Form 15CA & 15CB -- Complete NRI Repatriation Filing Guide (2026)

By MKW Advisors -- NRI Tax Desk MKW Advisors | Legal Suvidha | DigiComply

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Every NRI who repatriates money from India -- whether it is property sale proceeds, NRO account balances, rental income, or gift from parents -- encounters Form 15CA and Form 15CB. These two forms are the Income Tax Department's mechanism for tracking foreign remittances and ensuring that applicable TDS has been deducted before money leaves India.

The process is not conceptually difficult, but it is procedurally exacting. Filing the wrong Part of Form 15CA, not obtaining Form 15CB when required, or submitting incorrect details can delay your remittance by weeks and attract penalties of up to Rs 1 lakh.

This guide walks you through every step, from identifying which Part applies to your remittance through to bank submission.

"The 15CA/15CB process is the single most common pain point for NRIs repatriating money. Banks insist on it, and rightfully so -- it is their compliance obligation. But the forms are confusing, the e-filing portal has quirks, and many CAs are unfamiliar with the process. This guide aims to eliminate the confusion." -- MKW Advisors, NRI Tax Desk

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Table of Contents

1. What Are Forms 15CA and 15CB?
2. When Is 15CA/15CB Required?
3. Exempt Payments: When 15CA/15CB Is NOT Required
4. Form 15CA: Parts A, B, C, and D
5. Form 15CB: The CA Certificate
6. Step-by-Step Filing Process
7. Bank Submission and Processing
8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
9. Specific Scenarios: Property Sale, NRO Balance, Gifts
10. Frequently Asked Questions
11. Next Steps

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1. What Are Forms 15CA and 15CB?

Form 15CA

Form 15CA is a declaration by the remitter (the person sending money out of India) to the Income Tax Department, providing details of the remittance and confirming that applicable tax has been paid/deducted. It is filed online on the Income Tax e-filing portal.

Form 15CB

Form 15CB is a certificate issued by a Chartered Accountant certifying that:

• The remittance is in accordance with the provisions of the Income Tax Act
• Applicable TDS has been deducted and deposited
• The remittance qualifies for DTAA benefits (if claimed)
• The nature and taxability of the payment have been examined

Why Do They Exist?

Section 195(6) of the Income Tax Act requires any person making a payment to a non-resident to furnish information about the payment to the Income Tax Department. Forms 15CA and 15CB are the prescribed formats for this information. Banks are required to verify that Form 15CA has been filed before processing the remittance.

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2. When Is 15CA/15CB Required?

The General Rule

Form 15CA is required for all payments to non-residents (or to their foreign accounts) that are chargeable to tax under the Income Tax Act, unless specifically exempted.

The Rs 5 Lakh Threshold

The Rs 5 lakh threshold determines whether you need Form 15CB (CA certificate):

"Aggregate" Clarification

The Rs 5 lakh threshold is per remitter-remittee pair during the financial year. If you have sent Rs 3 lakh earlier in the year and now want to send Rs 3 lakh more to the same person, the aggregate exceeds Rs 5 lakh, and Part C (with Form 15CB) is required for the second remittance.

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3. Exempt Payments: When 15CA/15CB Is NOT Required

Rule 37BB of the Income Tax Rules specifies payments that are exempt from 15CA/15CB requirements. These include:

Important: NRO repatriation is generally not exempt -- it requires Form 15CA (and 15CB if above Rs 5 lakh and chargeable to tax). NRE account transfers are exempt in most cases as NRE funds are not chargeable to Indian tax.

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4. Form 15CA: Parts A, B, C, and D

This is where most confusion arises. You must file the correct Part based on your specific situation.

Part A: Small Taxable Payments (Up to Rs 5 Lakh)

Use when: The payment is chargeable to tax AND the aggregate of all taxable payments to the same payee in the FY does not exceed Rs 5 lakh.

Key features:

• No CA certificate (Form 15CB) needed
• Self-declaration by the remitter
• Simpler form -- fewer fields

Part B: Payment with AO Order

Use when: An order or certificate has been obtained from the Assessing Officer under:

• Section 195(2): AO determination of TDS on the payment
• Section 195(3): Exemption from TDS
• Section 197: Lower/nil TDS certificate

Key features:

• Reference the AO order/certificate number
• TDS amount is per the AO's order
• No CA certificate needed (AO has already examined the matter)

Part C: Large Taxable Payments (Exceeds Rs 5 Lakh)

Use when: The payment is chargeable to tax AND aggregate exceeds Rs 5 lakh in the FY.

Key features:

• Form 15CB (CA certificate) is mandatory
• The CA must upload Form 15CB first; the remitter then references it
• Most detailed Part -- requires DTAA analysis, TDS computation, etc.

