Do I need a CA to verify Form 44?

Foreign tax credit lets a resident set tax withheld abroad against Indian tax on the same income. For income earned from 1 April 2026 (tax year 2026-27), the claim is made in Form No. 44 under rule 76 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026, which replaced Form 67 under rule 128 of the 1962 Rules.¹² Rule 76 added an accountant verification requirement that did not exist before.

When must Form 44 be verified by an accountant?

Rule 76(16) says Form No. 44 shall be verified by an accountant defined in section 515(3)(b) of the Income-tax Act, 2025:¹

1. where the assessee is a company; or¹
2. in all other cases, where the amount of foreign tax paid outside India for a tax year equals or exceeds ₹1,00,000.¹

How does this apply to different exporters?

The table applies rule 76(16) to common cases in tax year 2026-27.¹

Remember that the threshold counts foreign tax paid, not the credit you finally get. A consultant whose credit is capped at ₹80,000 still needs verification if ₹1,20,000 was withheld.¹

How do I work out whether I cross ₹1,00,000?

Add up the tax withheld or paid abroad during the tax year across all clients and countries, converting each amount at the telegraphic transfer buying rate on the last day of the month before it was deducted, as rule 76(7)(b) requires.¹ Keep the withholding certificate or statement for each deduction, because rule 76(10) and (11) require it with the claim.¹

What else changed from Form 67?

Rule 128 required Form 67 by the end of the relevant assessment year and did not require accountant verification.² Rule 76 requires Form 44 within twelve months from the end of the tax year, and introduces Form No. 45 for reporting settlement of disputed foreign tax, which must also be verified where the related Form 44 was.¹ The full comparison is in Form 44 replaces Form 67.

If you are close to the threshold, count your foreign tax well before 31 March so that a chartered accountant (CA) can be engaged in time.¹