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As a non-resident Indian (NRI), your NRO account usually holds your savings, income, or inherited funds in India. The NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) account plays a key role when you plan to transfer or repatriate your funds abroad, whether to your NRE (Non-Resident External) account or any foreign bank account. For seamless repatriation without regulatory hurdles, filing Form 15CA along with Form 15CB is often essential.
Form 15CA serves as an important declaration to the Indian Income Tax Department, confirming that applicable taxes have been accounted for on your remittance. Meanwhile, Form 15CB is a certificate issued by a Chartered Accountant certifying compliance with tax regulations. Together, these forms help the government monitor foreign transfers and prevent tax evasion, money laundering, and financing of unlawful activities, ensuring your fund transfers are transparent and hassle-free.
This blog focuses on the straightforward online filing process for both forms, tailored to NRIs navigating these regulatory requirements from abroad.
What is NRI Repatriation?
NRI Repatriation involves transferring funds held in your NRO account to your NRE or foreign account , all in accordance with the guidelines specified by the Indian government.
NRE → Non-Resident External
What are NRO and NRE Bank accounts, and what is best for you? Here’s a blog on ‘NRE vs NRO accounts’.
According to the FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) 1999, you can transfer funds up to US dollars 1 million per financial year subject to fulfillment of certain conditions.
However, transferring funds above INR 5 lakhs in a financial year (single transaction or aggregate) might require filing Form 15 CA and 15 CB on your income tax e-portal.
Curious on how repatriation works for NRIs? Here’s your guide.
What Is Form 15 CA?
Form 15 CA plays a crucial role in the repatriation process. It is a declaration Form you file through the Income Tax of India e-portal stating that the taxes have been duly paid, ensuring a smooth and legal transfer of funds.
Upon further scrutiny, the Income Tax of India shares an acknowledgement receipt you can use to repatriate funds from your NRO account to your NRE or foreign bank account.
Form 15 CA can be filed online or offline. Since most NRIs reside abroad, the blog is focused on filing through online.
Applicability Of Form 15CA
Form 15 CA applies when the transfer is made outside India to your NRE or foreign account, and the remitter (person responsible for the transfer of funds) can be you or a resident Indian.
What Is Form 15 CB?
Form 15 CB is a declaration signed by a Chartered Accountant when the remittance amount exceeds INR 5 Lakhs per financial year certifying that you have complied with the provisions of the Income Tax Act for the said transaction.
Applicability Of Form 15CB
Form 15 CB is applicable when filing Form 15 CA - Part C.
Form 15 CB is an accountant’s certificate issued by a registered Chartered Accountant whose PAN (Permanent Account Number) status is active and possesses an unexpired valid Digital Signature.
The Chartered Accountant uses Form 15 CB to certify the remittance details and share an Acknowledgement Receipt Number (ARN) which you can submit while filing Form 15 CA - Part C.
Difference Between Form 15CA and Form 15 CB
Types Of Form 15 CA
There are four subsections to Form 15 CA and each has its own relevance. When transferring funds from your NRO account to your NRE or foreign account, your foreign remittance transaction might fall under any of the four parts below.
- Form 15CB: Mandatory only for taxable remittances exceeding ₹5 lakh (Part C), and must be uploaded before submitting Part C.
- Part B: Used when AO lowers or grants nil deduction for taxable remittances over ₹5 lakh; CA certificate is not needed but AO order is required.
- Part D: For all remittances not subject to Indian tax, regardless of amount—no 15CB or AO certificate needed.
- Digital Filing: Since 2021, Form 15CA/CB filings must be fully online using DSC/EVC; manual submission is not permitted.
- No 15CA/CB Required: Certain individual transactions, as per Rule 37BB, are fully exempt; check the official list for exceptions.
List Of Instances Where Form 15 CA Is Not Required
According to Rule 37 BB (3) of Indian Income Tax Rules, 1962, you can freely repatriate your money without filing of Form 15 CA for the following ‘nature of payments’
Steps To Follow While e-Filing Of Form 15 CA
Once you log in to your e-filing portal follow these steps to file Form 15 CA,
Click e-File tab on the top left corner, select ‘Income Tax Forms’ and then ‘File Income Tax Forms’
- On the next page, click on the tab labeled ‘Source of income not relevant’, scroll down to select ‘Form 15 CA’
- On the following page ‘Information for payment to non-resident’, select submission mode as ‘online’ and financial year
- On the next page, click ‘Let’s get started’
- Select the type of Form 15 CA and click ‘Proceed’.
