FSSAI Closure Report
& License Surrender —
Exit Cleanly
Closing your food business? Filing a Closure Report stops ongoing FSSAI compliance obligations from the date of closure. Surrendering your license formally cancels it — stopping renewal fees, annual return duties, and future penalty exposure.
File Closure / Surrender
Expert calls within ✅ 30 minutes
Two Ways to Exit — Know Which One You Need
A Closure Report and a License Surrender are not the same thing. One informs FSSAI your business has stopped. The other formally and permanently cancels your license. Select below to understand the difference.
FSSAI Closure Report Filing
When a food business ceases operations — permanently or temporarily — it must notify FSSAI by filing a Closure Report through the FoSCoS portal. This officially records the date your food business stopped and halts any further compliance obligations (annual returns, renewal obligations) from that date.
- ✓Filed when food business operations have permanently or temporarily stopped
- ✓Stops the annual return filing obligation from the reported closure date
- ✓Prevents further FSSAI renewal notices and compliance demands
- ✓Required if premises have been vacated or demolished
- ✓Filed even if you intend to restart later under a new FSSAI
- ✓Applies to Basic, State, and Central License holders
Documents Required
Filing Details
Filing a Closure Report marks your business as inactive on FSSAI records but does not cancel the license number. If you ever reopen, you can reactivate — or you can proceed to formal surrender. Most businesses file closure first, then surrender after 30–60 days.
Business stopped? File a Closure Report first — stops all future obligations immediately.
Surrender of FSSAI License
License Surrender is the formal, permanent cancellation of your FSSAI registration or license. Once surrendered, the 14-digit license number is cancelled in FSSAI's central database. FSSAI issues a No Objection Certificate (NOC) confirming your food business has been legally closed and all obligations are cleared.
- ✓Permanently cancels the 14-digit FSSAI license number
- ✓FSSAI issues NOC confirming clean exit and no pending obligations
- ✓Required when selling the business (new owner applies fresh)
- ✓Eliminates future renewal fee obligations permanently
- ✓Clears compliance record — useful for directors starting new ventures
- ✓All pending annual returns must be filed before surrender is accepted
Documents Required
Filing Details
FSSAI will not accept a surrender application if any annual return (Form D1 or D2) is pending. TaxClue files all outstanding returns first and then processes the surrender in a single engagement.
Permanently closing? Surrender your license and get your NOC from FSSAI.
What Happens If You Close Without Filing?
Many business owners simply stop operating and assume their FSSAI obligations disappear. They don't. FSSAI continues to expect annual returns and renewal fees until a formal Closure Report or Surrender is filed. Years of unfiled returns create a compliance backlog that can block future licenses, business loans, and new ventures for the same directors.
Closure Report vs License Surrender — At a Glance
| Feature | 📋 Closure Report | 🚫 License Surrender |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Marks business as inactive | Permanently cancels the license |
| FSSAI license number | Inactive but exists | Cancelled — deleted |
| Reversible? | Yes — can reactivate | No — permanent |
| NOC issued? | No | Yes — formal NOC |
| Annual returns stopped? | Yes — from closure date | Yes — permanently |
| Pending returns needed first? | Clear recommended | Mandatory — FSSAI blocks otherwise |
| Processing time | 7–15 working days | 15–30 working days |
| Govt. fee | Nil | Nil |
| Best for | Temporary or recent closure | Permanent exit, selling business |
| Typical flow | File first | File after closure report or directly |
💡 Recommended Approach for Most Businesses File a Closure Report first (stops all compliance obligations immediately), then wait 30–60 days and file a License Surrender to get the formal NOC. TaxClue handles both steps in a single engagement at no extra charge.
How TaxClue Handles Your FSSAI Exit
Whether you need a Closure Report, License Surrender, or both — here's exactly what happens after you contact us.
C Closure Report — Process
Free Consultation & Assessment
Share your FSSAI license details and closure date. We assess pending returns, draft the closure declaration, and create a document checklist.
Day 1 — 30 minsClear Pending Annual Returns
If any Form D1 or D2 returns are pending, we file them before the closure application to prevent complications.
Day 1–3File Closure Report on FoSCoS
We file the Closure Report on the FoSCoS portal with the exact closure date, all supporting documents, and the signed declaration.
Day 3–5FSSAI Acknowledgement Delivered
Filing acknowledgement confirms your business is marked inactive from the reported date. All future compliance obligations cease.
Day 7–15S License Surrender — Process
Returns & Compliance Clearance
All pending annual returns must be filed before surrender. We check and clear the compliance record — D1 and D2 if applicable.
Day 1–5Surrender Application Prepared
We prepare the formal surrender application, declaration letter, board resolution (if company), and all supporting closure evidence.
Day 5–7Filed on FoSCoS — Surrender Request
Surrender application submitted on FoSCoS. FSSAI may schedule a verification call or document review for State and Central licenses.
Day 7–10NOC Issued — License Cancelled
FSSAI issues the No Objection Certificate confirming permanent license cancellation. The 14-digit number is closed in FSSAI's database.
