Post-Incorporation Compliance: The First 30 Days Checklist for Indian Companies (2026)
Quick Answer
After receiving your Certificate of Incorporation from the MCA, you must complete at least 12 mandatory compliance steps within 30 days — including opening a bank account, allotting shares (INC-20A/PAS-3), appointing auditor (ADT-1), obtaining GST registration if applicable, applying for MSME/Udyam registration, registering for PF/ESI if hiring employees, and holding the first board meeting. Missing any of these invites penalties ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 5 lakh under the Companies Act, 2013. At Virtual Auditor, our post-incorporation compliance package starts at Rs 4,999 — covering all filings, statutory appointments, and register maintenance.
Definition — Post-Incorporation Compliance: The set of mandatory filings, registrations, and corporate governance actions that a newly incorporated company must complete under the Companies Act, 2013, the Income Tax Act, 1961, the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, and applicable labour laws immediately after receiving its Certificate of Incorporation from the Registrar of Companies (ROC).
Day 1-3: Immediate Actions After Incorporation
1. Open a Current Bank Account
This is your very first step. Without a bank account in the company’s name, you cannot deposit share capital, receive payments, or commence business. You need the following documents:
- Certificate of Incorporation (CIN)
- PAN card of the company (issued automatically via SPICe+)
- Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association (AOA)
- Board Resolution authorising the opening of bank account
- KYC documents of all directors — Aadhaar, PAN, passport-size photos
- Proof of registered office address (utility bill + NOC from owner)
Most banks take 3-7 working days to open a current account. We recommend applying on Day 1 because the INC-20A filing (commencement of business) requires proof that subscribers have deposited their share subscription money into this account.
2. Deposit Share Capital
Under Section 10A of the Companies Act, 2013 (inserted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2018), every subscriber to the MOA must pay the value of shares agreed to be taken by them within 180 days of incorporation. However, best practice is to deposit the entire subscription amount within 7 days of opening the bank account.
For a standard Pvt Ltd with Rs 1,00,000 authorised capital and 10,000 shares of Rs 10 each subscribed equally by two directors, each director transfers Rs 50,000 to the company’s bank account. Retain the bank statement as proof — you will need it for INC-20A.
3. Draft and Execute the First Board Resolution
The first board resolution should cover:
- Adoption of common seal (optional post Companies (Amendment) Act, 2015, but recommended)
- Appointment of first auditor under Section 139(6)
- Authorisation to open bank account and operate it
- Registered office verification
- Appointment of Key Managerial Personnel if applicable
- Adoption of statutory registers
Day 4-10: Statutory Filings and Appointments
4. File INC-20A — Declaration for Commencement of Business
Section 10A requires that a company incorporated after 2 November 2018 cannot commence business or exercise borrowing powers unless it files INC-20A with the ROC. This form is a declaration by all directors that every subscriber has paid the value of shares agreed to be taken by them. It must be filed within 180 days of incorporation, but we recommend filing within 10 days.
Non-compliance penalty: Rs 50,000 on the company and Rs 1,000 per day on each director. If INC-20A is not filed within 180 days, the ROC may initiate removal of the company’s name under Section 248.
5. Allot Subscriber Shares and File PAS-3
Under Section 39 read with Rule 12 of the Companies (Prospectus and Allotment of Securities) Rules, 2014, the company must pass a board resolution allotting shares to subscribers and file Form PAS-3 (Return of Allotment) with the ROC within 30 days of allotment. In practice, allotment happens at the first board meeting, and PAS-3 is filed immediately after.
Government fee: Rs 500 (for companies with authorised capital up to Rs 1,00,000).
6. Appoint First Auditor — Section 139(6) and File ADT-1
Under Section 139(6) of the Companies Act, 2013, the Board of Directors must appoint the first auditor within 30 days of incorporation. The first auditor holds office until the conclusion of the first AGM. While ADT-1 (Notice of Appointment of Auditor) is technically filed after the AGM appointment, we recommend having the auditor’s consent letter (Form ADT-1 attachment) ready within the first week.
Penalty for non-appointment: An Extraordinary General Meeting must be called within 90 days under Section 139(6)(b), and the members appoint the auditor. At Virtual Auditor, we provide statutory audit services starting at Rs 15,000 per annum for newly incorporated companies.
7. Verify Registered Office — INC-22
If the registered office was not verified during incorporation via the SPICe+ AGILE-PRO form, file INC-22 (Notice of Situation of Registered Office) within 30 days of incorporation. Attach:
- Proof of registered office address (utility bill not older than 2 months)
- NOC from the owner of the premises (notarised or on stamp paper)
- Rent/lease agreement if applicable
Day 10-20: Tax and GST Registrations
8. Apply for GST Registration
Under Section 22 of the CGST Act, 2017, GST registration is mandatory if your aggregate turnover exceeds Rs 20 lakh (Rs 10 lakh for special category states). However, even if your turnover is below the threshold, you need GST registration if you:
- Make inter-state supplies (Section 24(i))
- Supply through e-commerce platforms (Section 24(ix))
- Are required to deduct TDS under Section 51
- Are an input service distributor
- Supply online information and database access or retrieval services (OIDAR)
Apply on the GST portal using Form GST REG-01. Documents required: PAN of company, Certificate of Incorporation, address proof of principal place of business, bank account details, Aadhaar of authorised signatory, DSC of authorised signatory. Processing time: 3-7 working days.
