Overview
The Companies Act requires every company to hold an annual general meeting, get its accounts audited, and file the financial statements and an annual return with the Registrar of Companies. These filings are public records, and lenders and investors rely on them.
The cycle starts with the close of the financial year on 31 March. The directors approve the accounts, the auditor reports, the shareholders adopt them at the AGM, and forms are filed within set windows after the meeting.
Because penalties are charged per day of delay, with no upper limit, missing these dates is expensive. Persistent default can lead to a company being struck off and its directors being disqualified.
Who needs this service?
All private limited companies, OPCs and public companies must file, regardless of turnover.
Usually a good fit if
- You run a company and want filings made correctly and on time every year.
- You have a dormant company that still has to file.
- You have missed one or more years and need to catch up.
- You have recently incorporated and want a calendar of what applies.
Think twice if
- You are a proprietor or partnership firm; ROC annual filing does not apply, although LLPs have their own annual forms.
Key benefits
On-time filing
Avoids daily additional fees and keeps the company in good standing.
Compliant records
Resolutions, minutes and registers are prepared in the proper form.
Director protection
Avoids disqualification from repeated default.
Investor and lender readiness
Up-to-date filings make due diligence much smoother.
Single calendar
AGM, ROC, director KYC and tax deadlines tracked together.
Catch-up support
We can regularise earlier years that were missed.
What we need from you
Most of this comes from your accounts and the audit. We prepare the compliance papers around them.
Financial information
- Signed balance sheet, profit and loss account and notes to accounts
- Auditor's report for the year
- Board's report, where applicable
- Details of related party transactions and loans, if any
Meeting and governance
- Dates and details of board meetings held in the year
- Notice, minutes and attendance of the AGM, which we can draft
- Details of any changes in directors, shareholders or registered office during the year
Shareholding and directors
- List of shareholders with their holdings and addresses
- Latest director details, PAN and Aadhaar for KYC
- Digital signatures of the directors and, where required, a practising professional
Auditor
- Auditor appointment or reappointment documents
- Consent and eligibility letter from the auditor
How the process works
Close the books and audit April to August
Accounts for the year are finalised and audited. Delays here hold up everything else.
Board approval Before the AGM
The board approves the financial statements and the board report and calls the AGM.
Hold the AGM By 30 September
Shareholders adopt the accounts and appoint or reappoint the auditor. This must be held within six months of the year end, which is by 30 September for a March year end.
File ADT-1 Within 15 days of AGM
The auditor appointment is reported to the registry, normally within fifteen days of the AGM.
File AOC-4 Within 30 days of AGM
The financial statements are filed with the registry, normally within thirty days of the AGM.
File MGT-7 or MGT-7A Within 60 days of AGM
The annual return is filed within sixty days of the AGM. MGT-7A is the simplified version for small companies and OPCs.
Director KYC By 30 September
Every director with a DIN completes DIR-3 KYC each year.
How long it takes
| AGM | Within 6 months of year end |
| ADT-1 (auditor) | Within 15 days of AGM |
| AOC-4 (financial statements) | Within 30 days of AGM |
| MGT-7 or MGT-7A (annual return) | Within 60 days of AGM |
| DIR-3 KYC | Every year by 30 September |
Other filings such as DPT-3 for deposits and loan details, and MSME-1 for dues to small suppliers, may also apply depending on your company. Dates can be extended by notification, so we confirm them each year.
What happens if filing is late
The consequences grow the longer you wait.
- Additional feesAdditional fees are charged for each day of delay on forms such as AOC-4 and MGT-7, and there is no ceiling.
- Penalties on the company and officersFurther penalties can apply to the company and each officer in default.
- Director disqualificationDirectors can be disqualified if the company has not filed for three consecutive years.
- Strike-off riskThe registrar can strike a company off for prolonged non-filing.
- Blocked changesOverdue filings can block routine changes such as adding directors or changing the registered office.
Frequently asked questions
Is annual filing required if the company had no income?
Yes. Every company has to file its accounts and annual return each year, even with no business activity.
What is the difference between MGT-7 and MGT-7A?
MGT-7A is a simplified annual return for OPCs and small companies. Other companies file MGT-7.
When must the AGM be held?
Within six months from the end of the financial year, which is by 30 September for a year ending 31 March. A company's first AGM can be held within nine months of its first year end.
What if we have missed several years?
We can prepare the pending years and file them with the additional fees. The sooner it is done, the lower the total cost and risk.
Does an OPC need an AGM?
No. An OPC is exempt from holding an AGM, but it must still file its accounts and annual return.
Is director KYC separate from the annual filing?
Yes. DIR-3 KYC is a separate yearly filing for each director holding a DIN and is due by 30 September.
This page is general information to help you prepare, not legal, tax or professional advice for your situation. Rules, forms, thresholds and due dates change, so we confirm the current position before we file anything for you. Taxswami Consultants is an independent professional services firm and is not a government body.