Reviewed by CA & CS Team · Regikart | Last Updated: 6 June 2026 | Reading time: ~9 minutes
| Question | Quick answer |
|---|---|
| What is DPT-3? | An annual return to the Registrar of Companies disclosing deposits and money received that is not treated as a deposit (loans, advances). |
| Due date for FY 2025-26? | 30 June 2026, reporting balances outstanding as on 31 March 2026. |
| Who must file? | Every company except a government company — including private limited, public, and OPCs — that has any such outstanding amount. |
| Only director loans? | Still reportable. “No deposits” does not mean “no filing”. |
| Penalty? | Severe — under Section 76A, up to Rs. 10 crore on the company and up to 7 years’ imprisonment for officers in default, plus MCA late fees. |
DPT-3 is one of the most misunderstood filings on the MCA calendar. Many founders assume that because their company never took a “deposit”, the form does not apply. That assumption is wrong, and it is the single biggest reason companies end up non-compliant.
For FY 2025-26, Form DPT-3 is due by 30 June 2026 and must capture every reportable amount outstanding as on 31 March 2026. This guide explains what the form is, who files it, what counts as a reportable receipt, when an auditor certificate is needed, and the penalty for getting it wrong.
What is Form DPT-3?
Form DPT-3 is an annual return filed with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) on the MCA V3 portal, disclosing a company’s deposits and — crucially — outstanding receipts of money or loans that are not classified as deposits. It is filed under the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 16 of the Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 2014.
Think of it as an annual declaration of how the company is funded through borrowed money: what it owes, to whom, and under which exemption each amount escapes the “deposit” label.
Deposit vs exempted deposit — the distinction that trips people up:
A “deposit” under the Act broadly means money the company receives by way of deposit or loan, with several carve-outs. The carve-outs are called exempted deposits — they are still reportable in DPT-3, they simply do not count as deposits for the deposit-acceptance rules.
- Exempted (still reported): loans from directors (with the Rule 2(1)(c)(viii) declaration), inter-corporate loans, bank loans and working-capital facilities, advances against supply of goods/services, share application money pending allotment.
- Not reportable: amounts that are neither deposits nor loans/receipts of money as on 31 March (e.g. trade payables in the ordinary course, beyond the defined window).
Who must file DPT-3?
Every company incorporated under the Companies Act — private limited, public limited and One Person Companies — must file DPT-3 if it has any deposits or reportable non-deposit receipts outstanding as on 31 March 2026.
Exempt from filing: government companies. (Banking companies, NBFCs and housing finance companies are governed by separate RBI/NHB regimes for deposits.) If your company is none of these and has any outstanding loan or advance, you are in scope.
What must be reported?
- Company particulars — CIN, email, objects, and net worth.
- Total outstanding deposits and exempted deposits/receipts as on 31 March 2026.
- Particulars of any charge created on the borrowings.
- Credit rating particulars, where applicable.
- List of depositors, with matured deposits and cheques issued but not cleared shown separately, where deposits are reported.
Two figures companies routinely get wrong
1. Which net worth do I use?
DPT-3 asks for net worth from the latest audited balance sheet prior to the return date. For the FY 2025-26 filing due on 30 June 2026, that is the 31 March 2025 audited balance sheet — not 31 March 2026 — because the FY 2025-26 audit is usually not complete by June.
2. Do I need an auditor certificate?
An auditor’s certificate (with UDIN) is required when the filing reports actual deposits (the “return of deposits” or “both” option). If you are filing only the return of exempted deposits — the typical case for most private companies with only director or inter-corporate loans — a statutory auditor certificate is generally not mandated. Always confirm against the current MCA form instructions at the time of filing.
How to file DPT-3 (MCA V3)
- Log in to the MCA V3 portal at mca.gov.in. The DPT-3 web form opens from around mid-April with auto-validation.
- Reconcile your data first — borrowings, loans, advances and outstanding receipts — against your audited financials before entering anything.
- Select the correct return type: return of deposits, return of exempted deposits, or both.
