From DPIIT to Series B, one partner CA on speed-dial.
Eight services that cover the startup-funding lifecycle: DPIIT recognition, the section 80-IAC and section 140 tax holiday, share valuation, ESOP schemes, term sheet review, financial due diligence and FC-GPR and FLA filings.
250+
Clients
8
Funding-stack services
Every engagement is reviewed by a named CA or CS.
Eight services that build on each other as you grow.
Each one is a defined deliverable. The fee is shown here or quoted in writing before we start.
DPIIT Startup Recognition
DPIIT
The gateway certificate from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. The first step before you can apply for the section 80-IAC and section 140 tax holiday. It also opens concessional patent and trademark fees, self-certification under certain labour and environmental laws, and public procurement relaxations.
Our fee
₹2,499 (no government fee)
Stage
Pre-seed to Series A
Deliverable
DPIIT certificate of recognition
- Eligibility & innovation-write-up drafting
- Application on the National Single Window System (NSWS)
- Document pre-check (incorporation, IP, traction)
- Free orientation on follow-on benefits
Best for
Companies, LLPs, registered partnership firms and cooperative societies up to 10 years old with turnover under ₹200 crore (20 years and ₹300 crore for deep tech)
Section 80-IAC and Section 140 Tax Holiday
80-IAC
100% deduction of eligible business profits for any 3 consecutive years out of 10 from incorporation, for companies and LLPs holding an Inter-Ministerial Board certificate. Section 80-IAC of the 1961 Act for FY 2025-26; section 140 of the Income-tax Act, 2025 from Tax Year 2026-27.
Our fee
₹9,999 (no government fee)
Stage
Profitable startups, Yr 2-7
Deliverable
IMB application filed, with a claim-year plan
- Inter-Ministerial Board (IMB) application
- Pitch deck & innovation justification
- Financial projections aligned to scrutiny
- Claim-year and MAT or AMT modelling
Best for
DPIIT-recognised companies and LLPs expecting profits
Share Valuation for FEMA, Companies Act and Income Tax
Valuation
Valuation of unlisted shares for FEMA pricing when non-residents invest, Companies Act allotments, share transfers and income-tax purposes. DCF, NAV or comparable-company method.
Our fee
On quote
Stage
Seed to Series C
Deliverable
Signed valuation report (PDF + PPT)
- DCF + comparable-company models
- Sensitivity & scenario tables
- FEMA-aligned for foreign investors
- Defensible in income-tax scrutiny
Best for
Any equity round, ESOP grant or share transfer
ESOP Scheme Drafting
ESOP
ESOP scheme under section 62(1)(b) of the Companies Act, 2013 and Rule 12: pool sizing, vesting design, scheme document, special resolution, MGT-14 and grant letters.
Our fee
On quote
Stage
Seed onwards
Deliverable
ESOP scheme + grant letters + tracker
- Pool sizing & dilution modelling
- Scheme document & board resolutions
- Grant letters with vesting schedules
- Merchant banker valuation coordinated for exercise
Best for
Startups granting equity to first 5-50 employees
Term Sheet & SHA Review
TS / SHA
Founder-side review of term sheets, SSA, SHA and side-letters. We flag liquidation-preference traps, anti-dilution ratchets, ROFR/tag/drag risks, board-control dilution and exit clauses before you sign.
Our fee
On quote
Stage
Pre-seed to Series B
Deliverable
Annotated TS / SHA + redlines
- Clause-by-clause founder lens
- Cap-table & dilution simulation
- Negotiation playbook & talking points
- Coordination with your legal counsel
Best for
Founders negotiating with a lead investor
Financial Due Diligence
FDD
Buy-side or sell-side FDD - revenue quality, cohort retention, unit economics, working capital, tax & compliance hygiene. Output is an investor-ready data room and a CA-reviewed FDD report.
Our fee
On quote
Stage
Series A to Series C
Deliverable
FDD report + virtual data room
- Revenue, cohort & churn analysis
- Tax, GST, TDS & ROC compliance audit
- Cap-table & ESOP fully-diluted review
- Investor Q&A support during DD
Best for
Series A/B raises & strategic acquisitions
FC-GPR / FC-TRS Filing
FEMA
RBI / FEMA filings post foreign investment - FC-GPR (issue of shares) within 30 days of allotment, FC-TRS (transfer of shares between resident-non-resident) and annual FLA return. Late reporting attracts a late submission fee.
