Form 15CA, 15CB & 15CC for Foreign Remittance | TDS Compliance Guide 2025
As cross-border transactions have increased, adherence to Indian tax regulations has become essential. Whether it’s a payment to a foreign vendor, royalty, technical fee, or any other outward remittance, the Income Tax Department mandates reporting through Form 15CA, Form 15CB, and Form 15CC.
These forms are essential for ensuring that tax is correctly deducted at source (TDS) on payments made to non-residents and that the transactions are tracked and reported to the authorities.
AN OVERVIEW OF THESE FORMS
- Form 15CA: Declaration filed by the person before making a payment to a non-resident
- Form 15 CB: Certificate issued by a Chartered Accountant verifying the taxability of a transaction
- Form 15CC: A quarterly statement filed by the Authorized Dealers containing a summary of a Form 15CA declarations received in a quarter
FORM 15CA
Form 15CA is a declaration form mandated by the Income Tax Act, 1961, for any person making a payment or remittance to a non-resident, including foreign companies. It serves as an important mechanism, enabling the Income Tax Department to monitor overseas remittances and determine the taxability of such transactions under Section 195.
Purpose and Applicability
Form 15CA is intended to capture information on payments made to non-residents, excluding salaries, and ensures that appropriate tax deduction at source (TDS) is made wherever applicable. It applies to all remitters—individuals, companies, firms, or entities—making payments to non-residents or foreign companies.
Structure of Form 15CA
Form 15CA is divided into four distinct parts, each applicable based on the value of the remittance and its taxability under the Income Tax Act:- PART A: Applicable where the remittance is taxable and the aggregate of such remittances during the financial year does not exceed ₹5 lakh.
- PART B: Applicable where the remittance is taxable and exceeds ₹5 lakh during the financial year, and the remitter has obtained an order or certificate from the Assessing Officer under Section 195(2), 195(3), or 197.
- PART C: Applicable where the remittance is taxable and exceeds ₹5 lakh, and the remitter has obtained a certificate in Form 15CB from a Chartered Accountant certifying the nature and extent of taxability.
- It is mandatory to upload Form 15CB prior to filling Part C of Form 15CA. To prefill the details in Part C of form 15CA, the Acknowledgement Number of e- Verified Form 15CB should be verified.
- PART D: Applicable where the remittance is not chargeable to tax under the provisions of the Income Tax Act.
This form can be e-Verified using DSC (If DSC is registered) or EVC.
The form must be filed electronically prior to making the remittance and can be submitted either online via the Income Tax e-Filing portal or offline through the authorized dealer.
FORM 15CA IS NOT REQUIRED WHEN:
- Remittance is made by an individual and does not require prior approval of RBI
- Remittance is of the nature specified under relevant purposes code as per RBI
FORM 15CB
Form 15CB is an event-based form which is to be filled only when the remittance or aggregate remittance amount exceeds ₹5 Lakh in a financial year. This form is issued by a Chartered Accountant (CA) who certifies the details of the payment, such as the taxability and TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) rate as per Section 288.
When is it needed?
Form 15CB is Tax Determination Certificate where the CA examines the remittance with regard to chargeability provisions under Section 5 and 9 of the Income Tax Act along with the provisions of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA) if any.
Who needs to file Form 15CB?
- The Chartered Accountant (CA) handling the payment must be registered on the Income Tax e-Filing portal.
- The CA needs a valid Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) to authenticate the form.
- The CA must have an Active PAN
- The person making the payment (taxpayer) must assign Part-C of Form 15CA to the CA for certification.
Purpose of Form 15CB
The main purpose of Form 15CB is to certify the taxability of payments made to non-residents or foreign companies. It ensures that taxes are deducted correctly and helps the Income Tax Department monitor international payments.
Structure of Form 15CB
- Certification
- Recipient Details
- Remittance Details
- Taxability (without DTAA)
- Taxability (with DTAA relief)
- Accountant Details
POINTS TO BE NOTED:
- Form 15CA and Form 15CB can be filed in both online and offline modes. The Offline Utility service enables you to file Form 15CA in the offline mode.
- No time limit is prescribed for filing this form. However, it should be filed before the remittance is made.
