MCA Mandatory Compliance · Section 10A

File INC-20A Start Your Business Legally in India

Every new company incorporated in India with share capital must file INC-20A Declaration of Commencement of Business within 180 days of incorporation. Without this, your company cannot legally operate. SSATAX files it for you fast, accurate, and affordable.

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What is INC-20A and Why Does It Matter?

INC-20A is not optional paperwork it is the government's gate before your company can legally do any business in India.

Section 10A of the Companies Act, 2013 Mandatory Compliance Every company incorporated after 2nd November 2018 with a share capital is required to file Form INC-20A as a declaration that the subscribers to the Memorandum of Association (MOA) have paid the full subscription money into the company's bank account. Without this declaration, the company is treated as not having commenced business and faces severe penalties and potential winding up.

Commencement Declaration

It is an official declaration to the MCA/ROC confirming that your new company has collected the subscribed capital and is now legally ready to start business operations.

180-Day Strict Deadline

INC-20A must be filed within 180 days from the date of incorporation. This clock starts from the Certificate of Incorporation date not from when you open a bank account.

Bank Proof Required

The company must first open a dedicated current bank account and receive the full subscribed capital amount from all subscribers before filing INC-20A.

Professional Certification

Form INC-20A must be certified by a practising CA, CS, or CMA. SSATAX includes professional attestation in our filing package no extra cost.

Unlocks Business Operations

Only after filing INC-20A can your company legally borrow funds, hire employees, sign contracts, take orders, and open business relationships.

Protects Directors

Non-filing puts every director at personal risk of daily penalties. Filing on time shields directors from MCA prosecution and disqualification.

Who Must File INC-20A in India?

The requirement applies based on company type and share capital. Check the table below to confirm if your entity needs to file.

Entity Type INC-20A Required? Consequence if Not Filed Additional Notes
Private Limited Company ✅ Mandatory ₹50K company penalty + ₹1K/day per director Most common entity all newly registered Pvt Ltd must file
Public Limited Company ✅ Mandatory Same penalty + risk of ROC notice Including companies listed on stock exchanges
One Person Company (OPC) ✅ Mandatory Penalty + cannot commence business OPCs incorporated with share capital must comply
Company Without Share Capital ⚠️ Not Required Section 25 / Guarantee companies are exempt
LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) ✗ Not Applicable LLPs are governed under LLP Act, not Companies Act
Nidhi Company ✅ Mandatory Penalty applies, ROC may restrict operations Subject to Nidhi Rules 2014 in addition
Section 8 Company (NGO) ✅ Mandatory Penalty + License revocation risk Must file even though formed for charitable purposes

New Rules & Regulations for INC-20A 2025–26

The MCA has tightened INC-20A requirements. Here's what's changed and what you must know before filing in FY 2025-26.

Mandatory MCA V3 Portal Filing

All INC-20A filings in 2025-26 must be done exclusively on the MCA V3 Portal. The old V2 system is discontinued. New company accounts must be registered fresh on V3 before filing.

MCA Update 2025

Aadhaar-Based OTP Signing

From 2025, directors can authenticate INC-20A using Aadhaar OTP as an alternate to Class-3 DSC, simplifying the signing process for newly incorporated companies.

DSC Rule

Automated Penalty Notices

MCA's compliance automation system now auto-generates Section 10A violation notices within 7 days of the 180-day expiry, meaning companies face faster escalation in 2025-26.

Strictness

Enhanced CA/CS Certification Liability

Practising professionals certifying INC-20A now carry higher personal liability for accuracy. Only empanelled and verified professionals can certify ensuring quality filings.

Profession

Faster Strike-Off for Non-Compliance

Under updated MCA enforcement, companies that don't file INC-20A within 180 days + 30-day notice period can now face expedited striking off under Section 248(1)(c) in 2025-26.

Winding Up

SSATAX's INC-20A Filing Process 5 Simple Steps

From document sharing to MCA acknowledgement our streamlined process completes your INC-20A in 24 hours.

1

Share Details

Send your incorporation documents, CIN, and bank statement on WhatsApp or email.

2

Expert Review

Our CA/CS verifies all documents, cross-checks capital amounts and director details.

3

Draft Preparation

Form INC-20A is drafted with 100% accuracy and sent to you for DSC authentication.

4

DSC Signing

Director and practising professional digitally sign the form via MCA V3 portal.

5

Filed & Acknowledged

We file on MCA and deliver your SRN-based acknowledgement your company is now fully legal!

Documents Required for INC-20A Filing

Keep these documents ready. Our team will collect, verify, and use them for error-free MCA filing.