- Enter Form 15 CB Acknowledgement Receipt Number (applicable only when you are filing Form 15 CA - Part C Form)
- Input the ‘remitter, remittee, remittance and verification’ details and click ‘Save’some text
- Remitter details remain pre-filled here
- Remittee details include - name, PAN (option), address, email and phone number
- Remittance details include - country, remittance amount, aggregate amount in the financial year, bank account number, branch name, IFSC Code, authorized dealer name, AD branch address, proposed date of remittance and TDS amount.
- Chartered Accountant details (applicable only when you are filing Form 15 CA - Part C Form)
- Verification details include mentioning your parent’s details along with the Place.
- On the next page, preview your details and click ‘Proceed to e-Verify’
- Select ‘Yes’ when the confirmation pop-up appears
- You will be directed to the ‘e-Verification’ page
Note:
Upon successful e-Verification, you will see a success message displaying your Acknowledgement number and a Transaction ID. You will receive a confirmation mail to your registered mail ID with the e-Filing portal.
How To File Form 15 CB Online?
Once logged in to Income Tax of India’s e-portal, follow these steps to assign the Form 15 CB compliance to your Chartered Accountant,
- Look for the ‘Authorized Partners’ tab on your homepage
- Select ‘My Chartered Accountant’
- On the following page, click on ‘Add CA’ at the top right
- Add your CA’s membership number and select ‘Form 15 CB.’
Once you’ve assigned the Form 15 CB to your Chartered Accountant, they will take over from there. You can proceed with the e-filing, taking an active role after the CA shares the Acknowledgement Receipt Number (ARN) with you.List Of Instances Where Form 15 CB Is Not RequiredYou won’t be required to furnish Form 15 CB in the following instances,
- When you are filing Form 15 CA under Part A, B, or D
- When the DTAA (Double Tax Avoidance Agreement) is applicable, and your country of residence considers that the amount will remain taxable there
- When your nature of payment is exempt as per Rule 37 BB (3) of Indian Income Tax Rules, 1962
- When you transfer funds to pursue your education abroad, the amount is within the prescribed limit set by the RBI (Reserve Bank of India).
When Do You Require A Chartered Accountant’s Assistance?
Filing your Form 15 CA and CB might require the skills and expertise of a professional, such as Chartered Accountants, since they remain up to date with the latest tax amendments and have the relevant knowledge and experience to navigate the complexities.Filing Form 15 CA or CB can be challenging, you can always log in to the iNRI platform and connect with one of our tax-experts and seek their help with filing and ease your workload.In case, you intend to file tax returns in India on your own then here’s your ultimate tax guide.
Conclusion
The government of India has made Filing Form 15 CA mandatory whenever you or a resident Indian repatriates funds abroad to NRE or foreign account. A few instances specified above do not require filing Form 15 CA and CB. Submission of Form 15 CB depends on the type of Form 15 CA you are filing for.
You can get in touch with our tax experts curated explicitly for your needs by logging in to the iNRI platform if you find the process of e-filing burdensome or need any further assistance regarding the e-filing of Form 15 CA and CB.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What documents are required while filing Form 15 CA?
The documents required while filing Form 15 CA -
Remittance related documents -
- Nature of remittance - agreement/ invoice
- Purpose of the remittance - importing goods, payment for services, etc.
- Declaration - nature of the remittance and the purpose.
- PAN of the remitter (Indian resident)
Foreign recipient's details -
- Name and address.
- Country of residence.
Bank details -
- Bank account from which the remittance will be made.
- Foreign bank account to which the remittance will be sent.
Relevant Tax Residency Certificate (TRC), in case the recipient wants to claim benefits under the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
2. Can I withdraw Form 15 CA or CB?
Yes, you can withdraw the Form 15 CA or CB within 7 days from the submission date.
3. Are Form 15 CA and CB required to remit money from a resident Indian account to NRO account?
You are exempt from filing Form 15 CA or CB if the payment is towards your NRO account and the funds remain in India.
4. Is Form 15 CB required while filing Form 15 CA - Part C?
Yes, it is mandatory to furnish Form 15 CB when you are filing Form 15 CA - Part C.
5. How to e-Verify Form 15 CA?
To e-Verify Form 15 CA, you have the option to use Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) or Electronic Verification Code (EVC). Also, you can refer to the ‘How to e-Verify’ user manual on the Income Tax of India’s e-portal to understand the process of e-Verification.
6. Are all remittances subject to e-filing of Form 15 CA/CB?
No, you are not required to file Form 15 CA /CB if the purpose of remittance is as specified under Rule 37BB (3) of the Income Tax of India Rules, 1962 (mentioned above).
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