Quick answers
- Total budget — Rs 7,000-15,000 for a basic two-director, low-capital company in 2026.
- Government fees — Rs 0 to Rs 5,000+ depending on authorised capital, with most states under Rs 1 lakh capital paying near zero.
- Stamp duty — Varies by state, from Rs 200 (Delhi/Karnataka) to Rs 10,000+ (Punjab/Kerala).
- DSC — Rs 1,500-2,500 per director, two-year validity.
- Professional fees — Rs 5,000-15,000 for CA/CS-assisted incorporation, optional but recommended.
What goes into the cost?
The cost of registering a Private Limited Company in India is the sum of MCA filing fees, stamp duty (a state subject), Digital Signature Certificate fees, name reservation fees and any professional charges. The Companies Act, 2013 fixes the filing structure, but state stamp duty varies widely.
Since SPICe+ unified incorporation, ROC filing fees up to Rs 15 lakh authorised capital are zero in most states — only stamp duty and DSC remain mandatory cash costs.
Line-item breakdown
| Cost head | Typical range (Rs) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MCA filing fee (SPICe+) | 0 - 5,000 | Zero for capital up to Rs 15 lakh in most states |
| Name reservation (RUN/Part A) | 0 - 1,000 | Free within SPICe+; Rs 1,000 if reserved via RUN separately |
| Stamp duty (state) | 200 - 10,000 | Varies by state and capital |
| DSC (2 directors) | 3,000 - 5,000 | Class 3, 2-year validity, per director |
| PAN & TAN | 0 | Auto-issued with COI |
| Professional fees | 5,000 - 15,000 | CA/CS-assisted incorporation |
State-wise stamp duty examples
| State | Stamp duty for Rs 1 lakh authorised capital |
|---|---|
| Delhi | Rs 510 |
| Karnataka | Rs 1,020 |
| Maharashtra | Rs 1,000 + 0.2% above Rs 1 lakh |
| Tamil Nadu | Rs 540 |
| Punjab | Rs 10,025 |
| Kerala | Rs 3,025 |
What's free since SPICe+?
- MCA filing fee for SPICe+, AGILE-PRO and INC-9 up to Rs 15 lakh authorised capital.
- Name reservation if done inside SPICe+ Part A (separate RUN costs Rs 1,000).
- PAN and TAN allotment along with the COI.
- EPFO, ESIC and GSTIN registration via AGILE-PRO (charges only if you trigger payroll/GST).
Common mistakes to avoid
- Over-paying for DSC — Class 3 from licensed CAs costs Rs 1,500-2,500, not Rs 5,000.
- Choosing a high authorised capital just for show — it inflates MCA fees and stamp duty.
- Skipping a CA/CS — small errors in MOA/AOA cost more in re-filing than the professional fee.
- Forgetting AGILE-PRO professional tax registration in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka.
How to keep the cost low
- Start with Rs 1 lakh authorised capital — increase later only when funding requires it.
- Buy DSCs in a bundle from one CA — usually cheaper than two separate purchases.
- Use SPICe+ Part A for name reservation — saves Rs 1,000 over the RUN service.
- Pick a state where you genuinely operate — relocating later costs MCA fees and stamp duty again.
Key takeaways
- Total realistic cost for a 2-director Pvt Ltd in 2026: Rs 7,000-15,000.
- MCA filing fees are zero up to Rs 15 lakh authorised capital.
- Stamp duty is the biggest state-dependent variable.
- DSCs (Rs 1,500-2,500 per director) and CA fees (Rs 5,000-15,000) are the other main heads.
- PAN, TAN and name reservation are now bundled at no extra cost via SPICe+.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to register a Pvt Ltd company in India? Roughly Rs 7,000-15,000 for a basic two-director company, depending on state and professional fees.
- Is MCA filing fee really zero? Yes — for authorised capital up to Rs 15 lakh, the SPICe+ filing fee is zero in most states.
- Pvt Ltd register karne ki government fees kitni hai? Rs 0 to Rs 5,000 depending on state and authorised capital plus stamp duty.
- Which state is cheapest? Delhi and Karnataka have the lowest stamp duty for small companies; Punjab and Kerala are at the higher end.
- Do I need to pay GST on registration fees? No GST on government fees, but yes on professional fees and DSC purchase.
- Are PAN and TAN charged separately? No. Both are issued with the COI through SPICe+ at no extra cost.
- Can I register without a CA or CS? Technically yes, but errors in MOA/AOA, MCA forms and stamp duty calculations usually cost more than the professional fee.
- Will the cost change if I increase capital later? Yes — increasing authorised capital triggers fresh ROC fees and state stamp duty proportional to the new amount.
Company registrationCostSPICe+Stamp duty
About the author
Deepak
Senior Advisor at Regikart. Want to discuss this in the context of your business?
