Important Keywords: Post-incorporation compliance, Company compliances India, INC-20A filing, INC-22 filing, INC-22A form, Pre-incorporation compliance, Annual compliance, Registrar-related compliance, Non-registrar compliance, Company incorporation steps, Post-registration checklist, MCA compliance.
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Table of Contents
Overview
"When you read this article, you will already have a clear idea about the company compliances."
When you start a company, the first step is to register it with the help of experts. But that’s just the beginning of your journey — the real work starts after your company is incorporated.
The next important phase is called “post-incorporation compliance” or “post-registration compliance.” This usually covers the first 30 days after your company is registered.
This period is very important because completing these tasks on time keeps your company legally safe and ready to do business. Following a proper 30-day post-incorporation checklist for a Company in India helps you avoid fines and build a strong foundation for your business.
In civil jurisprudence, the term used is ‘IGNORANTIA JURIS NON EXCUSAT’ : IGNORANCE OF LAW IS NOT AN EXCUSE.
So, the directors & shareholder must be aware about the legal and process compliance requirements a Registered Company should follow under various laws from time to time. A company can function efficiently and effectively only after fulfilling these formalities & compliances.
In this article, we’ll break down these essential tasks in simple, easy-to-follow language, so you know exactly what to do after your company is registered.
All you need to know about the company compliance services in India!
Quick Compliance Checklist Table
| Compliance | Due Date | Form |
|---|---|---|
| INC-20A | 180 days | INC-20A |
| First Board Meeting | 30 days | — |
| Auditor Appointment | 30 days | ADT-1 |
| Share Certificates | 60 days | — |
What is Post-Incorporation Compliance?
Post-incorporation compliances are the legal formalities a company must complete after incorporation to legally start and continue business operations in India.
Why Finodha.in for compliance?
Hi, as we know that the starting a company is exciting — it’s like planting a seed. And just like a seed needs water, sunlight, and proper care to grow into a strong and healthy plant, your new company also needs careful handling to flourish the way you imagine.
That “care” comes in the form of post-incorporation compliances — all the filings and formalities you need to complete right after registration. Depending on your business, this could include requirements under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Income Tax, GST and other applicable laws. Doing these properly from the start sets your company on the path to long-term success.
At Finodha.in, we make this easy for you. From filing AOC-4, MGT-7, DIR-3 KYC web, ADT-1, MBP-1, and other important forms, our team of experienced Company Secretaries, Chartered Accountants and Other Professionals will guide you step by step — from preparing documents to filing them correctly. You stay fully compliant, and you get to focus on growing your business without any stress.
Understanding the Post-Incorporation Compliance
When you start a company, there are some legal requirements you must follow to run it properly. These rules help make sure that your company stays honest, responsible, and follows the law. If you don’t follow these rules, you may have to pay penalties, and in serious cases, your company could even be shut down.
Types of Compliance
Compliances are mainly divided into two parts:
- Registrar-Related Compliance: These are the rules and documents you must submit to the government or Registrar of Companies (RoC) after incorporation/registration of company majorly divided into Post incorporation compliance and Annual compliance.
- Non-Registrar Compliance: These are compliances that don’t involve the Registrar, like taxes and labor laws.
