What an Indian company has to comply with, law by law

A plain-language map of the central and state rules that apply to private limited companies, OPCs, LLPs and foreign-owned subsidiaries, updated for the changes of 2025 and 2026.

Who needs what

Obligations by type of entity

A quick check of what applies to you. "Depends" means it turns on turnover, headcount or the payments you make.

Obligation	Private Limited	One Person Company	LLP	Foreign-owned subsidiary
Board meetings	4 a year	1 per half-year	No	4 a year
Annual general meeting	Yes, by 30 Sep	No	No	Yes, by 30 Sep
Statutory audit	Yes	Yes	Depends	Yes
Annual ROC filings	AOC-4, MGT-7/7A	AOC-4, MGT-7A	Form 8, Form 11	AOC-4, MGT-7
DPT-3 return of deposits	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
DIR-3 KYC (every 3 years)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
GST registration and returns	Depends	Depends	Depends	Depends
TDS and TCS	Depends	Depends	Depends	Depends
Tax audit	Depends	Depends	Depends	Depends
Transfer pricing report	Depends	Depends	Depends	Usually
FC-GPR and FLA return	If foreign-owned	No	FDI-LLP forms, if foreign-owned	Yes
PF and ESI	Depends	Depends	Depends	Depends
MSME-1 half-yearly return	If MSME dues are late	If MSME dues are late	No	If MSME dues are late

ROC / MCA

Companies Act, 2013

Every company files with the Registrar of Companies through the MCA V3 portal, where all company and LLP forms now live.

ROC dates

DirectorsAt least two for a private company. One must stay in India for 182 days or more during the financial year.
Board meetingsAt least four a year, with no more than 120 days between two meetings. Small companies and OPCs: one in each half of the calendar year, at least 90 days apart. An OPC with a single director is exempt.
AGM and annual filingsAGM within six months of year-end, by 30 September. AOC-4 within 30 days and MGT-7 within 60 days of the AGM.
AuditorThe board appoints the first auditor within 30 days of incorporation. Shareholders then appoint one for five years, filed on ADT-1.
Director KYCFrom 31 March 2026, DIR-3 KYC is filed once every three financial years, by 30 June. Contact changes go in within 30 days.
Small companySince 1 December 2025: paid-up capital up to ₹10 crore and turnover up to ₹100 crore (previously ₹4 crore and ₹40 crore). Small companies get lighter rules, including MGT-7A.

GST

Goods and Services Tax

Rates simplified to two main slabs in September 2025, and returns older than three years were barred from December 2025.

GST updates

RegistrationAbove ₹40 lakh turnover for goods only or ₹20 lakh for services; lower in some north-eastern states. Inter-state sellers of goods register regardless, but small sellers on e-commerce platforms within one state are exempt below the limit.
RatesSince 22 September 2025: 5% and 18% for most goods and services, and 40% for luxury and sin goods (tobacco products from 1 February 2026).
ReturnsGSTR-1 by the 11th and GSTR-3B by the 20th for monthly filers. Businesses up to ₹5 crore can choose quarterly filing (QRMP).
Input tax creditPurchase invoices appear in the Invoice Management System (IMS) before GSTR-3B; any you don't reject or keep pending count as accepted. Credit flows only for invoices your suppliers have reported.
E-invoicingRequired above ₹5 crore turnover. Since April 2025, businesses at ₹10 crore and above must report invoices and credit or debit notes to the IRP within 30 days.
Time limitGSTR-1, GSTR-3B and GSTR-9 cannot be filed more than three years after their due date; the portal has enforced this since December 2025. E-way bills are needed for goods above ₹50,000.

Income tax

Income-tax Act, 2025

In force from 1 April 2026, replacing the 1961 Act. Income from April 2026 to March 2027 is "tax year 2026-27".

What changed

Tax yearOne "tax year" replaces the old previous year and assessment year. Returns for FY 2025-26, filed in 2026, still follow the 1961 Act.
Return due dates31 July with no business or professional income; 31 August for business or professional income without audit (from 2026); 31 October for companies and audit cases; 30 November where a transfer pricing report is required. For 2026 the CBDT extended the audit-case date to 21 November.
Advance taxPaid in four instalments: 15% by 15 June, 45% by 15 September, 75% by 15 December and 100% by 15 March.
Tax auditBusinesses above ₹1 crore turnover (₹10 crore when cash receipts and cash payments each stay within 5%), and professionals above ₹50 lakh. Report due by 30 September; for 2026 the CBDT extended it to 21 October.
Tax credit statementForm 26AS is replaced by Form 168, the annual statement of taxes paid and deducted on your behalf.
Late fee and interestLate filing still costs up to ₹5,000 (₹1,000 if income is up to ₹5 lakh). Interest carries over under new section numbers, and from tax year 2026-27 a late audit or transfer pricing report attracts a fixed fee.