Our pricing: GST registration assistance at Rs 2,499 all-inclusive. View full pricing.
9. Verify TAN and Apply if Not Received
TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number) is now allotted automatically through the SPICe+ process along with PAN. Verify your TAN on the Income Tax portal. If for any reason TAN was not allotted, apply separately using Form 49B. TAN is mandatory before you make any payment subject to TDS — salary payments, rent above Rs 2,40,000 per annum, professional fees above Rs 30,000 per annum, contractor payments above Rs 30,000 (single) or Rs 1,00,000 (aggregate).
10. Register on the Income Tax Portal
Register the company on the Income Tax e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in) using the company PAN. Link the DSC of the authorised signatory. This registration is required for filing ITR-6, TDS returns, and responding to any notices. Even if the company has zero income in the first year, filing a NIL return is mandatory under Section 139(1).
Day 15-25: Labour Law and Other Registrations
11. Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and ESI Registration
Under Section 1(4) of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, EPF registration is mandatory for establishments employing 20 or more employees. Under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948, ESI registration is mandatory for establishments with 10 or more employees (in some states, this threshold is lower) where employee wages do not exceed Rs 21,000 per month.
Even if you currently have fewer than 20 employees, we recommend registering for EPF voluntarily if you plan to hire — retroactive registration and interest on delayed contributions can be costly.
12. Professional Tax Registration
Professional Tax is a state-level tax on employment. It is mandatory in states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and others. The company must register as an employer and deduct professional tax from employee salaries. Maximum annual professional tax is Rs 2,500 per employee (varies by state).
13. Shops and Establishments Registration
Under the respective state Shops and Establishments Acts, every commercial establishment must register within 30 days of commencing business. This is a state-level registration — apply through the respective state labour department portal.
14. MSME/Udyam Registration
If your company qualifies as a Micro, Small, or Medium Enterprise under the MSME Development Act, 2006 (revised classification: Micro — investment up to Rs 1 Cr and turnover up to Rs 5 Cr; Small — investment up to Rs 10 Cr and turnover up to Rs 50 Cr; Medium — investment up to Rs 50 Cr and turnover up to Rs 250 Cr), register on the Udyam portal (udyamregistration.gov.in). This is free of cost and provides benefits including priority sector lending, lower interest rates, and protection against delayed payments.
Practitioner Insight — CA V. Viswanathan, IBBI/RV/03/2019/12333
At Virtual Auditor, we have helped 2,000+ companies complete post-incorporation compliance. The most common pitfall we observe is founders forgetting INC-20A. Without this filing, the company technically cannot commence business — yet founders start invoicing, entering contracts, and hiring employees. If a dispute arises and the counterparty discovers that INC-20A was never filed, every contract signed before the filing is legally questionable. We include INC-20A filing in every incorporation package and file it within 10 days of bank account opening, not 180 days.
Day 25-30: Corporate Governance Setup
15. Maintain Statutory Registers
The Companies Act mandates maintenance of the following registers at the registered office:
- Register of Members — Section 88, Rule 3 of Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014
- Register of Directors and KMP — Section 170
- Register of Charges — Section 85
- Register of Loans, Guarantees, and Investments — Section 186(9)
- Register of Contracts with Related Parties — Section 189
- Minutes Book — Section 118 (board meetings and general meetings maintained separately)
These registers can be maintained in electronic form. Penalty for non-maintenance: Rs 3,00,000 on the company and Rs 50,000 on every defaulting officer under Section 88(5).
16. Issue Share Certificates
Under Section 46 read with Rule 5 of the Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2014, the company must issue share certificates to subscribers within 2 months of incorporation. The share certificate must bear the common seal (if adopted) or be signed by two directors and the company secretary (if appointed).
17. Hold the First Board Meeting
Under Section 173(1) of the Companies Act, the first board meeting must be held within 30 days of incorporation. The quorum is one-third of the total strength of the board or two directors, whichever is higher (Section 174). For a two-director Pvt Ltd, both directors must be present.
