How to Claim DTAA Benefits in India: Forms, Process & Deadlines

Introduction: Why Most Foreign Companies Fail to Claim DTAA Benefits

India has signed Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements with over 94 countries, yet a significant number of foreign companies operating in India either fail to claim treaty benefits entirely or claim them incorrectly — resulting in excess tax payments, rejected refund applications, and costly reassessment proceedings. The problem is rarely a lack of entitlement; it is a failure to follow India's documentation-heavy claim process with precision.

This article is part of our Complete DTAA Guide for Foreign Companies Doing Business in India. Here we dive deep into the exact step-by-step process for claiming treaty benefits, the specific forms required, the deadlines you cannot miss, and the mistakes that cause the Income Tax Department to deny legitimate claims.

Whether you are claiming reduced withholding tax on dividends, interest, or royalties, or seeking relief from double taxation when filing your income tax return, every step in this process has a specific form, a specific portal, and a specific deadline. Miss any one of them, and you may end up paying tax at the full domestic rate — 35% plus surcharge and cess for foreign companies — instead of the treaty rate of 10-15%.

Understanding the Two Relief Methods

Before diving into the claim process, it is essential to understand how India provides DTAA relief. The Income Tax Act offers two distinct mechanisms, and the one available to you depends on whether India has a treaty with your country.

Section 90: Bilateral Relief (DTAA Countries)

Section 90 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 applies when India has a DTAA with your home country. Under Section 90, the taxpayer can choose whichever is more beneficial — the provisions of the DTAA or the domestic Income Tax Act. This is a critical principle: the DTAA sets a ceiling on taxation, but if domestic law provides a lower rate, you can claim the domestic rate instead.

Section 90 provides two methods of relief:

• Exemption method — Income is taxed in only one country. The other country exempts it entirely. This method is used in fewer modern treaties.
• Credit method — Income is taxed in both countries, but the country of residence provides a credit for the tax paid in India. This is the more common method in India's recent treaties.

For most foreign companies, the credit method applies. This means you pay Indian tax at the treaty rate (typically 10-15% on dividends, interest, and royalties), and your home country provides a credit for the Indian tax against your domestic tax liability.

Section 91: Unilateral Relief (Non-DTAA Countries)

If India does not have a DTAA with your country of residence, Section 91 provides unilateral relief. Under this provision, the Indian government grants a deduction from Indian tax equal to the lower of:

• The Indian tax payable on the doubly-taxed income, or
• The foreign tax paid on that income

Section 91 relief is less generous than Section 90 because there is no treaty rate — India taxes at full domestic rates, and you only get credit for the lower of the two tax amounts. This is why having a DTAA with India significantly reduces the overall tax burden.

Step 1: Obtain a Tax Residency Certificate (TRC)

The Tax Residency Certificate is the foundational document for claiming any DTAA benefit in India. Without a valid TRC, the Income Tax Department will deny your treaty claim outright — no exceptions.

What Is a TRC?

A TRC is an official certificate issued by the tax authority of your home country (the country where you are tax resident) confirming that you are a tax resident of that country for the relevant financial year. It serves as proof that you are entitled to invoke the provisions of the DTAA between India and your country.

How to Obtain a TRC

The process for obtaining a TRC varies by country. For common jurisdictions:

Key Requirements for the TRC

Under Rule 21AB of the Income Tax Rules, the TRC must contain the following information:

• Name of the taxpayer
• Status of the taxpayer (individual, company, firm, etc.)
• Nationality (for individuals) or country of incorporation (for companies)
• Tax Identification Number (TIN) in the country of residence
• Residential status for the purposes of tax
• Period for which the certificate is applicable
• Address of the taxpayer in the country of residence

If the TRC does not contain all these details — which happens frequently with certificates from certain countries — you must supplement it with Form 10F (see Step 2). A TRC is valid for only one financial year, so you must obtain a fresh certificate annually.

Step 2: File Form 10F on the Income Tax Portal

Form 10F is a self-declaration form that supplements the TRC. If your TRC does not contain all the information prescribed under Rule 21AB, Form 10F fills the gaps. In practice, most foreign companies need to file Form 10F because few foreign tax authorities issue TRCs that contain every field India requires.

