Form 15CA and Form 15CB for Foreign Remittance: Complete Guide for NRIs, Residents and Businesses
Need to send money abroad and your bank has asked for Form 15CA, Form 15CB, CA certificate or remittance documents? We assist with foreign remittance compliance, taxability review, DTAA checking, repatriation support, NRI remittance matters and CA certification.
This page explains what Form 15CA and Form 15CB are, when they are required, who can issue them, how they apply to NRI remittances, property sale proceeds, gifts, family maintenance, education payments, imports, business remittances and taxable foreign payments. It also covers the new form numbering under the Income Tax Act, 2025.
Talk to a CA for 15CA / 15CB
Need help with bank remittance, repatriation, NRI transfer, Form 15CA, Form 15CB, Form 145 or Form 146? Fill the form and get your case reviewed.
Banks and authorised dealers generally ask for these forms before processing many foreign remittances because they need proof of taxability review, TDS compliance, remittance classification and reporting under the Income-tax law. In practice, delay usually happens not because money cannot be sent, but because the documentation is incomplete or the remitter does not know which part of the form applies.
What is Form 15CA and what is Form 15CB?
Form 15CA is a declaration filed online by the person making the remittance to a non-resident or foreign company. It provides details of the remitter, remittee, nature of remittance, amount, taxability and applicable deduction of tax at source where relevant.
Form 15CB is a certificate issued by a Chartered Accountant in cases where a foreign remittance is taxable and the prescribed threshold conditions are met. In this certificate, the CA generally examines the nature of payment, relevant section, TDS rate, surcharge and cess position, and treaty relief where available.
Think of Form 15CA as the remitter’s reporting form and Form 15CB as the CA’s certification form. In many practical cases, the bank needs both. In some cases, only Form 15CA is sufficient. In some exempt categories, neither may be required.
Form 15CA
Filed by the remitter before remittance, based on the applicable part of the form and taxability position.
Form 15CB
Issued by a Chartered Accountant where taxable remittance and threshold conditions require CA certification.
Bank Processing
Banks usually rely on these forms along with A2 form, FEMA purpose code and supporting documents before releasing remittance.
Need urgent 15CA / 15CB for foreign remittance?
We assist with document review, taxability analysis, DTAA position, CA certification and filing support so your remittance is not held up unnecessarily by the bank.
New form numbers under the Income Tax Act, 2025
From a practical compliance perspective, there is one important update. Under the new law framework, the earlier Form 15CA corresponds to Form No. 145 and the earlier Form 15CB corresponds to Form No. 146. This matters especially for remittances made on or after the switchover date under the new regime.
So, when clients, banks or consultants refer to the older names, they are usually talking about the same remittance compliance concept. The numbering has changed under the new law structure, but the practical purpose remains broadly similar: report the remittance, analyse taxability and ensure proper compliance before money is sent abroad.
Many people still search for 15CA and 15CB because that is the language banks and taxpayers are familiar with. In practical advisory work, it is helpful to mention both old and new references together so there is no confusion.
When is Form 15CB required?
Form 15CB is generally relevant where the payment to the non-resident or foreign company is chargeable to tax in India and the payment or aggregate of such payments exceeds the prescribed threshold during the financial year. This is where the CA’s certification becomes important.
- Where the remittance is taxable in India
- Where threshold conditions are crossed
- Where no lower or nil order from the Assessing Officer is being relied upon
- Where the bank insists on CA certification before processing
People often assume every outward remittance needs Form 15CB. That is not correct. The answer depends on the nature of remittance, whether it is taxable in India, the threshold, the exemption category and whether any AO certificate exists.
Common situations where 15CA / 15CB may be needed
Personal and NRI cases
- NRI repatriation of sale proceeds
- NRO to overseas account transfers
- Family maintenance remittance
- Gift remittance in certain cases
- Inheritance or legacy remittance
- Overseas education related transfers
Business and professional cases
- Foreign consultancy payments
- Import of services
- Royalty or technical fee remittance
- Commission to non-resident agents
- Software or subscription payments
- Cross-border contractual payments
Our fees depend on transaction value and complexity:
- Up to ₹10 lakh – ₹7,500
- ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh – ₹10,000
- ₹20 lakh to ₹30 lakh – ₹12,500
- ₹30 lakh to ₹50 lakh – ₹14,000
For NRI property sale, capital gains cases, or DTAA applicability, fees may vary.