1. Registrar Related Compliances
This table shows all the Registrar-related compliances for the companies:
| Registrar-Related Compliance | Company Law Compliance | Due Date |
| Declaration of Commencement of Business | Form INC-20A | Within 180 days of incorporation |
| Active KYC of the Company | Form - INC-22A | INC-22A (ACTIVE Form) was a one-time KYC compliance introduced by MCA in 2019 to verify active companies and registered offices.(without late fine) |
| Directors' KYC | Form DIR-3KYC web | On or before 30th June after every third consecutive financial year. (after amendment 31st December 2025) [30th June 2028 for the 2025–2028 cycle.] (this date shall come into force on the 31st day of march, 2026). |
| Directors' Disclosure of Interest in Other Firms | Form MBP-1 | Within 30 days of the first board meeting |
| Directors' Disclosure of Non-Disqualification- | Form DIR-8 | Within each financial year |
| Mandatory Appointment of Auditor | Form ADT-1 | Within 15 days of incorporation (can be filed post-first AGM) |
| Meetings of the Board of Directors | - | Minimum 4 meetings per year, maximum gap of 120 days |
| Annual General Meeting (AGM) | - | Within 6 months of the financial year's closure (first AGM within 9 months) |
| Annual Return | Form MGT-7 | Within 60 days of the AGM |
| Financial Statements | Form AOC-4 | Within 30 days of the AGM |
2. Non-Registrar Compliances
Along with Registrar-related compliances, companies must follow other legal obligations, such as:
Pay taxes like GST, TDS, TCS, advance tax, and professional tax (PTax/PT)
File regular returns, including:
- Monthly/Quarterly/Annual GST returns
- Quarterly TDS returns
- Filing Income Tax returns and advance tax
- Quarterly payment of advance tax liability
- Half-yearly ESIC returns
- PF returns
- Filing Tax audit reports
- Professional tax (PTax) returns
The Private Limited/OPC company must follow all important laws and send the required reports to the government, like rules for the environment, competition, and factories.
Here are some mandatory tasks that the Private Limited/OPC Company must complete immediately after it is incorporated.
1.Commencement of Business Certificate [Form INC-20A]
As per Section 10A of the Companies Act, 2013 every subscriber has to deposit the subscription money in Company’s bank account within 180 days of incorporation and submit such a declaration to concerned ROC in form INC 20A.
To file INC-20A, your company must open a current bank account in the company’s name. All business money should go in and out of this company account only—not from the personal accounts of directors. This keeps your company’s records clear and legally correct.
Documents Required: To open the company’s bank account, submit the COI, MOA & AOA, Company PAN, Board Resolution (BR), directors’ ID/address proofs, office address proof, and any additional documents the bank requires; PAN and TAN are already issued at incorporation and just need to be shared with the bank.
Example of Share Capital:
All shareholders must contribute their agreed share of capital.
For example: if a company has 3 shareholders: Ram, Shayam, and Mahima.
- They have already decided how much share each person will hold:
- Ram will hold 60% shares so he must pay 60% of total shares capital.
- Shayam will hold 30% shares so he must pay 30% of total shares capital.
- Mahima will hold 10% shares so she must pay 10% of total shares capital.
Each and every shareholder must deposit their agreed share of capital into the company’s bank account within 180 days of incorporation or when filing Form INC-20A, whichever comes first.
2. First Board meeting [As per Section 173(1)]
As per Section 173(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, a company must hold its first board meeting within 30 days of incorporation. Directors can attend in person or via video/audio conferencing, allowing the company to start its official decisions without delay.
3. Appointment of first Auditor [ section 139(1)]
After receiving the Certificate of Incorporation, the company must appoint its first auditor. The Board of Directors should do this within 30 days of registration by calling a board meeting. If the Board fails, the company members can appoint the auditor within 90 days at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). The auditor’s term lasts until the first Annual General Meeting, and Form ADT-1 must be filed with the Registrar within 15 days of appointment.
4. Share Certificates [Section- 56(4)(a)
The Private Limited/OPC Company must issue share certificates to its first shareholders within 2 months (60 days) from the date of incorporation. The same rule applies whenever the company issues new shares—share certificates must be given within 60 days of the share allotment.
All shareholders must pay their share money through the company’s bank account.
If the company or any of its defaulting officers fails to follow the rules in sub-sections (1) to (5), they have to pay a penalty of ₹50,000 each. (As per section 56(6) of companies Act, 2013.
Payment of Stamp Duty on Share Certificates:
Stamp duty must be paid on every share certificate issued by the company.In most states, stamp duty is paid using a revenue stamp.