EXEMPTIONS FROM FILING
As per Rule 37BB, no Form 15CA/CB is required for certain transactions such as:
- Remittance for travel, education, medical treatment
- Import of goods
- Government-to-government transactions
- Advance for imports (under specific limits)
DOUBLE TAXATION AVOIDANCE AGREEMENT (DTAA)
Double Taxation occurs when the same income is taxed both in the country where it's earned (source country) and the country of tax residence. To prevent this, India has signed DTAAs with over 90 countries, including the USA, UK, UAE, Singapore, and more. These agreements, defined under Sections 90 & 90A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, help NRIs and foreign entities reduce their Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) liability on income earned in India.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO CLAIM DTAA BENEFIT:
- TAX RESIDENCY CERTIFICATE (TRC): To be obtained from the tax authority of the resident country. Check if your country has a format prescribed for applying for a TRC and use the same.
- FORM 10F: Required if the TRC does not contain all mandatory information such as nationality or tax ID.
- NO PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT (P.E.) DECLARATION: To be submitted by the NRI of meeting the treaty eligibility requirement and satisfying beneficial ownership requirement.
- SELF-ATTESTED COPY OF PAN CARD
STEPS TO OBTAIN FORM 10F ELECTRONICALLY
FOR NON-RESIDENT HAVING PAN
FOR NON-RESIDENT WITHOUT PAN Log in to the official e-filing portal with your PAN or the user ID. Register if you do not have an account.
Go to the e-filing web portal at https://eportal.incometax.gov.in/ On the dashboard, navigate to the ‘e-File’ menu and select ‘Income Tax Forms’. To start the registration process, simply click on the “Register” button positioned at the upper right-hand corner of the webpage. Click on ‘File Income Tax Forms’. Choose the “Others” option and click on “Non-residents not holding and not required to have PAN” from the provided list of choices in the drop-down menu. On the next page, select the 3rd tab ‘Person not dependent on any source of income’. Fill in the necessary details, including your full name, date of incorporation/birth, tax identification number, and country of residence You will find the option to file Form 10F in the last column on this page. Click on ‘File Now’. Furnish the relevant information concerning the key person, which includes their full name, date of birth, tax identification number, and designation. Enter your PAN and select the assessment year from a dropdown menu. Click on 'Continue’. Provide contact details for the key person and include a secondary email and contact details. Keep in mind that you will receive a one-time password (OTP) on your primary mobile number and email ID Go through the given instructions and click on ‘Lets get started’. Enter the company’s postal address. Enter the required details, including your name, father’s name, Section 90/90A, country of registration/residence, TIN, etc.
Enter the One-Time Password (OTP) that you have received on your main email address and primary mobile number. Next, select the period for which you obtained the TRC and your address outside India. Attach the necessary documents, such as the Tax Residency Certificate, as required. After filing the other details, you need to attach a copy of your tax residency certificate. Once you have completed all the previous steps, submit the Form Signing of the form can be done via digital signature or electronic verification code.
Click on ‘Preview’ to review the details and submit the form.
Verify/Sign Form 10F: As per Rule 131 of Income-tax Rules, 1962, the prescribed forms (including Form 10F) has to be electronically furnished-
- under digital signature, if the return of income is required to be furnished under digital signature; or
- through electronic verification code in a case not covered under clause (i)
These forms are essential for ensuring that tax is correctly deducted at source (TDS) on payments made to non-residents and that the transactions are tracked and reported to the authorities.
AN OVERVIEW OF THESE FORMS
- Form 15CA: Declaration filed by the person before making a payment to a non-resident
- Form 15 CB: Certificate issued by a Chartered Accountant verifying the taxability of a transaction
- Form 15CC: A quarterly statement filed by the Authorized Dealers containing a summary of a Form 15CA declarations received in a quarter
Form 15CA is a declaration form mandated by the Income Tax Act, 1961, for any person making a payment or remittance to a non-resident, including foreign companies. It serves as an important mechanism, enabling the Income Tax Department to monitor overseas remittances and determine the taxability of such transactions under Section 195.
Form 15CA is intended to capture information on payments made to non-residents, excluding salaries, and ensures that appropriate tax deduction at source (TDS) is made wherever applicable.
Form 15CA is divided into four distinct parts, each applicable based on the value of the remittance and its taxability under the Income Tax Act:
- PART A: Applicable where the remittance is taxable and the aggregate of such remittances during the financial year does not exceed ₹5 lakh.
- PART B: Applicable where the remittance is taxable and exceeds ₹5 lakh during the financial year, and the remitter has obtained an order or certificate from the Assessing Officer under Section 195(2), 195(3), or 197.
