What is Form 15G and Form 15H? Meaning, Eligibility & Differences

Forms 15G and 15H are self-declarations historically used by eligible resident taxpayers to request non-deduction of tax at source (TDS) on specified income when their estimated tax liability for the year is nil. For bank, co-operative bank and specified post-office interest, the Section 194A TDS threshold was increased from 1 April 2025 to ₹50,000 for non-senior citizens and ₹1 lakh for senior citizens. Crossing the TDS threshold does not automatically mean tax is ultimately payable; the final tax liability depends on the taxpayer’s total income and applicable tax rules. 

These declarations can help eligible taxpayers avoid unnecessary TDS on eligible income, but they do not make the underlying income tax-exempt. The income must still be considered while computing total taxable income and filing the income-tax return, where applicable. 

Current tax update for 2026-27: For tax years beginning on or after 1 April 2026, the Income-tax Act, 2025 and Income-tax Rules, 2026 consolidate the declaration earlier furnished through Forms 15G and 15H into Form 121. The eligibility principles continue broadly on the same basis. This article explains the familiar Form 15G/Form 15H terminology and also flags the current Form 121 requirement where relevant. 

What is Form 15G and Form 15H? 

Form 15G is a self-declaration used under the earlier Income-tax Act framework by eligible resident individuals below 60 years of age and certain other eligible resident persons, such as HUFs, to request that specified income be paid without TDS when the prescribed conditions are met. Form 15H serves a similar purpose for eligible resident senior citizens aged 60 years or above. 

These declarations may apply to eligible income where TDS would otherwise be deducted, including: 

• Interest on fixed deposits and recurring deposits with banks and eligible institutions. 

• Interest on specified post-office deposits. 

• Interest on securities, including eligible interest from corporate bonds or debentures. 

• Eligible EPF withdrawals where service is less than five years and the withdrawal exceeds ₹50,000, subject to the applicable EPFO and tax rules. 

• Insurance commission in cases covered by the applicable TDS provisions. 

• Certain payments from life-insurance policies, National Savings Scheme deposits, rent and income from specified units, where the law permits a declaration for non-deduction. 

For Tax Year 2026-27 onward, eligible declarations for these categories are made through the consolidated Form 121 rather than separate Forms 15G and 15H. 

Difference Between Form 15G and Form 15H 

The main 15G and 15H difference is the age and eligibility of the person making the declaration. The table below summarises the key distinctions under the earlier Form 15G/15H framework. 

Particular	Form 15G	Form 15H
Who can submit	Resident individual below 60 years, HUF or other eligible resident person, excluding a company or firm	Resident individual aged 60 years or above
Tax liability condition	Tax on estimated total income for the year should be nil	Tax on estimated total income for the year should be nil
Additional income condition	The aggregate specified income covered by the declaration should not exceed the applicable maximum amount not chargeable to tax	The separate declaration-income cap applicable to Form 15G does not apply; estimated tax on total income must still be nil
NRI eligibility	Not available to non-residents	Not available to non-residents
Current position from 1 April 2026	Earlier Form 15G declaration is consolidated into Form 121	Earlier Form 15H declaration is consolidated into Form 121

Eligibility Criteria 

Eligibility is not based only on age. The person must satisfy the prescribed tax-liability and income conditions for the relevant year. For the earlier Form 15G/Form 15H framework, the broad criteria are as follows. 

Who Can Submit Form 15G 

• A resident individual below 60 years of age, an HUF or another eligible resident person other than a company or firm. 

• The estimated tax payable on total income for the relevant year should be nil. 

• The aggregate amount of specified income covered by the declaration should not exceed the applicable maximum amount not chargeable to tax. 

• A valid PAN should be furnished as required. 

• Non-residents, companies and firms cannot use Form 15G. 

Who Can Submit Form 15H 

• A resident individual who is 60 years of age or above during the relevant year. 

• The estimated tax payable on total income for the relevant year should be nil after considering the applicable tax provisions and rebate, where available. 

• Unlike Form 15G, Form 15H does not have the same separate cap on the amount of specified income covered by the declaration. 

• A valid PAN should be furnished as required. 

• Non-resident senior citizens cannot use Form 15H. 

From Tax Year 2026-27 onward, taxpayers should check the eligibility and filing instructions for Form 121, which replaces the separate Form 15G/Form 15H declaration format. 

