Private limited company

Separate and distinct legal entity. Managed by a board of directors, which is responsible for making major business decisions and overseeing the general affairs of the corporation. Directors are elected by the shareholders of the company. Officers, who run the day-to-day operations of the company, are appointed by the directors.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

• Preferred choice of corporate entity by foreign investors because it is simpler to administer.
• Minimum number of shareholders required is 2, with a maximum of 200 non-employee shareholders; share transfers are restricted.
• Minimum capitalization requirement: no minimum capitalization requirement. However, companies continue to use INR0.1 million.
• Must apply and register with the Registrar of Companies (ROC).
• Must have a board of directors with a minimum of 2 directors (only individuals) and must appoint an auditor; board of directors should consist of at least 1 India-resident local director.
• Directors must secure a Directors Identification Number (DIN) and Digital Signature prior to incorporation. The current incorporation form is an integrated form for allotment of DIN, reservation of name and incorporation of a new company.
• Typical charter documents include: certification of incorporation, articles of association (AOA),  memorandum of association (MOA).
• Board of directors has overall management responsibility; officers have day-to-day responsibility.
• Shareholders typically purchase shares in the company, either equity (equivalent to common) or preference (equivalent to preferred).
• Taxed on its earnings at a corporate level as well as taxed on any distributed dividends. Shareholders are taxed on dividends received in excess of INR1 million. Sale or redemption of shares in the company is taxed as capital gains. Any indirect transfer of India shares may trigger indirect tax provisions.

Limited liability partnership

• The Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Act, which was notified in April 2009, allowed LLPs to be incorporated in India.
• LLP is a hybrid form of business with the features of both a legal entity as well as traditional partnership.
• Government approval dispensed with for foreign investments in the LLP where FDI is allowed under the automatic route; in sectors or activities where 100-percent FDI is allowed and no-FDI linked performance condition has been stipulated.
• Minimum of 2 partners (ie, owners) are required. There is no limit to the maximum number of partners. A legal entity can be a member of an LLP.
• Every LLP must have at least 2 designated partners who are individuals, and at least 1 of them must be a resident in India. In case of an LLP where all partners are legal entities or 1 or more partners are individuals and legal entities, at least 2 individuals who are partners of such LLP or nominees of such legal entities must act as designated partners.

• Designated partners are responsible for all acts of an LLP, and designated partners must be accountable for regulatory and legal compliances. No minimum capitalization requirements.

• Similar process of incorporation to a private limited company.
• Designated partners must secure a Designated Partners Identification Number (DPIN) and digital signature prior to incorporation. If designated partners already have a DIN, the DIN may be used.
• Typical charter documents include the LLP agreement. Partners typically contribute to the LLP as defined in the LLP agreement and agree on a profit-sharing ratio.
• An LLP is required to get audit done only if:
  • Contributions of an LLP exceed INR 2.5 million or
  • Annual turnover of an LLP exceeds INR 4 million
• Taxed on its earnings at a corporate level and not taxed on any dividend/Profit Share distributions. Partners are not taxed on dividends.
• While compliance may be less cumbersome than a PLC, the cost of non-compliance is severe.
• The FDI policy allows foreign direct investment under an automatic route in an LLP in specified sectors and has removed the specific prohibition on LLPs availing external commercial borrowings (ECBs). The ECB policy framework includes LLPs as eligible borrowers.
• May not be suitable for all types of business. Suited best for professionals and small to medium businesses.
• Corporate tax rates for LLP are higher as compared to a Private Limited company up to a specified threshold of income. 

Branch office

• A foreign company needs prior approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to establish a branch and is not permitted to expand its activities or undertake any new trading, commercial or industrial activity other than that expressly approved by the RBI.
• Must register itself with the Registrar Of Companies and file audited accounts.
• Only specified activities permitted; cannot undertake any manufacturing activity in India.

Liaison office

• Suitable for foreign companies that wish to set up a representative office as a first step to explore and understand the business and investment climate in India.
• Serves as a communication channel between the parent company overseas and its present or prospective customers in India.
• Must obtain prior approval from RBI before establishing a liaison office.
• Must register itself with the Registrar of Companies and file audited accounts.
• Limited activity: may establish business contacts and may gather market intelligence to promote the products or services of the overseas parent company but cannot undertake any business activity in India or earn any income in India.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Minimum paid-up capital of INR100,000 now optional; minimum authorized capital requirements are based on the name of the entity in India.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Private limited companies provide limited liability to its shareholders, and the shareholders have no personal liability beyond the amount they originally paid for their shares.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

A private limited company is taxed at 2 levels. First, the company pays a corporate tax on its corporate income; then, the company pays dividend distribution tax on profits distributed to shareholders. Further, the shareholders pay an additional tax on dividend received in excess of INR1 million.

Sale or redemption of shares in the company is taxed as capital gains. Any indirect transfer of India shares may trigger indirect tax provisions.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Reserve name; submit memorandum of association and articles of association with the appropriate Registrar of Companies (ROC) in the state where the incorporation is sought. Current online incorporation forms provide for the reservation of name, allotment of DIN and the allotment of tax IDs (PAN and TAN) along with the incorporation.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Highly regarded.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

1st annual general meeting (AGM) to be held within 18 months from incorporation subject to other conditions. Subsequent (AGM) within 6 months from close of year.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

At least 4 times in a year. Maximum gap between 2 meetings should not be more than 120 days. Every director is required to attend at least 1 meeting in a year.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

On or before September 30th for companies exceeding a revenue threshold (INR10 million) and where no international transactions are involved; on or before November 30th for companies with any international transactions. The AGM, annual return due dates for 2020 were extended on account of the Covid-19 pandemic, remains to be seen if there are extensions for 2021. 