But in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Delhi, stamp duty must be paid through franking instead of a revenue stamp.
Stamp Duty Rates:
Karnataka: ₹1 for every ₹1,000 of share value
Maharashtra: 0.1% of the share value (which is also ₹1 for every ₹1,000), including any share premium
Delhi: 0.1% of the value of the shares (i.e. ₹ 1 for every ₹ 1,000), including any premium.
Stamp duty rules may change depending on state laws and whether shares are issued electronically or physically.
Below the three Points, i.e. point No.-5 , 6 and 7 are optional and depend on your requirements. If you completed these forms at the time of incorporation, you do not need to file them again, If you skipped them during incorporation, it becomes mandatory to file them later.5. Statutory Registers
After incorporation, a company must complete some basic formalities:
- Letterhead & Registers: Print the company letterhead and maintain statutory registers. The letterhead must include CIN, registered office address, email, website (if any), and phone number.
- Rubber Stamps: Make two stamps – One stamp in the name of company and second one in the name of the director.
- Memorandum & Articles: Keep a printed set of the Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association (AOA) (optional).
- Financial Records: As per Section 128 of the Companies Act,2013. Every company must maintain proper financial records that clearly show all income and expenses. The accounts should be maintained in accordance with standard accounting practices.
The Private Limited/OPC Company must maintain official records at its registered office. If it doesn’t, it can be fined.
click here: for compliance of One Person Company!
6. FORM MBP-1 (Notice of interest by director)
As per section 184(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, and Rule 9(1) of the Companies (Meetings of the Board and its Powers) Rules, 2014, every director is required to declare their interests using Form MBP-1. This form indicates whether a director has any personal interests in other companies, firms, or organizations.
Directors must submit this form (MBP-1) when they join the board, at the first board meeting of each financial year, and whenever their interests change. If they don’t do this, as per section 184 (4) a director can go to jail for up to 1 year, pay a fine of ₹1 lakh, or both (This was applicable before amendment date 28th September 2020). But After the amendment, The law was changed so that now the director is only required to pay a penalty of ₹1 lakh (₹-1,00,000) instead of jail or fine. This helps keep the company management honest and transparent.
7. Official Address [Section -12(1)] and [ Section-12 (3)(a)]
From the 15th day of incorporation, a company must have a registered office to receive official communications. If only a correspondence address was provided at incorporation, the company must file Form INC-22 within 30 days to verify the registered office, so that all official communications reach the company.
If the company gave its office address during incorporation, then Form INC-22 is already done. But if the address wasn’t finalized at that time, the company needs to file Form INC-22 within 30 days of incorporation.
You can also use this form anytime you want to change or correct your company’s registered office address, so it’s handy for keeping your address details up to date.
Displaying Private Limited/OPC Company Information
While filling the form INC 22, For Private Limited/OPC Company must do the following:-
- Display Name and Address: The company must clearly display its name and registered office address outside every place where it does business. The letters should be in simple language commonly used in that area.
- Include Details in Communications: The company’s name, registered office address, Corporate Identity Number (CIN), and contact details (phone, fax, email, website if any) must be printed on all business letters, bills, notices, and official publications.
- Penalty for Non-Compliance: If the company or its officers fail to follow these rules, they can be fined ₹1,000 per day, up to a maximum of ₹1,00,000.
8. Disclosures of interest by Director [Section 184(1)]
As per section 184(1) of the Companies Act, 2013. In the first board meeting, every director must declare if they are connected to any other company or business. Any changes must be reported to the board at the first meeting of each year. This is done via Form MBP‑1 and Form DIR‑8 (confirming they are not disqualified). These forms are kept at the registered office and preserved for 8 years.
click here for compliance of private limited company!
Things the Private Limited/OPC Company must do regularly to stay compliant.
Even after completing the initial registration and setup, a Private Limited/OPC Company has some regular legal duties to stay compliant and in good standing:
- AGM- The company must hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) within 6 months of the financial year end.