Filing Process

Since July 2022, Form 10F must be filed electronically on the Income Tax e-filing portal. Manual or email submissions are no longer accepted. The step-by-step process is:

1. Register on the portal — If you do not have a PAN, register as a non-PAN user on the Income Tax e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in) using your name, date of birth/incorporation, and contact details
2. Navigate to Form 10F — Log in, go to e-File → Income Tax Forms → File Income Tax Forms, and select "Form 10F – Double Taxation Relief"
3. Enter required details — Fill in your name, address, TIN, country of residence, and the period for which you are claiming DTAA benefits
4. Upload TRC — Attach a scanned copy of your Tax Residency Certificate
5. Verify and submit — Verify using a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) or electronic verification code (EVC)

Deadline

There is no separate deadline for Form 10F — but it must be filed before filing your income tax return. Best practice is to file Form 10F immediately after obtaining the TRC for the relevant financial year, ideally within the first quarter (April-June).

Common Mistakes with Form 10F

• Mismatched periods — The period on Form 10F must match the TRC period and the Indian financial year (April to March)
• Expired TRC — Attaching a TRC from a previous year is the most common reason for rejection
• Missing TIN — Some countries use different identification numbers; ensure you provide the correct one as recognised by India
• Non-PAN registration errors — Non-residents often face portal issues; use the help desk if registration fails

Step 3: Claim Reduced Withholding Tax at Source

The most immediate way to benefit from a DTAA is to reduce the withholding tax (TDS) deducted by the Indian payer on your income. Without DTAA documentation, the Indian payer must deduct TDS at the full domestic rate under Section 195.

Domestic vs Treaty Withholding Rates

Process for Reduced Withholding

To obtain reduced withholding tax at source, the non-resident must provide the Indian payer with:

1. A valid Tax Residency Certificate for the current financial year
2. Form 10F filed on the Income Tax portal (provide the acknowledgement number to the payer)
3. A self-declaration confirming that the income is beneficially owned by the non-resident and that conditions for treaty benefits are satisfied
4. No-PE declaration (if applicable) — confirming that the non-resident does not have a permanent establishment in India

The Indian payer then deducts TDS at the lower treaty rate instead of the domestic rate. However, the payer bears liability if the documents are inadequate or the claim is later found to be incorrect, so many Indian companies insist on rigorous documentation.

Section 197 Certificate for Nil/Lower Withholding

If you expect to claim DTAA relief and want to avoid the cash flow impact of excess TDS, you can apply to your Assessing Officer for a certificate under Section 197 authorising nil or lower deduction of tax. The application must be made on Form 13, along with the TRC, Form 10F, and supporting financial projections. Processing typically takes 4-6 weeks.

Step 4: File Form 15CA and 15CB for Cross-Border Payments

Every cross-border payment from India to a non-resident requires compliance with Form 15CA and Form 15CB. These forms are filed by the Indian payer (not the non-resident), but the non-resident must ensure the payer has the necessary DTAA documentation to apply the correct treaty rate.

Form 15CA (Remitter's Declaration)

Form 15CA is an online declaration filed on the Income Tax portal before making any foreign remittance. It has four parts:

Form 15CB (Chartered Accountant's Certificate)

Form 15CB is a certificate issued by a practising Chartered Accountant (CA) confirming that the remittance has been examined, the applicable DTAA provisions have been applied, and the correct amount of tax has been deducted. The CA must verify:

• The nature of the payment and the applicable section of the Income Tax Act
• The DTAA article under which relief is claimed
• The treaty rate and the actual rate of TDS applied
• That the non-resident has provided a valid TRC and Form 10F

Filing Sequence and Deadline

The correct sequence is: obtain TRC → file Form 10F → provide documents to Indian payer → CA issues Form 15CB → payer files Form 15CA → bank processes the remittance. Form 15CA must be filed before the remittance is made — banks will not process the payment without the Form 15CA acknowledgement number.

Step 5: Claim Relief in Your Income Tax Return

If TDS has been deducted at a rate higher than the treaty rate — which happens frequently when Indian payers are conservative — you can claim a refund when filing your Indian income tax return.

Filing Requirements

Foreign companies must file ITR-6 to claim DTAA relief. The relevant schedules include:

• Schedule TR — Details of taxes paid outside India (for Section 90/91 relief)
• Schedule FSI — Income accruing outside India (for residents claiming foreign tax credit)
• Schedule TDS — Details of TDS deducted in India, including the rate claimed

When claiming Section 90 relief, you must disclose the treaty country, the nature of income, the treaty article invoked, and the amount of tax paid or withheld. The system cross-references your Form 10F filing, so ensure consistency across all forms.

