Section 8 Company Registration in India

Register a not-for-profit company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 to promote charity, education, commerce, art, science, sports, social welfare or environmental protection.

Starter

₹11,999+ Govt. Fees + GST

Incorporation with the Section 8 licence, PAN and TAN

Name reservation, checked against Section 8 naming rules
DSC and DIN for 2 directors
MOA (INC-13) and AOA with charitable objects
Three-year income and expenditure estimate
INC-14 and INC-15 declarations
SPICe+ filing with MCA
Section 8 licence (INC-16) and Certificate of Incorporation
PAN + TAN
INC-20A, for companies with share capital

Launch

₹24,999+ Govt. Fees + GST

Incorporation plus income-tax, CSR-1 and Darpan registrations

Everything in Starter
First board meeting and first auditor appointment
Share certificates, where the company has share capital
Section 332 provisional registration (formerly 12A), Form 104
Section 354 provisional approval (formerly 80G), Form 104
NITI Aayog Darpan ID
CSR-1 filing once Section 332 and 354 are granted

Growth

₹39,999+ Govt. Fees + GST

Everything in Launch plus first-year compliance

Everything in Launch
Board's report drafted
AOC-4 financial statements filed
MGT-7 annual return filed
Form 112 NPO audit report filed (formerly 10B/10BB)
Director KYC tracking and DIR-3 KYC Web change updates

Note: Statutory audit is mandatory for every Section 8 company and is quoted separately. FCRA is quoted separately; full FCRA registration generally needs about three years of existence, so new companies usually apply for prior permission instead. Approval of Section 332, 354, CSR-1 and Darpan applications rests with the respective authority.

What Is a Section 8 Company?

A Section 8 company is a not-for-profit company licensed under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. It must apply its income only to its stated objects and cannot pay dividends to members. It may omit "Limited" or "Private Limited" from its name.

For a new company, the Section 8 licence is issued with the Certificate of Incorporation through SPICe+; no separate licence application is needed. If you intend to distribute profits, a Private Limited Company or LLP is the right fit.

Ideal For

Individuals, firms, associations and existing companies can promote a Section 8 company for objects permitted under Section 8(1). A One Person Company cannot be a Section 8 company.

Charities & Relief Work

Poverty relief, disaster response and community welfare.

Education & Skills

Schools, scholarships, vocational training and research.

Health & Social Welfare

Healthcare access, disability support, women and child welfare.

Environment

Conservation, afforestation, water and waste initiatives.

Science, Arts & Sports

Research, cultural preservation and sports promotion.

Commerce & Industry Bodies

Chambers of commerce, trade associations and industry councils.

Why Choose a
Section 8 Company?

Separate Legal Entity

Owns property, signs contracts and continues regardless of member changes.

Tax Exemption Eligible

Can register under Section 332, Income-tax Act, 2025 (formerly 12A).

Donor Deductions

Section 354 approval (formerly 80G) lets donors claim a deduction.

CSR Fund Ready

With income-tax registrations and CSR-1, it can receive CSR funds.

Stronger Credibility

Board governance, statutory audit and MCA disclosures build donor trust.

Section 8 Company Registration Requirements

Requirement	Details
Directors	At least 2 for a private and 3 for a public Section 8 company; at least one resident in India.
Members	At least 2 subscribers to the MOA for a private Section 8 company.
Capital	No minimum. With share capital, or limited by guarantee without share capital.
Name	Must include a word such as Foundation, Forum, Association, Federation, Chambers, Confederation or Council (Rule 8, Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014).
Registered office	An Indian address with proof, at filing or within 30 days of incorporation (Section 12(1)).
DSC and DIN	DSC for every director and subscriber; DIN allotted through SPICe+.
Section 8 licence	Issued in Form INC-16 with the Certificate of Incorporation. INC-12 is used mainly when an existing company converts.

How Long Does Section 8 Company Registration Take?

Based on our typical cases, incorporation takes an estimated 12–21 working days from receipt of complete documents. Actual timelines depend on document readiness, name approval, MCA processing and any resubmission. Section 332 and 354 registrations follow incorporation and have their own processing time.

Section 8 Company vs Trust vs Society

Factor	Section 8 Company	Trust	Society
Governing law	Companies Act, 2013	Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950 (public trusts); Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (private)	Societies Registration Act, 1860; in Maharashtra, also registered as a public trust
Authority	MCA / ROC	Charity Commissioner (Maharashtra)	Registrar of Societies and Charity Commissioner (Maharashtra)
Legal status	Separate legal entity, perpetual succession	Depends on trust deed and state law	Depends on registration and state law
Governance	Board of directors and members	Trustees	Governing body and members
Compliance	Annual ROC filings, mandatory statutory audit	Audited accounts with Charity Commissioner	Audited accounts with Charity Commissioner
Income-tax	All three can apply for Section 332 registration and Section 354 approval under the Income-tax Act, 2025	Same as Section 8 Company	Same as Section 8 Company
Best for	Company-level governance and disclosure	Simpler charitable purposes	Membership-based associations

Section 8 Company Microfinance Company Registration

Incorporation alone does not authorise lending or microfinance. Permission depends on your model, whether deposits are involved and current RBI directions; certain not-for-profit entities fall within specific RBI exemptions, but this should be reviewed, not assumed. The professional fee follows the packages above depending on scope, with government charges at actuals.