- PART C: Applicable where the remittance is taxable and exceeds ₹5 lakh, and the remitter has obtained a certificate in Form 15CB from a Chartered Accountant certifying the nature and extent of taxability.
- It is mandatory to upload Form 15CB prior to filling Part C of Form 15CA. To prefill the details in Part C of form 15CA, the Acknowledgement Number of e- Verified Form 15CB should be verified.
- PART D: Applicable where the remittance is not chargeable to tax under the provisions of the Income Tax Act.
This form can be e-Verified using DSC (If DSC is registered) or EVC.
The form must be filed electronically prior to making the remittance and can be submitted either online via the Income Tax e-Filing portal or offline through the authorized dealer.
FORM 15CA IS NOT REQUIRED WHEN:
- Remittance is made by an individual and does not require prior approval of RBI
- Remittance is of the nature specified under relevant purposes code as per RBI
Form 15CB is an event-based form which is to be filled only when the remittance or aggregate remittance amount exceeds ₹5 Lakh in a financial year. This form is issued by a Chartered Accountant (CA) who certifies the details of the payment, such as the taxability and TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) rate as per Section 288.
Form 15CB is Tax Determination Certificate where the CA examines the remittance with regard to chargeability provisions under Section 5 and 9 of the Income Tax Act along with the provisions of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA) if any.
Who needs to file Form 15CB?
- The Chartered Accountant (CA) handling the payment must be registered on the Income Tax e-Filing portal.
- The CA needs a valid Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) to authenticate the form.
- The CA must have an Active PAN
- The person making the payment (taxpayer) must assign Part-C of Form 15CA to the CA for certification.
Purpose of Form 15CB
The main purpose of Form 15CB is to certify the taxability of payments made to non-residents or foreign companies. It ensures that taxes are deducted correctly and helps the Income Tax Department monitor international payments.
Structure of Form 15CB
- Certification
- Recipient Details
- Remittance Details
- Taxability (without DTAA)
- Taxability (with DTAA relief)
- Accountant Details
POINTS TO BE NOTED:
- Form 15CA and Form 15CB can be filed in both online and offline modes. The Offline Utility service enables you to file Form 15CA in the offline mode.
- No time limit is prescribed for filing this form. However, it should be filed before the remittance is made.
As per Rule 37BB, no Form 15CA/CB is required for certain transactions such as:
- Remittance for travel, education, medical treatment
- Import of goods
- Government-to-government transactions
- Advance for imports (under specific limits)
Double Taxation occurs when the same income is taxed both in the country where it's earned (source country) and the country of tax residence. To prevent this, India has signed DTAAs with over 90 countries, including the USA, UK, UAE, Singapore, and more. These agreements, defined under Sections 90 & 90A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, help NRIs and foreign entities reduce their Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) liability on income earned in India.
- TAX RESIDENCY CERTIFICATE (TRC): To be obtained from the tax authority of the resident country. Check if your country has a format prescribed for applying for a TRC and use the same.
- FORM 10F: Required if the TRC does not contain all mandatory information such as nationality or tax ID.
- NO PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT (P.E.) DECLARATION: To be submitted by the NRI of meeting the treaty eligibility requirement and satisfying beneficial ownership requirement.
