Form 15CA & 15CB

Before money is paid to a non-resident or a foreign company, Indian law asks two questions: is the payment taxable in India, and if so, has the right tax been deducted? Form 15CA and Form 15CB are how those answers are recorded, and your bank will not send the remittance without them. We certify, file and coordinate with your bank, for businesses paying foreign vendors, exporters and importers, and individuals sending money abroad.

New form numbers from 1 April 2026

Under the revised Income-tax Rules, remittances made on or after 1 April 2026 use new form numbers (Form 145 and Form 146 in place of 15CA and 15CB). What the forms ask for, the ₹5 lakh threshold, the four-part structure and the list of exempt payments are broadly unchanged. Filings for earlier remittances remain under 15CA / 15CB. Banks, accountants and the portal still widely use the older names, so we use them here.

What each form does

• Form 15CA is the remitter's own online declaration on the income tax portal: the details of the payment and whether tax has been deducted.
• Form 15CB is a certificate from a practising chartered accountant confirming the nature of the payment, whether it is taxable under the Act or the applicable treaty, and that tax under section 195 has been worked out correctly.

Together they give the bank the remitter's declaration and an independent professional check. The rule applies equally to a company paying a foreign supplier and to a family sending money abroad; what matters is the amount and nature of the payment, not who is paying.

Which part of Form 15CA applies

A Form 15CB must carry a valid UDIN generated by the certifying chartered accountant; a certificate without one is not valid.

When the forms are not needed

Rule 37BB lists categories of payment that do not need either form; the list now runs to 33 items. It includes, for example:

• remittances by resident individuals under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme that do not need RBI approval (broadly personal transfers within USD 2,50,000 a year);
• payments for imports of goods and certain other specified current account items;
• payments by or to the government and specified transactions;
• investments abroad by Indian entities in equity or debt.

Some banks still ask for a filing for their own checks even where an exemption applies, so it is worth confirming with your bank in advance.

How the filing works

1. Check whether the forms apply against Rule 37BB and the nature of the payment.
2. The chartered accountant reviews the transaction and issues Form 15CB, after examining the invoice, contract and treaty position.
3. Form 15CA is filed online in the right part, quoting the 15CB acknowledgement for Part C.
4. The acknowledgements go to your bank, which then processes the remittance.

The forms must be filed before the money is sent; correcting the paperwork after a remittance does not make it compliant. A Form 15CA can be withdrawn within seven days of submission if there is an error. Where treaty or permanent establishment questions arise, start a few working days early.

Common errors and what they cost

• Wrong part filed: the bank rejects the remittance and it is delayed.
• Details in 15CA and 15CB don't match: bank queries or rejection.
• 15CA filed before the 15CB is issued: the filing has to be redone.
• An available exemption overlooked: unnecessary cost and questions later.
• No filing where one was required: a penalty of ₹1 lakh under section 271-I, and the payment may be disallowed as an expense under section 40(a)(i).

How we help

We review the payment, determine the tax position under the Act and the treaty, issue Form 15CB where needed, prepare and file the right part of Form 15CA, deal with bank queries, and keep the file ready for any later assessment. For regular payers we set up a simple checklist so repeat remittances go through quickly.

Common questions

Is Form 15CA / 15CB needed for every foreign payment?

No. Payments listed in Rule 37BB are exempt. Where no exemption applies, Form 15CA is needed whatever the amount, and Form 15CB as well for taxable payments above ₹5 lakh.

Are 15CA and 15CB the same thing?

No. 15CA is the remitter's declaration; 15CB is the chartered accountant's certificate that supports it.

Do these forms apply to money coming into India?

No. They cover only payments going out to non-residents and foreign companies.

Can I file without a chartered accountant?

You can file Form 15CA yourself, but Form 15CB can only be issued by a practising chartered accountant.

Does the change to Forms 145 and 146 change anything?

Only the form numbers for remittances from 1 April 2026. The threshold, the structure and the exemptions are the same.