How to Buy Google Shares in India: LRS, TCS and Tax

Last Updated on Nov 12, 2026 by Loveesha Sharma

Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, is listed in the US on the Nasdaq. Resident Indians who want to own them use an overseas investing account funded by a remittance under the RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), the route that applies to investing in US stocks from India more broadly. India taxes any gains, and Tax Collected at Source (TCS) can apply once remittances in a financial year cross a set threshold. What follows explains how to buy Google shares in India, from choosing between the two share classes to the LRS limit, TCS, Indian tax, and the risks specific to Alphabet.

Table of Contents

About Alphabet

Alphabet Inc. is a US technology company and the parent of Google, whose products include Search, YouTube, Android, Chrome, Google Maps and Google Cloud. Google was founded in 1998; Alphabet is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and Sundar Pichai is the chief executive officer of both Google and Alphabet. The company belongs to the internet content and information industry within the communication services sector.

The business runs in three segments:

Google Services covers advertising across Search, YouTube and the Google Network, along with subscriptions, platforms and devices. It reported revenue of $96.3 bn, up 11%, in the quarter ended 30th September 2026.
Google Cloud covers Google Cloud Platform, Google Workspace and other enterprise services. Its revenue rose 103% to $30.7 bn in the same quarter.
Other Bets combines early-stage businesses such as Waymo, the autonomous driving company, and reported revenue of $372 mn in the quarter.

Alphabet stock trades on the Nasdaq under two tickers, GOOGL for Class A shares and GOOG for Class C shares, so the Alphabet share price differs slightly between them. Alphabet is not listed in India, so the Google share price in India is the dollar price converted into rupees: about Rs.26,929 for one GOOGL share at $1 = Rs.93.69.

Google’s market cap, or Alphabet’s total market value, was $3.5 tn on the same date. That makes Alphabet a mega-cap company. At that value, a 1% stake in Alphabet would be worth about $35 bn.

Alphabet has three classes of common stock, according to its annual report for 2025:

Class A (GOOGL): one vote per share, listed on the Nasdaq.
Class C (GOOG): no voting rights, except as required by law, listed on the Nasdaq.
Class B: 10 votes per share, not listed, and converted into Class A shares when sold or transferred.

Apart from voting, the three classes have identical rights, and the quarterly dividend is paid on all of them.

Can Indian Residents Invest in Alphabet?

Yes. Resident individuals can buy US stocks from India, including Alphabet, under the LRS, within the annual limit and subject to RBI, FEMA and tax requirements.

There are two broad routes. In the direct route, an investor buys Alphabet shares through a platform that offers US stocks, and the shares are held in the investor’s name. In the indirect route, an investor buys units of Indian funds or US ETFs that hold Alphabet as part of a wider portfolio. The indirect route gives exposure through a fund, with fund fees and no direct ownership of Alphabet shares.

Investors buy Alphabet shares through a brokerage or investing platform that provides access to the Nasdaq, because Alphabet is not listed on the NSE or BSE.

How to Buy Google Shares from India?

On Tickertape, you buy Alphabet shares through a US investing account with ViewTrade International IFSC, an IFSCA-registered Global Access Provider. The process runs in five stages:

Open an account: After logging in to Tickertape, you set up the account by selecting “Get Started” under US Stocks.
Complete KYC: Identity is verified through DigiLocker or by manually uploading documents, using the investor’s PAN and identity documents.
Link the bank: Connect a supported Indian bank account to transfer funds under the RBI’s LRS.
Add funds: Initiate a transfer from the linked bank account. Funds typically take two to three business days to reflect and can take up to seven, depending on the bank.
Place an order: Search for Alphabet by its ticker, GOOGL or GOOG; review its financials; and choose an investment amount. Fractional shares allow purchases from $1, and the order screen shows the order details and applicable charges before confirmation.

