only be shared upfront but also included in the final deal confirmation, allowing customers to verify what they were quoted against what they were ultimately charged.Once finalised, the instructions will be applicable within three months from the date of issuance.
Problems faced by retail users
Retail customers have long flagged that international transfers feel far more expensive and opaque than domestic payments. Often, customers are shown only an exchange rate, while additional costs such as remittance fees, FX margins, SWIFT charges and intermediary bank deductions are revealed only later.Experts point out that banks frequently embed margins and multiple fees into a single quoted rate, making it difficult for customers to understand the actual pricing. Charges on the recipient side, such as correspondent bank fees or instances where beneficiaries bear costs instead of remitters, have also added to confusion, particularly for exporters.Another major concern is the lack of transparency around correspondent bank fees, which can vary significantly depending on routing and overseas banking arrangements. While banks often describe these as outside their control, the RBI has flagged this as a key area where disclosure standards need improvement.
How customers will benefit
By mandating upfront disclosure, the RBI aims to give retail users a clearer picture of the true cost of cross-border transactions. This will help customers better understand pricing mechanisms, dealer margins, and the differences between various forex products.“Enhanced visibility on the hidden charges allows retail users to make better decisions on the pricing offered by ADs,” said Shah.Vijay Mani, Partner and Banking and Capital Markets Leader at Deloitte India, added that the move can significantly improve trust and comparability, provided the disclosures are implemented in a clear and customer-friendly manner.The RBI has invited public comments on the draft circular. Feedback can be submitted until January 9, 2026, after which the central bank will review responses before issuing final guidelines.
Who do the rules apply to?
Authorised Dealers under RBI regulations include Authorised Dealer Category-I banks and Standalone Primary Dealers authorised under Category-III to conduct foreign exchange transactions.Customers are classified as retail or non-retail for the purpose of these rules. Non-retail users include large financial institutions, NBFCs, insurance companies, mutual funds, alternative investment funds and Indian entities with a net worth of Rs 500 crore or more or a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore or more. Non-residents, other than individuals, are also treated as non-retail users.Any customer who does not fall into these categories is considered a retail user and will directly benefit from the proposed transparency measures.
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A consortium headed by the Arif Habib Corporation emerged as the top bidder on Tuesday, in a live-televised auction for a 75% stake in PIA. This marks a breakthrough for the government’s long-delayed privatisation of the carrier.
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Business
Does Higher Income Guarantee Faster Wealth? Can You Actually Build Money Faster By Moving To UAE? CA Explains Math
New Delhi: For many middle-class families in India, a particular notion crosses their minds every few months. If people who relocate to the UAE earn more money and if location is a key factor in wealth creation. Chartered Accountant and financial advisor Nitin Kaushik recently sparked a detailed discussion on X by breaking down the actual numbers behind this notion. At the core of his post is a compelling idea that wealth is not created by crossing borders but by crossing comfort zones. Kaushik says that no destination creates wealth and only financial behavior does so.
Kaushik explains how residents working in the UAE often highlight two genuine financial advantages. The first is a lower personal income tax which increases take-home pay. In India, a Rs 2 lakh salary taxed locally may leave Rs 1.55 to 1.6 lakh in hand whereas similar earnings abroad may result in nearly complete take-home. This is due to lower personal income tax abroad. The second factor is a larger monthly savings rate. Many people save between Rs 80,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh per month by sharing accommodation and reducing expenditure. “Same markets. Same funds. Different speeds of wealth creation,” Kaushik wrote.
In the following thread, Kaushik explains in detail how geography has little bearing on wealth creation and how savings discipline does all the magic. He claims that while earning Rs 2 to 3 lakh domestically, several professionals save less than Rs 30,000 per month due to lifestyle inflation, large EMIs and premium living costs. Building Rs 1 crore at this pace will take 15 to 18 years even with strong market returns. “The contrast is not country-based and it is cash-flow based,” Kaushik said.
Kaushik claims that increased income does not ensure faster wealth. A Rs 3 lakh earner saving Rs 1 lakh builds wealth more quickly than a Rs 5 lakh earner saving Rs 40,000. What matters is the investable surplus and not the salary figure, he said.
“Is wealth really about where you work – or what you do with what you earn?”
Every few months this thought pops up in thousands of middle-class homes:
“People who go to UAE build money faster_
Is location the secret?”The truth is more layered than that – and it deserves an_ pic.twitter.com/50uByLnd8h
— CA Nitin Kaushik (FCA) | LLB (@Finance_Bareek) December 23, 2025
According to Kaushik, when expenditure is smaller than income then investing happens almost automatically. The same financial outcome can be achieved at home with modest lifestyle control, aggressive monthly SIPs, consistency across market cycles and zero dependency on “windfall thinking”.
Kaushik said that the real wealth calculation does not consider geography. Income minus expenses becomes investable capital and investable capital multiplied by time becomes net worth. “Change any one variable and the future changes,” the CA wrote.
Kaushik said, “Wealth is not built by crossing borders. It is built by crossing comfort zones. Whether earnings come from here, there or anywhere what changes lives is the habit of paying the future first.”
According to Kaushik, moving abroad may increase savings capacity but discipline alone converts earnings into freedom. In Kaushik’s words, “No destination creates wealth. Only financial behavior does.”
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