Private Limited Company
Registration, Online via SPICe+
What a Pvt Ltd company needs to register — 2 directors, no minimum capital, DIN + DSC and the MCA SPICe+ form — the real cost, documents, timeline and the annual compliance that follows.
A Private Limited Company is registered online through the MCA SPICe+ (INC-32) form. You need a minimum of 2 directors and 2 shareholders (they can be the same people), a unique name, a registered office and no minimum paid-up capital (removed in 2015). Each director needs a DSC and gets a DIN allotted inside SPICe+. Government fee is roughly Rs 0-6,000 (capital-linked); with professional help the all-in cost is about Rs 7,000-25,000 and the Certificate of Incorporation (with company PAN & TAN) is usually issued in 10-15 working days.
SPICe+ (Part A name reservation + Part B incorporation) bundles name approval, DIN allotment, PAN, TAN, and — via the linked AGILE-PRO-S form — EPFO, ESIC, profession tax and an optional bank account and GSTIN, so a company is incorporated and tax-ready in a single filing on the mca.gov.in portal.
Pvt Ltd vs LLP vs OPC vs Sole Proprietorship
The right entity depends on ownership, liability, funding plans and compliance appetite. Pvt Ltd suits startups raising equity; a LLP or OPC may fit smaller or single-owner setups.
| Parameter | Pvt Ltd | LLP | OPC | Sole Prop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum members | 2 dir + 2 shr | 2 partners | 1 dir + 1 nominee | 1 owner |
| Limited liability | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Foreign investment (FDI) | Yes | Yes (conditions) | No | No |
| Equity funding (VC/PE) | Best suited | Difficult | Not suitable | Not suitable |
| Statutory audit | Always | Turnover-based | Always | Only if 44AB |
| Base tax rate | 22% (115BAA) | 30% | 22-25% | Slab rate |
Company effective rate under Sec 115BAA is ~25.17% incl. 10% surcharge & 4% cess. Rates as per Income-tax Act; verify current provisions before opting.
Documents & Eligibility for Pvt Ltd Registration
Every director and shareholder must furnish identity and address proof; the registered office needs recent address proof plus an owner NOC. You can use a home address as the registered office.
- PAN card of every director & shareholder
- Aadhaar card of every director
- Passport (mandatory for foreign nationals/NRIs)
- Passport-size photo, email & mobile of each director
- Latest bank statement / utility bill (address proof)
- Registered office proof — electricity bill not older than 2 months
- NOC from the property owner (if premises are rented)
- Rent agreement (for rented office)
- Proposed company names (2-3 options, MCA compliant)
- Details of authorized & paid-up capital and shareholding
There is no minimum paid-up capital, so even Rs 10,000 works. The bigger hurdle is the name: it must be unique, not identical or too similar to an existing company/LLP or a registered trademark, and must not use restricted words. Run a company name availability check before filing to avoid rejection and re-fee.
Not sure your name will pass MCA and trademark screening?
Get a name & structure check →The Pvt Ltd Registration Process
DIN for first directors is allotted inside SPICe+ — no separate DIN application is needed. After incorporation, open the company bank account and complete the commencement-of-business filing (Form INC-20A) within 180 days.
| Cost head | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MCA government fee | Rs 0-6,000 | Capital-linked; nil filing fee up to Rs 15L authorized capital in many states |
| Stamp duty (MoA/AoA) | State-based | Varies by state & authorized capital |
| DSC (2 directors) | Rs 1,500-2,000 | Class-3 DSC, valid 2 years |
| Professional fee (CA/CS) | Rs 5,000-15,000 | Drafting, filing & end-to-end handling |
| All-in total | Rs 7,000-25,000 | Depends on capital, state & add-ons |
Beware sites quoting a flat government fee — MCA fee is capital-slab based and stamp duty is state-specific.
A newly incorporated Pvt Ltd can seek DPIIT Startup India recognition, and an eligible startup can claim a 100% tax holiday for 3 consecutive years out of 10 under Section 80-IAC. The eligibility window (date of incorporation) has been extended in recent Budgets — confirm the current cut-off before relying on it.
Annual Compliance for a Private Limited Company
A Pvt Ltd carries the heaviest compliance of the common structures — a statutory audit is mandatory every year regardless of turnover, plus ROC and income-tax filings. Missing these attracts daily penalties and can disqualify directors.
| Filing | Form | When |
|---|---|---|
| Auditor appointment | ADT-1 | Within 15 days of first AGM |
| Financial statements | AOC-4 | Within 30 days of AGM |
| Annual return | MGT-7 / MGT-7A | Within 60 days of AGM |
| Director KYC | DIR-3 KYC | By 30 June, once every 3 FYs |
| Commencement of business | INC-20A | Within 180 days of incorporation |
| Income-tax return | ITR-6 | By the company due date (audit case) |
MGT-7A is the abridged annual return for OPCs and small companies. Dates follow the AGM/financial year; verify the current year deadlines.
Choose Pvt Ltd if
- You plan to raise equity from VCs, angels or investors
- You want limited liability and a distinct legal identity
- You need FDI or ESOPs for employees
- Credibility with banks, clients and vendors matters
Reconsider if
- You are a solo owner with no funding plans (consider OPC/proprietorship)
- You want minimal compliance and cost
- Your revenue is small and audit cost outweighs the benefit
- A LLP's lighter compliance suits your professional practice
Want your ROC, audit and ITR handled after incorporation?
See annual compliance →Pvt Ltd Registration — Frequently Asked Questions
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Register Your Private Limited Company, End to End
Our CA/CS-led team reserves your name, obtains DSC and DIN, drafts the MoA/AoA, files SPICe+ and gets your Certificate of Incorporation with PAN and TAN — then keeps your ROC, audit and ITR compliant. 100% online, across India.