LRS Limit and TCS on Overseas Transfers

The LRS allows resident individuals, including minors, to remit up to $250,000 per financial year (April to March) for permitted current or capital account transactions, including investment in foreign securities, according to the RBI’s LRS FAQs. A PAN is mandatory for LRS remittances; the limit resets on 1st April, and remittances for margin or margin calls to overseas exchanges are not permitted.

TCS applies to investment remittances above a Rs.10 lakh threshold in a financial year. The threshold is calculated on the investor’s total LRS remittances during the year, not on each transfer separately. Above the threshold, TCS is collected at 20% on the excess. For example, a Rs.12 lakh investment-related remittance attracts TCS on Rs.2 lakh, which is Rs.40,000.

TCS is not an additional tax. The bank deposits it against the investor’s PAN, and it can be adjusted against final tax liability or claimed when the Income Tax Return is filed. Refund timelines vary. Banks typically ask for Form A2 and an LRS declaration for each outward remittance.

Taxes on Alphabet Shares for Indian Residents

For Indian residents, gains from selling Alphabet shares are taxed in India. The US generally does not tax capital gains for non-US resident investors.

Holding period	Gain type	Tax rate
24 months or less	Short-term (STCG)	Investor’s income-tax slab rate
More than 24 months	Long-term (LTCG)	12.5% without indexation, plus surcharge and cess

Dividends: Alphabet pays a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share on its Class A, B and C shares. The US withholds 25% under the India-US Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), the dividend is also taxable in India at slab rates, and a foreign tax credit can be claimed by filing Form 67.
Stock splits: A stock split, such as Alphabet’s 20-for-1 split that took effect after the market closed on 15th July 2022, changes the number of shares held and the price per share but not the total value of the holding.
Schedule FA: Alphabet holdings may need to be disclosed in Schedule FA of the Income Tax Return, including small holdings and fractional shares. Investors with foreign assets generally file ITR-2 or ITR-3, depending on their income profile. Non-disclosure may attract penalties, and a tax adviser can confirm the requirements for an individual case.

Risks of Investing in Alphabet

Industry and technology risk: Search, advertising and cloud markets change quickly. AI-based search tools, rival cloud and AI services and shifts in advertiser budgets can all affect how much Alphabet earns and the margin on that revenue.
Regulation and legal risk: The US Department of Justice, several US states and other plaintiffs have filed antitrust lawsuits about Google’s advertising technology, Search distribution and Android, according to Alphabet’s annual report for 2025. A US court ruled against Google in the Search case in August 2024, and such rulings can restrict how products are distributed and sold.
Spending and funding: Alphabet is investing heavily in data centres, chips and AI models. In the quarter ended 30th September 2026, it raised $28.7 bn through senior notes and issued new Class A and Class C shares for net proceeds of $12.4 bn under its at-the-market programme. Issuing new shares dilutes existing holdings.
Voting control: Class C shares carry no votes, and Larry Page and Sergey Brin held about 52.7% of the voting power of the outstanding common stock as of 31st December 2025. Other shareholders therefore have limited influence over corporate decisions.
Market and currency risk: Share prices rise and fall with company earnings, interest rates and investor mood, and returns are not guaranteed. Because the shares are priced in dollars, a stronger rupee can reduce returns in rupee terms while a weaker rupee can increase them, even when the dollar share price is unchanged.
Tax and cost risk: TCS rates, remittance limits and reporting rules can change over time. Brokerage, currency conversion and other charges also apply, so the amount an investor finally keeps can differ from the headline return.