- Enter the particulars, attach the auditor certificate if required, and the list of depositors where applicable.
- Affix the DSC, pay the MCA fee, and submit. Save the SRN/acknowledgement.
Common mistakes to avoid
- “We took no deposits, so we don’t file.” Director loans, inter-corporate loans and advances are reportable even though exempt from the deposit definition.
- Leaving out bank loans. Term loans and working-capital facilities are exempted deposits under Rule 2(1)(c)(ii) and must be reported.
- Using the 31 March 2026 net worth. Use the latest audited figure available before the return date — usually 31 March 2025.
- Skipping the NIL return. Even with zero balances, a NIL filing is the safer record.
Penalty for non-filing or wrong filing
The DPT-3 penalty regime is among the harshest in the Companies Act. Where a company contravenes the deposit rules — including by failing to report — Section 76A can impose a penalty on the company of a minimum of Rs. 1 crore or twice the deposit amount, whichever is lower, extending up to Rs. 10 crore, and officers in default can face imprisonment up to 7 years along with a fine. Separately, late filing attracts additional MCA fees under the fee rules.
Given the stakes, treat DPT-3 as a serious annual filing rather than a formality — and never let it slip past 30 June.
How DPT-3 fits the annual compliance picture
DPT-3 is filed with the Registrar of Companies under the Companies Act, 2013 and Rule 16 of the Deposit Rules, drawing its figures from the company’s audited financial statements and reconciled borrowings. It sits alongside the other annual MCA filings — AOC-4 and MGT-7/7A — in a company’s yearly secretarial calendar, with 30 June as its fixed deadline each year.
Key takeaways
- DPT-3 for FY 2025-26 is due 30 June 2026, reporting balances as on 31 March 2026.
- Every company except government companies files if it has any reportable receipts — including director and inter-corporate loans.
- Use the 31 March 2025 audited net worth figure.
- Auditor certificate (with UDIN) is needed only when actual deposits are reported.
- Penalty under Section 76A is severe — up to Rs. 10 crore and 7 years’ imprisonment for officers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the due date for DPT-3 for FY 2025-26?
30 June 2026, covering all deposits and reportable non-deposit receipts outstanding as on 31 March 2026.
Is DPT-3 mandatory for private limited companies?
Yes, if the company has any outstanding director loans, inter-corporate loans, bank borrowings or advances as on 31 March 2026.
Do I have to report loans taken from directors?
Yes. Director loans are exempt from being classified as deposits when the proper declaration is on record, but they must still be reported in DPT-3 as outstanding receipts.
Is a NIL DPT-3 return necessary?
Strictly, a filing is not required if there are genuinely no outstanding amounts, but filing a NIL return is strongly recommended as best practice for a clean compliance record.
Is an auditor certificate always required?
No. It is required when reporting actual deposits (return of deposits or both). For a return of only exempted deposits, it is generally not mandated — confirm against the current MCA instructions.
Which net worth figure should I report?
The net worth from the latest audited balance sheet before the return date — for the FY 2025-26 filing, that is usually 31 March 2025.
DPT-3 nahi bhara to kya hota hai?
Section 76A ke tahat company par bhaari penalty — Rs. 10 crore tak — aur officers ko 7 saal tak ki kaid ho sakti hai, saath hi MCA ki late filing fees bhi lagti hai.
Is DPT-3 the same as CMP-08 or AOC-4?
No. DPT-3 reports deposits and loans to the ROC; AOC-4 files financial statements and MGT-7/7A is the annual return. CMP-08 is an unrelated GST composition payment statement.
Need help filing DPT-3 before 30 June?
DPT-3 looks simple until you have to classify every loan and advance correctly and decide whether an auditor certificate applies. Regikart’s CA & CS team handles DPT-3 and the full ROC annual filing set. Reach us at +91 70444 94804 or [email protected].
Related reading: see the advance tax 15 June 2026 guide at /blog/advance-tax-15-june-2026 — the other big June deadline.
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CA & CS Team
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