Plain-English definitions of 39+ terms you'll encounter in Indian corporate filings — from CIN and DIN to AOC-4 and SPICe+. Updated and reviewed by practising CAs.
Notice of appointment of auditor filed with the ROC within 15 days of the AGM where the auditor is appointed.
Annual General Meeting — a mandatory meeting of company shareholders held within 6 months of financial year-end (15 months from previous AGM, whichever is earlier). Required for all companies except OPCs.
A document defining the rules for internal management of a company — meeting procedures, voting rights, director powers, share transfer rules. Filed with MOA during incorporation.
Form filed by every company with the Registrar of Companies for filing financial statements (Balance Sheet, P&L, Cash Flow). Due within 30 days of the AGM. Late filing attracts ₹100/day penalty.
Return of declaration of beneficial interest in shares — filed when a person holds shares not in their own name but for the benefit of someone else.
Form for registration of charges/mortgages on the assets of a company. Must be filed within 30 days of creation (extendable to 120 days with additional fees).
Corporate Identity Number — a 21-character alphanumeric unique identifier assigned by the ROC to every registered company in India. Format: U/L (listing status) + 5-digit industry code + 2-letter state + 4-digit year + 3-letter type + 6-digit registration number.
Report on Corporate Social Responsibility — annual filing by companies that meet CSR thresholds (₹500 cr net worth or ₹1,000 cr turnover or ₹5 cr profit).
Director Identification Number — a unique 8-digit number issued by the MCA to any person intending to be a director of any company. Must be obtained before being appointed as director.
Annual KYC filing required for every individual holding a DIN, due by 30 September each year. Non-filing leads to DIN being marked "Deactivated due to non-filing of DIR-3 KYC".
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade — issues recognition certificates for eligible startups under Startup India scheme. Recognised startups get tax benefits and easier compliance.
Annual return of deposits — filed by all companies (except government) by 30 June every year, reporting outstanding loans/deposits not treated as deposits under the Companies Act.
Digital Signature Certificate — a cryptographic certificate used to digitally sign documents on the MCA portal. Class 3 DSC is required for company registration and most filings. Valid for 1-2 years.
Form filed by Indian companies with the RBI within 30 days of allotting shares to non-resident investors. Required for all FDI inflows.
Form filed when shares are transferred between a resident and non-resident (or vice versa). Reports the transaction to RBI/AD Bank.
Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets — filed by Indian entities with foreign investment or having overseas investments. Due by 15 July annually.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India — issues licences for any business involved in manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of food. Three tiers: Basic, State, Central based on turnover.
Import Export Code — a 10-digit code issued by DGFT, mandatory for any business doing import/export. One IEC per PAN.
Declaration for commencement of business — every company incorporated after Nov 2018 must file this within 180 days of incorporation, confirming subscribers have paid for their shares.
Notice of change in situation/registered office of the company — filed within 30 days of changing registered office within the same city.
Active Company Tagging Identities and Verification — one-time filing to confirm company is active and address is verifiable. KYC of the company itself.
Limited Liability Partnership — a corporate structure under LLP Act 2008 that combines flexibility of partnership with limited liability protection of a company.
Annual return filed by every company with the ROC within 60 days of the AGM. Contains details of shareholders, directors, share capital and indebtedness.
Abridged Annual Return — a simpler version of MGT-7 applicable to OPC and Small Companies (paid-up capital ≤ ₹4 cr, turnover ≤ ₹40 cr).
A foundational document defining the company's name, registered office, objects, liability and capital. Cannot be easily altered.
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises — businesses classified based on investment in plant/machinery and turnover. Now registered as Udyam. Eligible for govt schemes, priority lending and delayed payment protection.
Half-yearly return on outstanding payments to MSME suppliers — filed by all companies that have dues to MSME suppliers outstanding for more than 45 days.
One Person Company — a company with a single shareholder and a nominee. Must convert to Pvt Ltd if paid-up capital exceeds ₹50 lakh or 3-year average turnover crosses ₹2 cr.
Return of allotment of shares — filed within 30 days of share allotment, providing details of allottees and consideration received.
Half-yearly reconciliation of share capital audit report by unlisted public companies.
A senior MCA officer with jurisdiction over multiple states, authorised to approve specific matters like change of registered office between states, conversion of OPC etc.
Registrar of Companies — the statutory authority under the MCA that registers companies and LLPs and receives all corporate filings. India has ROCs in major cities/states.
Reserve Unique Name — the MCA service for reserving a company or LLP name before incorporation. Valid for 20 days (extendable).
Form for filing increase in authorised share capital of a company with the ROC.
Simplified Proforma for Incorporating a Company Electronically Plus — the integrated form for company incorporation that combines name reservation, incorporation, DIN, PAN, TAN, GST, EPFO, ESIC and bank account opening.
Application for striking off the name of a company — used for voluntary closure of dormant or non-operating companies.
Tax Deducted at Source — a mechanism where the payer deducts tax before making payment to the receiver. Must be deposited with the Income Tax Department and reported in quarterly returns (Form 24Q, 26Q etc.).
The current online registration system for MSME (Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises). Free registration, based on self-declaration linked to PAN and Aadhaar.
eXtensible Business Reporting Language — a standardised XML format for financial reporting. AOC-4 XBRL is mandatory for specified companies (listed, capital ≥ ₹5 cr, turnover ≥ ₹100 cr, NBFCs).
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Talk to a CA →Sources: Definitions are based on the Companies Act 2013, LLP Act 2008, Income Tax Act 1961, GST Act 2017, and notifications issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), CBDT and CBIC. For authoritative text, refer to mca.gov.in and incometax.gov.in.