Annual Compliance Checklist for Companies

Annual compliance for companies and LLPs in India is comprehensive. Failure to comply attracts penalties, interest on unpaid fees, and in extreme cases, strike-off of the company name from the Register of Companies.

Companies Act Annual Filings

Annual Return (MGT-7)

Every company must file Annual Return with the ROC within 60 days of the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The return includes details of shareholding, board composition, debt details, and compliance certifications.

Financial Statements (AOC-4)

Companies must file Financial Statements (Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss Statement, Cash Flow Statement) with the ROC in eForm AOC-4 within 30 days of the AGM.

Form 8 (LLP)

LLPs must file Statement of Account & Solvency (Form 8) and Annual Return (Form 11) with the ROC every year. Form 8 must be filed within 30 days from the end of 6 months of the financial year (by March 31).

GST Annual Return (GSTR-9)

Registered persons with turnover above ₹2 crore must file GSTR-9 annually. It is a consolidated summary of all outward supplies, input tax credit claimed, and taxes paid during the financial year.

Income Tax Filings

Companies must file ITR-6 with the Income Tax Department by October 31 (without audit) or November 30 (with audit). Late filing attracts ₹10,000 penalty under Section 234F.

Director KYC (DIR-3 KYC)

Every director must complete KYC verification annually via DIR-3 KYC web form on the MCA portal. Non-filing disables the DIN and the director cannot act in any company.

Event-Based Filings

• Change in director: Within 30 days of appointment/resignation
• Change in registered office: Within 30 days
• Allotment of new shares: Within 30 days
• Charges created/modified: Within 30 days

When this guide applies

Use this guide when you need a practical, plain-English explanation of the topic for an Indian business or taxpayer. We assume you already know the basics of Indian taxation and compliance — this guide focuses on the specific situations, deadlines, and pitfalls that matter in real filings.

Step-by-step process

1. Confirm the trigger event — turnover threshold, registration requirement, or compliance deadline that brings this topic into scope for your business.
2. Gather the documents you need (PAN, Aadhaar, GSTIN, bank statements, or the specific records called out in the linked forms).
3. File or register through the official portal (income tax e-filing, MCA, GST, FSSAI, or the relevant regulator). Keep acknowledgement numbers.
4. Pay any fee or tax due. Note the challan reference for your records.
5. Track the SLA — most approvals arrive in 3-30 working days; escalate through the regulator’s grievance portal if delayed.

Common pitfalls

• Filing after the due date without paying the late fee — penalty compounds per month under Section 234F for ITR, per return period for GST.
• Using the wrong ITR form or business code — leads to defective return notice under Section 139(9) and a fresh round of filing.
• Ignoring state-specific requirements (professional tax, shop & establishment, state GST registration) when operating across multiple states.

When to escalate

Talk to an expert if the situation involves cross-border transactions, notice from the department, or disputed turnover. Self-filing works for the routine cases but escalates quickly once a notice arrives.

Next steps

For a personalised check, use our eligibility wizards and free code search tools. To file end-to-end, see the linked service pages on FinTax24.