MGT-7 and AOC-4 Revised explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Two notifications dated 30 May 2025 replaced the e-forms used for the annual return and for filing financial statements, with effect from 14 July 2025. This guide reads the notifications themselves: it explains what the substituted forms contain and the new rule 12(1C), without a field-by-field walkthrough and without portal steps. The Companies Act, 2013 is read in the Ministry's consolidated text (last updated 29 July 2022), and the rules as consolidated in the Ministry's e-book, consulted on 3 October 2026; the two 2025 notifications are applied as printed in the Gazette copies. Later amendments should be checked.
The Companies (Management and Administration) Amendment Rules, 2025 (G.S.R. 358(E)) substitute Forms MGT-7, MGT-7A and MGT-15; the Companies (Accounts) Second Amendment Rules, 2025 (G.S.R. 357(E)) substitute AOC-1, AOC-2, AOC-4 and its variants and CSR-2, add three extract forms and insert rule 12(1C). Both came into force on 14 July 2025. The notifications print the new forms but do not list what changed from the older versions, so this article describes the forms as they now read.
The two notifications
G.S.R. 358(E), 30 May 2025. Rule 1(2): the rules came into force on 14 July 2025. Rule 2: in the Annexure to the Management and Administration Rules, 2014, for Forms MGT-7, MGT-7A and MGT-15, the e-forms printed in the notification are substituted.
G.S.R. 357(E), 30 May 2025. In force from 14 July 2025. It amends rule 5 and rule 8(2) to refer to "e-Form" AOC-1 and AOC-2; adds POSH numbers to rule 8(5)(x) and a new clause (xiii) on the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (a Board's report matter); inserts rule 12(1C); and substitutes, in the Annexure, the forms AOC-1, AOC-2, AOC-4, AOC-4 CFS, AOC-4-NBFC (Ind AS), AOC-4 CFS NBFC (Ind AS), CSR-2 and three new extract forms. Our board's report articles cover the report items; for forms, see below.
If you want your annual filing prepared on the new forms, see our compliance documentation service.
Form MGT-7 (annual return other than OPCs and small companies)
Rule 11(1) of the Management and Administration Rules says every company files its annual return in Form MGT-7 except a One Person Company and a small company, which file in Form MGT-7A. The substituted MGT-7 is headed "Annual Return (other than OPCs and Small Companies)", pursuant to section 92(1) and rule 11(1). Its parts, by heading, are:
| Part | Heading |
|---|---|
| I | Registration and other details (CIN; financial year; type of annual filing, original or revised; registered office details including latitude and longitude and a photograph of the registered office; class, category and sub-category of the company; listing; registrar and transfer agent; whether the AGM was held, its date, due date, extension and reasons) |
| II | Principal business activities of the company |
| III | Particulars of holding, subsidiary and associate companies (including joint ventures) |
| IV | Share capital, debentures and other securities (including changes during the year and transfers) |
| V | Turnover and net worth of the company |
| VI | Share holding pattern |
| VII | Number of promoters, members, debenture holders |
| VIII | Details of directors and key managerial personnel |
| IX | Meetings of members, class of members, Board and committees |
| X | Remuneration of directors and key managerial personnel |
| XI | Matters related to certification of compliances and disclosures |
| XII | Penalty and punishment, with details of compounding of offences |
| XIII | Details of shareholder or debenture holder |
| XIV | Attachments (list of shareholders and debenture holders; optional attachments) |
| XV | Compliance of section 92(2) for listed companies and companies at the printed paid-up capital or turnover levels: details of the company secretary in practice certifying in Form MGT-8 |
| XVI | Declaration under rule 9(4): designated person's DIN, PAN or membership number and name |
The form carries a declaration that the signer is authorised by the Board, digital signatures of a director (or liquidator, IRP or RP) and a company secretary or company secretary in practice, and a note drawing attention to sections 448 and 449 on false statement and false evidence.
Form MGT-7A (OPC and small company)
The substituted MGT-7A follows the same pattern in fewer parts: registration and other details (including whether the form is filed for an OPC or a small company), principal business activities, associate companies (not applicable for an OPC), share capital and securities, turnover and net worth, shareholding pattern, number of promoters and members, meetings, remuneration of directors, certification matters, penalty and punishment, details of shareholders, attachments and the rule 9(4) declaration. For the small company limits that decide which form applies, see our thresholds table.
Form MGT-15
The substituted MGT-15 is the "Form for filing Report on Annual General Meeting", pursuant to section 121(1) of the Act and rule 31(2) of the Management and Administration Rules. It carries company information and AGM details: financial year, date, day, start and end time and venue.
The designated person: rule 9(4) to (8)
Rule 9(4) to (8) (inserted by the 2023 second amendment and printed in the e-book) require every company to designate a person responsible for furnishing information to the Registrar on beneficial interest in shares; the company may designate a company secretary, a key managerial personnel other than the company secretary, or every director if neither exists; until designation, deemed designation applies as sub-rule (6) lists; the company informs the details of the designated person in the annual return (rule 9(7)); and a change is intimated in e-form GNL-2 (rule 9(8)). That is why Part XVI of MGT-7 and Part XIV of MGT-7A ask for the designated person.
AOC-4 and the family
Form AOC-4 is headed "Form for filing financial statement and other documents with the Registrar", pursuant to section 137 and rule 12(1) of the Accounts Rules. Segment I covers general information and balance sheet particulars. Its general information part asks, among others, for the date of the Board meeting approving the financial statements, the nature of the financial statements (provisional unadopted, adopted, or revised under section 130 or 131), whether adopted in an adjourned AGM, signatory details, the date of the Board's report approval and its signatories, the date of the auditors' report, AGM details and subsidiary details. AOC-4 CFS covers consolidated statements; the NBFC (Ind AS) variants apply to NBFCs required to comply with Ind AS.
Rule 12(1C): the extract forms
Rule 12(1C), inserted by G.S.R. 357(E), says every company, along with the relevant e-Form AOC-4, AOC-4 CFS, AOC-4 XBRL, AOC-4 NBFC (Ind AS) or AOC-4 CFS NBFC (Ind AS) and the respective attachments in portable document format, shall also file the e-Form Extract of Board Report, Extract of Auditor's Report (Standalone) and Extract of Auditor's Report (Consolidated), as the case may be. The proviso adds that a copy of signed financial statements duly authenticated as per section 134, including the Board's report, auditors' report and other documents, in portable document format, is also attached with XBRL forms. The Extract of Board Report is headed pursuant to section 134 and rules 8, 8A and 12 of the Accounts Rules, and asks, among other things, whether the company is an OPC or small company at the financial year end, the web address of the annual return, the Board and committee meetings with attendance, the Directors' Responsibility Statement and frauds reported by auditors under section 143(12) other than those reportable to the Central Government.
For the filing chain, see our guide on filing financial statements and, for lists of directors and members to prepare before the return, the list of directors and shareholders formats.
Worked example (invented names)
Pioneer Metals Limited, a listed company, files for the year ended 31 March 2026. For the annual return it files MGT-7 with a company secretary in practice's certificate in MGT-8, as rule 11(2) requires for listed companies. For the accounts it files AOC-4 and, because it has a subsidiary, AOC-4 CFS, each with PDF attachments, and also the Extract of Board Report and both Extracts of Auditor's Report. It informs its designated person in the annual return under rule 9(7).
Common mistakes
- Using an older version of a form after 14 July 2025.
- Filing AOC-4 without the three extract forms.
- Not naming the designated person in the annual return.
- Treating a revised form as proof of a changed legal requirement; the sections and rules decide what is required.
- Skipping the XBRL attachments where required.
Need help with the revised forms?
We can prepare the annual return and financial statement filings on the substituted forms, with the extracts and attachments. See our compliance documentation service.
Key takeaways
- G.S.R. 358(E) and G.S.R. 357(E) took effect on 14 July 2025.
- MGT-7, MGT-7A, MGT-15, AOC-1, AOC-2, AOC-4 variants and CSR-2 are substituted.
- Rule 12(1C) adds three extract forms with AOC-4.
- The designated person is named in the annual return.
- The notifications print the forms but not a list of changes.
Read next
- List of Directors and List of Shareholders Formats
- Can Unaudited Financial Statements Be Filed With the ROC
- Annual Return Form MGT-7 and MGT-7A
- How to File Form AOC-4 on the MCA Portal
Disclaimer: Based on the Companies Act, 2013 in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs consolidated text (last updated 29 July 2022), the Rules as consolidated in the Ministry's e-book and the other official texts named in this article, as consulted on 3 October 2026. Later amendments, notifications, circulars, forms and fees should be checked. Formats are general drafts to be adapted to the company's articles and facts. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.