Day 15–30❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — and you should, as soon as possible. FSSAI allows retrospective closure reports with the actual closure date. However, any annual returns that were due between your actual closure date and today may still be required to be filed (or you may need to provide evidence of closure to waive them). TaxClue will assess your specific situation, file any necessary outstanding returns, and then submit the Closure Report with the actual historical date. This immediately stops the ongoing late fee accumulation.
For a Closure Report, it's strongly recommended but not always strictly blocked by FSSAI for Basic Registration holders. For License Surrender, however, all pending annual returns (Form D1 and D2) must be filed before FSSAI will accept the surrender application — this is a hard requirement. TaxClue assesses your pending returns, files them first at minimum late fee, and then immediately processes the Closure Report or Surrender in the same engagement.
The buyer must apply for a fresh FSSAI license in their own name. FSSAI registrations and licenses are person/entity-specific and cannot be transferred. If you are selling the business, you should surrender your FSSAI license after the sale is complete (or at least file a Closure Report). The buyer applies for their own FSSAI at the same premises. TaxClue assists both sides — surrender for the seller and fresh application for the buyer.
The FSSAI No Objection Certificate (NOC) is a formal document issued after your license is surrendered, confirming that your food business has legally closed, all obligations are cleared, and FSSAI has no pending action against your license. You may need this NOC when: (1) applying for a business loan for a new venture, (2) showing clean compliance history to investors, (3) company strike-off proceedings with MCA, (4) real estate transactions involving a vacated food premises, or (5) applying for fresh FSSAI in a new capacity.
Yes — a Closure Report marks your license as inactive but does not cancel it. If you reopen the same food business at the same address, you can apply to reactivate your existing license. If you reopen at a new address or as a new business structure, you'll need a fresh FSSAI application. This is one reason many businesses prefer filing a Closure Report first before deciding on surrender — it keeps the option to reactivate open for 30–60 days while you make the final decision.
No — FSSAI surrender cancels only your FSSAI license. Your GST registration, Trademark, MSME / Udyam, and other registrations remain active and must be cancelled separately through their respective portals (GST portal, Trademark Registry, etc.). TaxClue advises a coordinated exit strategy for businesses closing completely — FSSAI surrender, GST cancellation, and company strike-off or firm dissolution can often be handled together to ensure a clean, complete closure across all registrations.
⚠️ Mistakes That Delay Closure & Surrender
These errors cause rejection, refiling, and continued penalty accumulation:
- Attempting surrender without clearing pending annual returns — FSSAI rejects the application outright
- Filing closure with the wrong date — using today's date when business actually closed 18 months ago
- Not attaching proof of closure — FSSAI requires documentary evidence (lease surrender, utility disconnect)
- Confusing closure and surrender — filing closure when you need surrender means having to file again later
- Missing board resolution for company or LLP surrender — required for entities with multiple directors/partners
- Not informing Swiggy/Zomato/Amazon to delist before surrender — leads to platform-side compliance issues
- Assuming verbal or physical closure is enough — FSSAI compliance obligations continue until formally filed
India's Trusted FSSAI Exit Specialists
Returns Cleared Before Closure
Pending annual returns block surrender applications. TaxClue identifies and files all outstanding D1/D2 returns first — at minimum late fee — before the closure or surrender is filed.
NOC Procurement Tracked
After surrender, TaxClue follows up with FSSAI until the NOC is issued and delivered to you. We don't consider the engagement closed until you have the NOC in hand.
Closure + Surrender in One
Most businesses need both steps — Closure Report first, then Surrender. TaxClue handles both in a single engagement, managing the correct sequence so nothing gets rejected.
Backlog Clearance Specialists
Business closed 2–4 years ago and never filed? TaxClue handles multi-year backlog annual returns (D1 + D2), calculates minimum late fees, and processes historical closure in one go.
Correct Retrospective Date
Filing the right closure date is critical. We document the actual closure date with proper evidence so late fees are calculated correctly — not from today.
1,500+ Clean Exits
Restaurants, cloud kitchens, manufacturers, importers — across Basic, State, and Central licenses — TaxClue has handled every type of FSSAI exit cleanly.
Complete FSSAI Compliance by TaxClue
FSSAI Annual Return
File Form D1 and Form D2 before surrendering. Due 31st May every year.
Learn More →FSSAI License Renewal
Not closing? Renew your FSSAI before expiry. Same-day filing for urgent cases.
Learn More →FSSAI Amendment
Modification, nominee change, product addition — update instead of surrendering.
Learn More →Fresh FSSAI Registration
Starting a new food business after closure? Get the right FSSAI first.
Learn More →Company Strike-Off
Winding up a Pvt. Ltd. or LLP? FSSAI surrender is part of the full closure.
Learn More →FSSAI Closure Report & License Surrender — Done Right
Don't let a closed business keep generating penalties and compliance notices. TaxClue files your Closure Report, clears pending returns, and processes the formal Surrender to get your NOC — all in one place.
🔒 Confidential · 4.9★ Google Rating · Backlog Returns Cleared · NOC Procurement Included · 1,500+ Clean Exits