Agenda items for the first board meeting:
- Note the Certificate of Incorporation, PAN, TAN, CIN
- Adoption of MOA and AOA
- Appointment of first auditor under Section 139(6)
- Allotment of subscriber shares
- Authorisation for bank account opening and operation
- Registered office situation
- Appointment of authorised signatory for GST, IT, and other registrations
- Adoption of statutory registers
Complete 30-Day Compliance Checklist
30-Day Compliance Checklist
| Day | Action | Form/Section | Penalty if Missed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Open bank account | — | Delays all subsequent steps |
| 1-7 | Deposit subscriber share capital | Section 10A | Cannot file INC-20A |
| 7-10 | File INC-20A | Section 10A | Rs 50,000 + Rs 1,000/day |
| 7-15 | Allot shares, file PAS-3 | Section 39, Rule 12 | Rs 1,000/day of default |
| 7-30 | Appoint first auditor | Section 139(6) | EGM within 90 days |
| 10-15 | File INC-22 (if needed) | Section 12 | Rs 1,000/day |
| 10-20 | GST registration (if applicable) | Section 22/24, CGST Act | Rs 10,000 or tax due |
| 10-20 | Register on IT portal, verify TAN | Section 139(1) | Delays TDS compliance |
| 15-25 | EPF/ESI registration (if hiring) | EPF Act, ESI Act | Damages at 12% p.a. |
| 15-25 | Professional Tax registration | State-specific | State-specific penalty |
| 15-30 | Shops & Establishments Act | State-specific | State-specific penalty |
| 20-30 | Udyam/MSME registration | MSME Act, 2006 | Loss of MSME benefits |
| 25-30 | Issue share certificates | Section 46, Rule 5 | Rs 5,00,000 fine |
| Within 30 | Hold first board meeting | Section 173(1) | Rs 25,000 per director |
| Within 30 | Maintain statutory registers | Section 88, 170, 85 | Rs 3,00,000 on company |
Post-30-Day Ongoing Compliance Calendar
After the initial 30-day window, the following compliance events are triggered on a recurring basis. Refer to our detailed structure comparison guide to understand how compliance varies between Pvt Ltd, LLP, and OPC.
- Quarterly: Board meeting (minimum 4 per year with not more than 120 days gap — Section 173), TDS return filing (Form 24Q for salary, 26Q for non-salary)
- Monthly: GST returns (GSTR-1 by 11th, GSTR-3B by 20th for turnover above Rs 5 Cr; quarterly for QRMP scheme)
- Annual: AGM within 6 months of FY end (Section 96), AOC-4 within 30 days of AGM, MGT-7 within 60 days of AGM, ITR-6 by 31 October (if tax audit applicable) or 31 July, statutory audit, DIR-3 KYC by 30 September for all directors
Virtual Auditor Post-Incorporation Package
We provide a comprehensive post-incorporation compliance package covering all 15+ actions listed above:
- Starter Package: Rs 4,999 — INC-20A, PAS-3, first board meeting minutes, statutory registers setup, auditor appointment letter
- Complete Package: Rs 12,999 — Everything in Starter + GST registration + PF/ESI registration + Professional Tax + Shops & Establishments + Udyam registration
- Annual Compliance Retainer: Rs 24,999/year — All recurring filings (ROC, IT, GST, TDS) for a small Pvt Ltd with up to Rs 40L turnover
View detailed pricing | Book a free consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if INC-20A is not filed within 180 days?
The ROC may initiate action to strike off the company’s name under Section 248 of the Companies Act, 2013. Additionally, a penalty of Rs 50,000 is imposed on the company, and Rs 1,000 per day of default is imposed on each officer in default (director). The company cannot legally commence business or exercise borrowing powers until INC-20A is filed.
Is GST registration mandatory for all newly incorporated companies?
No. GST registration under Section 22 of the CGST Act, 2017 is mandatory only if aggregate turnover exceeds Rs 20 lakh (Rs 10 lakh for special category states). However, it becomes compulsory regardless of turnover if you make inter-state supplies, supply through e-commerce operators, or fall under any category listed in Section 24 of the CGST Act.
Can the first board meeting be held online?
Yes. Under Rule 3 of the Companies (Meetings of Board and its Powers) Rules, 2014, board meetings can be held via video conferencing. However, certain matters listed in the proviso to Rule 4 (approval of annual financial statements, board report, etc.) cannot be dealt with via video conferencing. The first board meeting, which primarily covers incorporation formalities, can be conducted via VC.
Do I need a company secretary for a newly incorporated Pvt Ltd?
Appointment of a Company Secretary is mandatory under Section 203 only for companies with paid-up share capital of Rs 5 Cr or more. For most newly incorporated Pvt Ltd companies, a CS is not mandatory but highly recommended for managing compliance. Virtual Auditor provides outsourced CS services starting at Rs 9,999 per annum.
What is the penalty for not holding the first board meeting within 30 days?
Under Section 173(4) of the Companies Act, if the first board meeting is not held within 30 days of incorporation, every director is liable to a penalty of Rs 25,000. Additionally, non-compliance with board meeting requirements can trigger ROC scrutiny and may affect the company’s compliance rating on the MCA portal.
Is the post-incorporation process different for OPC and LLP?
For an OPC, the process is similar to Pvt Ltd but simplified — no AGM requirement, board meetings can be held with a single director, and INC-20A is still mandatory. For an LLP, there is no INC-20A or PAS-3 filing. Instead, the LLP Agreement must be filed within 30 days of incorporation using Form 3 with the ROC, and the designated partners must obtain DPIN and DSC.
Can Virtual Auditor handle all post-incorporation compliance remotely?
Yes. We handle the entire post-incorporation process remotely for companies across India. All MCA filings, GST registration, PF/ESI registration, and IT portal registration are done electronically. Physical presence is only required at the bank for account opening (some banks now support video KYC). Contact us at +91 99622 60333 or book a consultation.
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