Things to Consider Before Buying Alphabet Shares

Share class: GOOGL and GOOG carry the same economic rights but different voting rights, and their prices are close but not identical.
Business mix: Google Services produced $96.3 bn of Alphabet’s $127.6 bn revenue in the quarter ended 30th September 2026, and advertising accounted for $82.0 bn of that total.
Cloud growth: Google Cloud revenue rose 103%, and operating income reached $11.1 bn in the same quarter, up from $3.6 bn a year earlier.
Shareholder returns: Alphabet declared a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share in October 2026, payable on 14th December 2026 to shareholders of record on 7th December 2026.
Valuation: Alphabet’s trailing P/E was 15.04 for GOOGL as of 11th November 2026. Valuation ratios are usually read together with recent results and the company’s plans.
Indian presence: Google operates in India, but Alphabet’s results are driven mainly by its global business, so developments in larger markets are generally more influential for the share price.

Conclusion

Alphabet earns most of its revenue from Google Services, while Google Cloud is its fastest-growing segment, and both depend on the company’s spending on AI infrastructure. Search, advertising and cloud demand are therefore central to how its shares are viewed. For resident Indians, access runs through overseas platforms under the RBI’s framework, with taxes, TCS and currency movements shaping the final return. Current rules, the company’s latest results and individual circumstances are the usual reference points before any decision.

To compare US-listed companies such as Alphabet on valuation, profitability, returns, and growth, the Tickertape US Stock Screener provides 60+ built-in filters on a single platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I buy Google shares from India?

Yes. Indian residents can hold Alphabet shares, which are listed on the Nasdaq under the tickers GOOGL (Class A) and GOOG (Class C). There are two broad routes. In the direct route, shares are bought through a platform that offers US stocks, funded by a remittance under the RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), and held in the investor’s name. In the indirect route, exposure comes through Indian funds or ETFs that hold Alphabet as part of a US-linked portfolio. Platform availability, fees and eligibility vary.

2. Is it legal for Indians to buy Alphabet shares?

Yes. Resident Indians can invest in overseas listed shares under the LRS, which operates under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. The scheme allows up to $250,000 per individual per financial year for permitted purposes, including investment in foreign securities. Remittances are routed through authorised banks, and you report foreign assets and income in your Income Tax Return.

Disclaimer: Rules and limits can change over time. The latest RBI, FEMA and Income Tax provisions apply.

3. How to invest in Google from India step by step?

On Tickertape, buying Alphabet shares from India involves five stages, all completed within the US Stocks section of the platform:
– Account setup: A US investing account is created by selecting “Get Started” under US Stocks after logging in to Tickertape.
– Complete KYC: Identity is verified digitally through DigiLocker or by uploading documents, using the PAN and identity documents.
– Link your bank: A supported Indian bank account is connected to send funds under the LRS. Supported banks include HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and IDFC Bank.
– Add funds: Money is transferred from the linked bank account to the US wallet.
– Buy an order: GOOGL or GOOG is searched for on the platform, its financials are reviewed, and an investment amount is chosen. Fractional investing starts at $1, and the platform shows the order details and applicable charges before you confirm the order.

4. Is there a limit on how much can be invested in Alphabet from India?

The LRS limit of $250,000 per individual per financial year covers all permitted overseas remittances combined, not only Alphabet purchases. It resets on 1st April. At $287.43 per GOOGL share on 11th November 2026, 10,000 shares would cost $2,874,300, more than 11 times one person’s yearly limit. Remittances above Rs.10 lakh in a financial year also attract TCS.

5. How much does one Google share cost in rupees?

One GOOGL share cost about Rs.26,929 at $287.43 and $1 = Rs.93.69 on 11th November 2026, and 20 shares would cost $5,748.60, or about Rs.5,38,586. Platforms that offer fractional investing allow purchases from $1, so an investor can buy part of a share at the prevailing price and exchange rate.

Disclaimer: Share prices and exchange rates change through the day, and minimums vary by platform.

6. Do I need a US bank account to buy Alphabet shares?

No. Platforms that serve Indian residents accept funds from an Indian bank account, and the money is sent abroad under the LRS. You generally don’t need a US bank account or a US address.