Why 1,000+ Founders Trust StartBusiness

From documentation to MCA approvals, our experts manage every step of your incorporation, so you can focus on your mission instead of paperwork.

12–21

Day Turnaround

Estimated incorporation timeline.

1:1

Dedicated CA

A single expert from start to finish.

100%

Pre-Filing Review

Every application is reviewed before submission.

₹0

Hidden Charges

Clear pricing with government fees at actuals.

Compliance Kit

Everything you need for your Section 8 Company.

Compare Your Registration Options

See how StartBusiness compares to DIY registration and traditional CA firms.

What you need	StartBusiness	DIY/MCA	Traditional CA
Qualified CA/CS manages your filing	StartBusiness	DIY/MCA	Traditional CA
100% online — no office visits	StartBusiness	DIY/MCA	Traditional CA
Fixed, upfront pricing	StartBusiness	DIY/MCA	Traditional CA
Dedicated account manager	StartBusiness	DIY/MCA	Traditional CA
12–21 working days delivery timeline	StartBusiness	DIY/MCA	Traditional CA
Real-time application tracking	StartBusiness	DIY/MCA	Traditional CA

Documents for Section 8 Company Registration

Director KYC, registered office proof and a note on your proposed objects.

Directors

PAN and Aadhaar of directors and subscribers
Passport size photographs
Address proof (bank statement or utility bill, under 2 months old)
Identity proof (passport or voter ID, if needed)
Email and mobile number

Registration

Utility bill or property tax receipt of the registered office
Rent agreement/ownership proof
NOC from property owner
Note on proposed charitable or social objects
Three-year income and expenditure estimate (we prepare this with you)

What You Get:
Full-Service Section 8 Company Setup

You provide your documents. We handle everything else — every form, every filing, every follow-up with government portals — until your company is live.

Documents We Prepare for You

Name options that meet Section 8 naming rules
Memorandum (INC-13) and Articles of Association
Three-year income and expenditure estimate
INC-14 and INC-15 declarations
DSC for directors and subscribers
DIN for directors

Registrations We File

Name approval on MCA for Section 8 Company
SPICe+ incorporation with Section 8 licence
PAN card for your company
TAN (Tax Deduction Account Number)
Section 332 and 354 registrations (Launch and Growth)
CSR-1 and NGO Darpan (Launch and Growth)

Your Registration, Step by Step

A clear timeline from document upload to certificate — no guesswork, no waiting in the dark.

Typical total: 12–21 working days

Step 1

Eligibility Review

Confirm objects, directors and members

Step 2

Digital Signatures

Obtain DSC for directors and subscribers

Step 3

Name Reservation

Apply for a name that matches your objects

Step 4

Document Preparation

Draft MOA, AOA, projections and declarations

Step 5

Filing Application

File SPICe+ with the ROC; DIN allotted

Step 6

Licence & Incorporation

Section 8 licence, COI, PAN and TAN issued together

Step 7

Tax Registrations

Form 104 for Section 332 and 354

Step 8

CSR-1 & Darpan

Filed once income-tax registrations are granted

Not Sure Where to Begin?
Let's Talk.

Get a free 15-minute consultation with a senior CA. Clear answers on eligibility, timelines, and costs — with zero sales pressure.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions? Find quick, expert answers to everything you need to know before getting started

A not-for-profit company licensed under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 for objects such as charity, education, social welfare or environmental protection. Its income must be applied to its objects and cannot be paid to members as dividends.

Our professional fee is ₹11,999 (Starter), ₹24,999 (Launch) or ₹39,999 (Growth). Government/MCA fees, stamp duty and 18% GST are extra and vary by state and capital structure.

At least 2 directors (one resident in India) and 2 members for a private Section 8 company, a registered office in India, DSCs, and a name including a word such as Foundation, Association or Council. There is no minimum capital.

PAN, identity and address proof and photographs of directors and subscribers; a utility bill with ownership proof or rent agreement and NOC for the office; a note on proposed objects; and a three-year income and expenditure estimate.

Based on typical cases, an estimated 12–21 working days from receipt of complete documents. This isn't a guarantee; it depends on MCA processing and any resubmission.

From 1 April 2026, the Income-tax Act, 2025 replaced 12A/12AB with registration under Section 332 and 80G with approval under Section 354. A new Section 8 company applies in Form 104 for provisional registration and approval, valid for three years, then for regular registration in Form 105.

Yes, once it holds its Section 332 and 354 registrations and has filed Form CSR-1 with the MCA.

Full FCRA registration generally needs about three years of existence and activity. A new company can apply for prior permission to receive a specific contribution from a specific donor. FCRA work is quoted separately.

"NGO" isn't a legal entity type; trusts, societies and Section 8 companies are all used for non-profit work. For a Section 8 company, cost is our professional fee (₹11,999 to ₹39,999) plus government fees, stamp duty and GST at actuals.

Incorporation alone doesn't authorise lending. Whether a model is permitted depends on the model, deposit-taking and current RBI directions, so have a CA or CS review it before choosing this structure.

Client testimonial

See how we've helped 1,000+ Indian founders launch and
manage their businesses stress-free

“StartBusiness made our LLP registration incredibly simple. They handled all legal requirements and paperwork efficiently. Highly recommended for any new founders.”

Mr. Hemant Patil

Apaha Institute Of Construction Project Management LLP