No minimum capital requirement
No mandatory paid-up share capital to incorporate. Founders with limited initial funds can begin without locking up working capital.
Section 8 Company · Non-Profit
Section 8 Company registration for India's non-profits, by CAs & CSs.
Incorporate a Section 8 Company under the Companies Act, 2013 - the most credible non-profit vehicle in India. No minimum capital. Zero MCA filing fee up to ₹15 L authorised capital. Regikart's CA and CS team handles DSC, name reservation, MOA/AOA drafting, SPICe+ filing and post-incorporation 12A, 80G, CSR-1 and FCRA guidance end to end.
Qualified CA partners15-25 working daysBest for: NGOs, foundations, educational & social-welfare orgs
Starting at
₹1,999
Section 8
MCA SPICe+ · CA & CS reviewed
Section 8 licence under MCA (issued within SPICe+)
MOA & AOA drafted around charitable objectives
12A, 80G, CSR-1, NGO Darpan & FCRA advisory included
Zero MCA filing fee up to ₹15 L authorised capital
Members
2 directors / 2 subscribers (Private) · 3 directors / 7 subscribers (Public)
Liability
Limited
At a glance
15-25
Working days to COI
₹0
Min. paid-up capital required
₹0
MCA filing fee (≤ ₹15 L capital)
500+
NGOs registered by Regikart
Why Sec 8
Why founders pick Section 8.
The most credible and structured non-profit vehicle in India - regulated centrally by MCA, eligible for CSR funding and FCRA, with 12A income-tax exemption and 80G donor deduction. The default choice for foundations, educational bodies, and social-impact organisations seeking institutional grants.
Zero stamp duty on MOA/AOA
Stamp duty on MOA and AOA is exempt for Section 8 Companies in most Indian states - significantly reducing incorporation cost vs Pvt Ltd.
Zero MCA filing fee (≤ ₹15 L capital)
MCA waives the core SPICe+ incorporation filing fee for Section 8 Companies with authorised share capital up to ₹15 lakh.
12A & 80G tax benefits
Income is tax-exempt with 12A. Donors get 50% deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961 - a powerful fundraising lever.
CSR funding eligibility
Eligible to receive CSR funding from corporates mandated under Section 135. Requires valid 12A, 80G and CSR-1 registration on the MCA portal.
Highest credibility with donors
Mandatory statutory audit, ROC filings and MCA oversight make Section 8 the preferred recipient for corporate donors, government grants and international funding agencies.
Separate legal entity & limited liability
Distinct legal identity from members and directors. Can own property, contract, sue and be sued. Member liability limited to unpaid amount on shares.
FCRA eligibility & pan-India operations
Eligible to apply for FCRA registration with MHA to legally receive foreign donations. Once registered, may operate anywhere in India.
Comparison
Sec 8 vs Alternatives.
| Parameter | Section 8 Company | Trust | Society |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governing Law | Companies Act, 2013 | Indian Trusts Act / State Acts | Societies Registration Act, 1860 |
| Regulatory Body | MCA (Central) | Sub-registrar / State | State Registrar |
| Credibility with Donors / CSR | Highest | Moderate | Moderate |
| Mandatory Statutory Audit | Yes (every year) | Not always | Not always |
| Limited Liability | Yes | No | No |
| CSR Funding Eligibility | Yes (after 3 yrs + CSR-1) | Yes (with 12A/80G) | Yes (with 12A/80G) |
| FCRA Registration | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Annual ROC Compliance | Yes | No | No |
Documents required
What we'll need from you.
We pre-check every scan before filing - cuts MCA rejections by ~90%. Upload via our secure portal in any order.
From directors & subscribers
- PAN card (mandatory for all Indian nationals)
- Aadhaar card or passport (identity proof)
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Address proof - bank statement, utility bill or telephone bill (≤ 2 months)
- Email ID & mobile number (for MCA OTP)
- For foreign nationals: Passport (notarised & apostilled) + foreign address proof
For the registered office
- Rent agreement / Lease deed (if rented premises)
- No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the property owner
- Latest utility bill - electricity, water or property-tax receipt (≤ 2 months)
Additional documents
- Draft Memorandum of Association (MOA) - defining charitable objectives
- Draft Articles of Association (AOA) - governing internal rules
- Declaration by promoters re. compliance with the Companies Act, 2013
- Statement of assets and liabilities (if applicable)
- Project plan & financial projections for three years
The process
From kickoff to Certificate of Incorporation - eight deliberate steps.
Every step is owned by a partner CA. You get a single point of contact from name reservation to the post-incorporation compliance kit.
01
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)
Every proposed director must have a valid Class 3 DSC to digitally sign MCA filings. Regikart assists with DSC procurement from empanelled certifying authorities. Timeline: 3-5 working days.
02
Director Identification Number (DIN)
DIN is allotted free of charge through SPICe+ Part B for up to 3 directors. No separate DIN application is required for first-time directors.
03
Name reservation via RUN
Apply for a unique company name through the RUN service on the MCA portal. The name must reflect the charitable purpose and end with approved suffixes (Foundation, Forum, Association, Federation etc.) under Rule 8. Two name options reduce rejection risk. Timeline: 2-3 working days.
