A Section 8 Company is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and one of the most preferred forms of NGO in India. It is registered under the Companies Act, 2013; and hence, it has to follow the compliances prescribed under this concerned Act.
A Section 8 Company has the motive of promoting science, art, commerce, sports, charitable activities, etc. In a nutshell, such companies are registered to work towards the promotion of the less-talked communities and sectors in India.
The Companies Act, 2013 mandates the provision for all the Section 8 Companies in India to follow the compliances with the MCA (Ministry of Corporate Affairs) strictly.
Why do you require Following Annual Compliance of Section 8 Company?
One of the most apparent reasons for meeting the compliance of Section 8 Company is to avoid penalties. Secondly, it is to ensure the smooth operation of the company. For better and in-depth insights, let’s discuss in detail:
Transparency in the Company’s Operations
Compliances such as preparation and filing of financial returns, annual returns, etc. explain about the company’s financial situation clearly. Hence, filing the company’s compliances creates the transparency of company’s operation or actual condition.
Better Credibility
Companies who file compliances on time have better credibility than the one who doesn’t. As a result, it’s easy for such companies to avail financial help and market credit from the concerned authority.
Avoid Legal Complications
If you don’t follow the compliances of the company, you will get trapped into legal issues such as receiving notices from the MCA which could further lead you into legal trouble. Hence, it’s always advisable to meet the compliances on time to avoid any legal complications in the future.
Build Trust
Whether it is customer or vendor or supplier or the regulatory body, everybody trusts those companies who file compliances on time and are quite open about their financial detail. Such companies have better credibility; and hence, find it easy to build trust among everybody.
Avoid Penalties
Finally, the biggest reason for filing compliances on time is to avoid penalties. Non-compliance could lead several bad consequences such as company closure, confiscation of license, or severe fines.
Checklist for Annual Compliance of Section 8 Company
Annual compliances are periodical in nature and must be filed annually or at regular intervals. Generally, the compliances of a Section 8 Company are similar to that of the limited companies. They are as follows:
Filing ADT-1 .i.e. Appointment of Auditor
To take care of the company’s financial fillings on an annual basis, the Section 8 Company needs to appoint an auditor mandatorily. According to section 139 of the Companies Act, 2013, every company must inform the MCA about the auditor’s appointment in the form ADT-1.
Maintenance of Books of Accounts
Every Section 8 Company is obligated to maintain the books of accounts of the company. The books of accounts keep the records of the annual returns filing, etc.
Maintenance of Statutory Registers
All the Section 8 Companies are required to maintain the statutory records in the statutory registers. The register contains the details of members, loans and investments, and charges. Further, it provides an overview of how actively the company is working on yearly basis.
Conducting Statutory Meetings
Companies registered under Companies Act, 2013 need to convene statutory meetings every year on certain intervals. Statutory meetings include meetings of Shareholders, Board of Director’s meeting, etc.
Director’s Report
Director’s report is the document that consists of the info regarding the company and its compliance along with a set of financial, accounting, and corporate social responsibility. The Board of Directors is responsible for producing this report. As per the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, producing director’s report is compulsory compliance for every Section 8 Company in India.
Preparation of Financial Statements
The financial statement of the company consists of the balance sheet, cash flow statement, profit & loss of the company and more. Hence, every company is supposed to prepare the financial statements of the preceding financial year mandatorily.
Income Tax Returns Filing
It is imperative for every Section 8 Company to file income tax returns before or by 30th September of the next financial year. It is necessary to file income tax returns because it gives an overview of the total income of the company.
Filing of Financial Statements (AOC-4)
Every Section 8 Company needs to file a copy of the financial statements in the prescribed format, i.e. in the e-form AOC-4. The financial statement must be filed within thirty days from the date of the last annual general meeting held.
MGT-7, Filing of Annual Returns with ROC
Since Section 8 Companies are registered as limited companies, therefore, they too need to file –form MGT-7 with the ROC for filing annual returns of the company. MGT-7 must be filed within sixty days from the date of the last annual general meeting was held.v
Event-based Annual Compliances of Section 8 Company
Event-based, as the name suggests, are the compliances need to be filed on the occurrence of specific events. Unlike annual compliances, these are non-periodical in nature. The checklist for event-based compliances for Section 8 Company is as follows:
Appointment or resignation of Directors;
Appointment or resignation of Auditors;
Transfer of Shares;
Appointment of KPM (Key Managerial Personnel);
Receipt of share application money;
Change of Company’s name;
Amendment in the company’s MOA (Memorandum of Association);
Change in company’s registered address;
Any other changes in the company’s structure, etc.
Due Dates for Filing Section 8 Company Compliances
The only way to avoid penalty and fine for non-compliance for Section 8 Company is to follow the compliances within the stipulated time.
Below we have mentioned the due dates for Section 8 Company compliances:
