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Section 8 company registration
Register a non-profit company under section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, for charity, education, social welfare, the arts, sport, research or similar objects. We draft the MOA and AOA in the section 8 format, prepare the declarations and projections, and file SPICe+, which carries the licence application too. You get the certificate of incorporation and licence with the company's PAN and TAN.
- Certificate of incorporation with the section 8 licence
- DSC and DIN for two directors
- Three-year income and expenditure estimate prepared
- A CA handles your filing from start to finish
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Price
Incorporation with licence
₹9,999+ ₹1,800 GST
15–20 working days
- Name check and reservation, one resubmission included
- DSC and DIN for two directors
- MOA and AOA in the section 8 format
- Declarations in INC-14 and INC-15
- Estimated income and expenditure for the next three years
- SPICe+ filing with the licence application, PAN and TAN
- Certificate of incorporation and licence
- Help opening a current account
Fees are before 18% GST. Government fees and state stamp duty are paid at actuals.
Who needs section 8 company registration
- NGOs and founders running education, health or social welfare work
- Groups that want a non-profit with the governance of a company
- Organisations planning to receive CSR funds from companies
- Industry bodies, associations and research foundations
Documents you'll need
From each director and member
- PAN card
- Aadhaar card
- A recent passport-size photo
- Bank statement, or a phone, electricity or gas bill, not older than two months
- Email address and mobile number
For the registered office
- Electricity, gas or water bill not older than two months
- Rent agreement, if the premises are rented
- No-objection letter from the owner
About the organisation
- A note on its objects and planned work
- Your plans for income and spending over the next three years
You upload these from your order page after you pay. Scans or clear phone photos are fine.
How it works
- 1
Tell us about the organisation
Its objects, the work you'll do, the directors and members, and where the money will come from.
- 2
DSC and name approval
We get the directors' digital signatures and reserve a name. A section 8 company's name usually includes a word such as Foundation, Forum, Association or Council.
- 3
Drafting
We draft the MOA and AOA in the section 8 format, the declarations in INC-14 and INC-15, and a three-year income and expenditure estimate. You check them and the directors sign online.
- 4
Filing with the MCA
We file SPICe+ with the licence application, which also covers PAN and TAN. The Registrar may ask about the objects or the estimates, and we answer.
- 5
Certificate and licence
The Registrar issues the certificate of incorporation and the section 8 licence. We then guide you on registering for income tax exemption.
What a section 8 company is
A section 8 company is formed to promote commerce, art, science, sports, education, research, social welfare, religion, charity, protection of the environment or similar objects. It must apply all its income and profits to those objects and can't pay any dividend to its members.
It has no minimum capital. It can be private, with at least two directors and two members, or public, with at least three directors and seven members. It files with the Registrar every year like any company, which many funders find reassuring.
Tax exemption is a separate step
Incorporation doesn't make the company's income tax-free. It must separately register with the income tax department as a charitable organisation, and get approval so donors can claim a deduction (formerly 12A/12AB and 80G under the Income-tax Act, 1961).
To receive CSR funds, it registers with the MCA in Form CSR-1. Foreign donations need FCRA registration or prior permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which has its own conditions.
Section 8 company, trust or society?
A trust is quickest to set up and suits a family or small group managing a fixed purpose. A society suits member-run bodies such as clubs and associations. Both are governed largely by state law.
A section 8 company takes longer, but it's governed by one national law, has clear rules for adding or replacing directors, and is familiar to corporate donors. If you're unsure, book a short call with a CA before you file.
Frequently asked questions
How long does section 8 registration take?
Usually 15–20 working days from when we have all documents and signatures. The Registrar reviews the objects and estimates more closely than for an ordinary company, so queries are common. We answer them for you.
Can directors or members of a section 8 company be paid?
No one can take a dividend or a share of the profits. Other payments to members and directors are restricted by the section 8 format of the MOA and by the income tax exemption rules, so plan any salaries with us before you register.
Does a section 8 company need 'Limited' in its name?
No. Its name usually ends with a word such as Foundation, Forum, Association, Federation, Chambers, Confederation or Council, which shows it's a non-profit.
What happens to the assets if it closes?
They can't be shared among members. On winding up or dissolution, any remaining assets go to another section 8 company with similar objects, as the tribunal decides.
Can it charge for its services?
Yes. It can charge fees or sell goods as long as all the income is used for its objects. The income tax rules limit business income for exempt organisations, so we look at your plans first.
What are the government fees?
MCA fees depend on the authorised capital, and stamp duty on the MOA and AOA depends on your state. We tell you the exact amount before filing and pay it at actuals.