AD Banks Can Now Approve Remittances from Liquidated Companies
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/422 · issued 31 May 2007 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has delegated powers to AD Category-I banks to permit remittances from assets of Indian companies under liquidation, subject to court/liquidator orders and tax compliance, replacing prior RBI approval.
The rule, in the simplest words
AD Category-I banks (special banks that handle foreign money) can now say 'yes' to sending money from a company that is being closed down (liquidated) without asking the RBI (India's central bank) first.
The bank must check that a court or the person in charge of closing the company (liquidator) has given an order allowing the money to be sent.
The bank must also get a tax clearance certificate (a paper saying all taxes are paid) from the Income Tax department before allowing the money to go out.
The bank needs an auditor's certificate (a report from a money-checker) saying all debts in India are paid or set aside, and that the company's closing follows the Companies Act, 1956 (the rulebook for companies).
If the company is closing without a court (voluntary winding up), the bank must also get an auditor's certificate saying no court cases are happening against the company.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore receives a request from a liquidator of a small trading company that is closing down. The officer checks the court order, the tax clearance certificate, and the auditor's certificates confirming all Indian debts are paid. Satisfied, she approves the remittance of the remaining funds to the company's foreign shareholder, all without needing RBI approval.
What changed
Previously, remittances from assets of Indian companies under liquidation required prior RBI approval. Now, AD Category-I banks can directly permit such remittances under the Companies Act, 1956, following a court or liquidator order and tax clearance.
What it means for you
This simplifies the liquidation process for banks and companies by reducing RBI involvement. Banks must verify compliance with court orders, tax clearance, and auditor certificates ensuring all Indian liabilities are paid or provided for, and that winding-up is lawful.
What you must do
Update internal procedures to process remittance requests from liquidating companies without prior RBI approval.
Verify court or liquidator orders and ensure tax clearance certificates are submitted.
Collect auditor certificates confirming all Indian liabilities are paid or provided for and winding-up complies with Companies Act, 1956.
For voluntary winding-up, also obtain an auditor certificate stating no pending legal proceedings or impediments.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian companies under liquidation, Liquidators and official liquidators, Income Tax authorities
❓ Common questions
What documents must a company submit for remittance under this circular?
The applicant must provide a no-objection or tax clearance certificate from Income Tax, an auditor's certificate confirming all Indian liabilities are paid or adequately provided for, and an auditor's certificate that winding-up complies with the Companies Act, 1956. For voluntary winding-up, an additional auditor's certificate is needed stating no pending legal proceedings.
Does this circular apply to all types of winding-up?
Yes, it applies to both court-ordered winding-up and voluntary winding-up, subject to the conditions mentioned, including compliance with any court or liquidator order.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2006-2007/422
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.65
May 31, 2007
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer banks
Madam / Sir,
Remittance on winding up of companies
Attention of Authorised Dealer Category – I (AD Category – I) banks is invited to Regulation 3 of Notification No. FEMA 13/2000-RB dated 3 rd May 2000 Foreign Exchange Management (Remittance of Assets) Regulations, 2000, in terms of which unless otherwise provided in the Act or rules or regulations no person whether a resident in India or not, shall make remittance of any assets held in India by him or any other person except with the permission of the Reserve Bank. Therefore, as per the existing provisions, remittance of out of the assets of Indian companies under liquidation requires prior approval of the Reserve Bank.
2. As announced in the Annual Policy Statement for the year 2007-08 (para 146 (i) (vii)), as a measure of simplification of procedure, it has been decided to delegate powers to AD Category – I banks to permit remittance out of assets of Indian companies under liquidation under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 subject to any order issued by the court winding up the company or the official liquidator or the liquidator in case of voluntary winding up and also subject to tax compliance.
3. Accordingly, AD Category – I banks are now permitted to allow remittance of out of the assets of Indian companies under liquidation under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 , subject to the following conditions :
(i) AD Category-I bank shall ensure that the remittance is in compliance with the order issued by a court in India / order issued by the official liquidator or the liquidator in the case of voluntary winding up ; and
(ii) no remittance shall be allowed unless the applicant submits :-
(a) No objection or Tax clearance certificate from Income Tax authority for the remittance.
(b) Auditor's certificate confirming that all liabilities in India have been either fully paid or adequately provided for.
(c) Auditor's certificate to the effect that the winding up is in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956.
(d) In case of winding up otherwise than by a court, an auditor's certificate to the effect that there is no legal proceedings pending in any court in India against the applicant or the company under liquidation and there is no legal impediment in permitting the remittance.
4. Necessary amendments to Notification No. FEMA 13/2000-RB dated 3 rd May 2000 [Foreign Exchange Management (Remittance of Assets) Regulations, 2000] are being notified separately.
5. AD Category - I banks may bring the contents of the circular to the notice of their constituents and customers concerned.
6. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under Sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
Salim Gangadharan
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/422 · issued 31 May 2007. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (AD Category-I banks, Indian companies under liquidation, Liquidators and official liquidators, Income Tax authorities), your first concrete step on “AD Banks Can Now Approve Remittances from Liquidated Companies” is: “Update internal procedures to process remittance requests from liquidating companies without prior RBI approval.” (RBI issued this 31 May 2007).
Circular: RBI/2006-2007/422 -- AD Banks Can Now Approve Remittances from Liquidated Companies
Issued: 31 May 2007
Action required: Update internal procedures to process remittance requests from liquidating companies without prior RBI approval.
Action required: Verify court or liquidator orders and ensure tax clearance certificates are submitted.
Action required: Collect auditor certificates confirming all Indian liabilities are paid or provided for and winding-up complies with Companies Act, 1956.
Action required: For voluntary winding-up, also obtain an auditor certificate stating no pending legal proceedings or impediments.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 05 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=3559&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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