Deadlines for Filing

The due dates for filing ITR-6 depend on audit and transfer pricing requirements:

For foreign companies with Indian subsidiaries or related-party transactions, the November 30 deadline typically applies because transfer pricing documentation is almost always required. See our guide on ITR filing for foreign companies for a detailed walkthrough.

Step 6: Maintain Documentation for Assessment

The Indian Income Tax Department can reopen assessments for up to six years (or sixteen years in cases involving foreign assets or income). During assessment proceedings, the department may demand proof of your DTAA claim. The documentation you must maintain includes:

• Original TRC for each financial year benefits were claimed
• Form 10F acknowledgements
• Self-declarations and no-PE declarations provided to Indian payers
• Form 15CA/15CB acknowledgements
• Correspondence with the Indian payer regarding TDS rates
• Board resolutions or management decisions regarding the beneficial ownership of income
• Proof of actual tax payment in the home country (for credit method claims)

Companies should maintain these records for a minimum of eight years from the end of the relevant assessment year. Digital copies are acceptable, but ensure they are authenticated and easily retrievable.

Common Mistakes That Lead to DTAA Denial

Based on real assessment cases and tribunal decisions, these are the most frequent reasons the Income Tax Department denies DTAA claims:

• No TRC or expired TRC — The single most common reason for denial. A 2022 CBDT notification makes this mandatory with no exceptions.
• Form 10F not filed electronically — Since July 2022, manual submissions are invalid. Companies that emailed Form 10F to their payers instead of filing on the portal have had claims rejected.
• Beneficial ownership not established — Treaty benefits require the recipient to be the beneficial owner of the income, not a conduit entity. If you receive income through a holding company in a treaty country but the ultimate beneficiary is in a non-treaty country, India will deny the claim under the General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR).
• PE existence not addressed — If the foreign company has a PE in India and the income is attributable to that PE, treaty withholding rates do not apply. The income is instead taxed as business profits at 35%.
• Incorrect treaty article claimed — Claiming royalty rates on what India characterises as fees for technical services (or vice versa) leads to reassessment.
• MLI impact not considered — The Multilateral Instrument (MLI), effective in India since April 2020, modifies many bilateral DTAAs. If your treaty has been modified by the MLI, you must apply the modified provisions, not the original treaty text.

DTAA Benefits by Income Type: Quick Reference

For foreign companies operating in India, the most commonly claimed DTAA benefits fall into these categories:

Dividends

Most Indian DTAAs cap dividend withholding at 10-15%. Since India abolished the Dividend Distribution Tax in FY 2020-21, dividends are taxed in the hands of the recipient. For a US company receiving dividends from an Indian subsidiary, the India-US DTAA caps withholding at 15% (or 10% if the US company holds 10%+ of voting stock).

Interest

Treaty rates on interest typically range from 10-15%. Some treaties provide lower rates for specific types of interest (e.g., government bonds, bank lending). The India-Singapore DTAA caps interest at 15%.

Royalties and Fees for Technical Services

Post-MLI, most treaties apply a 10-15% rate on royalties and FTS. The India-UK DTAA, as modified by the MLI, applies 10% on royalties. Note that India's domestic definition of royalties is broader than the OECD model — software payments, for instance, have been treated as royalties in several tribunal decisions.

Capital Gains

Capital gains treatment varies significantly by treaty. The India-Singapore and India-Mauritius DTAAs previously provided full capital gains exemption for shares, but amendments in 2017 introduced source-country taxation. As of 2026, most treaties allow India to tax capital gains on shares, with limited grandfathering provisions for investments made before April 2017.

Key Takeaways

• TRC is non-negotiable — Obtain a Tax Residency Certificate from your home country before the start of the Indian financial year. Without it, no DTAA benefit is available.
• File Form 10F electronically — Since July 2022, only electronic filing on the Income Tax portal is accepted. File it immediately after obtaining the TRC.
• Provide documents to Indian payers proactively — Do not wait for the payer to request your TRC and Form 10F. Provide them upfront so TDS is deducted at the treaty rate from the first payment.
• Follow the correct sequence — TRC → Form 10F → documents to payer → Form 15CB by CA → Form 15CA → bank remittance. Skipping steps causes rejections.
• Claim refunds in your ITR — If excess TDS was deducted, file ITR-6 before the due date with Schedule TR to claim the differential as a refund.
• Check MLI modifications — Your original bilateral DTAA may have been modified by the MLI since April 2020. Always verify the current applicable provisions through India's treaty database.