Form 15CA and 15CB, Now Form 145 and 146, Explained for NRIs
Sold property in India, or want to move savings abroad? Here is what Form 145 and 146 (earlier 15CA and 15CB) are, when you need them, and why banks so often hold NRI transfers.
Who this guide is for: NRIs and OCIs moving money from an NRO account in India to an overseas or NRE account, including property sale proceeds, inheritance and savings.
Updated for the Income-tax Act, 2025. From 1 April 2026, the Income-tax Act, 2025 replaced the Income-tax Act, 1961. The rules covered in this guide are largely the same, but almost every section and form number has changed. This guide uses the new numbers, with the old ones in brackets.
What it covers
Old (1961 Act)
New (2025 Act)
Remitter's declaration
Form 15CA
Form 145
Chartered Accountant's certificate
Form 15CB
Form 146
Reporting of payments abroad
Section 195(6), Rule 37BB
Section 397(3)(d), Rule 220
TDS on payments to NRIs
Section 195
Section 393
Lower or nil TDS certificate
Section 197, Form 13
Section 395, Form 128
Tax treaty relief (DTAA)
Section 90
Section 159
New numbers apply to sales and transfers on or after 1 April 2026 (Tax Year 2026-27). Transactions before that date still follow the 1961 Act. Note that Section 197 now means the tax on long-term capital gains; the lower TDS certificate has moved to Section 395.
Chapter 01
What Are Form 145 and 146 (Earlier 15CA and 15CB)?
First, the names have changed. From 1 April 2026, under the Income-tax Act, 2025 and the Income-tax Rules, 2026, Form 15CA is now Form 145 and Form 15CB is now Form 146. Most banks and NRIs still use the old names, so you will hear both. The purpose is the same.
When an NRI sends money from India to an overseas account, the bank has to be satisfied that Indian tax on that money has been dealt with. Form 145 and 146 (earlier 15CA and 15CB) are how that is shown.
Form 145 (earlier 15CA) is a declaration made by the person sending the money. It is filed online with the Income Tax Department and gives details of the payment, its purpose and the tax position.
Form 146 (earlier 15CB) is a certificate from a Chartered Accountant. The CA reviews the transaction and certifies how much tax applies, whether it has been paid, and whether a tax treaty (DTAA) changes anything.
The bank checks both before releasing the money. If either form is missing, incomplete or doesn't match the bank's records, the transfer is put on hold.
In short: Form 145 (earlier 15CA) is your declaration, Form 146 (earlier 15CB) is the CA's certificate backing it up. For most larger transfers, you need both.
Where we help
Tell you exactly which forms your transfer needs, before you approach the bank
Prepare both forms together so they match perfectly
Chapter 02
When Do NRIs Need Them?
You will usually need these forms whenever money leaves your NRO account for an account abroad. Common situations include:
Sale proceeds from a flat, house or plot in India
Inheritance or money received from family in India
Rent, interest, dividends or other income earned in India
Moving savings from an NRO account to an NRE account, which counts as repatriation
Type of transfer
Form 145 (earlier 15CA) / Form 146 (earlier 15CB) usually needed?
NRO account to overseas account
Yes
NRO account to NRE account
Yes
NRE account to overseas account
No, NRE funds are freely repatriable
Certain specified payments listed in the tax rules
Often exempt
Whether you need one form or both, and which version, depends on the amount and on whether the money is taxable in India. That is where most confusion starts.
Where we help
Review where your money came from and its tax position
Confirm what is needed for your bank and your amount
Flag anything that will cause a delay, before it does
Chapter 03
The Four Parts of Form 145 (earlier 15CA)
Form 145 (earlier 15CA) has four parts, and only one of them applies to any given transfer. Picking the wrong one is one of the most common reasons banks reject a remittance.
Part
Broadly used when
CA certificate (Form 146 (earlier 15CB))
Part A
Small taxable transfers, up to ₹5 lakh in a financial year
Not needed
Part B
A lower or nil tax certificate has been obtained from the tax department
Not needed
Part C
Taxable transfers above ₹5 lakh, such as property sale proceeds
Required
Part D
Money that is not taxable in India
Not needed
For property sale proceeds, Part C with a Form 146 (earlier 15CB) certificate is the usual route. But the right answer depends on your full situation, including how much tax was deducted at the time of sale and whether a lower TDS certificate was used.
Mistakes are hard to undo. Once a Form 145 (earlier 15CA) is filed with errors, correcting it can mean withdrawing and refiling, while your money waits in India.
Where we help
File the correct part of Form 145 (earlier 15CA), matched exactly to your Form 146 (earlier 15CB)
Handle the online filing and corrections if anything changes
Chapter 04
Form 146 (earlier 15CB): What the Chartered Accountant Checks
Form 146 (earlier 15CB) can only be issued by a practising Chartered Accountant. Before signing, the CA examines:
Where the money came from, and the documents that prove it
Whether the right amount of tax has been deducted or paid
Whether a tax treaty (DTAA) between India and your country changes the tax due
That the figures match what the tax department and the bank can see on record
The CA is professionally responsible for what they certify. A careful CA will not sign if the tax position is unclear, which is why gaps in your records need to be fixed before the certificate can be issued.