- Filing of financial statements (Form AOC-4): 30 days from AGM.
- Annual Return filing (Form MGT-7/ MGT-7A): The company must file its annual return with the Registrar of Companies within 60 days of the AGM.
- DIR-3 KYC web: Under the amended rules applicable from 31 March 2026, directors will be required to complete DIR-3 KYC once every three financial years instead of annually. (The first cycle is expected to apply for FY 2025–2028).
- Event- Based filings: Whenever there is a change in the company — for example, a change in directors, change in capital, or change in the registered office address — the company must immediately report that to RoC through the relevant forms.
Regularly doing these checks and filings keeps your company following the law. It helps you avoid fines or legal trouble and keeps your company in good standing with the government.
Benefits of Annual-Compliance
- Builds Trust: Following the rules regularly makes your company more trustworthy.
- Attracts Investors: Investors prefer companies that follow all legal requirements on time.
- Avoids Penalties: Filing returns and reports on time keeps your company active and prevents fines.
Consequences of Not Following the Rules
If a company does not complete its post-registration tasks or delays filings with the government, it can face:
- Fines and extra charges
- Directors being disqualified
- Trouble raising money or opening bank accounts
- The company being removed from the official register
- Legal problems and damage to the company’s reputation
Following these rules is not optional — it’s mandatory.
Still Confused? Contact us to Get your compliance done.
Common Post-Incorporation Compliance Mistakes
- Delaying INC-20A
- Using personal bank account
- Not issuing share certificates
- Missing board meetings
- Ignoring ROC notices
Relevant Cases / Orders
INC‑20A (Declaration of Commencement of Business)
PREMNAGAR Organic Producer Company Ltd.
Issue:
In this case, the company did not file Form INC‑20A within 180 days, so it was in default from 20 July 2020 to 10 October 2023. Because of the 3-year delay, a penalty of ₹ 2.75 lakh was imposed.
Action to be taken after penalties are imposed:
The company must pay the penalty online via the MCA portal within 90 days of receiving the order and then file Form INC‑28, attaching a copy of the order and the payment receipt. The company or directors can appeal to the Regional Director (NWR) using Form ADJ within 60 days.
Shree Hayagreeva Oil & Gas Pvt. Ltd. (INC-22 )
Issue:
In this case, the company did not file INC‑22 on time (it was 760 days late, instead of within 30 days).
then the RoC’s Adjudicating Officer imposed a penalty for this delay under Section 454 (default under Section 12(2)).
Since Shree Hayagreeva Oil & Gas Pvt. Ltd. is a “small company”, the officer reduced the penalty under Section 446B, which is meant to ease the burden on smaller companies.
Note: The company was late in filing its registered office details. It got penalized, but because it is a small company, the penalty was reduced. To resolve the issue, it must pay the penalty and file the pending form immediately. After that, staying compliant in the future will prevent similar problems.
Hi! There’s no shortcut to running a successful Private Limited/OPC Company. To enjoy the full benefits of growth and credibility, you need to stay compliant with the Companies Act, 2013, right from the day of incorporation.
That’s where Finodha.in comes in. We provide a complete, hassle-free solution for all your post-incorporation compliances. Our team of expert consultants ensures that your business runs smoothly while we handle all legal filings on time.
With Finodha.in, you can focus entirely on growing your business, without worrying about deadlines, penalties, or complex paperwork. Our timely reminders and proactive support ensure you never pay a single extra rupee in fines or late fees.
Join with us today!
We shall be happy to assist you, and in case you require our services, please feel free to contact us at the below mentioned email details: – help@finodha.in.
Conclusion
After a company is registered, there are several important tasks that must be completed. If these are not done correctly, the company can face heavy penalties. That’s why it’s important to have a good system or team in place to handle these compliances, so that the main members can focus on running and growing the business.
