Form 15 Income Tax Rules 2026 pdf download and Key points

CA Satbir Singh — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:48:54 +0000

Form 15 Income Tax Rules 2026 pdf download and Key points

FORM NO. 15
[See rule 31(1)(a)]
Statement to be filed by research association , university, college or other in situation or company (―done ‖ ) under section 45(4)(a)

Under the Income-tax Rules, 2026, Form No. 15 serves as the Annual Statement of Donations Received for Scientific Research. It replaces the earlier Form 10BD specifically for scientific research donations, creating a separate reporting stream from general charitable donations.

Here are all the key points regarding Form No. 15:

1. Purpose of the Form Form 15 is a statutory annual information statement used to report donor-wise and donation-wise particulars of sums received for research. It serves as the primary data source for the Income-tax Department to cross-verify the tax deductions claimed by the donors and enables automated, risk-based scrutiny.

2. Governing Provisions The form is mandated and governed by Section 45(4)(a) read with Section 45(3) of the Income-tax Act, 2025.

3. Applicability (Who Should File)

Who Files: The obligation to file rests entirely with the prescribed undertaking or institution receiving the sum. This includes research associations, universities, colleges, approved Indian companies engaged in R&D, National Laboratories, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), or other specified persons.
Who Does Not File: The donor has no obligation to furnish this statement.

4. Scope of Eligible Donations Form 15 applies exclusively to sums received for:

Scientific research.
Social science research.
Statistical research. (Note: Donations to standard charitable institutions fall outside the scope of Form 15 and are governed by a separate reporting framework under Form 113).

5. Frequency and Due Date

Frequency: It is an annual statement.
Due Date: It must be furnished on or before 31st May immediately following the end of the relevant tax year in which the eligible sums were received.

6. Structure and Contents of the Form This electronic, system-driven form captures specific details, including:

Identification and approval details of the prescribed institution receiving the funds.
Donor-wise particulars, strictly including the donor’s Permanent Account Number (PAN).
The exact amount, date, and mode of receipt of the donation.
The nature of the research (scientific, social science, or statistical).

7. Verification and Corrections

Verification: The form must be verified by the person authorised to verify the return of income for the recipient institution.
Corrections: If there are errors or omissions in the filed statement, the institution is permitted to file correction statements.

8. Legal Implications and Consequences of Non-Compliance

No Automatic Deduction: Simply because an institution furnishes Form 15 does not automatically guarantee the donor will receive the tax deduction; the deduction remains subject to the donor’s fulfillment of statutory conditions and departmental verification.
Non-Compliance: If the institution fails to furnish Form 15, or files it with incorrect particulars, it can adversely affect the allowability of the tax deduction for the donor and attract penal consequences for the institution under the Income-tax Act, 2025.

1. What is FORM 15?
FORM 15 is a prescribed annual statement to be furnished by a prescribed undertaking or institution referred to in section 45(3) of the Income-tax Act, 2025, in
respect of sums received for scientific research during a tax year.
2. Which provision mandates furnishing of FORM 15?
FORM 15 is mandated under section 45(4)(a) of the Income-tax Act, 2025.
3. Which entities are required to furnish FORM 15?
Every prescribed undertaking or institution referred to in section 45(3) is required to furnish FORM 15 if it receives any eligible sum during the tax year.
4. What categories of entities are covered under section 45(3)?
Section 45(3) covers payments made to:
 a research association for scientific research or to a University, college or institution for scientific research;
 a research association or institution for social science or statistical research;
 an approved Indian company engaged in scientific research and development;
 a national laboratory, University, Indian Institute of Technology or a specified person.
5. What types of payments are required to be reported in FORM 15?
FORM 15 is required to be furnished in respect of sums received for:
 scientific research;
 social science research; or
 statistical research
which qualify for deduction under section 45.
6. Is FORM 15 applicable to donations to charitable instituitions?
No. FORM 15 applies exclusively to scientific research donations under section 45. Donations to charitable institution are governed by a separate reporting framework [Form 113].
7. What is the periodicity of furnishing FORM 15?
FORM 15 is required to be furnished annually, reporting all eligible sums received during the relevant tax year.
8. What is the due date for furnishing FORM 15?
FORM 15 must be furnished on or before 31st May immediately following the end of the relevant tax year.
9. Who is responsible for furnishing FORM 15?
The obligation to furnish FORM 15 lies with the prescribed undertaking or institution receiving the sum. The donor has no obligation to furnish this statement.
10. What details are required to be reported in FORM 15?
FORM 15 requires reporting of:
 particulars and approval details of the institution;
 donor-wise particulars, including PAN;
 amount, date and mode of receipt of the sum;
 nature of scientific, social science or statistical research.
11. Is FORM 15 required to be furnished if no eligible sum is received during the year?
No. FORM 15 is required only for those tax years in which eligible sums under section 45(3) are received.
12. Can FORM 15 be corrected after furnishing?
Yes. A procedure may be prescribed for furnishing correction statements.
13. What are the consequences of non-furnishing or incorrect furnishing of FORM 15?
Non-furnishing or incorrect furnishing of FORM 15 may:
 adversely affect the allowability of deduction to the donor under section 45; and
 attract consequences as provided under the Income-tax Act, 2025.
14. Is FORM 15 required to be furnished electronically?
Yes. FORM 15 is envisaged as an electronic, system-driven annual statement.
15. Does furnishing FORM 15 by itself grant deduction to the donor?
No. Furnishing of FORM 15 is an information and verification requirement. Deduction is subject to fulfilment of conditions under section 45 and verification by
the Income-tax Department.
16. What is the policy rationale for introducing FORM 15?
FORM 15 reflects the policy shift under the Income-tax Act, 2025 towards segmented, purpose-specific reporting, by delinking scientific research donations
from the general charitable donation regime.

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