- SELF-ATTESTED COPY OF PAN CARD
| FOR NON-RESIDENT HAVING PAN | FOR NON-RESIDENT WITHOUT PAN |
| Log in to the official e-filing portal with your PAN or the user ID. Register if you do not have an account. | Go to the e-filing web portal at https://eportal.incometax.gov.in/ |
| On the dashboard, navigate to the ‘e-File’ menu and select ‘Income Tax Forms’. | To start the registration process, simply click on the “Register” button positioned at the upper right-hand corner of the webpage. |
| Click on ‘File Income Tax Forms’. | Choose the “Others” option and click on “Non-residents not holding and not required to have PAN” from the provided list of choices in the drop-down menu. |
| On the next page, select the 3rd tab ‘Person not dependent on any source of income’. | Fill in the necessary details, including your full name, date of incorporation/birth, tax identification number, and country of residence |
| You will find the option to file Form 10F in the last column on this page. Click on ‘File Now’. | Furnish the relevant information concerning the key person, which includes their full name, date of birth, tax identification number, and designation. |
| Enter your PAN and select the assessment year from a dropdown menu. Click on 'Continue’. | Provide contact details for the key person and include a secondary email and contact details. Keep in mind that you will receive a one-time password (OTP) on your primary mobile number and email ID |
| Go through the given instructions and click on ‘Lets get started’. | Enter the company’s postal address. |
| Enter the required details, including your name, father’s name, Section 90/90A, country of registration/residence, TIN, etc. | Enter the One-Time Password (OTP) that you have received on your main email address and primary mobile number. |
| Next, select the period for which you obtained the TRC and your address outside India. | Attach the necessary documents, such as the Tax Residency Certificate, as required. |
| After filing the other details, you need to attach a copy of your tax residency certificate. | Once you have completed all the previous steps, submit the Form |
| Signing of the form can be done via digital signature or electronic verification code. | |
| Click on ‘Preview’ to review the details and submit the form. | |
Verify/Sign Form 10F: As per Rule 131 of Income-tax Rules, 1962, the prescribed forms (including Form 10F) has to be electronically furnished-
|
FORM 15CC
Form 15CC is a quarterly statement that must be filed by Authorized Dealers (such as banks and financial institutions) for all foreign remittances made to non-residents or foreign companies. It is mandated under Section 195 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and Rule 37BB of the Income Tax Rules, 1962. This form helps the Income Tax Department track and monitor cross-border payments.
When is it needed?
Form 15CC must be filed electronically within 15 days from the end of each quarter of the financial year. It is required whenever an Authorized Dealer makes any taxable or non-taxable foreign remittance to a non-resident or foreign company.
Form 15CC must be filed electronically within 15 days from the end of each quarter of the financial year. It is required whenever an Authorized Dealer makes any taxable or non-taxable foreign remittance to a non-resident or foreign company.
Who needs to file Form 15CC?
Form 15CC is to be filed by Authorized Dealers and their designated representatives.
Purpose of Form 15CC
Form 15CC allows the Income Tax Department to maintain a record of all foreign remittances made through Authorized Dealers. It ensures better transparency and tax compliance.
Structure of Form 15CC
Due date for Quarterly filing of Form 15CC is:
Form 15CC is to be filed by Authorized Dealers and their designated representatives.
- The reporting entity must be registered on the Income Tax e-Filing portal.
- The entity must generate an ITDREIN (Income Tax Department Reporting Entity Identification Number).
- PAN/TAN of the reporting entity must be Active.
- An authorized person must be added to the ITDREIN with a valid Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).
Purpose of Form 15CC
Form 15CC allows the Income Tax Department to maintain a record of all foreign remittances made through Authorized Dealers. It ensures better transparency and tax compliance.
Structure of Form 15CC
- Authorized Dealer Details
- Remittance Details
- Verification
Due date for Quarterly filing of Form 15CC is:
| Quarter | Due Date |
| Quarter 1 (April- June) | 15th July |
| Quarter 2 (July-September) | 15th October |
| Quarter 3 (October- December) | 15th January |
| Quarter 4 (January- March) | 15th April |
PENALTIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE
- FORM 15CA / 15CB
Failure to file or providing incorrect information in Form 15CA or 15CB attracts a penalty of ₹1,00,000 per Form under Section 271-I of the Income Tax Act.
- FORM 15CC
If an Authorized Dealer fails to file Form 15CC within the prescribed timeline, a penalty of ₹1,00,000 per Form may be levied under Section 271-I of the Income Tax Act.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
While navigating the requirements for Forms 15CA, 15CB, and 15CC may seem intricate, with the right guidance, it becomes a Manageable and essential process for cross-border transactions. From ensuring TDS compliance to understanding the role of Financial institutions in reporting, every detail plays a key role in ensuring smooth international remittances.
At Tax-O-Smart, we simplify the compliance process with expert insights, clear instructions, and the latest updates on tax regulations. Whether you're an individual remitter or a business making foreign payments, we’re here to ensure your TDS reporting is seamless, efficient, and fully compliant.
DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this document is prepared by R.J. Soni & Associates and TaxOSmart LLP (hereinafter referred to as RJSA) for information purpose only. It does not constitute any legal advice or tax advice. In no way, this document should be treated as a marketing material or efforts to solicit a client. While we have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this document is true, RJSA, its partners and/or any of its employees make no claims / guarantee about its accuracy, completeness, or up-to-date character, or warranty, express or implied, including the warranty of opinions expressed for a particular purpose, or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information available from this document.
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