Form 15CA & Form 15CB
Statutory online tax forms mandated by the Indian Income Tax Department to certify that applicable taxes have been satisfied before funds are remitted out of India to a foreign bank account.
Detailed Explanation & Background
Under Section 195(6) of the Income Tax Act and Rule 37BB, any person or entity making a payment or remittance from India to a non-resident or foreign bank account must submit tax certification documents to their Authorized Dealer (AD) bank. These documents are Form 15CA and Form 15CB.
Form 15CB is a formal Certificate issued and digitally signed by an independent Chartered Accountant (CA). The CA reviews the source of funds (e.g. rental income statements, tax returns, Form 26AS, capital gain calculations) to certify that all Indian taxes have been correctly deducted or paid.
Form 15CA is an online declaration filed by the remitter on the Indian Income Tax e-filing portal containing details of the remittance, recipient, bank SWIFT code, and the CA's 15CB acknowledgment number (UDIN).
Key Rules & Practical Takeaways
- ✓Form 15CB: Issued by a practicing Indian Chartered Accountant with a valid Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN)
- ✓Form 15CA Part C: Mandatory whenever remittance amount exceeds ₹5,00,000 in a financial year and income is taxable in India
- ✓Form 15CA Part A: Used for non-taxable remittances or when annual total is under ₹5,00,000 (no 15CB required)
- ✓Form 15CA Part D: Used for specified remittances where income is not chargeable to tax under the Act (exempt items list)
- ✓Bank Submission: AD banks require printouts/PDFs of electronically acknowledged 15CA and 15CB along with Form A2 before executing international wires.
Step-by-Step 15CA/15CB Filing Flow
Repatriating ₹15 Lakhs Accumulated Rental Income to Singapore
Scenario: An NRI landlord has accumulated ₹15,00,000 in their Kotak Mahindra NRO account over two years of Bangalore apartment renting.
Because ₹15 Lakhs exceeds the ₹5 Lakh threshold, the NRI engages a CA to verify Section 195 TDS deposits and file Form 15CB. The NRI submits Form 15CA Part C on the tax portal. The bank verifies both forms and transfers the ~SGD 24,000 balance to DBS Bank Singapore within 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Form 15CB required for every outward remittance from India?
No. If the total annual remittance is less than ₹5,00,000 or the transfer is made from an NRE account, only Form 15CA Part A is needed without a CA certificate.
How long does it take to get Form 15CB and Form 15CA?
A Chartered Accountant can review documentation and issue Form 15CB within 24–48 hours. Form 15CA is generated instantly upon portal submission.
Can I file Form 15CA myself without a Chartered Accountant?
You can file Form 15CA yourself, but for taxable remittances above ₹5 Lakhs, the portal requires you to enter the UDIN and acknowledgment number from a CA-issued Form 15CB.