# 15CA 15CB Down Payment Guide for NRIs (2026)

> 15CA 15CB down payment guide: which part of Form 15CA you file, when you need a CA certificate, and how to time it with your US closing. Plan it today.

Canonical: https://www.masalaloans.com/blog/form-15ca-15cb-down-payment
Author: Apurva Sanghavi
Published: 2026-10-17T19:23:25.154Z
Tags: mortgage, india, Down Payment, home buying, personal finance

**Quick answer (updated October 2026):** For a **15CA 15CB down payment** transfer, Form 15CA is the online declaration the remitter files before money leaves India. Remittances up to ₹5 lakh in a financial year usually use Part A; larger taxable amounts need Part C plus a chartered accountant's Form 15CB. Build in one to three weeks before your US closing.

You've found the house in Frisco or Edison, and the money sits in your NRO account from the flat you sold in Pune. Your bank in India says "15CA and 15CB." Your US loan officer says "it needs to be in a US account before closing." Both are right; they're talking about two different rulebooks.

This guide covers the Indian side: which form part applies, what your CA needs, and how to time it so closing doesn't slip. For the full sell-to-close sequence, read our [timeline for selling property in India to buy a house in the US](https://www.masalaloans.com/blog/sell-property-india-buy-house-us).

## What Form 15CA and 15CB actually are

**Form 15CA** is a declaration filed on India's income tax e-filing portal by the person making the remittance. It tells the tax department what is being sent, why, and whether tax has been handled. Per the Income Tax Department's FAQ, it is filed **before** the remittance.

**Form 15CB** is a certificate from a chartered accountant. The CA reviews the nature of the funds, confirms the applicable tax rate (and any treaty position), and certifies that tax has been deducted or paid. You need 15CB before you can file 15CA Part C.

One caveat: India's Income-tax Act, 2025 replaced the 1961 Act on April 1, 2026, and section numbers changed. Banks still say "15CA/15CB," but forms may be renumbered, so read this as "Form 15CA/15CB (or successor forms)." Your CA will know the current names.

## Which part of Form 15CA applies to your US house money?

The Income Tax Department's FAQ splits Form 15CA into four parts. Here's how they line up with typical down-payment situations:

| **15CA part** | **When it applies (per IT Dept FAQ)** | **Typical down-payment example** | **CA 15CB needed?** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Part A** | Remittance (or total in the financial year) up to **₹5 lakh** | Sending ₹4 lakh of NRO savings for closing costs | No |
| **Part B** | Over ₹5 lakh, and you hold an order or certificate from the Assessing Officer (e.g., a lower-deduction certificate) | Property sale where you got a lower TDS certificate | No, the AO order does the job |
| **Part C** | Over ₹5 lakh, with a CA's Form 15CB | Repatriating ₹60 lakh of flat sale proceeds from NRO | **Yes** |
| **Part D** | Remittance is not chargeable to tax in India | Certain non-taxable transfers, as your CA confirms | Usually no |

Two notes. The ₹5 lakh test looks at the **financial year total** (April to March): three ₹3 lakh transfers push you past it. And some remittance types sit on an exempt list, while NRE balances are generally freely repatriable without this paperwork. Your bank's forex desk will tell you which bucket you're in.

## When you need a CA certificate for the remittance

For most NRIs moving a real down payment from NRO, the answer is Part C, which means a CA who confirms tax on that money was paid.

What your CA will usually ask for:

- PAN, passport copy and NRO statements

- **Sale deed** and proof of TDS deducted by the buyer, if it's property money

- Your Indian tax return (ITR) for the relevant year

- Lower-deduction certificate, if you obtained one

- Recipient details (your own US account) and purpose of remittance

The CA issues 15CB, you (or your CA, with your login) file 15CA Part C referencing it, and you hand the acknowledgment to your bank with its remittance request form. The NRO repatriation cap is **USD 1 million per financial year**, including property sale proceeds, according to the RBI FAQ (January 2025).

**Talk to a loan officer who's seen this before:** We'll map your India-side paperwork against your closing date so the wire lands with time to spare. [Book a free call](https://www.masalaloans.com/contact) and bring your NRO statement.

## Timing your 15CA 15CB down payment with the US closing

The US side has its own clock. Under Fannie Mae's foreign asset rule, money from India has to be converted to dollars, sitting in a US or state-regulated institution, and verified **before closing**. We break that down in [Fannie Mae's foreign asset rule](https://www.masalaloans.com/blog/foreign-assets-mortgage-rules). Working backward from closing:

| **Step** | **Who** | **Realistic time** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gather sale deed, TDS proof, ITR | You | 2–7 days |
| CA reviews and issues 15CB | CA | 2–7 days |
| File 15CA online, get acknowledgment | You or CA | Same day |
| Submit to bank with remittance request | Bank | 1–5 business days |
| Wire arrives in your US account | Banks | 1–3 business days |
| Lender verifies funds, clears condition | Lender | 2–5 business days |

That's **one to three weeks** if everything is ready, longer if your ITR isn't filed or the buyer's TDS doesn't reconcile. Start the India side before you shop, or at the latest the week you go under contract.

