Section 8 Company Registration Cost
See your exact all-in cost to incorporate a Section 8 (non-profit) company — government fees, professional charges, DSC/DIN and 12A/80G add-ons, live on one screen.
Itemised cost breakdown
Get your Section 8 company registered end-to-end
TaxClue handles name approval, INC-12 licence, MOA/AOA, DIN, DSC and 12A/80G — with a money-back guarantee.
Disclaimer: Estimates include indicative government fees + TaxClue professional charges for a Section 8 company. Actual costs may vary by state, share capital and requirements. Govt fee subject to MCA/RoC notifications.
What's included in your Section 8 registration
The total you see above is a complete, all-in setup cost — not just the government fee. A Section 8 company is incorporated on the MCA portal like any company, but with an extra central-government licence step. Here is what goes into the cost.
Government filing fee
The MCA / RoC filing and stamp duty paid to the government for the SPICe+ incorporation forms and MOA/AOA. Section 8 companies enjoy fee exemptions, so this stays low.
Professional fee
TaxClue's end-to-end charge — name reservation, INC-12 licence application, drafting and filing until your Certificate of Incorporation is issued. Fixed for Section 8.
DSC & DIN
A Digital Signature Certificate (₹1,500/director) is required to sign the e-forms, and each director also needs a Director Identification Number (₹500/director).
12A / 80G & other add-ons
Optional but recommended — 12A gives the NGO income-tax exemption and 80G lets donors claim a deduction. GST, MSME and Trademark can be added on top.
The Section 8 licence & INC-12
Unlike a normal Private Limited company, a Section 8 company must first obtain a licence from the Central Government (Registrar of Companies) confirming its non-profit objectives. This is why the timeline is longer.
Why a Section 8 company — key benefits
A Section 8 company is the most credible way to run an NGO in India. It combines the structure of a company with the tax advantages of a charitable body, once 12A and 80G are in place.
Members and directors are protected — personal assets are separate from the NGO's obligations, unlike a trust or society.
With 80G, donors can claim a deduction on their contributions, making it far easier to raise funds.
With 12A, the company's surplus applied to its objectives is exempt from income tax.
There is no prescribed minimum share capital, so you can start with a nominal amount and keep filing fees low.
Regulated by the MCA and RoC, a Section 8 company is trusted by CSR donors, grant agencies and foreign funders (with FCRA).
Section 8 companies can drop the "Limited"/"Private Limited" suffix and use names like Foundation or Association.
What is a Section 8 company?
A company formed to promote commerce, art, science, sports, education, research, social welfare, religion, charity or environmental protection, which applies its profits to those objects and pays no dividend to members. It is the corporate form of a not-for-profit.
How is it registered?
Through SPICe+ with a licence under section 8 applied for in Form INC-12 or within the incorporation application, supported by draft MOA in Form INC-13, a declaration in INC-14 from a professional, an estimate of income and expenditure for three years, and a declaration by the promoters in INC-15.
What does registration cost?
The MCA filing fees, DSCs and DINs for the directors, professional fees for the licence application and drafting, and — separately — the cost of 12A and 80G registration if the entity wants tax exemption and donor deductions.
How does it compare with a trust or a society?
A Section 8 company has a national registration, stronger governance and greater credibility with donors and CSR funders, at the cost of annual ROC compliance and audit. A trust or society is cheaper to run but is registered under state law.
Does a Section 8 company need 12A and 80G?
Section 8 status is a company-law licence, not a tax exemption. To exempt its income you need registration under section 12A, and to give donors a deduction you need approval under section 80G — both applied for separately.
Disclaimer: This tool gives indicative results for general guidance only and is not professional advice. Please verify with a qualified CA before acting on the numbers.