Startup India Registration
Startup India registration formalises your business as a recognised startup under DPIIT. It is free and fully online, and it is the entry point to the Section 80-IAC tax holiday, IPR rebates and funding schemes.
- CA-reviewed
- Free govt process
- Five-pillar check
- 80-IAC ready
Reviewed by CA & CS Team · Regikart | Last Updated: 28 May 2026
Startup India registration is how a business gets recognised as a startup under the Government of India's Startup India initiative. It is free, granted by DPIIT through the Startup India portal, and is the entry point to tax, funding and compliance benefits. It is the same as DPIIT recognition.
Startup India registration: what you need to know
Startup India registration and DPIIT recognition are the same certificate; the recognition is what makes a business a startup in the eyes of the scheme. The DPIIT notification dated 4 February 2026 broadened entity types to include cooperative societies and added a Deep Tech Startup sub-category.
| Initiative | Startup India, Government of India (since 2016) |
|---|---|
| Granted by | DPIIT, via the Startup India portal |
| Government fee | Free |
| Eligibility | Company, LLP or partnership firm; up to 10 years; turnover up to Rs 100 crore |
| Output | DPIIT recognition certificate with a recognition number |
| Same as | DPIIT recognition (one certificate) |
Real outcomes for new and growing startups
Regikart sharpened our innovation write-up and got DPIIT recognition in under a week. They then handled our 80-IAC application end to end.
We were unsure whether our model qualified. Their five-pillar check made it clear, and the recognition came through without a single query.
The incorporation plus Startup India bundle saved us weeks. PAN, TAN, bank and DPIIT all done in one go.
Recognised status unlocks the startup benefit stack
Recognised startup status
DPIIT recognition supports fundraising, hiring and tenders by formally marking your business as a Startup India entity.
Section 80-IAC tax holiday
Eligible companies and LLPs can claim a 3-year tax holiday through the Inter-Ministerial Board, for incorporations up to 1 April 2030.
IPR fee rebates
80 percent rebate on patent fees and 50 percent on trademark fees, with fast-tracked examination.
Funding access
Eligibility to apply under the Fund of Funds (FFS) and the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS).
In plain language
The 2016 Government of India initiative that supports innovative and scalable startups.
The certificate that marks an entity as a recognised startup - same as Startup India registration.
Income-tax provision giving a 3-year tax holiday to eligible recognised startups via the IMB.
Entity type, age, turnover, innovation/scalability, and original formation - all must be met.
Government funding routes - the Fund of Funds for Startups and the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme.
Five eligibility pillars - all must be met
Entity type, age, turnover, innovation or scalability, and original formation. Cooperative societies and Deep Tech Startup applicants are also covered under the DPIIT notification of 4 February 2026.
- Private Limited Companies, LLPs and registered Partnership Firms working on innovative or scalable models.
- Founders within 10 years of incorporation whose turnover has not exceeded Rs 100 crore in any year.
- Cooperative societies and Deep Tech Startup applicants under the DPIIT notification dated 4 February 2026.
- Companies and LLPs that want to apply for the Section 80-IAC 3-year tax holiday (incorporations up to 1 April 2030).
Who is eligible and who is not
| Eligible | Not eligible |
|---|---|
Pvt Ltd, LLP or registered partnership firm | Sole proprietorships (not a recognised entity type) |
Up to 10 years old | Older than 10 years from incorporation |
Turnover up to Rs 100 crore | Turnover above Rs 100 crore in any year |
Innovative or scalable business | Entity formed by splitting or reconstructing a business |
Startup India services we offer
Eligibility check
We test your entity against all five Startup India eligibility pillars before filing.
Innovation write-up
We draft the description of products, services and scalability the DPIIT portal assesses.
Portal filing
We create the Startup India profile and file for DPIIT recognition on the portal.
Benefit roadmap
We map which benefits you can use, including the Section 80-IAC tax holiday route.
Funding readiness
We point you to schemes such as the SISFS Seed Fund and the FFS Fund of Funds.
Setup bundle
We can combine incorporation, Udyam and Startup India registration in one go.
Startup India registration in 6 steps
- 01
Confirm the entity
Incorporate or confirm the entity as a Private Limited Company, LLP or registered partnership firm.
- 02
Create the profile
Create a profile on the Startup India portal using the entity details.
- 03
Check eligibility
Check age under 10 years, turnover under Rs 100 crore and original formation criteria.
- 04
Apply for DPIIT recognition
Submit with the incorporation document, PAN and a sharp innovation write-up.
- 05
Receive recognition
Receive the recognition certificate with a DPIIT recognition number, usually in a few days.
- 06
Activate benefits
Apply separately for Section 80-IAC where eligible, and access IPR rebates and funding schemes.
What you will need to keep ready
Entity documents
- Certificate of incorporation or registration of the entity
- PAN of the entity
- Memorandum and articles or LLP agreement or partnership deed
- Bank details and proof of office address
People and authorisations
- Details of directors or partners with PAN and identity proof
- Authorised signatory details for the portal login
- Board or partner resolution authorising the application
- Digital signature or EVC for verification
Innovation and traction
- Short write-up on products, services and the innovation or scalability case
- Website link and pitch deck, where available
- Patents, awards or media coverage that strengthen the case
- Customer letters, traction data or revenue evidence, if any
Two recognitions, both worth holding
| Point | Startup India / DPIIT | Udyam (MSME) |
|---|---|---|
| What it recognises | An innovative or scalable startup | A micro, small or medium enterprise |
| Granted by | DPIIT, Startup India portal | Ministry of MSME, Udyam portal |
| Age or size test | Up to 10 years, turnover up to Rs 100 crore | Investment and turnover within MSME limits |
| Headline benefit | Section 80-IAC tax holiday | CGTMSE credit, Section 43B(h) payment rule |
| Can you hold both | Yes, complementary | Yes, complementary |
Transparent fees, no surprises
Startup India recognition is free on the portal. The Regikart professional fee covers eligibility, the innovation write-up and filing, plus add-ons such as Section 80-IAC.
