What happens with significant overdue filings?

Overdue filings attract ₹100 per day per form with no cap. MCA amnesty schemes like CFSS periodically allow regularisation by waiving additional fees.

Corporate & Tax Compliance Overview

Q: What is the difference between annual compliance and event-based compliance?

Annual compliance covers recurring obligations like ROC filings, ITR, and GST returns. Event-based compliance is triggered by specific corporate actions like director changes, share allotments, or MOA amendments.

Q: Does an LLP have the same compliance obligations as a company?

No. LLPs file Form 11 and Form 8 annually and have fewer obligations than companies — no statutory audit below thresholds, no board meetings, and fewer registers to maintain.

Q: What is a compliance health check?

A health check reviews a company's compliance status across all laws, identifies gaps and pending filings, and provides a prioritised action plan. Recommended before acquisitions or investor due diligence.

Q: Is a company required to comply with labour laws?

Yes. Companies with employees must comply with EPF, ESI, Gratuity, Minimum Wages, and Shops and Establishments laws — with separate obligations and penalties from MCA and tax compliance.

A Complete Guide to Statutory Compliance Obligations for Companies, LLPs, Firms, and Individuals in India

Compliance in India spans multiple regulatory frameworks — the Companies Act, 2013 for corporate governance and ROC filings; the Income Tax Act, 1961 for direct tax obligations; the Goods and Services Tax (GST) laws for indirect tax; the FEMA regulations for foreign exchange transactions; and various labour and sector-specific laws. Each category of entity — private company, public company, LLP, partnership firm, or individual — carries a distinct set of compliance obligations depending on size, sector, and activity.

Our compliance overview covers the full spectrum of statutory obligations applicable to Indian businesses — from MCA filings and secretarial compliance to income tax, GST, TDS, and regulatory approvals. We provide both annual retainer-based compliance management and advisory support for specific compliance events, ensuring businesses stay current with their obligations across all applicable laws.

Our Compliance Practice Areas

Corporate Compliance (MCA)

End-to-end management of ROC filings, Board and AGM compliance, statutory registers, secretarial records, director KYC, annual returns, and event-based filings under the Companies Act, 2013.

Income Tax Compliance

Income tax return filing for companies, LLPs, firms, and individuals; advance tax computation; TDS compliance; tax audit reports; transfer pricing documentation; and tax notices management.

GST Compliance

Monthly, quarterly, and annual GST return filing (GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-9); GST audit; ITC reconciliation; e-invoicing and e-way bill advisory; GST registration and amendments.

LLP Compliance

Annual filing of LLP Form 11 (Annual Return) and Form 8 (Statement of Account & Solvency), LLP agreement amendments, partner changes, and designated partner KYC compliance.

FEMA & RBI Compliance

Compliance with Foreign Exchange Management Act regulations — FC-GPR filings for FDI, FCGPR for ESOPs, FLA returns, ODI filings, and FEMA advisory for cross-border transactions.

Compliance Health Checks

Comprehensive review of a company's compliance status across all applicable laws — identifying gaps, outstanding filings, and potential penalty exposure — with a prioritised remediation roadmap.

Key Compliance Deadlines — At a Glance

AOC-4 (ROC — Financial Statements): 30 days from AGM — typically 29 October
MGT-7 / MGT-7A (ROC — Annual Return): 60 days from AGM — typically 28 November
ITR Filing (Income Tax — Companies): 31 October (audit cases); 30 November (international transactions)
GSTR-9 (GST Annual Return): 31 December of the subsequent financial year
TDS Returns: quarterly — 31 July, 31 October, 31 January, 31 May for Q1–Q4 respectively
DIR-3 KYC (Director KYC): annually by 30 September for all DIN holders
LLP Form 11 (Annual Return): by 30 May each year; LLP Form 8 by 30 October

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between annual compliance and event-based compliance?

Annual compliance refers to recurring statutory obligations that must be fulfilled every year regardless of business activity — such as filing annual returns, financial statements, income tax returns, and GST annual returns. Event-based compliance refers to filings that are triggered by specific corporate events — such as appointment or removal of a director (DIR-12), allotment of shares (PAS-3), change of registered office (INC-22), charge creation (CHG-1), or amendment of the MOA or AOA (MGT-14). Both categories are mandatory, and missing either type attracts penalties.

Does an LLP have the same compliance obligations as a company?

LLPs have fewer compliance obligations than companies. The key annual filings for an LLP are Form 11 (Annual Return) by 30 May and Form 8 (Statement of Account and Solvency) by 30 October each year. LLPs are not required to hold board meetings, appoint statutory auditors (unless turnover exceeds ₹40 lakh or contribution exceeds ₹25 lakh), or maintain most of the statutory registers required under the Companies Act. However, LLPs are subject to income tax, GST, and TDS obligations in the same way as other entities.

What is a compliance health check and when should a company get one?

A compliance health check is a systematic review of a company's compliance status across all applicable laws — Companies Act, income tax, GST, labour laws, and sector-specific regulations. It identifies pending filings, expired forms, unregistered changes, and potential penalty exposure. A health check is recommended when a company is acquired or changes promoters, when directors are changed, when a new investor or lender is conducting due diligence, or simply when management is uncertain about the completeness of past compliance. The output is a gap report with a prioritised action plan.

What happens if a company accumulates significant overdue filings?

Overdue filings attract compounding additional fees — currently ₹100 per day per form with no ceiling. For forms that were due years ago, the accumulated fees can run into lakhs. The MCA periodically launches amnesty schemes (such as the CFSS — Companies Fresh Start Scheme) that waive additional fees and allow companies to regularise overdue filings by paying only the normal fee. Companies with significant filing backlogs should review their status and take advantage of such schemes when available.

Is a company required to comply with labour laws in addition to MCA and tax compliance?

Yes. Companies with employees are also required to comply with applicable labour laws — including the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) Act, the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Act, the Payment of Gratuity Act, the Shops and Establishments Act, the Minimum Wages Act, and others depending on the state and sector. These obligations include monthly PF and ESI contributions, quarterly or annual returns, and maintenance of prescribed registers. Labour law compliance is separate from MCA and tax compliance and carries its own penalty regime.

Get Your Compliance in Order — Speak to Our Team

Comprehensive compliance management across MCA, income tax, GST, LLP, FEMA, and labour laws — for businesses of all sizes.