Do I need Form 15CA and 15CB to send money abroad from India?

Last updated 3 August 2026

Full Answer

A SaaS startup in Pune tried to wire $4,500 to a Singapore-based developer through ICICI Bank. The payment was held at the international banking desk. The relationship manager asked for Form 15CA and Form 15CB. The founder had been making smaller payments without any documentation and assumed this one would go through the same way. The developer had already delayed delivery once. Now the payment was sitting blocked for three days.

This is not an unusual situation. Most people encounter 15CA and 15CB for the first time when a bank holds their transfer.

Form 15CA (now Form 145) is a declaration filed on the Income Tax e-filing portal before a foreign remittance. Under Section 195(6) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and Rule 37BB of the Income Tax Rules, the person making the payment is required to furnish this form to inform the Income Tax department about the nature of the remittance, the foreign beneficiary, the amount, and the applicable tax treatment.

Form 15CB (now Form 146) is a certificate issued by a practicing Chartered Accountant. The CA independently examines the transaction, verifies whether TDS is applicable, checks the relevant Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, and certifies the compliance position. The CA uploads the certificate on the Income Tax portal under their digital signature. You need the 15CB acknowledgement number before you can file Part C of Form 15CA.

Not every payment requires both forms. Rule 37BB specifies 33 categories of exempt remittances. These include foreign travel, medical treatment abroad, education fees, maintenance of close relatives, and a number of other personal remittances. If your payment falls in one of these categories and is below Rs 5 lakhs in the financial year, neither form is required.

The rules split further based on amount and taxability. For taxable remittances below Rs 5 lakhs, you file Part B of 15CA on your own without a CA. For taxable remittances above Rs 5 lakhs, you need Part C of 15CA plus a CA-issued 15CB. For remittances not chargeable to tax under any provision, you file Part D and again no CA is required.

Business payments rarely fall in the exempt list. Payments for software, IT services, consulting, royalties, advertising, cloud subscriptions, and import of goods all typically require 15CA. Whether 15CB is also needed depends on the amount and the taxability assessment.

Banks authorised as Category I Authorised Dealers under FEMA are required by RBI guidelines to verify the 15CA acknowledgement before processing eligible remittances. The bank does not assess your compliance. It checks whether the number exists on the portal and whether the details match your transfer request. If they do not match, the wire stops.

One layer most people miss: even after 15CA and 15CB are ready, your bank will have its own documentation. Most banks require an A2 form for LRS remittances or a purpose code declaration under RBI's Master Direction on Money Transfer. This is separate from the Income Tax compliance and equally non-negotiable.

The startup in Pune sorted their 15CB through an online service in two days. The wire went through on day three. The three days of delay had already cost them goodwill with the developer. Getting a CA involved before the transfer date is always cheaper than scrambling after the bank holds the payment.

Note: Rates and thresholds mentioned are as of FY 2024-25. Always verify current figures before acting.

This article is for general information only. For your specific remittance, consult a practicing CA.