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India setup & compliance planner

Change any parameter on the left and every checklist, tax position, RBI filing and due date on the right updates instantly. Each item explains why it applies to you.

For this profile a Private Limited Company is usually the better fit than a Public Limited Company.

  • A private limited company can receive FDI under the automatic route in most sectors and issues share capital that the RBI reporting system is built around.
  • A public limited company needs 7 shareholders and 3 directors and attracts the heaviest disclosure regime. Choose it only if wide shareholding or a listing is genuinely planned.
Ask the AI advisor about this scenario

10

Setup steps

11

Documents

9

Registrations

20

Recurring filings

Incorporation roadmap for a Public Limited Company

Sequence, authority, indicative timeline and the form used at each step.

  1. 1

    Obtain Digital Signature Certificates

    Class 3 DSC
    2–5 working days

    Licensed certifying authority

    Every proposed director / designated partner and the authorised signatory of the foreign parent needs a Class 3 DSC. Foreign nationals need apostilled or consularised identity documents plus video verification.

    Required for all MCA filings, regardless of entity type.

  2. 2

    Reserve the entity name

    SPICe+ Part A (or RUN)
    1–3 working days

    MCA / Central Registration Centre

    Two name choices can be submitted. If the name uses the foreign parent's trademark, attach the parent's no-objection letter and board resolution. An approved name is reserved for 20 days.

    Name approval route differs by entity type — you selected Public Ltd.

  3. 3

    File the incorporation application

    SPICe+ Part B with e-MOA (INC-33) and e-AOA (INC-34), AGILE-PRO-S
    7–15 working days

    MCA / ROC

    SPICe+ Part B bundles DIN allotment, PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, profession tax (in some states) and bank account opening into one application. Subscriber sheets signed outside India must be apostilled.

    Incorporation form is fixed by the entity type: Public Limited Company.

  4. 4

    Activate PAN and TAN

    Issued with incorporation
    Issued with the certificate of incorporation

    Income Tax Department

    PAN identifies the entity for income tax; TAN is needed before you can deduct and deposit TDS on the very first salary, rent or professional fee payment.

    Every entity needs both before it makes its first payment.

  5. 5

    Open the current account and complete bank KYC

    1–3 weeks

    AD Category-I bank

    Open with an Authorised Dealer bank so it can receive and report your inward remittance. Banks ask for the parent's charter documents, the ownership chart up to the ultimate beneficial owner, and board resolutions.

    You expect inbound foreign remittance, so the account must be with an AD Category-I bank.

  6. 6

    Receive the inward remittance and collect FIRC / KYC report

    Same week as remittance

    AD bank / RBI

    The parent remits capital citing the correct purpose code. Collect the FIRC and the KYC report from the receiving bank on day one — the RBI filing cannot be completed without them.

    You indicated an inbound foreign remittance into the Indian entity.

  7. 7

    File the declaration of commencement of business

    INC-20A
    Within 180 days of incorporation

    MCA / ROC

    Filed once every subscriber has paid the subscription money into the company account. Until it is filed the company cannot legally start business or borrow.

    Applies to every company with share capital.

  8. 8

    Allot shares and report FC-GPR

    FC-GPR
    Allotment within 60 days of receipt; FC-GPR within 30 days of allotment

    RBI via FIRMS / SMF portal

    Shares must be allotted within 60 days of receiving the money or it must be refunded. FC-GPR is then filed with the FIRC, KYC report, valuation certificate and company secretary certificate.

    Foreign capital into a company must be reported to the RBI.

  9. 9

    Complete tax and labour registrations

    2–4 weeks, in parallel

    GST, state labour departments, EPFO / ESIC

    GST registration is state-wise, Shops & Establishment registration is city-wise, and PF / ESI coverage follows headcount. See the Registrations tab for the exact list your inputs trigger.

    Driven by your industry (Software / IT services), headcount (12) and locations (Karnataka).

  10. 10

    Set up books, payroll and the compliance calendar

    Before the first transaction

    Internal

    Appoint the first statutory auditor within 30 days of incorporation (companies), fix the financial year end at 31 March, and put the monthly GST / TDS / payroll dates into a live calendar.

    Statutory auditor appointment and the 31 March year end apply to every Indian entity.

This planner is an orientation tool, not legal or tax advice. Thresholds, rates and forms change with each Finance Act and RBI circular — validate your specific facts with a licensed Indian professional before filing.