Form 15 is an annual electronic statement mandated under Section 45(4)(a) of the Income-tax Act, 2025, to be furnished by prescribed undertakings or institutions receiving sums for scientific, social science, or statistical research. It applies to entities specified under Section 45(3), including research associations, universities, approved companies, and national laboratories. The form must be filed annually for each tax year in which eligible sums are received, on or before 31st May following the end of the relevant tax year. The responsibility for filing lies solely with the recipient institution, not the donor. Form 15 requires detailed reporting of institutional particulars, donor-wise information including PAN, amount, date, mode of receipt, and nature of research. It is designed as a system-driven electronic compliance mechanism, ensuring structured reporting and facilitating verification of deductions claimed under Section 45.
The introduction of Form 15 reflects a policy shift under the Income-tax Act, 2025 toward segmented reporting for scientific research donations, replacing the earlier Form 10BD framework applicable under the 1961 Act. The form serves as a key data source for cross-verification of donor claims and supports automated compliance checks and risk-based scrutiny. It does not, by itself, grant deduction to donors, as eligibility remains subject to statutory conditions and verification. Non-furnishing or incorrect filing may adversely impact donor deductions and attract consequences under the Act. While no filing is required if no eligible sums are received, correction statements may be permitted to rectify errors. Overall, Form 15 enhances transparency, accountability, and audit efficiency by enabling precise tracking of research-related contributions and strengthening the compliance framework.
Income Tax Department
Ministry of Finance, Government of India
FAQs on Income Tax Form 15: Statement to be filed by research association, university, college or other institution or company (donee) under section 45(4)(a) of Income Tax Act 2025
FORM 15– Annual Statement of Donations Received for Scientific Research
(Section 45(4)(a) read with section 45(3) of the Income-tax Act, 2025)
Q.1 What is FORM 15?
Ans. 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.
Q.2 Which provision mandates furnishing of FORM 15?
Ans. FORM 15 is mandated under section 45(4)(a) of the Income-tax Act, 2025.
Q.3 Which entities are required to furnish FORM 15?
Ans. 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.
Q.4 What categories of entities are covered under section 45(3)?
Ans. 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.
Q.5 What types of payments are required to be reported in FORM 15?
Ans. 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.
Q.6 Is FORM 15 applicable to donations to charitable instituitions?
Ans. 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].
Q.7 What is the periodicity of furnishing FORM 15?
Ans. FORM 15 is required to be furnished annually, reporting all eligible sums received during the relevant tax year.
Q.8 What is the due date for furnishing FORM 15?
Ans. FORM 15 must be furnished on or before 31st May immediately following the end of the relevant tax year.
Q.9 Who is responsible for furnishing FORM 15?
Ans. 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.
Q.10 What details are required to be reported in FORM 15?
Ans. 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.
Q.11 Is FORM 15 required to be furnished if no eligible sum is received during the year?
Ans. No. FORM 15 is required only for those tax years in which eligible sums under section 45(3) are received.
Q.12 Can FORM 15 be corrected after furnishing?
Ans. Yes. A procedure may be prescribed for furnishing correction statements.
Q.13 What are the consequences of non-furnishing or incorrect furnishing of FORM 15?
Ans. 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.
Q.14 Is FORM 15 required to be furnished electronically?
Ans. Yes. FORM 15 is envisaged as an electronic, system-driven annual statement.
Q.15 Does furnishing FORM 15 by itself grant deduction to the donor?
Ans. 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.
Q.16 What is the policy rationale for introducing FORM 15?
Ans. 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.
Statement to be filed by research association, university, college or other institution or company (“donee”) under section 45(4)(a)
Guidance Note on Income Tax Form 15: Statement to be filed by research association, university, college or other institution or company (donee) under section 45(4)(a) of Income Tax Act 2025
Annual Statement of Donations Received for Scientific Research (Section 45(4)(a) read with section 45(3) of the Income-tax Act, 2025)
1. Introduction
Form 15 is a statutory annual information statement required to be furnished by prescribed undertakings or institutions receiving sums for scientific research under the Income-tax Act, 2025. The form gives effect to section 45(4)(a) and is an integral part of the scientific research incentive framework under the new Act.
Under the Income-tax Act, 1961, similar reporting was required through Form 10BD read with Rule 18AB for donations covered under section 35 as well as section 80G. The Income-tax Act, 2025 introduces a segregated compliance framework, and Form 15 replaces Form 10BD insofar as it related to scientific research donations.
2. Legislative Background and Continuity
- Section 45(3) of the Income-tax Act, 2025 corresponds to section 35(1)(i), (ii) and (iia) of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
- Section 45(4)(a) corresponds to section 35(1A) of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
- Form 15 replaces Form 10BD for scientific research donations.
- Due date of 31st May is retained from the earlier framework applicable to Form 10BD under Rule 18AB.
This ensures continuity of compliance while achieving policy segregation.
3. Scope and Applicability
Form 15 applies exclusively to sums received by entities referred to in section 45(3) for:
- scientific research;
- social science research; or
- statistical research.
Donations to charitable instituitions fall outside the scope of Form 15.
4. Person Responsible for Furnishing the Statement
The obligation to furnish Form 15 rests with the prescribed undertaking or institution receiving the sum. The form is required to be verified by the person authorised to verify the return of income of such institution.
5. Periodicity and Due Date
Form 15 is required to be furnished annually in respect of each tax year in which eligible sums are received.
The statement must be furnished on or before 31st May immediately following the end of the relevant tax year.
6. Contents of Form 15
Form 15 captures donor-wise and donation-wise particulars, including:
- identification and approval details of the prescribed institution;
- donor particulars and PAN;
- amount, date and mode of receipt;
- nature of research for which the sum is received.
The electronic form may provide for pre-filling and validation to ensure accuracy.
7. Correction Statements
To address errors or omissions, the Income-tax administration may permit furnishing of correction statements, following a mechanism similar to that earlier prescribed for Form 10BDunder Income-tax Rules, 1962.
8. Role in Deduction Verification
Form 15 serves as a primary data source for:
- cross-verification of deductions claimed by donors under section 45; and
- automated matching and risk-based scrutiny.
Furnishing of Form 15 does not, by itself, confer deduction on the donor.
9. Consequences of Non-compliance
Failure to furnish Form 15, or furnishing incorrect particulars, may:
- adversely affect the allowability of deduction to the donor; and
- attract consequences as prescribed under the Income-tax Act, 2025.
10. System-driven Administration under the Income-tax Act, 2025
Form 15 reflects the broader policy direction under the Income-tax Act, 2025 towards technology-enabled, segmented compliance, with separate reporting streams for scientific research incentives and general charitable donations.
11. Conclusion
Form 15 is a cornerstone of the scientific research donation reporting regime under the Income-tax Act, 2025. By retaining key features such as annual reporting and the 31st May due date from the earlier Form 10BD framework, while introducing purpose-specific segregation, the form strengthens transparency, accountability and ease of verification.
