N D Savla & Associates
+91 98219 32683 | +91 97650 00966 | +91 9765 000 388 | info@ndsavla.in
Audit Under the LLP Act | N D Savla & Associates
LLP Statutory Audit

Audit Under the LLP Act

Statutory Audit, Annual Filing & Full Compliance for Limited Liability Partnerships

LLP Act 2008 Form 8 & Form 11 Section 44AB MCA21 Filing Deadline: 30 October
Rs. 40LTurnover Threshold
Rs. 25LContribution Threshold
30 OctForm 8 Deadline
Rs. 100Per Day Late Penalty
8 StepsAudit Process

The Limited Liability Partnership Act 2008 created a hybrid structure combining limited liability with partnership flexibility. Since becoming operational in March 2009, LLPs have grown from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands of registrations — and compliance requirements, including the statutory audit, have strengthened progressively.

N D Savla & Associates provides fully integrated LLP audit services — LLP Act audit, income tax audit, Form ITR-5, Form 8, and Form 11 — as a single coordinated engagement from one experienced team.

What Is the Audit Requirement Under the LLP Act?

Every LLP must maintain proper books of account, prepare financial statements, and file a Statement of Account and Solvency (Form 8) with the Registrar of LLPs annually. Mandatory audit is triggered when either financial threshold is crossed.

⚠ Critical Deadline Form 8 must be filed within 30 days of six months from year-end — i.e., 30 October for March year-end LLPs. Late filing attracts Rs. 100 per day with no maximum ceiling. Designated partners are personally liable. A false declaration in Form 8 is a criminal offence.

Audit Applicability Thresholds

ThresholdAmountWhat It CoversKey Note
Turnover ThresholdRs. 40 LakhTotal receipts from all business activitiesEven Rs. 1 above triggers mandatory audit — no exceptions
Contribution ThresholdRs. 25 LakhTotal partner contributions in cash, kind, or other formsAssessed independently — either threshold alone is sufficient
IT Audit (Sec 44AB)Rs. 1 Cr / Rs. 10 CrBusiness turnover (Rs. 10 Cr for <5% cash transactions)Separate requirement from LLP Act audit — both often apply
Voluntary AuditBelow Both ThresholdsNot legally required but strongly recommendedBanks, investors and clients routinely require audited accounts regardless

Step-by-Step LLP Audit Process

  1. Engagement Confirmation & Planning

    Confirm audit scope, review LLP agreement (profit-sharing ratios, capital provisions, partner rights), examine prior year filings, and set detailed timeline working backwards from the Form 8 deadline.

  2. Books of Account Collection

    Collect cash book, bank statements, sales/income register, purchase/expense register, general ledger, all vouchers and supporting documentation. Verify Section 34 compliance and accounting method consistency.

  3. Partner Capital Account Review

    Examine each partner's opening balance, contributions, drawings, interest on capital, profit/loss allocation per the LLP agreement, working partner remuneration, and all financial transactions between partners and the LLP.

  4. Revenue & Income Verification

    Verify all income streams against supporting documentation. Reconcile with GST returns (GSTR-1 and GSTR-9) and Form 26AS for TDS deducted on receipts.

  5. Expenditure & TDS Compliance

    Examine all major expense accounts. Identify Section 40A(3) cash payment disallowances, verify Section 43B statutory payments, and conduct category-by-category TDS verification across all applicable sections.

  6. Fixed Asset & Depreciation Review

    Verify all asset additions against invoices, review depreciation schedules for correct rates and the 'put to use' condition, coordinate with lender requirements for pledged assets.

  7. Audit Report, Form 8 & Management Letter

    Prepare the formal audit report, discuss all findings with designated partners, issue a detailed management letter covering internal control weaknesses, TDS gaps, and compliance improvement areas.

  8. Form 8, Form 11 & ITR-5 Filing

    Prepare and verify Form 8 (Statement of Account & Solvency) and Form 11 (Annual Return), file both on MCA21, and coordinate ITR-5 filing ensuring consistency across all platforms.

Sector-Specific Considerations

⚖️

CA & Professional Firms

Partner remuneration computation, goodwill on admission, ICAI Code of Ethics fee-sharing restrictions, and incoming/retiring partner capital settlements.