Part D: Payments Not Chargeable to Tax

Use when: The payment is NOT chargeable to tax under the Income Tax Act.

Examples:

• Return of NRE funds (NRE account is tax-exempt; funds being sent back are not "income")
• Repayment of loan principal
• Return of investment capital (where the capital itself is not chargeable)

Key features:

• Self-declaration
• No CA certificate needed
• Must specify the reason why the payment is not chargeable

Decision Flowchart

Is the payment chargeable to tax in India?
├── NO --> File Part D
└── YES
    ├── Do you have an AO order (Sec 195(2)/195(3)/197)?
    │   └── YES --> File Part B
    └── NO
        ├── Aggregate payments to this payee exceed Rs 5L in FY?
        │   ├── YES --> Get Form 15CB from CA, then file Part C
        │   └── NO --> File Part A

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5. Form 15CB: The CA Certificate

What the CA Certifies

Form 15CB requires the Chartered Accountant to certify:

1. Nature of the payment and the section of the Income Tax Act under which it is taxable
2. Applicability of DTAA -- whether the payee is eligible for treaty benefits, and the applicable treaty rate
3. TDS computation -- the amount of TDS deducted, the rate applied, and the challan details
4. Documents examined -- TRC, Form 10F, self-declaration, sale deed, etc.
5. Gross amount, TDS amount, and net amount being remitted

Documents the CA Needs

How Form 15CB Is Filed

1. The CA logs into their own e-filing portal account
2. Navigates to Authorised Partners > CA Certificates > Form 15CB
3. Fills in all details and digitally signs using DSC
4. Submits Form 15CB -- a unique acknowledgment number is generated
5. The remitter uses this acknowledgment number when filing Form 15CA Part C

Cost

CA fees for Form 15CB typically range from Rs 3,000 to Rs 15,000 depending on the complexity of the transaction, the CA's experience, and whether DTAA analysis is involved.

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6. Step-by-Step Filing Process

Step 1: Determine Which Part of Form 15CA Applies

Use the flowchart in Section 4. For most NRI property sale repatriations exceeding Rs 5 lakh, it will be Part C (requiring Form 15CB).

Step 2: Gather Documents

Compile sale deed, TDS challans, PAN details, DTAA documents (if applicable), and bank account details.

Step 3: Engage a CA for Form 15CB (If Part C)

Provide all documents to the CA. The CA will:

• Verify TDS has been correctly deducted and deposited
• Analyze DTAA applicability
• Prepare and upload Form 15CB on the e-filing portal
• Share the acknowledgment number with you

Step 4: File Form 15CA on the E-Filing Portal

1. Log in to incometax.gov.in with your credentials
2. Navigate to e-File > Income Tax Forms > File Income Tax Forms
3. Select Form 15CA
4. Choose the applicable Part (A, B, C, or D)
5. Fill in the details:
   • Remitter details (name, PAN, address)
   • Remittee details (name, address, country)
   • Payment details (amount, nature, purpose code)
   • TDS details (amount, challan number, BSR code)
   • Form 15CB acknowledgment number (for Part C)
6. Verify using DSC or EVC
7. Submit -- an acknowledgment number is generated
8. Download the acknowledgment PDF

Step 5: Submit to Bank

Provide the Form 15CA acknowledgment to your bank along with:

• Form 15CB copy (if Part C)
• A2 Form (foreign exchange application)
• Any additional documents the bank requests

Step 6: Bank Processes Remittance

The bank verifies the Form 15CA details against their records, confirms with the e-filing portal, and processes the SWIFT transfer.

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7. Bank Submission and Processing

What the Bank Checks

• Form 15CA acknowledgment number and validity
• Consistency of amount, purpose code, and beneficiary details
• TDS compliance (TDS deducted and deposited as per Form 15CA)
• FEMA compliance (remittance within permissible limits)
• KYC of the remitter

Bank Processing Time

• Form verification: 1-3 working days
• SWIFT transfer: 2-5 working days
• Total typical timeline: 3-7 working days from submission

RBI Purpose Codes

The bank requires an RBI purpose code for every outward remittance. Common codes for NRI transactions:

Your CA or bank can help identify the correct code.

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8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Filing the Wrong Part

Problem: Filing Part D (not chargeable to tax) when the payment IS chargeable (e.g., property sale proceeds where capital gains tax applies). Fix: Always analyze taxability first. Property sale proceeds are chargeable to tax (capital gains arise). Use Part C.