04
Drafting of MOA and AOA
MOA clearly states the non-profit objectives; AOA governs internal rules and governance. Both reviewed by a practising CA/CS to ensure MCA compliance and alignment with Section 8(1)(b) of the Companies Act, 2013.
05
SPICe+ Part A and Part B filing
SPICe+ Part A covers name reservation; Part B covers incorporation - DIN allotment, MOA/AOA, registered office, PAN and TAN. The Section 8 licence from the Central Government is applied directly within SPICe+ - no separate licence application is required.
06
MCA & Regional Director review
ROC and Regional Director review the objectives, project plan and documents. The MCA may seek clarifications or publish a public notice inviting objections. Additional documents may be requested. Timeline: 7-15 working days.
07
Certificate of Incorporation + PAN/TAN
On approval, MCA issues the Certificate of Incorporation with a unique CIN, along with PAN and TAN. Open a current account using the COI and PAN. Capital contribution (if any) must be deposited into the company's bank account within 2 months of incorporation.
08
Post-registration filings
Apply for 12A (income-tax exemption), 80G (donor deduction), NGO Darpan (NITI Aayog), CSR-1 (for CSR funding) and FCRA (if foreign donations are intended). Regikart guides each application end-to-end.
Pricing
Simple, transparent pricing.
Fixed professional fees with government charges billed at actuals. No hidden costs, no surprise invoices.
One-time setup
Section 8 Company
Sec 8 · NGOs, foundations, educational & social-welfare orgs
Starting at
₹1,999+ govt. fees + DSC
End-to-end Sec 8 incorporation in 15-25 working days. Govt. fees (MCA, stamp duty) charged at actuals - no markup.
What's included
- Section 8 licence under MCA (issued within SPICe+)
- MOA & AOA drafted around charitable objectives
- 12A, 80G, CSR-1, NGO Darpan & FCRA advisory included
- Zero MCA filing fee up to ₹15 L authorised capital
Add-ons available: GST registration, MSME, IEC, trademark, share-subscription drafting and ROC compliance bundles.
All prices exclusive of GST. Government fees (MCA, stamp duty) charged at actuals. Need a custom bundle? Talk to sales.
Government & MCA fees (paid to authorities)
Reference- DSC per director (Class 3, 2-year)₹1,000 - ₹1,500
- DIN allotment (first 3 directors, via SPICe+)Nil
- Name reservation (RUN)₹1,000
- SPICe+ filing (capital ≤ ₹15 L)Nil (Sec 8 waiver)
- Stamp duty on MOA / AOANil - ₹2,000 (state-wise)
- Notary & stamp charges₹500 - ₹1,500
- Regikart professional feeStarting ₹2,499
- Total indicative cost (2 directors, ≤ ₹15 L cap.)₹5,000 - ₹10,000
* Stamp duty and government filing fees vary by state and authorised capital. Quoted transparently in your engagement letter before we file.
Compliance calendar
What you'll owe after incorporation.
We track every due date for you and file on time. The same partner who incorporates your entity handles year-round compliance.
Penalty for delays
₹100 / day
Per missed form, with no upper cap. Continuous default also attracts director-level liability. Don't risk it.
| When | What | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Within 2 months of COI | Deposit subscribed capital into company bank account | Bank |
| Within 30 days of COI | Appoint statutory auditor | ADT-1 |
| Immediately post-COI | Apply for 12A (income-tax exemption) | Form 10A |
| Immediately post-COI | Apply for 80G (donor deduction) | Form 10A |
| Post-COI | Register on NGO Darpan (NITI Aayog) | NGO Darpan |
| After 12A + 80G granted | Apply for CSR-1 (CSR funding eligibility) | CSR-1 |
| If foreign donations intended | FCRA registration with MHA | FC-3 |
| Within 6 months of FY-end | Annual General Meeting (AGM) | Resolution |
| Within 30 days of AGM | Annual financial statements | AOC-4 |
| Within 60 days of AGM | Annual return (abridged for Sec 8) | MGT-7A |
| By 30 September annually | Director KYC for all directors | DIR-3 KYC |
| Every 5 years (if FCRA registered) | Renewal of FCRA registration | FC-3R |
| Annually | Statutory audit + Income-tax return | ITR-7 |
Sec 8 FAQ
Questions, answered by partners.
Still unsure if Section 8 Company is right for you? Book a free 20-minute consult - a senior CA will walk you through your specific case.
Still have questions?
Book a free 20-minute consult with a senior partner - we'll walk through your case and outline next steps.
Talk to a partner →A minimum of 2 directors is required for a Private Limited Section 8 Company and a minimum of 3 directors for a Public Limited Section 8 Company. At least 1 director must be an Indian resident - defined as a person who has stayed in India for 182+ days in the preceding calendar year (Section 149(3) of the Companies Act, 2013).
Ready when you are
Let's incorporate your Sec 8 this week.
A senior CA will get on a call with you, confirm documents, and start your filing - usually within 24 hours.