💻

Technology Startups

SaaS revenue recognition, FEMA compliance for foreign partner contributions, GST zero-rating for export of services, and investment agreement consistency.

🏗️

Real Estate LLPs

Percentage/project completion method, RERA compliance, GST on under-construction units, and investor profit-sharing or debenture instruments.

🏭

Trading & Manufacturing

Purchase-sales reconciliation, Section 145A stock valuation, GST ITC eligibility, and Section 43B(h) MSME payment compliance from FY 2023-24.

🌐

LLPs with Foreign Partners

FEMA Form (I) on foreign partner joining, FEMA Form (II) on contribution changes, prohibited activities check, and proper banking channel verification.

📊

Multi-Partner LLPs

Complex profit-sharing arrangements, multiple classes of partners, dispute resolution provisions, and buy-out computation verification.

Why Choose N D Savla & Associates?

  • Multi-law expertise — LLP Act, Income Tax, GST, FEMA, MCA21 — all integrated in one engagement
  • Single point of contact — LLP audit, tax audit, ITR-5, Form 8 & 11 from one team
  • Zero late Form 8 filings — engagements initiated by July, completed by September
  • Proactive tax advisory — working partner remuneration optimisation and partner restructuring
  • Transparent fee structure — scope, deliverables, timeline, and fee agreed upfront
  • Detailed management letter — specific, actionable guidance on every identified compliance issue
  • Pre-filing discussion — resolve Section 43B defaults before report is finalised to reduce tax
  • Long-term relationship — continuity of team, knowledge, and context across years

Consequences of Non-Compliance

RiskConsequenceWho Is Liable
Form 8 Late FilingRs. 100 per day from due date — no upper ceiling. 6 months late = ~Rs. 18,300; 3 years late = ~Rs. 1.1 lakhDesignated Partners personally
Bank Credit FacilitiesAccount irregularity, frozen drawdowns, reduced drawing power, potential facility recallLLP
IT Audit Default (Sec 271B)Penalty of 0.5% of turnover, maximum Rs. 1,50,000 + potential scrutiny assessmentLLP
False Declaration in Form 8Criminal offence — fines and imprisonment for designated partnersDesignated Partners personally

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the mandatory audit threshold for LLPs in India?
An LLP must have its accounts audited when annual turnover exceeds Rs. 40 lakh OR total partner contributions exceed Rs. 25 lakh — crossing either threshold alone triggers mandatory audit. Both are assessed independently each financial year.
Is Form 8 filing directly linked to the audit?
Yes. Where audit is mandatory, Form 8 must be certified by the LLP's auditor and can only be filed after audit completion. Form 8 is due 30 October for March year-end LLPs. Late filing attracts Rs. 100 per day with no ceiling — no provision for extension exists.
Can the same CA conduct both the LLP Act audit and income tax audit?
Yes — and using the same CA is best practice. It ensures complete consistency between the LLP's audited financial statements, Form 3CB, and Form 3CD, eliminating the compliance risk of inter-report discrepancies. N D Savla & Associates conducts both as a fully coordinated engagement.
What is the Statement of Account and Solvency?
Form 8 is the annual statutory declaration filed with the Registrar of LLPs. It contains a balance sheet (Part A) and income/expenditure statement (Part B), plus a solvency declaration by designated partners. A false declaration is a criminal offence. For LLPs above the audit threshold, the form must be certified by the auditor.
What happens if partner capital accounts show discrepancies after audit?
Discrepancies must be resolved before the audit report is issued — through amendment of books, recovery from partners, LLP agreement amendment, or in serious cases, notice to the Registrar. We provide specific rectification guidance for every finding.
Can an LLP be converted to a private limited company?
Yes — under Section 366 of the Companies Act 2013. The conversion requires audited financial statements for the most recent year. A clean audit history with no qualifications or compliance defaults significantly simplifies the conversion process.

Start Your LLP Audit Engagement Today

Avoid the Rs. 100/day penalty — our team initiates engagements well ahead of the 30 October deadline. One integrated engagement: LLP audit, income tax audit, Form 8, Form 11, and ITR-5.

Contact Us