Practical guides, clearly explained.

Private Limited company incorporation

At least two directors, one of whom lives in India, and at least two shareholders.

• PAN of every director and shareholder
• Aadhaar of Indian directors, or a passport for foreign directors
• A recent passport-size photograph of each director
• Address proof of each director: a bank statement or utility bill not older than two months
• Mobile number and email address of each director
• Two or three proposed company names, in order of preference
• The main business objects of the company
• Authorised capital, paid-up capital and each shareholder’s share
• Registered office proof: rent agreement or ownership proof, the owner’s consent letter and a utility bill not older than two months
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for each director; we can arrange these

0 of 10 ready

LLP incorporation

At least two designated partners, one of whom lives in India.

• PAN of every partner
• Aadhaar of Indian partners, or a passport for foreign partners
• A recent passport-size photograph of each partner
• Address proof of each partner: a bank statement or utility bill not older than two months
• Mobile number and email address of each partner
• Two or three proposed LLP names, in order of preference
• The main business of the LLP
• Capital contribution and profit-sharing ratio of each partner
• Registered office proof: rent agreement or ownership proof, the owner’s consent letter and a utility bill not older than two months
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for each designated partner; we can arrange these

0 of 10 ready

Annual filings for a company (ROC)

• Trial balance and financial statements for the year
• Bank statements and loan statements for the year
• List of directors and their DIN
• List of shareholders and their shareholding
• Minutes of board and general meetings held during the year
• Auditor’s details and appointment letter
• Details of any change in directors, capital or registered office
• Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) of the directors who will sign
• Previous year’s filings, for reference

0 of 9 ready

Forming a partnership firm

At least two partners. We draft the deed, and register the firm with the Registrar of Firms if you want it registered.

• PAN and Aadhaar of every partner
• A recent passport-size photograph of each partner
• Address proof of each partner
• Two or three proposed firm names, in order of preference
• Capital each partner will put in, and the profit-sharing ratio
• The main business of the firm
• Proof of the business address: rent agreement or ownership proof, the owner’s consent letter and a utility bill
• Mobile number and email address of each partner
• Stamp paper for the deed, which we can arrange

0 of 9 ready

Filing your income tax return

• PAN, and Aadhaar linked to it
• Form 16 or salary slips for the year
• Form 26AS and Annual Information Statement (AIS)
• Bank statements and interest certificates
• Rent receipts, if you claim house rent allowance
• Home loan interest certificate, if you have a home loan
• Investment and insurance proofs, such as PPF, ELSS, life insurance and tuition fees
• Details of capital gains, such as shares, mutual funds or property sales
• Details of any other income, such as rent, interest or freelance receipts
• Last year’s return, and details of any foreign assets

0 of 10 ready

Income tax return for a business or profession

For proprietors, professionals and firms. Companies and LLPs also need their audited accounts.

• PAN and Aadhaar of the proprietor, or PAN of the firm
• Sales and purchase records, or the books of accounts for the year
• Bank statements for every business account
• GST returns for the year, if registered
• TDS certificates, Form 26AS and the AIS
• Profit and loss account and balance sheet, if already prepared
• Fixed asset details and purchase bills for new assets
• Loan statements and interest certificates
• Advance tax and self-assessment tax challans
• Previous year’s return and computation
• Tax audit report, if an audit applies to you

0 of 11 ready

TAN registration for TDS

• PAN of the business, company or proprietor
• Name and status of the deductor: individual, firm, company, trust or other
• Address of the business, with a PIN code
• Name, designation and PAN of the person responsible for deducting tax
• Mobile number and email address of the business
• Certificate of incorporation or partnership deed, for firms and companies
• Aadhaar of the proprietor or authorised signatory

0 of 7 ready

GST registration for a proprietorship

• PAN of the proprietor, and Aadhaar
• A recent passport-size photograph of the proprietor
• Mobile number and email address, which will receive the OTPs
• Proof of the business address: for your own premises, a latest electricity bill or property tax receipt
• For rented premises: the rent agreement, the owner’s consent letter and the owner’s latest electricity bill
• Bank account proof: a cancelled cheque, or the first page of the passbook or a statement
• The goods or services you deal in, with their HSN or SAC codes if you have them
• Shop licence, trade licence or Udyam certificate, if you have one

0 of 8 ready

GST registration for a partnership firm

• Partnership deed (and the registration certificate, if the firm is registered)
• PAN of the firm
• PAN, Aadhaar and passport-size photographs of all partners
• Letter authorising one partner to sign and file, with that person’s photograph
• Mobile number and email address of the authorised signatory, for the OTPs
• Proof of the principal place of business: electricity bill or property tax receipt for your own premises
• For rented premises: the rent agreement, the owner’s consent letter and the owner’s latest electricity bill
• Bank account proof in the name of the firm: a cancelled cheque or statement
• The goods or services you deal in, with their HSN or SAC codes if you have them

0 of 9 ready

GST registration for a company or LLP

• Certificate of incorporation and PAN of the company or LLP
• MOA and AOA for a company, or the LLP agreement for an LLP
• PAN, Aadhaar and photographs of the directors or designated partners
• Board resolution or authorisation letter naming the authorised signatory
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of the authorised signatory
• Proof of the registered office, as for rented or own premises
• Bank account proof in the name of the company or LLP
• Mobile number and email address of the authorised signatory
• The goods or services you deal in, with their HSN or SAC codes if you have them

