Key takeaways
- Broking apps’ published US brokerage on 19 October 2026 ranged from 0.1% to 0.25% of the order, with either a US$1 minimum or a cap of US$10–US$35 an order, plus 18% GST.
- On a US$100 buy that meant about US$0.13 to US$1.19; on a US$1,000 buy, about US$1.19 to US$3.00.
- The banks’ 0.5–1.2% currency markup can cost more than the brokerage.
- The US$250,000 Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) limit and the ₹10 lakh threshold for 20% tax collected at source (TCS) cover all your remittances each financial year, whichever app you use.
Last updated: 19 October 2026 · By Analyst, Platizio Global
Increasingly, yes. During 2026 several of India’s largest broking apps were authorised as Global Access Providers in GIFT City and began offering US stocks and ETFs; on 19 October 2026 some were live, some were rolling out or in beta, and some still referred customers to a US broker instead.
How broking apps offer US stocks
In GIFT City, India’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), a Global Access Provider (GAP) authorised by the regulator, IFSCA, takes your order and routes it to a US broker, which holds the shares either in your own name or in the GAP’s name for its customers. An app without its own GAP may instead refer you to a US broker that opens the account directly.
- Live apps let you enable US investing in the app, fund it from your bank under LRS and buy fractions from about US$1.
- Beta or staged rollouts add users in batches; funding may be limited to a few banks, and withdrawals can take a few working days.
- Referral routes hand you to a US broker with its own pricing and know-your-customer (KYC) checks, typically 1–3 business days.
Check an app’s GAP registration number in IFSCA’s directory, which US broker it uses, whether non-resident Indians (NRIs) are accepted, and its deposit and withdrawal times before you remit.
Costs at US$100 and US$1,000
| Published pricing model (19 October 2026) | US$100 buy | US$1,000 buy |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1%, US$1 minimum, + GST | US$1.19 | US$1.19 |
| 0.1%, capped at US$10, + GST + IFSCA fee | US$0.13 | US$1.23 |
| 0.25%, capped at US$25, + GST + IFSCA fee | US$0.30 | US$3.00 |
| Platizio Global: 0.29%, US$1 minimum, + 18% IGST + IFSCA fee | US$1.19 | US$3.47 |
Buy-side fees only: brokerage, 18% GST and any listed 0.005% IFSCA fee. On a US$1,000 buy, the bank’s 0.5–1.2% currency markup and GST on the conversion add more than the brokerage, before any wire fee. Most apps publish no currency markup.
Rules on every app
- LRS: US$250,000 per financial year, GIFT City included; no margin or derivatives.
- TCS: banks collect 20% on remittances above ₹10 lakh a financial year (section 394, Income-tax Act, 2025) on the excess, credited against income tax (TCS explained).
- Tax: 12.5% plus surcharge and cess on gains after more than 24 months, slab rates before; 25% US withholding on dividends with a W-8BEN (US treaty form), creditable in India (US stock tax guide).
- Schedule FA (foreign assets in your return): report every US holding at any time in the calendar year (Schedule FA penalties).
- Estate tax: up to 40% on US holdings above US$60,000 at death.
- Hours: 7:00 pm–1:30 am IST until 30 October 2026; 8:00 pm–2:30 am IST from 2 November (US market timings in IST); T+1 settlement.
For a fuller comparison of how US-stock apps charge, see how US-stock apps compare.
Sources3
- Reserve Bank of India: Master Direction – Liberalised Remittance Scheme — https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=10192
- Income Tax Department: Section 394, Income-tax Act, 2025 — https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/w/section-394-6
- Platizio Global: Pricing — https://platizioglobal.com/pricing
This article is for education only. It is not investment, tax or legal advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security or to use any platform. Fees are shown for comparison only and are not recommendatory. Investments in US stocks and ETFs are subject to market risk, currency risk and tax implications; returns are not guaranteed. Fees, tax rates and rules are as of 19 October 2026 and can change; check them with a chartered accountant before you act. Platizio Global is our own platform. Platizio does not give investment advice and may receive referral fees or revenue share from ViewTrade.