Mistake 2: Not Matching TDS Details

Problem: The TDS amount in Form 15CA does not match the challans deposited. Fix: Reconcile all TDS challans (Challan 281) with the amounts mentioned in Form 15CA before filing. Even small mismatches can cause the bank to reject the remittance.

Mistake 3: Filing 15CA Before 15CB

Problem: For Part C, you cannot file Form 15CA without the Form 15CB acknowledgment number. Fix: Always get Form 15CB done first. The CA uploads 15CB, gives you the acknowledgment number, and then you file 15CA Part C referencing it.

Mistake 4: Exceeding FEMA Limits

Problem: Attempting to repatriate more than USD 1 million per financial year from NRO account. Fix: NRO repatriation is capped at USD 1 million per FY under FEMA. Plan multi-year repatriation for large amounts. NRE account repatriation has no limit.

Mistake 5: Not Accounting for TDS on Full Sale Consideration

Problem: TDS under Section 195 is deducted on the full sale consideration, not just the capital gain. NRIs often forget that the TDS amount will be far more than the actual tax liability, and they need to claim a refund via ITR. Fix: Apply for a Section 197 lower TDS certificate BEFORE the sale. This reduces TDS to the approximate actual tax liability, improving cash flow significantly.

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9. Specific Scenarios

Scenario 1: Property Sale Proceeds

• Buyer deducts TDS at 20% (LTCG) under Section 195 and deposits via Challan 281
• NRI receives net amount in NRO account
• CA prepares Form 15CB analyzing capital gains computation, DTAA applicability, and TDS compliance
• NRI files Form 15CA Part C (amount exceeds Rs 5 lakh)
• Bank processes remittance from NRO account

Scenario 2: NRO Account Balance (Accumulated Savings)

• NRO interest has had TDS deducted at 20% (or 15% under DTAA)
• For the accumulated balance (savings, not income), determine taxability:
  • Principal deposited from India-sourced income: may need Part C
  • NRI salary received in NRO (where India salary has already been taxed): Part C with TDS details
• CA assesses the nature of each component and issues Form 15CB

Scenario 3: Gift from Parents (Resident Indian)

• Gifts from relatives are exempt under Section 56(2)(x)
• The gift amount is not chargeable to tax in India
• File Form 15CA Part D (not chargeable to tax)
• No Form 15CB needed
• Maintain a gift deed and proof of relationship

Scenario 4: Inherited Funds

• Inheritance is not taxable (no inheritance tax in India)
• File Form 15CA Part D (not chargeable to tax)
• No Form 15CB needed
• Maintain succession certificate/probate and death certificate

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Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ 1: My bank says they need Form 15CA even for transferring funds from NRE to my overseas account. Is this correct?

No. NRE account funds are fully repatriable without Form 15CA/15CB. The funds in an NRE account are not "income chargeable to tax" in India. If your bank insists, show them Rule 37BB which exempts NRE repatriation. Some banks still ask for a simple Form 15CA Part D out of abundance of caution.

FAQ 2: Can I file Form 15CA myself or do I need a CA?

You can file Form 15CA yourself -- it is an online self-declaration. However, Form 15CB must be prepared and uploaded by a Chartered Accountant. For Part A and Part D (where no Form 15CB is needed), you can handle the entire process yourself.

FAQ 3: How long is a Form 15CA valid?

Form 15CA does not have an official expiry date, but banks typically expect it to be recent (within 15-30 days of submission). If there is a significant delay between filing and actual remittance, the bank may ask for a fresh filing.

FAQ 4: I need to repatriate Rs 2 crore from a property sale. Can I do it in one remittance?

The NRO repatriation limit under FEMA is USD 1 million per financial year (approximately Rs 8.5 crore at current exchange rates). Rs 2 crore is well within this limit. You can do it in one remittance (subject to your bank's per-transaction limit) or split it into multiple tranches -- each with its own Form 15CA.

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Next Steps

The 15CA/15CB process is a procedural requirement, but errors can delay your remittance by weeks. The key is preparation: gather documents early, engage a CA familiar with NRI repatriation, and file the correct Part of Form 15CA.

MKW Advisors handles the complete 15CA/15CB process for NRIs:

• Form 15CB preparation and filing by experienced CAs
• Form 15CA filing assistance with correct Part identification
• Bank liaison to resolve any queries or document requests
• TDS reconciliation to ensure Form 15CA matches deposited challans
• Section 197 certificate application to reduce upfront TDS before property sale

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Get started today:

• Start your NRI tax filing with MKW Advisors
• WhatsApp us at +91-96677 44073 for a quick consultation
• Email: [email protected]

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Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and reflects the law as applicable for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27). Tax laws are subject to change. Individual circumstances vary. Please consult a qualified tax professional before making any financial decisions based on this content.