Repatriating Property-Sale Proceeds from India to the USA
Sold Indian property and want the money in the USA? This is the document and FEMA workflow — TDS proof, 15CA/15CB, the sale and purchase deeds, and the repatriation limit — without re-running the tax math.
Repatriation & 15CA/15CB — key numbers
Sale-proceeds route
NRO first
Indian property sale proceeds are credited to an NRO account, then repatriated from there.
Annual cap
USD 1 million / FY
The sale proceeds count against the same NRO limit as any other repatriation.
TDS on the sale
Deducted by the buyer
Your repatriation paperwork has to evidence it — keep the challan and Form 16A.
General planning figures, not tax or legal advice — they vary with surcharge, cess, DTAA and your own facts. Confirm with a cross-border CA/CPA before acting.
Once an Indian property sale is done and the tax side is handled, the next job is moving the proceeds to the USA — and that is a paperwork exercise. This page is the document and FEMA workflow; for the tax numbers themselves, use the India property capital-gains calculator.
Educational only — confirm with CA / bank
- This is general information, not tax, legal, or FEMA advice. Rules, thresholds, and the repatriation limit change over time and depend on your facts.
- Confirm with your CA and authorised-dealer bank, and verify on the Income Tax portal and with the RBI.
The order of operations
- Settle the tax side — capital gain computed, TDS accounted for, and any TDS refund / Form 13 position clear
- Assemble source documents — sale deed, purchase deed, and cost records
- Pull tax proof — TDS certificate (Form 16B), challans, and Form 26AS / AIS
- Get the CA certificate — Form 15CB, if your remittance needs one
- File Form 15CA — the correct part, online
- Submit the bank repatriation request — with source proof and KYC
- Keep everything — for your US return, FBAR, and FATCA
Documents specific to a property sale
Have these ready
- Sale deed — the disposal and consideration
- Purchase deed and cost records — the cost base behind the gain
- Form 16B — the buyer's TDS certificate, matching your Form 26AS
- Capital-gains computation — cost, indexation, and any exemption
- 15CA / 15CB — as applicable to the remittance
The FEMA repatriation limit
- Repatriation from NRO is subject to a FEMA limit — widely cited as up to USD 1 million per financial year — with documentation requirements.
- This is a FEMA / RBI rule, separate from the tax forms. Confirm the current limit and conditions with your bank before planning the transfer.
- For the broader picture of life after the sale, see repatriating India property-sale proceeds.
Common mistakes
What stalls a property repatriation
- Mismatched TDS — the buyer's Form 16B not reconciling with your Form 26AS.
- Missing cost records — weakening both the gain computation and the source proof.
- Leaving 15CB late — the CA needs the documents and time to certify.
- Overlooking the FEMA limit — assuming the whole amount is freely repatriable.
- No US-side records — forgetting this feeds your US return, FBAR, and FATCA.
Questions to ask your CA and bank
Bring these along
- Is my capital-gains and TDS position fully settled before we remit?
- Do I need a 15CB, and which 15CA part applies?
- How does the FEMA repatriation limit apply to my proceeds this year?
- What is the bank's exact document list for property-sale repatriation?
Check your documents and next step
Run your situation through the 15CA / 15CB checklist to see what to gather and whether a CA review is strongly recommended.
- Back to the pillar: Form 15CA & 15CB for NRIs
- Siblings: Form 15CA for NRIs · Form 15CB & the CA certificate · NRO-to-USA transfer documents
- Related: NRI property-sale TDS refund · Property capital-gains calculator · Repatriating proceeds (overview)
Frequently asked questions
How do NRIs repatriate property-sale proceeds from India to the USA?
After the capital-gains tax and TDS are settled, you assemble the sale and purchase deeds, TDS proof, and Form 26AS; obtain a Form 15CB if required; file Form 15CA; and submit the bank's repatriation request with source-of-funds proof. The transfer is also subject to the FEMA repatriation limit. Confirm specifics with your CA and bank.
What is the limit on repatriating property-sale money from NRO?
Repatriation from NRO is subject to a FEMA limit, widely cited as up to USD 1 million per financial year, with documentation requirements. This is separate from the tax forms — verify the current limit and conditions with your authorised-dealer bank.
Do I need Form 15CB to repatriate property proceeds?
Often, yes — taxable remittances above the specified limit commonly need a CA's Form 15CB before filing the relevant part of Form 15CA. Whether yours does depends on the amount and taxability; confirm with your CA.