### A hypothetical walk-through

Say Arjun, a green card holder in Plano, has ₹70 lakh in NRO from his Bengaluru flat sale and is buying a $520,000 home with 20% down. His CA issues 15CB in four days, 15CA Part C is filed that afternoon, and his bank processes the wire within the week. The dollars land in his US account 45 days before closing. His lender sees one big incoming wire, and Arjun hands over the 15CA acknowledgment, the Indian bank's debit advice and the NRO statement. That's the [large deposit sourcing](https://www.masalaloans.com/blog/large-deposit-mortgage-sourcing-rules) package underwriters want to see. (Illustration only.)

## What the US lender needs from your India transfer

Your lender isn't auditing Indian tax compliance; they need to prove the money is yours. Keep:

1. **NRO statements** showing the balance before transfer, in English or translated

2. **The Indian bank's outward remittance advice** or SWIFT confirmation

3. **US statement** showing the dollars received

4. **Source document** (sale deed, FD maturity letter) if the balance was recently built up

5. Your **15CA acknowledgment and 15CB**: not required by Fannie Mae, but they tell a clean story

If part of the money is from parents, the paperwork changes; see [gift money from India for a down payment](https://www.masalaloans.com/blog/gift-money-india-down-payment-mortgage). For how far ahead to move money, read [seasoning money from India](https://www.masalaloans.com/blog/seasoned-funds-from-india).

## Common mistakes that delay closing

- **Splitting transfers to dodge Part C.** The ₹5 lakh test is cumulative, and every split creates another deposit to source.

- **Wiring from a relative's account.** If the money is yours, send it from your own account, or it looks like an undocumented gift.

- **Ignoring US reporting.** Indian accounts may trigger FBAR or Form 8938 filing; ask your US CPA.

## What the rules actually say

- **Income Tax Department (India), Form 15CA FAQ:** Part A up to ₹5 lakh per financial year; Part B over ₹5 lakh with an AO order/certificate; Part C over ₹5 lakh with a CA's Form 15CB; Part D for remittances not chargeable to tax. Filed before remittance. As of October 2026; forms may be renamed under the Income-tax Act, 2025 (effective April 1, 2026).

- **RBI FAQ (January 2025):** NRO repatriation up to USD 1 million per financial year, including property sale proceeds.

- **Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-4.2-05:** foreign assets must be exchanged into U.S. dollars and held in a U.S. or state-regulated financial institution, verified before closing; foreign-language documents need translation.

- **Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-4.2-02:** on purchases, a single deposit over 50% of monthly qualifying income must be sourced.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Do I need Form 15CA and 15CB to send money from my NRO account to the US?**<br />A: Usually yes above ₹5 lakh in a financial year: Form 15CA Part C backed by a CA's Form 15CB, unless you hold an AO certificate (Part B) or the remittance isn't taxable (Part D). Smaller amounts generally use Part A without a CA.

**Q: How long does it take to get Form 15CB from a CA?**<br />A: Often two to seven days once the CA has your sale deed, TDS proof and ITR. It takes longer if your tax return for the sale year isn't filed or the TDS doesn't reconcile. Start the moment you're under contract, or earlier.

**Q: Does my US mortgage lender need to see Form 15CA?**<br />A: Fannie Mae doesn't require it. Your lender needs proof the money is yours, that it moved through banking channels, and that it's in a US account in dollars before closing. Including the 15CA acknowledgment with your wire confirmation often answers questions before they're asked.

**Q: Can I file Form 15CA myself without a CA?**<br />A: Yes for Part A (up to ₹5 lakh in the financial year) and often for Part D. Part C requires a CA's Form 15CB first, and Part B requires an Assessing Officer's order or certificate. You file 15CA on the e-filing portal with your own login.

**Q: Is there a limit on how much I can repatriate from my NRO account?**<br />A: Per the RBI FAQ (January 2025), the limit is USD 1 million per financial year (April to March), including property sale proceeds. Larger amounts need planning across financial years or RBI approval. Your bank and CA can confirm current limits.

## Get your money-from-India sourcing plan before you make an offer

Send us where the money sits today (NRO, NRE, FD, sale proceeds) and your target closing date. Within one business day we'll send back a **money-from-India sourcing plan**: which India-side steps to start now, how much lead time to build in, and exactly what your US underwriter will ask to see. Because we shop 150+ wholesale lenders, we can also match you with lenders comfortable with international asset files. Have your latest NRO/NRE statement and any sale deed handy. Book a free 15-minute call at [/contact](https://www.masalaloans.com/contact), start your application at [/apply](https://www.masalaloans.com/apply), or call 713-366-4668.

*Masala Loans is a brand of Matador Lending, LLC (NMLS #2072896). Written by Apurva Sanghavi, President, NMLS #227127. Equal Housing Opportunity. This article is general education, not tax, legal or immigration advice — consult a qualified CPA, attorney or immigration lawyer for your situation. Program availability, rates and terms vary by lender and borrower and are subject to change; not a commitment to lend.*