Our fee
On quote
Stage
Any foreign round
Deliverable
Filed FC-GPR + RBI acknowledgement
- KYC of foreign remitter via AD bank
- Form FC-GPR on RBI FIRMS portal
- Sectoral cap & route advisory
- Annual FLA return support
Best for
Startups raising from foreign investors
Startup India Seed Fund (SISFS)
SISFS
Application support for the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, which funds early-stage startups through selected incubators. We check that the scheme is accepting applications before you apply.
Our fee
On quote
Stage
Pre-seed
Deliverable
Filed application + incubator pitch deck
- Incubator shortlisting & introductions
- Pitch deck, financials & milestone plan
- Application drafting & submission
- Disbursement compliance support
Best for
DPIIT startups < 2 years, in proof-of-concept stage
Angel tax is abolished: what founders still check
Angel tax under section 56(2)(viib) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 was abolished by the Finance (No.2) Act, 2024, with effect from AY 2025-26. Share issues from FY 2024-25 onwards are not taxed as angel tax in the company's hands, whether or not the startup is DPIIT recognised. There is no Form 2 declaration to file any more.
Pricing still matters. When a non-resident invests, the issue price must follow the FEMA pricing rules. When a person receives shares for less than their fair market value, the income-tax provision that taxes the recipient can still apply. Read what angel tax abolition means for your round, and use our share valuation service before you price a round.
What DPIIT recognition opens up.
Tax holiday eligibility
Recognition is the first step towards the IMB certificate for a 100% deduction of profits for 3 of 10 years (section 80-IAC, now section 140).
Angel tax abolished
From AY 2025-26, share premium is no longer taxed under section 56(2)(viib) for any company, recognised or not.
Seed fund access
Eligibility to apply for the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme through selected incubators.
Public-procurement push
Exempt from prior turnover & experience criteria in govt tenders.
Self-certification
Self-certification under certain labour and environmental laws.
Lower IP fees
Patent application at ₹1,600 instead of ₹8,000 on e-filing, and trademark filing at ₹4,500 per class instead of ₹9,000.
Recognition, tax holiday and ESOP deferral are three different things
Founders often treat DPIIT recognition as the key to every tax benefit. It is the first step, not the whole path.
| Benefit | What you need | Who can get it | Our page |
|---|---|---|---|
| DPIIT recognition | Application on NSWS; no government fee | Companies, LLPs, registered partnership firms, cooperative societies, up to 10 years old with turnover under ₹200 crore (20 years and ₹300 crore for deep tech) | Startup India registration, ₹2,499 |
| Tax holiday: 100% of profits for 3 of 10 years | DPIIT recognition plus an Inter-Ministerial Board certificate | Companies and LLPs incorporated on or after 1 April 2016 and before 1 April 2030 | 80-IAC and section 140 tax holiday, ₹9,999 |
| ESOP tax deferral for employees | The company must be an eligible startup referred to in section 80-IAC, which means holding the IMB certificate | Employees of such companies | ESOP scheme drafting, on quote |
For FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27), the tax holiday and the ESOP deferral work under the Income-tax Act, 1961. From Tax Year 2026-27, the tax holiday is section 140 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, and the 2025 Act carries equivalent ESOP provisions.
Foreign investment: the filings after the money arrives
When a non-resident subscribes to your shares, the company reports the issue to the RBI in Form FC-GPR on the FIRMS portal within 30 days of allotment. Filing on the portal is free; a delay attracts a late submission fee under the RBI's formula. The company also files the annual FLA return with the RBI.
Get the issue price right before allotment: FEMA pricing needs a valuation by an eligible valuer. We handle the valuation, the FC-GPR filing and the FLA return together, and review the term sheet before you sign.
The right compliance moves at every funding stage.
Founders typically need 2-3 of these services at any given stage. Talk to a CA to sequence them with your roadmap.
| Stage | Typical round | Instruments | Services you'll need |
|---|---|---|---|
Idea / pre-incorporation | ₹0 - ₹25L | Founder capital, FFF, accelerator grants | Incorporation, DPIIT, MVP, founders' agreement |
Pre-seed | ₹25L - ₹3Cr | SAFE, CCPS, convertible notes | DPIIT recognition, share valuation |
Seed | ₹3Cr - ₹15Cr | Priced equity (CCPS), SISFS, micro-VCs | ESOP pool, term-sheet review, FC-GPR filing |
Series A | ₹15Cr - ₹75Cr | Institutional VC, CCPS / OCPS | FDD-ready data room, 80-IAC / section 140 tax holiday, ESOP top-up |
Series B+ | ₹75Cr+ | Growth funds, strategic, secondary | Full FDD, IFRS / Ind-AS audit, tax DD |
Six documents - and we pre-check every page.