Where we help
Your Form 146 (earlier 15CB) is certified by a registered Chartered Accountant from our team; once you sign up, we share the CA's name and registration number
Reconcile your tax records and fix any gaps before certification
Chase the buyer for TDS certificates if they are missing
File the matching Form 145 (earlier 15CA) alongside, so the bank receives a consistent set
Chapter 05
The USD 1 Million Limit
$1M
Maximum an NRI can send abroad from NRO funds in one financial year (April to March)
Under FEMA rules, each NRI can repatriate up to USD 1 million per financial year from their NRO balances, and this includes property sale proceeds. Anything above that needs special approval from the Reserve Bank of India.
For larger property sales, this makes timing important. Splitting a transfer across the end of one financial year and the start of the next (March and April) can allow up to USD 2 million to move within a few weeks, legally and without special approval.
The limit is per person. When a property is jointly owned or inherited by several NRIs, each one has their own USD 1 million limit for their share.
Where we help
Plan the timing of your transfers across financial years
Track the limit separately for each co-owner or heir
Advise before the sale, so the sale date itself works in your favour
Chapter 06
What Banks Look For
Every bank has its own checklist, but they all want to see the same three things:
Where the money came from: for example the sale deed, or proof of inheritance
That tax has been dealt with: TDS certificates, the tax credit showing on your record, and sometimes your Indian tax return
The correct forms: Form 145 (earlier 15CA), Form 146 (earlier 15CB) and the bank's own remittance application
If anything doesn't match, such as the TDS on your sale not yet showing on your tax record, or a name spelled differently on two documents, the bank will hold the transfer and ask questions. Each round of questions can add days or weeks.
Where we help
Prepare the complete document pack your bank expects
Check every name, figure and date matches before submission
Deal with the bank's NRI desk directly when they come back with queries
Chapter 07
How Long Does It Take?
Once the tax position is clear and the documents are in order, the forms themselves can usually be completed within a few days, and banks typically process the transfer within one to three weeks.
The delays almost always come from earlier in the process:
TDS deducted by the buyer not yet showing on your tax record
Mismatches between the sale deed, the TDS certificate and the bank's records
Missing proof of how the property was acquired or inherited
Trying to send more than the USD 1 million annual limit in one go
Getting these right before you approach the bank is the difference between a two-week transfer and a three-month one.
Where we help
Sort out the tax record and paperwork before going to the bank
Follow up with the bank until the money lands in your account abroad
Chapter 08
Common Mistakes NRIs Make
1. Filing the wrong part of Form 145 (earlier 15CA)
The most frequent reason for rejection. Each part has different conditions, and the wrong choice means starting again.
2. Approaching the bank before TDS shows on your tax record
If the buyer's TDS payment hasn't been processed yet, the CA can't certify the tax position and the bank won't release the money.
3. Moving money from NRO to NRE without the forms
This is still repatriation, and most banks need the same paperwork as an overseas transfer.
4. Ignoring the annual limit
A transfer above USD 1 million in a financial year will be refused without RBI approval. Planning around the financial year avoids this.
5. Not keeping the paper trail
Sale deeds, inheritance documents and TDS certificates are needed again for every transfer. Missing paperwork years later can block your remaining funds.
Where we help
Review your situation before any money moves
Handle the CA certificate, the Form 145 (earlier 15CA) filing and the bank, end to end
Stay with you until the transfer is complete
One team, from your first question to the money in your account.
Chapter 09
Frequently Asked Questions
For transfers made on or after 1 April 2026, Form 15CA has been replaced by Form 145 and Form 15CB by Form 146, under the Income-tax Act, 2025. The purpose is largely the same, and many banks still refer to them by the old names.
In most cases, yes. Moving funds from an NRO to an NRE account counts as repatriation, so banks usually ask for the same forms as an overseas transfer.
No. Form 146 (earlier 15CB) certifies the tax position on the money. If tax was already deducted or paid correctly, the certificate confirms that and no extra tax is charged.
Form 145 (earlier 15CA) is filed online and can be submitted by the person sending the money. Form 146 (earlier 15CB), however, must be issued by a Chartered Accountant, and the two need to match exactly for the bank to accept them.
Up to USD 1 million per financial year (April to March) per NRI, including property sale proceeds. Larger amounts need special approval from the Reserve Bank of India.
The most common reasons are TDS not yet showing on your tax record, a mismatch between documents, or the wrong Form 145 (earlier 15CA) part. Each of these can usually be fixed once identified.
Generally no. Money in an NRE account is freely repatriable. The forms are mainly needed for NRO funds.
Keep reading
More free guides for NRIs selling property in India.
Need Form 145 and 146 (earlier 15CA and 15CB) done?
Our registered Chartered Accountant certifies your Form 146 (earlier 15CB), we file Form 145 (earlier 15CA), and we stay with your bank until the money reaches your overseas account. Schedule a free consultation and we will map out your situation.