Company Registration Cost in India: Where Every Rupee Goes
Registering a small private limited company costs little in government fees. With authorised capital up to Rs 15 lakh the MCA filing fee is zero. You pay State stamp duty, Rs 131 for PAN and TAN, Rs 1,000 if you reserve the name separately, the cost of digital signatures, and a professional's fee. The yearly running costs matter more.
- SPICe+ filing fee: zero for authorised capital up to Rs 15 lakh.
- PAN costs Rs 66 and TAN Rs 65, paid in the same challan.
- Name reservation costs Rs 1,000 only when Part A is filed on its own.
- Stamp duty depends on the State and on authorised capital. In Delhi it works out to Rs 360 for Rs 1 lakh of capital.
- GST, EPFO, ESIC and bank account applications made with the incorporation form carry no fee.
In this guide
What does the government charge?
Less than most people expect. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) gives a zero filing fee concession to companies incorporated through SPICe+ with authorised capital up to Rs 15 lakh. Authorised capital is the ceiling up to which the company can issue shares. In MCA's words, such companies pay only the stamp duty of their State.
| Item | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| SPICe+ filing fee, authorised capital up to Rs 15 lakh | Rs 0 | MCA |
| SPICe+ filing fee, above Rs 15 lakh | Rises with authorised capital | MCA |
| Name reservation, if Part A is filed separately | Rs 1,000 | MCA |
| Extending a reserved name beyond 20 days | Rs 1,000 for 20 more days, Rs 3,000 to reach 60 days | MCA |
| PAN | Rs 66 | Through the MCA challan |
| TAN | Rs 65 | Through the MCA challan |
| Stamp duty on the form, MOA and AOA | Varies by State | State government, paid on the MCA portal |
| GSTIN, EPFO, ESIC, bank account request | Rs 0 | No fee |
Why does stamp duty change from State to State?
Because stamp duty is a State tax. Each State sets its own duty on the incorporation form, the memorandum (MOA) and the articles (AOA). The MCA portal works out the amount from your registered office State and authorised capital, and collects it online. You do not buy stamp paper.
| State | Form | MOA | AOA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | Rs 10 | Rs 200 | 0.15% of authorised capital, up to a ceiling of Rs 25 lakh |
| Maharashtra | Rs 100 | Rs 200 | Rs 1,000 for every Rs 5 lakh of authorised capital or part of it, up to a ceiling of Rs 50 lakh |
These two rows are from MCA's e-stamp schedule for companies with share capital. Other States differ, and published figures for some of them disagree with each other, so I have not listed them. The number the portal shows at payment is the one that counts.
What does a digital signature cost?
Every subscriber and director signs with a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), which sits on a USB token. Licensed agencies sell them, not the government, so prices vary. One seller's guide puts a two-year signing certificate at about Rs 900 to Rs 1,700, and the token at Rs 300 to Rs 900. For two directors, plan for roughly Rs 2,400 to Rs 5,200. If you already hold a valid DSC, reuse it.
What about the professional's fee?
The form must be certified by a practising CA, CS or cost accountant, so some fee is unavoidable. There is no official scale. Quotes differ by city, by how many directors there are and by whether a foreign national is involved. Since the government portion is small and fixed, a quote is mostly the price of someone's time and care. Ask three questions before you agree:
- Does the quote include stamp duty and DSCs, or are they extra?
- Does it cover replies if MCA sends the form back? Only two resubmissions are allowed.
- Does it include INC-20A, the commencement declaration due within 180 days?
A worked example: two founders, Rs 1 lakh capital
Anita and Vikram register a company in Delhi with Rs 1 lakh authorised capital. Neither has a DSC. They reserve the name first.
| Item | Delhi | Same company in Maharashtra |
|---|---|---|
| SPICe+ filing fee | Rs 0 | Rs 0 |
| Name reservation | Rs 1,000 | Rs 1,000 |
| PAN and TAN | Rs 131 | Rs 131 |
| Stamp duty | Rs 360 (Rs 10 + Rs 200 + Rs 150) | Rs 1,300 (Rs 100 + Rs 200 + Rs 1,000) |
| Two DSCs with tokens | Rs 2,400 to Rs 5,200 | Rs 2,400 to Rs 5,200 |
| Total before professional fee | Rs 3,891 to Rs 6,691 | Rs 4,831 to Rs 7,631 |
Filing the name and the incorporation together saves the Rs 1,000. So if a quote runs to five figures, almost all of it is the professional's fee. That is fine, as long as you know what it buys.
What does it cost to keep the company running?
This is the part that surprises founders. A company has yearly duties even with zero sales.
| Yearly item | Government fee | What else you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory audit of the accounts | None | The auditor's fee, every year |
| Financial statements (AOC-4) | Rs 300 for share capital of Rs 1 lakh up to Rs 5 lakh, Rs 400 up to Rs 25 lakh | Preparation and filing help |
| Annual return (MGT-7 or MGT-7A) | Same slabs as above | Preparation and filing help |
| Company income tax return | None | Filing help |
| Director KYC (DIR-3 KYC Web) | None if on time. Now due once in three financial years | Nothing, if you do it yourself |
| DSC renewal | None | Seller's price, about every two years |
Late filing is where money leaks. The additional fee reported for a late AOC-4 or annual return is Rs 100 a day for each form. Two forms, 30 days late: Rs 6,000 on top of the normal Rs 600. Ninety days late: Rs 18,000.
The mistake people usually make
Picking a large authorised capital to look substantial. It does not impress a bank or a customer, who look at your turnover and paid-up money. It does raise your cost. In Maharashtra, Rs 15 lakh of authorised capital means Rs 3,000 of AOA duty instead of Rs 1,000. Cross Rs 15 lakh anywhere and the zero filing fee is gone. Start small. You can raise authorised capital later, when an investor needs it.
The other mistake is comparing only registration quotes. Ask what the yearly audit and filings will cost before you incorporate. If that number feels heavy for your stage, read our comparison of proprietorship, LLP, OPC and private limited first.
Sources
- MCA: FAQs on SPICe+ and linked filings (fees, zero filing fee, PAN and TAN) (checked 12 Nov 2026)
- MCA: FAQs on the AGILE-PRO-S form (no fee for GSTIN, EPFO, ESIC) (checked 12 Nov 2026)
- MCA: FAQs on e-stamp and paying stamp duty on the portal (checked 12 Nov 2026)
- MCA: FAQs on DIR-3 KYC Web (checked 12 Nov 2026)
How AprilTax can help
AprilTax registers private limited companies, one person companies and limited companies online. You fill one form with the company details and documents, and a Tax Expert takes it forward. There is no published fixed fee for this service: the fee is shared on a call. See company registration.
Frequently asked questions
What is the government fee for registering a private limited company?
How much is stamp duty on company incorporation?
Is there a separate fee for PAN and TAN of a new company?
What does a digital signature for a director cost?
Is there a fee for GST registration or a bank account at incorporation?
What are the yearly costs of a private limited company?
What is the late fee for annual filings of a company?
What does AprilTax charge for company registration?
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