NRIWallah team
Updated October 2026
Why use a repatriation calculator
Sending money into India is simple. Sending it out involves FEMA rules, the USD 1 million annual cap on NRO accounts, Form 15CA and 15CB, tax obligations and your bank’s processing time, and a mistake can be costly.
The calculator estimates:
- How much you can repatriate, based on your account type and the cap you have already used.
- Which forms are required (15CA, 15CB, A2 and others) and when.
- Tax notes that depend on the source of the money.
NRE and NRO repatriation compared
| Aspect | NRE | NRO |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cap | None | USD 1 million per financial year |
| Tax certificates | Not required | Form 15CA almost always, Form 15CB if > Rs 5L |
| Documentation | Bank request form only | A2, 15CA, sometimes 15CB, CA certification |
| Tax in India | Already tax-free | Already taxed via TDS or assessment |
| Best for | Returning your own foreign earnings | Returning Indian-source income, property sale proceeds |
NRE money is foreign money returning to you. NRO money is Indian-source, and the rules limit how much can leave each year.
How the USD 1 million cap works
- It’s per individual, not per account. If you have an NRO account with HDFC and another with ICICI, the cap applies across both.
- It resets every 1 April (Indian financial year start).
- The cap is denominated in USD, so even if you repatriate to GBP/EUR/CAD/AED, the bank converts to USD-equivalent for cap tracking.
- If you reach the cap, the excess waits until next April.
What the calculator does not do
- Calculate Indian tax owed — use our country tax calculators for that
- File Form 15CA / 15CB — these are filed via Income Tax e-filing portal + your CA
- Replace your bank’s repatriation process — every bank has its own forms and steps
- Apply your bank’s own limits. Some banks set per-transaction or online limits below the USD 1 million cap.
Form 15CB
Form 15CB is a Chartered Accountant’s certificate certifying that the proposed remittance has the right tax treatment applied. Your bank will not process a taxable remittance above the Rs 5 lakh threshold without it, so ask your CA early. The property sale guide shows where it fits in a sale, and the Form 13 guide covers the lower-deduction step before it.
NRIWallah does not provide tax or legal advice. Use this calculator as a planning aid only. For high-value repatriation (especially property sale proceeds), engage a FEMA-experienced CA before initiating.