Certificate of Incorporation
Certificate of incorporation or registration. DPIIT recognises companies, LLPs, registered partnership firms and cooperative societies; only companies and LLPs can claim the tax holiday
PAN, MOA & AOA
Latest MCA-stamped MOA / AOA + entity PAN
Cap table & shareholding
Fully-diluted cap-table with ESOP pool + Form MGT-7
Financials (last 3 FY)
Audited financials, ITR-V and provisional current-year
Pitch deck & innovation write-up
2-3 page narrative on innovation, scale potential & traction
IP & product evidence
Trademarks, patents, website, product screenshots, MoUs
From first call to filed application in four steps.
Scoping call
A CA maps your stage, raise plan and the 2-3 services that fit. No sales pitch.
Document checklist
Curated, role-specific checklist - we pre-check every scan before filing or report drafting.
Modelling & filing
Pitch deck, valuation, FDD report or RBI filing built and reviewed by a CA.
Approval & next step
Certificate / approval / report delivered with a clear plan for the next compliance window.
Engagements founders bundle with funding work.
Virtual CFO
Monthly MIS, board pack, runway model and investor updates, quoted on scope.
Financial modelling
3-statement model + revenue and cohort engines, calibrated for your raise narrative.
ESOP exercise & tax
Employee-side perquisite tax, exercise mechanics and post-listing planning.
International structuring
Flip / reverse-flip advisory, Singapore / Delaware holdco analysis, FEMA alignment.
Founder questions, answered.
Still unsure where to start? Talk to a CA and we will sequence the right plan for your raise.
Who qualifies as a startup for DPIIT recognition?
A private limited company, LLP, registered partnership firm or cooperative society that is up to 10 years old, with turnover under ₹200 crore in every previous financial year, working on innovation or improvement of products, services or processes. Deep tech startups get 20 years and ₹300 crore. Entities formed by splitting up or reconstructing an existing business are excluded.
Does DPIIT recognition give an automatic tax exemption?
No. Recognition makes you eligible to apply for the tax holiday, which needs a separate certificate from the Inter-Ministerial Board. Only companies and LLPs incorporated on or after 1 April 2016 and before 1 April 2030 can claim it: 100% of profits for 3 consecutive years out of 10, under section 80-IAC for FY 2025-26 and section 140 from Tax Year 2026-27.
Is angel tax still applicable to startups?
No. Angel tax under section 56(2)(viib) was abolished by the Finance (No.2) Act, 2024, from AY 2025-26, for all companies. You no longer need an angel tax exemption or a Form 2 declaration. Pricing still matters for FEMA when non-residents invest, and for the income-tax provision that taxes a recipient who gets shares below fair value.
When do I need a share valuation?
Before you issue or transfer shares where a non-resident is involved, since FEMA sets pricing rules; for preferential allotments under the Companies Act; and when shares change hands below fair value for income-tax purposes. ESOP exercises in an unlisted company also need a merchant banker's fair market value for the employee's perquisite tax.
Which entity should I choose if I want the tax holiday?
Choose a private limited company or an LLP. Both can be recognised by DPIIT and both can claim the tax holiday with an Inter-Ministerial Board certificate. Registered partnership firms and cooperative societies can get DPIIT recognition but cannot claim the tax holiday. A sole proprietorship cannot be recognised at all.
Foreign investor se paisa aaya, ab kaunsi filing karni hai?
File Form FC-GPR on the RBI's FIRMS portal within 30 days of allotting shares to the foreign investor. There is no filing fee, but a delay attracts a late submission fee. Price the shares under the FEMA pricing rules before allotment, and file the annual FLA return with the RBI after the year ends.
What does Regikart charge for startup services?
DPIIT recognition is ₹2,499 and the tax holiday application is ₹9,999, both plus GST at 18% and with no government fee. Share valuation, ESOP schemes, term sheet review, financial due diligence, FC-GPR filing and seed fund applications are quoted after a short call, because the scope varies by company.
Can you handle our whole funding round?
We handle the compliance and tax side: DPIIT recognition, valuation, term sheet review, ESOP pool changes, share allotment filings and FC-GPR. Negotiating commercial terms with investors stays with the founders, and legal drafting of the investment agreements is done with your lawyers, whom we work alongside.
Let's de-risk your next raise.
A CA will get on a call with you, map your stage and start the right filing or report.