0 of 9 ready

Monthly GST return filing

• Sales invoices for the month, including exports and nil-rated sales
• Purchase invoices and expense bills with the supplier’s GSTIN
• Credit notes and debit notes issued and received
• Bank statements for the month
• GSTR-2B for the month, to match your input tax credit
• E-way bill details, if you move goods
• Previous month’s return and the tax paid, for reference
• GST portal login, if you have changed it

0 of 8 ready

MSME (Udyam) registration

• Aadhaar of the proprietor, a partner, or the authorised signatory, with the mobile number linked to it
• PAN of the business
• GSTIN, if the business is registered under GST
• Name, type and address of the enterprise
• Date the business started
• Main activity of the business, so we can choose the right code
• Number of people employed
• Bank account number and IFSC code
• Investment in machinery or equipment, and turnover figures

0 of 9 ready

ESI and PF registration

• PAN of the business
• Certificate of incorporation, partnership deed, or shop licence or GST certificate
• Address proof of the establishment
• Cancelled cheque or bank statement of the business account
• List of employees with Aadhaar, date of birth, date of joining and monthly wages
• Existing UAN or ESI number of each employee, if they have one
• PAN and Aadhaar of the employer or authorised signatory
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of the employer or authorised signatory
• Mobile number and email address of the employer

0 of 9 ready

Import Export Code (IEC) registration

• PAN of the proprietor, firm or company
• Aadhaar of the proprietor or authorised signatory
• Certificate of incorporation or partnership deed, for firms and companies
• Address proof of the business premises
• Cancelled cheque with the name printed on it, or a bank certificate
• Mobile number and email address, for the OTPs
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), for firms and companies
• A passport-size photograph of the applicant

0 of 8 ready

FSSAI food licence

The exact list depends on whether you need a basic registration, a state licence or a central licence.

• Photo ID and passport-size photograph of the proprietor, partners or directors
• Proof of the business address
• Proof of the right to use the premises: rent agreement and consent letter, or ownership proof
• List of the food products you will make, store or sell
• Layout or floor plan of the premises, for a licence
• Partnership deed, or certificate of incorporation with MOA and AOA, for firms and companies
• Form IX, nominating the person responsible, for a company
• Local body (panchayat or municipality) licence or no-objection letter, where required
• Water test report from a recognised laboratory, for manufacturing or processing

0 of 9 ready

Trade licence from the local body

Municipality or panchayat licence. The requirements differ by local body and by type of business.

• Application form for the licence
• PAN and Aadhaar of the proprietor, or of the partners or directors
• Passport-size photographs
• Proof of the building: ownership document and latest building tax receipt
• For rented premises: the rent agreement and the owner’s consent letter
• Layout or plan of the premises, where asked for
• Details of the business and the activities carried out
• Partnership deed or certificate of incorporation, for firms and companies
• Any other licence or no-objection letter the business needs, for example fire or pollution control

0 of 9 ready

Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

• PAN of the applicant
• Aadhaar, with the mobile number linked to it
• A recent passport-size photograph
• Email address and mobile number of the applicant
• For a certificate in a company’s name: certificate of incorporation, and a letter authorising the applicant
• For a certificate used for GST or MCA filing: the PAN of the company, firm or LLP

0 of 6 ready

Trust registration for 12A and 80G

These registrations let a trust claim tax exemption and give its donors a deduction.

• Registered trust deed
• PAN of the trust
• Registration certificate of the trust
• PAN, Aadhaar, photographs and address proof of each trustee
• Proof of the trust’s office address
• Bank account proof in the name of the trust
• Details of the activities carried out, with supporting documents
• Accounts or income and expenditure statements for the last three years, if the trust is not new
• List of donors and donations received, where available

0 of 9 ready

Registering a society

For Kerala, under the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955.

• Memorandum of association, with the name and objects of the society
• Rules and regulations
• List of the governing body or managing committee, with their addresses
• PAN, Aadhaar and photographs of the office bearers
• Proof of the society’s office address: rent agreement or ownership proof, with the owner’s consent letter
• Affidavit and consent letters from the founding members, in the format asked for
• Name of the society, with a second choice

0 of 7 ready

Replying to an income tax or GST notice

Send us the notice as soon as it arrives. The reply date is printed on it.

• A complete copy of the notice, with its reference number and reply date
• PAN or GSTIN of the person or business the notice is addressed to
• The return, assessment order or filing the notice relates to
• Form 26AS and AIS, or GSTR-2B and the other GST statements the notice refers to
• Bank statements for the period concerned
• Invoices, ledgers and workings for the item being questioned
• Replies or letters already sent on the same matter
• Portal login details, if you want us to view the notice online

0 of 8 ready

Preparing a bank loan proposal

• KYC of the promoters
• Financial statements and returns for the last two or three years
• GST returns for the last 12 months
• Bank statements for the last 12 months
• Project details, quotations and cost estimates, for a new venture or expansion
• Statements of existing loans and repayment schedules
• Proof of the promoters’ own contribution
• Collateral documents, and registrations such as Udyam
• CMA data and projections (we prepare these)

0 of 9 ready