Startup Finance & Cap Tables
Startup Compliance Checklist India: What to File & When After Incorporation
You've incorporated your Private Limited Company — congratulations. Now begins the compliance marathon that most founders underestimate. Missing filings attract escalating penalties, director disqualification, and tax demands that can derail an early-stage startup. This is the complete post-incorporation compliance calendar.
Immediate Post-Incorporation (Within 30–60 Days)
| Compliance | Deadline | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Bank account opening | Within 30 days of incorporation | Current account in company name; deposit paid-up capital |
| Registered office proof (INC-22) | Within 30 days of incorporation | File proof of registered office address with RoC if not done at incorporation |
| PAN & TAN application | Within 30 days | Company PAN for all tax filings; TAN for TDS deductions |
| First Board Meeting | Within 30 days of incorporation | Mandatory first board meeting; pass resolutions for opening bank account, appointment of auditor, etc. |
| Auditor appointment (ADT-1) | Within 30 days of first AGM (or 15 days of Board appointment) | Appoint statutory auditor; file Form ADT-1 with MCA within 15 days of appointment |
| GST registration | Within 30 days of crossing threshold (or immediately for inter-state/e-commerce) | Apply on gst.gov.in; mandatory if turnover > ₹20 lakh or inter-state supplies |
| DPIIT Startup India recognition | Anytime (within 10 years of incorporation) | Apply on startupindia.gov.in for tax benefits, ESOP tax deferral, and faster winding up |
| Shops & Establishment Registration | Within 30 days of commencing business | State-specific; mandatory for any office with employees |
Ongoing Monthly Compliance
| Compliance | Deadline | Applies When |
|---|---|---|
| TDS deduction & deposit | 7th of following month (March: 30th April) | Any time company pays salary, rent, professional fees, contractor payments, etc. |
| GSTR-1 (outward supplies) | 11th of following month (or quarterly under QRMP) | Once GST registered |
| GSTR-3B (summary return + tax payment) | 20th of following month | Once GST registered |
| EPF contribution deposit | 15th of following month | Once 20+ employees (mandatory); voluntary registration possible earlier |
| ESI contribution deposit | 15th of following month | Once 10+ employees earning ≤ ₹21,000/month |
| Advance tax payment | 15 June, 15 Sep, 15 Dec, 15 Mar | If estimated tax liability > ₹10,000/year |
Quarterly Compliance
- TDS returns: Form 24Q (salary TDS), 26Q (other TDS) — due by 31st of month following the quarter (Q4: 31 May)
- Board meetings: Minimum 4 board meetings per year, with not more than 120 days gap between consecutive meetings
- EPF/ESI returns: Quarterly returns on the EPFO and ESIC portals
Annual Compliance Calendar
| Compliance | Deadline | Form/Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Annual General Meeting (AGM) | 30 September (6 months from FY end) | Physical/virtual meeting; adopt financials, appoint auditor |
| File Financial Statements | 30 days after AGM (~30 Oct) | AOC-4 on MCA21 portal |
| File Annual Return | 60 days after AGM (~29 Nov) | MGT-7A (or MGT-7) on MCA21 |
| DIR-3 KYC (all directors) | 30 September every year | Web-based DIR-3 KYC on MCA21 |
| Company Income Tax Return | 31 October (non-audit) / 31 November (audit required) | ITR-6 on income tax e-filing portal |
| Tax Audit (if applicable) | 30 September (report); ITR by 31 Oct | Form 3CD; mandatory if turnover > ₹1 crore |
| GSTR-9 (GST annual return) | 31 December | GST portal; all registered taxpayers |
| GSTR-9C (reconciliation statement) | 31 December | Turnover > ₹5 crore only; self-certified |
| EPF annual return | April 30 | EPFO Unified Portal |
| Profession Tax (state-specific) | Varies by state | State commercial tax portals |
DPIIT Startup Recognition: Key Benefits
Getting recognised as a startup by DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) unlocks:
- Income tax exemption for 3 out of first 10 years under Section 80-IAC (requires DPIIT recognition + CBDT approval)
- Angel tax exemption under Section 56(2)(viib) for investments from SEBI-registered investors
- ESOP tax deferral — employees defer perquisite tax at exercise for up to 5 years
- Fast-track winding up in 90 days (vs 2+ years for regular companies)
- Various government procurement benefits
Apply at startupindia.gov.in — free, online, typically approved within 2 business days. See our ESOP tax guide for the deferral benefit details, and our MCA filing guide for ROC compliance details.
Track all your compliance deadlinesStay on top of GST, TDS, MCA, and income tax deadlines with our business compliance calendar.
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Common Compliance Mistakes Startups Make
- Not appointing statutory auditor on time: ADT-1 must be filed within 15 days of auditor appointment. Missing this is a common first-year error.
- Skipping board meeting minutes: Every board meeting must have minutes prepared and signed within 30 days. Unsigned minutes from 2 years ago are a serious audit risk.
- Not registering for GST before inter-state sales: Any B2B inter-state sale requires GST registration regardless of turnover threshold.
- Not deducting TDS on founder salaries: Even in early stages, if founders are drawing salary above the threshold, TDS must be deducted.
- Missing EPF registration trigger: The moment you have 20 employees, EPF registration is mandatory within 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a newly incorporated startup need to file GST returns even with zero revenue? ▼
If you have GST registration (either mandatory or voluntary), you must file GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B every month — even if there's nil revenue and nil tax. Filing a 'nil return' is mandatory to maintain compliance status. Missing nil returns attracts late fees (₹20/day for nil returns vs ₹50/day for non-nil). After some consecutive nil returns, you can opt for QRMP (Quarterly Return Monthly Payment) scheme if your turnover is expected to remain below ₹5 crore.
When does a startup become liable to register for EPF? ▼
EPF registration is mandatory when a company has 20 or more employees at any point. The count includes all employees — full-time, part-time, and contract workers on the rolls. Once 20 employees are reached, registration must be done within 30 days. Note: once registered, EPF obligations continue even if headcount later drops below 20 — you can only de-register with the EPFO commissioner's permission. Many startups voluntarily register for EPF before the 20-employee threshold to attract talent and provide formal employment benefits.
What is the Section 80-IAC startup tax exemption and how do I get it? ▼
Section 80-IAC allows DPIIT-recognised startups to claim a 100% tax exemption on profits for any 3 consecutive years out of the first 10 years from incorporation. However, DPIIT recognition alone is not sufficient — you must also obtain approval from the CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) Inter-Ministerial Board (IMB) for the 80-IAC benefit. Apply to the IMB through the Startup India portal after obtaining DPIIT recognition. The exemption is highly valuable but many startups miss it because they don't apply to the IMB separately from DPIIT recognition.