TDS / TCS

TDS and TCS

Every business making specified payments deducts tax and deposits it. The forms were renumbered from 1 April 2026.

TDS dates

DepositBy the 7th of the next month. Tax deducted in March is due by 30 April.
Quarterly statementsForm 138 (salary, was 24Q), Form 140 (resident non-salary, was 26Q), Form 144 (non-resident, was 27Q) and Form 143 (TCS, was 27EQ). Due 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May.
CertificatesForm 130 replaces Form 16 for salary; Form 131 replaces Form 16A for other payments. The first Form 130 is issued in June 2027.
Form 141A single challan-cum-statement, due 30 days after the month of deduction, for property purchases by any buyer and for rent, contractor and VDA payments by individuals and HUFs who don't otherwise deduct TDS.

Labour

Labour codes

The four labour codes replaced 29 older laws on 21 November 2025, and the Centre notified its final rules on 8 May 2026. Many states are still finalising theirs; until a state does, its existing labour laws and rules continue.

The 50% wage ruleWages for PF, gratuity and bonus are basic pay, DA and retaining allowance. Allowances above 50% of pay are added back.
PF and ESIPF applies from 20 employees, on wages up to ₹25,000 a month from 17 September 2026 (previously ₹15,000). ESI applies from 10 employees for pay up to ₹21,000 a month. Contributions are due by the 15th.
Appointment lettersRequired on or before joining for every employee of a covered establishment, including fixed-term staff. Contractors issue them to contract workers.
GratuityFixed-term employees now qualify after one year of service instead of five.
One registration, one returnA single electronic registration and annual return on the Shram Suvidha portal replace the separate ones under the central rules. Existing registrations must be updated by 8 November 2026; state rules may differ.
Gig workersAggregators must register now. Their contribution of 1–2% of turnover, capped at 5% of payouts to gig and platform workers, starts once the government notifies the rate.

FEMA / RBI

FEMA and RBI reporting

Foreign investment into an Indian company is reported to the RBI through the FIRMS portal.

FC-GPRWithin 30 days of issuing shares to a foreign investor, with a valuation report and the investor's KYC.
FC-TRSWithin 60 days of a share transfer between a resident and a non-resident.
FLA returnEvery year by 15 July, for companies with foreign direct investment or overseas investment.
Pricing rulesShares issued to foreign investors cannot be priced below fair value under the pricing guidelines.

LLP

Limited Liability Partnerships

Lighter than a company, but late annual forms get expensive quickly.

Form 11Annual return by 30 May.
Form 8Statement of account and solvency by 30 October.
AuditRequired when turnover exceeds ₹40 lakh or partner contribution exceeds ₹25 lakh.
Late feeA multiple of the normal filing fee that rises with the delay, plus a daily fee once a form is more than 360 days late.

MSME

MSME rules

Protect small suppliers, and claim the benefits if you are one.

Udyam registrationFree and online. It unlocks priority lending, payment protection and government tender benefits.
45-day payment rulePay micro and small suppliers within 45 days. Late payments can't be deducted for income tax until they are paid.
MSME-1Companies with dues to MSMEs beyond 45 days report them every half-year, by 30 April and 31 October.

State laws

State-level rules

These vary by state, so we set them up for each office or branch you open.

Professional taxLevied by most states, up to ₹2,500 per employee a year, with state-specific slabs and due dates.
Shops and EstablishmentRegistration for each office or shop under the state's act, usually soon after opening.
Labour welfare fundSmall employer and employee contributions in some states, often half-yearly.
Stamp dutyPayable on incorporation, share issues and agreements, at state rates.

General information as of 9 October 2026, summarised from published notifications and professional commentary. Rules, thresholds and dates change, and some labour code rules are still being finalised by states. This guide is not legal or tax advice: we confirm what applies to your company before you act.

Not sure which of these apply to you? Ask us.

Get a free, no-obligation compliance check WhatsApp us