Form 15CB: Certificate of an Accountant – Purpose, Download & Filing Process

Form 15CB is a crucial compliance document under the Indian Income Tax Act. It is a certificate issued by a Chartered Accountant (CA) that verifies the details of a foreign remittance to ensure the payment is not liable to tax or that applicable taxes have been deducted. Form 15CB is generally filed before Form 15CA and is required for certain types of remittances made to non-residents.

In this guide, we’ll explore everything about Form 15CB including who needs it, when it is required, how to download the utility, and the role of the accountant in the certification process. This is based on the official release by the Income Tax Department.

What is Form 15CB?

Form 15CB is a certificate from a Chartered Accountant under Section 195 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. It certifies that the necessary tax has been deducted on payments made to a non-resident or a foreign company. The form includes information such as the nature and purpose of the remittance, applicable Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), and rate of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS).

This form is mandatory for foreign remittances where Form 15CA (Part C) is to be submitted. The certificate helps the Income Tax Department track foreign transactions and ensure proper tax compliance.

When is Form 15CB Required?

Form 15CB is required when:

• A remittance is made to a non-resident (excluding individual payments under certain limits)
• The remittance amount exceeds ₹5 lakh in a financial year
• Tax deduction is applicable and needs to be certified by a CA
• It is not covered under the list of payments specified in Rule 37BB (which are exempted)

For amounts under ₹5 lakh, only Form 15CA (Part A or B) may be required. However, for higher amounts and complex remittances, Form 15CB is mandatory.

Who Can Issue Form 15CB?

Only a qualified Chartered Accountant who is registered with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and authorized to practice can issue Form 15CB. The accountant verifies:

• Details of remitter and remittee
• Nature and purpose of remittance
• Amount of remittance and currency details
• Applicability of DTAA and relevant article
• Rate and amount of TDS deducted

The CA digitally signs and uploads the form to the e-Filing portal of the Income Tax Department.

Download Form 15CB Utility

The Income Tax Department provides an official utility in ZIP format for generating and filing Form 15CB. It ensures correct structure and validation while creating the form.

🔗 Form Utility (537 KB): Download Utility ZIP

This utility helps accountants fill in all required fields before uploading to the e-Filing portal.

Download Form Schema

The schema defines the structure of the Form 15CB JSON file. This is required when generating files manually or validating the structure before submission.

🔗 Schema File (12 KB): Download Schema ZIP

📅 Date of First Release of Schema: 02-Oct-2021

Step-by-Step Filing Process for Form 15CB

1. The remitter contacts a CA to initiate the Form 15CB preparation.
2. The CA downloads the utility and fills in details about the remitter, remittee, payment, and applicable TDS.
3. The CA signs the form digitally and generates a JSON/XML file.
4. This file is uploaded to the Income Tax e-Filing portal using the CA’s login.
5. Once successfully uploaded, Form 15CA (Part C) can be submitted by the remitter based on the 15CB certificate.

Purpose and Importance of Form 15CB

The primary purpose of Form 15CB is to ensure that taxes are properly deducted before sending money abroad. It is a safeguard for the Income Tax Department to monitor cross-border payments and prevent revenue leakage.

Additionally, Form 15CB brings credibility to the remittance process because it is certified by a professional accountant and based on a detailed legal and financial examination.

Form 15CB vs Form 15CA

Form 15CA	Form 15CB
Self-declaration form by the remitter	Certificate issued by a Chartered Accountant
Required for most foreign remittances	Required when remittance exceeds ₹5 lakh and tax is deductible
Filed by the taxpayer	Filed by the CA
Includes nature of payment and TDS details	Includes detailed verification of tax compliance

System Requirements for Using Form 15CB Utility

• Microsoft Excel 2010 or later (if using Excel-based utility)
• Updated web browser (e.g., Edge, Chrome)
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for CA login
• Internet access for uploading and verifying form

Things to Keep in Mind

• Always refer to the latest utility and schema from the Income Tax website
• Ensure correct PAN, TAN, and remittance code
• Cross-check DTAA provisions if applicable
• Do not skip uploading Form 15CB before submitting Form 15CA Part C

Conclusion

Form 15CB plays an essential role in the foreign remittance process by ensuring that applicable taxes are correctly assessed and deducted. It brings a layer of scrutiny and professional certification to international transactions made from India. Whether you're a CA or a business making cross-border payments, understanding the compliance requirements and using the correct utility and schema files are critical to avoid errors and penalties.

Download the latest Form 15CB utility and schema directly from the Income Tax portal, and consult a registered Chartered Accountant to ensure smooth and accurate filing.