Startup India Only
DPIIT recognition filing for an existing eligible entity.
- Five-pillar eligibility test
- Innovation and scalability write-up
- Portal profile and DPIIT recognition filing
- Recognition certificate with DPIIT number
Incorporation + Startup India
Most popular for new founders setting up from scratch.
- Pvt Ltd or LLP incorporation
- PAN, TAN and bank account opening support
- Startup India profile and DPIIT recognition
- Founder-friendly cap table and template MoA / AoA
Startup India + 80-IAC
Recognition plus the 3-year tax holiday IMB application.
- Everything in Startup India Only
- Section 80-IAC eligibility and pitch deck review
- Inter-Ministerial Board (IMB) application
- Funding roadmap for FFS and SISFS
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Government fee (Startup India portal) | Free |
| Regikart professional fee (registration) | On request |
| Section 80-IAC tax holiday application | On request |
| Incorporation plus Startup India bundle | On request |
All fees and charges listed are indicative only and do not constitute a binding offer. Final amounts may vary depending on the volume of work and the complexity involved.
A CA-led Startup India filing partner
CA and CS led
Applications reviewed by qualified Chartered Accountants and Company Secretaries before filing.
Sharp innovation case
We do not file a generic write-up. Every application tells a clear novelty and scalability story.
80-IAC ready
We sequence recognition and the IMB tax holiday application so founders capture both benefits.
Pan-India service
Offices in Kolkata, Delhi, Gurugram and Pune; remote support across all states and UTs.
Updated for 2026
DPIIT notification 4 February 2026 (cooperatives and Deep Tech) and Budget 2025 changes built in.
Transparent pricing
Clear quotes for recognition, incorporation bundle and 80-IAC engagements - no surprises.
How we keep your Startup India case clean
Unclear innovation case
A vague write-up invites queries. We sharpen the novelty and scalability story before filing.
Wrong entity type
Sole proprietorships cannot register. We advise on incorporating as a company or LLP first.
Reconstruction issue
Entities split or formed by reconstructing an existing business are ineligible. We check this upfront.
Confusing recognition with benefits
Recognition is step one; the Section 80-IAC tax holiday is a separate IMB application. We sequence both.
Stale angel tax fear
Section 56(2)(viib) was abolished from 1 April 2025. We update founders so this no longer blocks fundraising.
Hand-off the paperwork, focus on building
| Aspect | Doing it yourself | With Regikart |
|---|---|---|
| Innovation write-up | Vague description invites queries | Sharp novelty and scalability story |
| Entity type | Sole prop filings rejected | Right entity (Pvt Ltd, LLP, firm) confirmed first |
| Five-pillar check | Missed eligibility issue surfaces late | All five pillars tested before filing |
| Reconstruction risk | Split-off ineligibility ignored | Original-formation test done upfront |
| Section 80-IAC | Tax holiday lapses unclaimed | IMB application sequenced and filed |
| DPIIT 2026 update | Cooperatives and Deep Tech category missed | Latest notification applied where it helps |
Startup India: the rules behind the recognition
Recognition is granted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Startup India initiative, through the Startup India portal. The framework was comprehensively revised by the DPIIT notification dated 4 February 2026.
- Eligibility conditions
The entity must be a company, LLP or registered partnership firm, be within 10 years of incorporation, have turnover up to Rs 100 crore, be innovative or scalable, and not be a reconstruction of an existing business.
- Section 80-IAC tax holiday
A recognised company or LLP can claim the Section 80-IAC 3-year tax holiday through a separate Inter-Ministerial Board certificate, for incorporations up to 1 April 2030.
- Angel tax abolished
Angel tax under Section 56(2)(viib) was abolished for all investors from 1 April 2025 (Finance Act 2024), removing a long-standing fundraising friction.
- Other benefits
Self-certification, IPR fee rebates (80% patent, 50% trademark), procurement relaxations, faster winding up and funding through FFS and SISFS apply, subject to scheme conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers on eligibility, the free process, DPIIT recognition, timelines, benefits and documents.
Still have questions?
Book a free 20-minute consult with a senior partner - we'll walk through your case and outline next steps.
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DPIIT registration
The recognition certificate and benefit detail for the same status.
Learn morePvt Ltd company
The structure most suited to startup benefits.
Learn moreLLP registration
A lighter structure that is also Startup India eligible.
Learn moreUdyam (MSME)
Add MSME benefits alongside startup status.
Learn moreRecognise your startup. Unlock the stack.
Our CA team checks the five eligibility pillars, drafts a sharp innovation write-up, files for DPIIT recognition on the Startup India portal, and sequences your Section 80-IAC tax holiday application.
- Free five-pillar eligibility check
- Sharp innovation write-up
- DPIIT recognition in days
- 80-IAC IMB application ready