The 2026 Compliance Knowledge Base

No. Validraft is a Legal Fintech facilitation platform. All filings are executed by our empanelled network of independent CAs, CSs, and IP Attorneys operating under their own Certificate of Practice, ensuring 100% adherence to the CA Act 1949 and Advocates Act 1961.

We separate your invoice into two items: 1) Exact Government Fees/Stamp Duties (which vary by state), and 2) Our Professional Execution Fee. Zero hidden fees at checkout.

Yes. Because all MCA, GSTN, and IP India portals are 100% digital, we serve businesses Pan-India, including heavy operations in Bihar, West Bengal, and UP.

During business hours (10 AM - 7 PM IST), we guarantee an itemized quote and exact documentation checklist within 2 hours of your initial inquiry.

Government fees are non-refundable. For professional fees: Full refund if claimed within 7 days and no work has started. No refund once applications are filed on any government portal.

7-10 working days from document submission. The process utilizes the MCA's SPICe+ web form for Name Approval, DIN, DSC, and Incorporation.

Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus. It integrates 11 services including PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, and Bank Account opening into a single MCA web form.

For ₹1 lakh authorised capital, government fees range from ₹1,500 to ₹3,000 depending on the state's specific stamp duty rates on the MOA and AOA.

Yes. The Companies Act 2013 permits residential addresses. You require a utility bill (under 2 months old) and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the property owner.

There is no minimum paid-up capital requirement under current law. You can theoretically incorporate with ₹1, though most start with ₹10,000 paid-up capital.

Pvt Ltd is mandatory if you plan to raise Venture Capital or issue ESOPs. LLP is better for bootstrap service businesses as it has lower compliance and no mandatory audit until ₹40L turnover.

An OPC allows a single founder to have limited liability. However, it cannot raise equity funding and must appoint a nominee to take over in case of the founder's death.

A Non-Profit Organization registered under the Companies Act. It is highly regulated, credible for CSR funds, and eligible for 12A/80G tax exemptions.

Yes. 100% FDI is permitted in most sectors via the automatic route. However, at least one Director must be a Resident of India (182+ days in the previous year).

No. The entire process is 100% online. You will sign all documents digitally using a Class-3 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) provided by us.

Declaration for Commencement of Business. It must be filed within 180 days of incorporation, proving founders deposited their capital into the bank. Penalty for non-filing is ₹50,000 on the company.

The first Statutory Auditor must be appointed by the Board of Directors within 30 days of incorporation (Form ADT-1).

Yes. The Income Tax Department issues your company PAN and TAN simultaneously with your Certificate of Incorporation via the SPICe+ form.

The SPICe+ form automatically integrates with major banks (ICICI, HDFC, SBI, etc.) to open an account upon incorporation.

Yes. Changing within the same city requires a board resolution (INC-22). Changing states requires Regional Director approval and takes 3-4 months.

Mandatory if annual turnover exceeds ₹40L for goods (₹20L in special states) or ₹20L for services. Also mandatory for inter-state sales or selling on platforms like Amazon/Flipkart.

₹0. The GSTN portal does not charge a fee for registration. You only pay for Validraft's professional filing service.

E-invoicing is mandatory for all B2B transactions if your aggregate annual turnover exceeded ₹5 Crore in any previous financial year.

GSTR-1 (Sales) is due by the 11th of the following month. GSTR-3B (Tax Payment) is due by the 20th.

Late fee is ₹50/day (₹20/day for NIL returns), capped at ₹10,000 per return. Unpaid tax liabilities also attract 18% p.a. interest.

For businesses under ₹1.5 Crore turnover. Allows paying a flat 1%-6% tax rate without complex invoicing. However, you cannot claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) or do inter-state sales.

ITC lets you deduct the GST you paid on business purchases from the GST you collected on sales. You can only claim it if your supplier uploads their GSTR-1 correctly.

Yes. It is legally mandatory to have a separate GSTIN for every state where you maintain a physical place of business.

No. Section 17(5) blocks ITC on motor vehicles for personal/office use unless your business is specifically in passenger transport, driving schools, or vehicle sales.

You must file FORM REG-16. You must clear all dues and file a final GSTR-10 return within 3 months of cancellation to avoid hefty fines.

Form TM-A costs ₹4,500/class for Individuals, Udyam MSMEs, and DPIIT Startups. For un-registered private companies, the fee is ₹9,000/class.

You get the Application Number (and right to use ™) the same day. Final registration (®) takes 6-12 months following examination and journal publication.

™ indicates a pending trademark application. ® indicates a legally registered trademark. Using ® before receiving the final certificate is a punishable offense.

India uses the 45 Nice Classes. Classes 1-34 are for Goods (e.g., Class 25 for clothing), and 35-45 are for Services (e.g., Class 42 for SaaS). Filing in the wrong class voids protection.

A standard query by the examiner. You have 30 days to file a legal reply defending the distinctiveness of your mark. Our IP Attorneys draft these responses.

A Wordmark protects the text name regardless of font or color (broadest protection). A Device Mark protects the specific visual logo design.

During the 4-month Journal publication, any third party can file TM-O to oppose your mark. You have 2 months to file a Counter-Statement or the mark is abandoned.

10 years from the date of filing. It can be renewed indefinitely by filing form TM-R every 10 years.

No. Words like "Super Market" or "Best IT" cannot be trademarked. The mark must be distinctive, coined, or arbitrary to the goods sold (e.g., "Apple" for computers).

Copyright protects creative works (books, software code) for lifetime + 60 years. Trademark protects brand identifiers (names, logos) for commerce.

The MCA strictly charges ₹100 per day, per form (AOC-4, MGT-7) with absolutely no upper limit.

AOC-4 submits your audited financials to the ROC (due Oct 30). MGT-7 submits your shareholding and structural details (due Nov 29).

Annual verification of all Directors' email and mobile numbers. Due by Sept 30. Missing it deactivates the DIN and incurs a ₹5,000 reactivation penalty.

Filings triggered by specific actions: Director change (DIR-12), Capital increase (SH-7), or taking a corporate loan (CHG-1). Usually due within 30 days of the event.

The legal form to voluntarily close a defunct company. The company must not have operated for 2 years, and all bank accounts and liabilities must be cleared first.

A status for innovative companies under 10 years old. It grants angel tax exemption, government tender eligibility, and a 50% rebate on trademark fees.

Free government registration for Micro, Small, or Medium businesses. Gives protection under the MSMED Act (buyers must pay you within 45 days) and collateral-free loan eligibility.

Every food handler. Basic Registration (Turnover <₹12L), State Licence (₹12L-₹20Cr), or Central Licence (>₹20Cr). Operating without it risks a ₹5 Lakh fine.

A mandatory 10-digit code from the DGFT for importing/exporting goods. It carries a one-time ₹500 fee but requires free annual updation on the DGFT portal.

A state-level mandatory registration regulating employee working conditions, leaves, and holidays. Rules and renewal cycles vary heavily by specific state and municipality.