Free Guide — Startups & Founders
Startup Compliance
Startup Compliance
Roadmap: Year 0–3
From incorporation to Series A — every compliance obligation your startup needs to meet, in the exact sequence it happens.
Free Download
Startup Compliance
Roadmap
Roadmap
Year 0–3 Complete Guide | 52 Pages
Y0
Incorp.
Q1
GST
Y1
ROC
Y2
FDI
Y3
Scale
Get the Free Roadmap
Startup compliance calendar included. No spam.
Please enter your name and phone number.
✓
Download Ready!
Your startup compliance roadmap is on its way.
⬇ Download Roadmap PDFQuestions? Call us: +91 98914 64610
What's Inside
Everything Founders Get
Wrong About Compliance
Most startups discover compliance gaps during due diligence — when it's expensive to fix. This guide puts compliance ahead of fundraising chaos.
- Pre-Incorporation Checklist — Name availability, DSC, DIN, MOA/AOA drafting, registered office requirements before you file with MCA.
- Post-Incorporation Filings — INC-20A (business commencement), first board meeting, appointment of auditor (ADT-1), share allotment (PAS-3).
- DPIIT Startup Recognition — How to get recognised under Startup India, ₹0 angel tax certificate (Section 56(2)(viib) exemption), tax holiday eligibility.
- GST Registration & First 3 Months — Registration timing, GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B filing calendar, ITC reconciliation, e-invoicing thresholds.
- TDS Compliance for Payroll & Vendors — Salary TDS (192), contractor TDS (194C), professional fees (194J), TDS return filing deadlines (Form 24Q, 26Q).
- Labour Law Timeline — When PF (20 employees), ESI (10 employees), Professional Tax, and Gratuity Act obligations kick in for your headcount.
- Annual ROC Filings — MGT-7 (annual return), AOC-4 (financial statements), DIR-3 KYC for all directors — due dates and late fees.
- Fundraising Compliance — FDI reporting (FC-GPR within 30 days), ESOP documentation, convertible note structuring, RBI FIRMS portal.
- IP Protection Strategy — Trademark for brand name, copyright for code/content, provisional patent for product — timeline and budget planning.
Compliance Timeline
Key Milestones
Year by Year
Y0
Month 0-1
Incorporation + Immediate Filings
INC-20A, first board meeting, auditor appointment, bank account opening, share allotment
Q1
Month 1-3
GST + DPIIT + Trademark
GST registration, first GSTR-3B, DPIIT application, trademark search and filing
Y1
Month 9-12
Annual Compliance Cycle
First statutory audit, AOC-4 and MGT-7 filing, Income Tax return, DIR-3 KYC renewal
Y2
Fundraising Year
FDI + ESOP + Series A Prep
FC-GPR on foreign investment, ESOP pool creation, FEMA compliance, due diligence readiness
Y3
Scale-up
Labour Laws + Tax Holiday Exit
PF/ESI as headcount grows, 80-IAC tax holiday (3 years from incorporation) ends, transfer pricing if foreign entity
Reviews
What Founders Say
★★★★★
"We almost missed the INC-20A deadline — no one told us it's required within 180 days. TaxClue's guide has a countdown checklist. Saved us from a ₹50,000 penalty and potential company strike-off."
★★★★★
"The DPIIT section alone is worth ten accountants. Getting angel tax exemption on our seed round saved ₹8 lakhs in tax. The guide walks through every document you need for Form 56(2)(viib) — crystal clear."
More Startup & Funding Tools
Explore related free calculators and tools built by our chartered accountants — pick one from the panel to keep going, or browse the full toolkit.
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.