7. What documents are required to invest in Alphabet from India?

KYC typically needs a PAN and an identity proof such as Aadhaar or a passport, along with an address proof. Many platforms support digital verification through DigiLocker. For each outward remittance, banks generally ask for Form A2 and an LRS declaration. Requirements differ by platform and bank.

8. How long does it take for money to reach the account?

Transfers typically take two to three business days to reflect and can take up to seven, depending on the bank and the remittance route. The time depends on bank processing, currency conversion and the platform’s funding method.

Disclaimer: Timelines are indicative and may differ from case to case.

9. What is TCS and can it be claimed back?

Tax Collected at Source (TCS) is tax that the bank collects at the time of an overseas remittance. For investment remittances, it applies at 20% on the amount above Rs.10 lakh in a financial year, calculated on total LRS remittances for the year. TCS is not an additional tax. You can adjust it against your tax liability or claim it as a refund when you file your Income Tax Return, and refund timelines vary.

Disclaimer: TCS rates and thresholds can change. The rules in force at the time of remittance apply.

10. Does Alphabet pay a dividend?

Yes. Alphabet pays a quarterly cash dividend of $0.22 per share on Class A, B, and C shares, payable on 14th December 2026 to shareholders of record on 7th December 2026. For Indian residents, US tax is withheld at 25% under the DTAA before the amount is credited, and the dividend is also taxable in India.

Disclaimer: Dividend policy can change. This answer reflects the position at the time of writing.

11. What is the difference between GOOGL and GOOG?

GOOGL is Alphabet’s Class A stock, which carries one vote per share, and GOOG is its Class C stock, which carries no voting rights except as required by law. Both trade on the Nasdaq and have the same rights to dividends and other economic benefits. Their prices usually differ slightly; for example, on 11th November 2026, GOOGL was $287.43, and GOOG was $284.92.

12. Can I invest in Alphabet through an ETF or mutual fund?

Yes, indirectly. Some Indian international funds and US-listed ETFs hold Alphabet. In this case, the investor owns units of the fund rather than Alphabet shares, and Alphabet makes up only part of the fund’s portfolio. Funds charge expense ratios, and their holdings and weights change over time.

13. How does the dollar-rupee exchange rate affect returns?

Alphabet trades in dollars, so rupees are converted into dollars when buying and dollars are converted back into rupees when selling. If the rupee is weaker at the time of sale than at the time of purchase, the rupee value of the holding is higher, and if it is stronger, the value is lower. This can happen even when the share price in dollars has not moved.

Disclaimer: Exchange rates move unpredictably and can increase or reduce returns in rupee terms.

14. When can I trade Alphabet shares from India?

US markets are open from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm Eastern Time on weekdays, which is 7:00 pm to 1:30 am IST during US daylight saving time and 8:00 pm to 2:30 am IST outside it. Standard time runs from 1st November 2026 to 14th March 2027. Markets are closed on weekends and US market holidays.

Disclaimer: Timings shift by an hour when US daylight saving time starts or ends, and extended-hours availability varies by platform.

15. How are Alphabet gains taxed in India?

India taxes gains from selling Alphabet shares. Holdings of more than 24 months are long-term and taxed at 12.5% without indexation, plus surcharge and cess. Holdings of 24 months or less are short-term and taxed at the investor’s income-tax slab rate. The US generally does not tax capital gains of non-US residents. Foreign holdings must be reported in Schedule FA of the Income Tax Return, which generally means filing ITR-2 or ITR-3.

Disclaimer: Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and can change. This is general information and not tax advice.

16. Is Alphabet a good stock to buy?

Alphabet’s financials, valuation and business outlook are published in the company’s filings and on stock research pages, and whether any stock fits a portfolio depends on an individual’s goals, risk appetite and time horizon.

Disclaimer: This is not investment advice. Share prices can fall as well as rise, and past performance does not indicate future returns.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax or legal advice. Rules, limits and tax treatment may change over time. Refer to the latest RBI, FEMA and Income Tax regulations or consult a qualified professional before making overseas investments.