Example of Who Can Submit These Forms 

The examples below are illustrative and show the broad logic under the earlier Form 15G/Form 15H framework. Actual eligibility depends on the tax regime, the nature of income, deductions or rebates available and the law applicable for that year. 

Age	Illustrative Income Profile	Estimated Tax	Form Eligibility
23	Only eligible interest income; specified income exceeds the applicable basic exemption limit	Nil	Form 15G may not be available because the specified-income condition is not met
55	Salary plus eligible interest; total tax is nil and specified income stays within the applicable limit	Nil	May submit Form 15G if all other conditions are met
67	Pension plus eligible deposit interest; total tax is nil after applicable provisions	Nil	May submit Form 15H if all other conditions are met
71	Eligible interest and pension income; total tax is nil after applicable provisions	Nil	May submit Form 15H if all other conditions are met

What is Form 15G Used For? 

Form 15G was used to request non-deduction of TDS on specified income when an eligible taxpayer expected the tax on total income for the year to be nil and the other prescribed conditions were satisfied. It did not exempt the income itself from tax. 

Common situations in which an eligible Form 15G declaration could be relevant included: 

• Interest on bank fixed deposits and recurring deposits. 

• Interest on eligible post-office deposits. 

• Interest on securities such as eligible corporate bonds or debentures. 

• Eligible EPF withdrawals where TDS rules apply. 

• Insurance commission and certain life-insurance policy payments covered by the relevant TDS sections. 

• Certain rent payments and income from specified units where a declaration is permitted under tax law. 

For tax years beginning on or after 1 April 2026, the equivalent declaration should be made through Form 121 under the current rules. 

How to Fill and Submit Form 15G and Form 15H 

For earlier tax years in which Forms 15G and 15H applied, the declaration could generally be submitted to the bank, institution or other payer either online or offline, depending on the payer’s facility. The broad process was: 

1. Choose the correct form based on your age and eligibility: Form 15G for eligible non-senior resident taxpayers and Form 15H for eligible resident senior citizens. 

2. Enter personal details such as name, PAN, residential status, address, contact information and the relevant financial year. 

3. Provide details about whether you were previously assessed to tax, where required by the form. 

4. Enter the estimated income for which the declaration is being made and your estimated total income for the year. 

5. Provide details of other declarations already submitted during the year, including the number of declarations and aggregate income covered. 

6. Add the relevant investment, account, deposit or income details for which you are requesting non-deduction of TDS. 

7. Review the declaration carefully and sign or authenticate it as required. 

8. Submit it to each relevant deductor or payer through the available online or branch process and retain an acknowledgement or record of submission. 

For Tax Year 2026-27 onward: Use Form 121 instead of separate Forms 15G and 15H and follow the current Income Tax Department or payer-specific submission process. 

Time of Submission 

Ideally, submit the applicable declaration at the beginning of the financial or tax year, from 1 April, or as soon as a new eligible deposit or income arrangement is opened. Early submission helps the payer process the request before TDS becomes due. 

If TDS has already been deducted before a valid declaration is processed, submitting the declaration later may not reverse the tax already deducted. If your final tax liability is lower or nil, you can generally claim the eligible TDS credit or refund while filing your income-tax return. 

Things to Remember While Filing 15G and 15H 

• Do not submit the declaration if you do not satisfy the prescribed conditions or if tax is payable on your estimated total income. 

• A false or incorrect declaration can attract prosecution or penalties under the applicable income-tax law. Always provide accurate income estimates and details. 

• Form 15G or Form 15H is not a substitute for an income-tax return. You may still need to file an ITR depending on your income and filing requirements. 

• If TDS is deducted despite your eligibility, you can claim the TDS credit and, where applicable, a refund through your income-tax return. 

• NRIs cannot submit Form 15G or Form 15H because these declarations are available only to eligible residents. 

• A fresh declaration is generally required for each relevant year and may also need to be updated if your estimated income or tax position changes. 

Sections of Form 15G and Form 15H 

Under the earlier declaration format, taxpayers had to provide details about themselves, their estimated income and the income for which non-deduction of TDS was requested. The exact fields may vary by version, but the key information included the following. 

Key Details in Form 15G 

• Name, PAN and residential status. 