We hope this guide on post-incorporation compliances for companies is useful. If you want to learn more, you can visit our website (Finofha.in) or fill out a query form to get in touch with us.
FAQs: Get answers to all your queries!
Question. What are Post- Incorporation Compliances?
Answer. Post-incorporation compliances ensure that the company can legally and smoothly carry out its business activities.
Question. What are the company compliances ?
Answer. Company compliances are all the legal steps a company must complete before, after, and during its operations to stay lawful (i.e. Pre-Incorporation Compliance, Post-Incorporation Compliance and Ongoing/Regular Compliance).
Question. What are the 4 phases of compliance?
Answer. The 4 Phases of Company Compliance:
-Pre-Incorporation –Steps before registration (e.g., name approval, drafting MOA/AOA, getting DIN (DSC).
Incorporation – Steps during registration (e.g., filing SPICe+, getting Certificate of Incorporation).
Post-Incorporation – Steps after registration to start business (e.g., filing INC-20A/INC-22, opening bank account, appointing auditors).
Ongoing/Regular Compliance – Recurring obligations to keep the company active (e.g., annual filings, taxes, meetings, statutory records).
In simple: Pre → During → After → Regular!
Question. What are the 5 steps to compliance?
Answer. The 5 steps of compliance to legally run a company are:
Pre → During → After → Regular → Statutory.
Question. What is the simple meaning of incorporation?
Answer. The simple meaning of incorporation is making a business officially registered as a separate legal entity.
Question. What is pre and post incorporation?
Answer. Pre-incorporation means all the steps done before a company is registered, and post-incorporation means all the steps done after it is registered.
Question. What is the meaning of post incorporation application?
Answer. A post-incorporation application means any form a company files after registration to start business or update its official records.
Question. How many types of incorporation are there?
Answer. There are three main types of incorporation in India: Private Limited Company (Pvt. Ltd.), Public Limited Company (Ltd. or PLC) and One Person Company (OPC).
Question. What is the meaning of post- incorporation?
Answer. Post-incorporation means completing all formalities after your company is formed so it can run smoothly.
Question. What is the next step after incorporation?
Answer. After incorporation, the first step is to file INC-20A, then complete remaining post-incorporation formalities to start business. (like: Open a company bank account, File INC-22, Apply for PAN, TAN, Appoint statutory auditors and Hold the first board meeting.)
Question. What are the three types of compliance?
Answer. The three types of compliance are: Pre-incorporation, Post-incorporation, and Ongoing/Regular compliance.
Question. Is INC-22 mandatory for new companies?
Answer. Yes, it is mandatory for new companies because it provides the official registered address of the company, which must be filed with the open MCA.
Question. Is INC-22A to be filed every year?
Answer. No, INC-22A is a one-time form. It is filed once to verify that a company is active and its registered office exists, not every year.[INC-22A: Active Company]
Question. Can we file INC - 22 without filing INC - 20A?
Answer. Yes, a company can file INC-22 before filing INC-20A because both are separate compliances. INC-22 is used to notify the registered office address of the company, while INC-20A is a declaration for commencement of business. There is no legal requirement that INC-20A must be filed before INC-22.
Question. What is INC form 22?
Answer. INC 22 is an online form which is used to notify the MCA about the registered office address of the company.
Question. What happens if INC-20A is not filed?
Answer. If INC-20A is not filed within 180 days, the company may face a penalty of ₹50,000, and every officer in default may face a penalty of ₹1,000 per day up to ₹1 lakh under Section 10A(2) of the Companies Act, 2013.
click here: for more information about stages of formation of Company!
Question. How to get INC 22?
Answer. INC-22 is an online form on the MCA website—you download it, fill it, and submit it online. It is not available in paper form.
Question. Is it mandatory to file an INC - 22 after incorporation?
Answer. Yes, filing INC-22 is mandatory after incorporation if you did not submit the registered office address at the time of incorporation.
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