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Every company to file a business commencement declaration within 180 days from incorporation certifying that the initial share capital has been remitted by the shareholders and that the company has adhered to registered office verification rules.

In addition, every company to file verification of its registered office within 30 days from incorporation. Audit of accounts to conducted for every financial year within 5 months from the close of the financial year.

Annual returns to be submitted to ROC within 30 days from the date of AGM, and audited financial statements to be submitted to ROC within 60 days from the AGM.

Financial year

Every company's financial year is the period ending on March 31 every year. Only exception available is for subsidiaries of foreign companies to enable them to align with financial year of the parent company. However, such a change is required to be approved by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

No need to change as business expands. Can be easily converted into a public company at any time if required.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Cease operations; file closure documents with ROC.

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Private limited company

Annual shareholder meetings; quarterly board meetings.

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Private limited company

At least 2 directors; new company law regulations mandate the appointment of a local director. Consequently recommend 3 directors: 1 from India and 2 from parent company’s location.

For more information on directors’ duties, see our Global Guide to Directors’ Duties.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Must appoint a company secretary where the paid-up capital of the company exceeds the prescribed limit (formerly INR50 million – threshold increased to INR100 million effective April 1, 2020). Until such threshold, the company may appoint a third-party service provider to manage corporate compliance.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

None except for the forthcoming local director requirement.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Local office or a virtual office capable of accepting letters/post is mandatory before incorporation. The local office address acts as the registered office of the entity in the incorporation documents.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

None.

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Private limited company

No. See “Provision of local registered address by law firm or third-party service provider.”

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Allowed for incorporation. However, considering the liability that could fall on the local directors, provision of local director by law firm or third-party service providers is based on references and on a case-to-case basis.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

None except for the local director requirement.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

None. However, reporting requirements apply.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Directors are elected by the shareholders and are the highest authority in the management of the company. They govern the organization by establishing broad policies and objectives. In contrast, officers are appointed by the directors to oversee day-to-day operations of the company. Directors are personally liable for breach of fiduciary duty, ultra vires acts, negligence, mala fide acts and breach of statutory duties.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Identity of directors and officers is publicly disclosed; identity of shareholders of private, non-listed companies is not publicly disclosed. However, this may be obtained on payment of certain nominal fees.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

There must be a minimum of 2 shareholders and a maximum of 200. For directors, the minimum is 2 and the maximum is 15.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Two shareholders.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Removal of directors is allowed by majority of the shareholders. Size of the board of directors cannot fall below 2.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

None.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

At least 4 times in a year. Maximum gap between 2 meetings should not be more the 120 days. Every director is required to attend at least 1 meeting in a year.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

For a shareholder meeting, usually a majority of shareholders must be present during the shareholder meeting. Corporate shareholders may appoint authorized signatories to attend the meetings on their behalf. For directors, at least 2 directors must be present during a board meeting; alternatively, at least 2 directors must execute written resolutions. Written resolutions (referred to as circular resolutions) cannot be used for all purposes.

Meetings can also be held via videoconference which is recorded and stored. Meetings via video conference cannot be used for certain purposes.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

A bank account can only be opened after incorporation, and the bank account should be in India.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

An annual audit is mandatory. The auditor may be located in any state in India. The company’s books of accounts should be kept locally with either the company or a third-party service provider. The Act now stipulates mandatory rotation of auditors. Instead of the annual appointment, individual auditors can hold office for a maximum period of 5 years, whereas audit firms may retain the post for up to 10 years. The first auditor of the company should be appointed by the board within 30 days from incorporation or within 90 days from incorporation by the shareholders on failure to appoint within 30 days.

Corporate books, such as the minute book and other statutory registers, should be kept with the company. The common seal, if available, should also be kept with the company. The requirement for a common seal has now been made optional, and the director’s signature is acceptable in lieu of the common seal of the company.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

No minimum par value for private limited companies. Normally, used par value is INR 10 per share.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Effectuated by amending the charter document, which requires authorization from both the board of directors and a majority of the shareholders. Further filling requirements with the ROC apply along with the payment of filing fees calculated based on the amount of authorized capital being increased.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Funds can be repatriated abroad from India via dividends or redemption – commonly referred to as buyback of equity.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

In general, shares of a private limited company are not freely transferable. Shares can be transferred via private sales, with the approval of the board and subject to conditions of the charter documents. A public offer to sell shares or invite fresh capital subscriptions cannot be made (ie, shares cannot be offered to the public). Shares can generally be transferred between existing shareholders.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

The name should reflect the main objects/business of the Indian company. In case the Indian company uses the same name as used abroad, a letter from the foreign company must also be given. In all states, a corporate ending such as “private limited.” must be used.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Know-your-client requirements are mandatory for incorporation as well as for the opening of a bank account. Significant beneficial owner filing requirements apply to all shareholders who hold more than 10 percent or more in the company.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Both the board of directors and a majority of shareholders must formally approve any amendment to the charter documents.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

In addition to incorporation, an entity must obtain registration under the Shops and Establishment Act, Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Tax Identification Number (TAN) under Income Tax; Profession Tax under Labor law, Goods & Services Tax (GST), Importer Exporter Code (IEC) for enabling import and export; Provident Fund, if the number of employees exceed a certain threshold; and Employees State Insurance (ESI), if the salary of employees is below a certain threshold.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021

Private limited company

Not widely used.

Last modified 11 Jul 2021