• Address, email ID and contact number. 

• Relevant financial year. 

• Whether the declarant was previously assessed to tax and, where applicable, the latest assessment year. 

• Estimated income for which the declaration was made. 

• Estimated total income for the year. 

• Details and aggregate income of other Form 15G declarations submitted during the year. 

• Identification details of the deposit, security, account or other income source. 

• Place, date and signature or prescribed authentication. 

Key Details in Form 15H 

• Name, PAN, date of birth and residential status. 

• Address, email ID and contact number. 

• Relevant financial year. 

• Whether the declarant was previously assessed to tax and, where required, the latest assessment year. 

• Estimated income for which the declaration was made and estimated total income for the year. 

• Details of other Form 15H declarations submitted during the year and the aggregate income covered. 

• Details of the deposit, security, account or other income source for which non-deduction was requested. 

• Place, date and signature or prescribed authentication. 

The payer or deductor completes the prescribed payer-side details and reporting requirements. For Tax Year 2026-27 onward, taxpayers should refer to the fields and instructions in Form 121 under the Income-tax Rules, 2026. 

Forms used for non-deduction of TDS can help eligible taxpayers manage cash flow, but they do not replace sound tax planning. If you need additional funds for personal expenses, Fibe offers personal loans of up to ₹10 lakh, subject to eligibility and internal credit assessment. Eligible borrowers can choose repayment tenures from 6 to 36 months. Review the applicable rate, charges and Key Fact Statement before accepting a loan offer. 

FAQs On 15G and 15H Forms 

1.What is the limit of 15G and 15H exemption? 

There is no single fixed “15G/15H exemption amount” that applies to everyone. Under the earlier rules, Form 15G required the tax on estimated total income to be nil and also imposed a limit linked to the applicable maximum amount not chargeable to tax on the specified income covered by the declaration. For Form 15H, the key condition was that the estimated tax on the senior citizen’s total income should be nil. Tax slabs, rebates and the applicable tax regime can change, so use the rules for the relevant year. From Tax Year 2026-27, use Form 121 under the current framework. 

2.How many times do we need to submit Form 15G? 

Form 15G was generally submitted for each relevant financial year to every deductor or payer from whom eligible income was expected. If your estimated income changed materially, or if you opened a new deposit with another payer, you could need an additional or updated declaration. From Tax Year 2026-27, follow the Form 121 process. 

3.Is Form 15G required for PF withdrawal if you have been employed for less than 5 years? 

EPFO states that TDS may apply when an employee withdraws accumulated EPF before completing five years of service and the withdrawal exceeds ₹50,000. Under the earlier framework, an eligible member could submit Form 15G or Form 15H along with PAN to request non-deduction. For claims in Tax Year 2026-27 onward, EPFO has moved to the consolidated Form 121 process. Other exceptions to TDS can also apply, so check the latest EPFO rules for your claim. 

4.Do we need to submit 15H every year? 

Under the earlier framework, an eligible senior citizen generally had to submit a fresh Form 15H for each financial year in which non-deduction of TDS was requested. From Tax Year 2026-27 onward, the relevant declaration is Form 121, which should be furnished for the applicable tax year as required. 

5.What happens if I don’t submit Form 15G or 15H and TDS gets deducted? 

If TDS is deducted, it is credited against your PAN and can generally be claimed while filing your income-tax return. If your final tax liability is lower than the TDS deducted or is nil, you may be eligible for a refund after filing the return and completing the applicable processing. A later declaration does not necessarily reverse TDS that has already been deducted. 

6.Can NRIs submit Form 15G or Form 15H? 

No. Forms 15G and 15H are declarations for eligible resident taxpayers. Non-resident Indians cannot use these forms. They should follow the TDS and lower or nil deduction procedures applicable to non-residents, where available. 

7.Do I need to submit Form 15G/15H at every bank branch separately? 

You need to furnish the declaration to each relevant deductor or payer from whom you expect eligible income. Within the same bank, whether a separate branch-wise submission is required depends on the bank’s systems and policy; many banks process declarations centrally for deposits linked to the same customer profile. Check the bank’s instructions, especially if you hold deposits under different customer IDs or entities. For Tax Year 2026-27 onward, follow the bank’s Form 121 submission process.