Documents normally required for 15CA / 15CB
The exact documentation depends on the case, but in practice the following are commonly required:
- PAN of the remitter
- Basic KYC and bank details
- Purpose of remittance and amount
- Name, address and country of recipient
- Agreement, invoice, sale deed, CA computation or supporting documents depending on nature of remittance
- Tax residency and DTAA-related documents wherever relevant
- Proof of source of funds in NRI / repatriation matters
In many remittance cases, the real issue is not the form itself. The issue is whether the documents clearly support the nature of payment, tax treatment, applicable treaty position and banking purpose code.
15CA / 15CB in NRI property sale and repatriation cases
One of the most common situations where clients need Form 15CA and Form 15CB is when an NRI wants to remit money abroad from India after sale of property, receipt of rent, withdrawal from NRO account or transfer of inherited funds. These cases often involve a combination of TDS review, capital gains computation, FEMA limits, repatriation rules and bank documentation.
In such matters, proper sequencing is important. In many cases, the client first needs capital gains computation, lower TDS review if relevant, tax filing alignment, and then 15CA / 15CB documentation for bank remittance.
Bank asking for 15CB for NRI repatriation?
We help with property sale remittance, NRO balance transfer, tax working, supporting documents and CA certification so the bank gets a complete compliance file.
How we help in 15CA / 15CB matters
Taxability Review
We review whether the remittance is taxable in India, whether TDS applies and whether any treaty relief position needs to be examined.
CA Certification Support
We assist in preparing the CA working, document checklist, filing support and coordination for bank-ready compliance.
NRI-Focused Handling
We also assist in related NRI issues such as lower TDS, property sale tax, return filing, DTAA and foreign asset disclosure questions.
Useful related pages for NRIs and foreign compliance
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is Form 15CB required for every foreign remittance?
No. Whether Form 15CB is required depends on taxability, threshold and the applicable compliance route. Many people assume it is mandatory in every case, but that is not correct.
Q2. What is the difference between Form 15CA and Form 15CB?
Form 15CA is generally filed by the remitter, whereas Form 15CB is the CA certificate used in applicable taxable remittance cases.
Q3. What are the new form numbers under the Income Tax Act, 2025?
Under the new framework, the old Form 15CA corresponds to Form No. 145 and the old Form 15CB corresponds to Form No. 146.
Q4. Can NRIs use Form 15CA / 15CB for repatriation from NRO account?
Yes, these forms are commonly relevant in NRI repatriation cases, subject to the nature of funds, tax position, FEMA framework and bank requirements.
Q5. How much time does 15CA / 15CB usually take?
The timeline depends on document readiness, complexity of taxability review and the bank’s document requirements. Clean documentation speeds things up significantly.
Q6. Does bank approval itself mean tax compliance is correct?
Not always. Bank processing and income-tax compliance are related but not identical. The remittance should still be supported by correct tax analysis and documentation.
Q7. Can a CA help where the remittance is linked to NRI property sale?
Yes. These cases often need capital gains review, TDS alignment, supporting papers and remittance certification. A CA’s role is especially important here.
Q8. Can Form 15CA / 15CB apply even where the amount is from your own funds?
In many personal remittance cases, the analysis still turns on the nature of remittance, source of funds, bank requirements and whether the remittance falls in an exempt or taxable category.
Need help with Form 15CA, Form 15CB, Form 145 or Form 146?
Whether your case involves NRI repatriation, property sale proceeds, family remittance, foreign consultancy payment or cross-border business payment, proper review can save time and avoid bank rejection.
About CA Neeraj Bansal
CA Neeraj Bansal is a Chartered Accountant from India and founder of N C Agrawal & Associates. The firm assists clients in NRI taxation, foreign remittance compliance, Form 15CA / 15CB certification support, lower TDS matters, property sale tax, income tax filing and related advisory matters.