Certificate of Incorporation (CoI)
CIN (Company Identification Number)
Memorandum of Association (MOA)
Bank Statement Showing Capital Receipt
Board Resolution for Commencement
PAN Card of Company & Directors
Registered Office Address Proof
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of Director
CA/CS Certificate (Included in our package)

INC-20A vs Other Key Company Filings What's Different?

Many founders confuse INC-20A with other MCA forms. Here's a clear breakdown so you never miss a filing.

Parameter INC-20A INC-22A (ACTIVE) DIR-3 KYC MGT-7 (Annual Return)
Purpose Commencement of Business Declaration Verify Registered Office Director KYC Update Annual Return of Company
Filed By Newly Incorporated Company All Active Companies All Directors All Companies
Due Date Within 180 days of incorporation 25th April every year 30th September annually Within 60 days of AGM
One-Time or Annual? One-Time Filing Annual Annual Annual
Penalty for Delay ₹50K (Co) + ₹1K/day (Director) ₹10,000 per day ₹5,000 flat ₹100 per day
DSC Required? ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Professional Certification? ✓ Mandatory CA/CS/CMA ✓ CA/CS/CMA ✗ Not required ✓ CS/CA for large cos

Why SSATAX - and how are we different from other firms?

Any CA or online compliance platform can file INC-20A. What sets SSATAX apart is how we do it with speed, accuracy, and genuine care for your business.

Named CA/CS Assigned to You

You speak directly to the professional handling your filing not a support agent or call center. Direct accountability, real expertise.

₹1,499 All-Inclusive No Surprises

Professional certification, filing, DSC assistance, and acknowledgement all in one flat price. Zero hidden fees, ever.

WhatsApp-First Super Convenient

Share documents, track filing status, receive acknowledgement all on WhatsApp. No complex portals, no logins, no confusion.

Compliance Calendar & Reminders

We track your 180-day window from day one and remind you proactively. Plus, we alert you about all future compliance deadlines MGT-7, DIR-3, INC-22A and more.

Lifetime Free Consultation

After your INC-20A is filed, call or message us anytime for compliance questions free, for life. No other company does this.

INC-20A Your Questions Answered

Everything new company founders ask about INC-20A filing in India for 2025-26.

INC-20A is the Declaration of Commencement of Business under Section 10A of the Companies Act, 2013. It is mandatory for all companies incorporated with share capital on or after 2nd November 2018. This includes Private Limited Companies, Public Limited Companies, OPCs, and Nidhi Companies. Filing is one-time but critical without it, your company cannot legally operate.
INC-20A must be filed within 180 days from the date of incorporation (as per the Certificate of Incorporation). The countdown starts from incorporation date not from opening a bank account or any other event. There is no extension available under normal circumstances.
The penalty structure under Section 10A is:

Company: ₹50,000 (one-time)
Each Director: ₹1,000 per day until filed (maximum ₹1,00,000 per director)

For a company with 2 directors filing 90 days late, total penalties can exceed ₹2,30,000. Plus, the ROC can initiate striking off proceedings under Section 248(1)(c).
Yes, INC-20A can be filed after 180 days but with full penalty applicable from the due date. The company also becomes non-compliant and may receive show-cause notices from the ROC. Late filing does not eliminate past penalties, but it stops further accumulation. SSATAX can assist you with condonation of delay applications and penalty minimisation strategies.
Two conditions must be met before filing: (1) All subscribers to the MOA must pay their full subscribed share capital to the company, and (2) the company must have a dedicated current bank account and receive these amounts documented by a bank statement. Only then can the declaration be truthfully made and filed.
Yes. INC-20A is not about business activity it is about confirming that the company has received its subscribed capital and is legally authorised to commence business. Even if your company has conducted zero transactions and has no clients, INC-20A is still mandatory within 180 days of incorporation.
Yes. Form INC-20A requires certification by a Practising Chartered Accountant (CA), Company Secretary (CS), or Cost Accountant (CMA) who verifies the declaration. SSATAX includes professional certification by an empanelled practising CA/CS as part of our ₹1,499 package at no extra cost.
Absolutely. SSATAX provides INC-20A filing services for companies registered across all states and union territories in India Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and beyond. The entire process is 100% online and remote. Your location does not affect our service quality or timeline.
The Certificate of Incorporation (CoI) confirms that the company has been legally created. INC-20A is a separate, subsequent declaration confirming the company has received its share capital and is ready to commence business. Think of the CoI as your company's birth certificate and INC-20A as its operating licence. Both are essential.
Our ₹1,499 package includes: document collection and verification, expert review by a CA/CS, drafting of the declaration form, professional certification by a practising CA/CS, MCA V3 portal filing, SRN-based acknowledgement delivery, and post-filing support. Government fees (if applicable) are charged at actual cost separately. No hidden charges.