As businesses gear up for another financial year, staying on top of company compliance is no longer optional. With increasing scrutiny from regulatory bodies, being audit-ready in 2025 means more than just filing your returns. It requires a proactive approach to maintaining books, meeting legal obligations, filing key reports, and avoiding penalties.
Whether you are a startup, an MSME, or a private limited company, non-compliance can damage your credibility and result in serious consequences, including fines and legal action. This guide serves as a practical compliance checklist every company should follow to stay aligned with the latest corporate laws and taxation norms in India.
Our Company Compliance Services are designed to help you manage these responsibilities efficiently, allowing you to focus on growth while we handle the regulatory load.
Annual ROC Filings
Every company registered under the Companies Act must file annual returns with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). These include:
- Form AOC-4: Filing of financial statements
- Form MGT-7: Filing of annual return
- Form MGT-7A: For small companies and OPCs (one person companies)
Ensure your balance sheet, profit and loss account, and audit reports are ready before initiating these filings. The due date for most companies is within 30 to 60 days from the date of the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Delays in these filings attract penalties of ₹100 per day per form.
Director KYC and DIN Compliance
Directors must complete their KYC through DIR-3 KYC every year. Failure to do so leads to deactivation of the Director Identification Number (DIN), which restricts the ability to sign or submit documents.
If your DIN is deactivated, you cannot act as a director or file forms on behalf of the company until it is reactivated, often requiring an additional late fee or adjudication process.
Maintenance of Statutory Registers and Minutes
Companies are legally required to maintain statutory registers such as:
- Register of members
- Register of directors
- Register of charges
- Board meeting and AGM minutes
These documents must be kept updated and accessible at the registered office. During audits or MCA inspections, lack of proper records is one of the first red flags that may trigger penalties or further scrutiny.
Conducting Board Meetings and AGMs
Private companies must conduct at least two board meetings per year, and other companies must conduct a minimum of four. Additionally, AGMs are mandatory for all companies except one-person companies. Notices must be issued as per prescribed timelines, and proceedings should be recorded and approved.
Missing these meetings or not documenting them properly can result in penal action against the company and its officers.
Financial Audit and Appointment of Auditor
Under the Companies Act, it is mandatory to get your company’s books audited by a chartered accountant every year. The appointment of auditors must be filed with the MCA using Form ADT-1.
The auditor’s report forms a part of the annual financial statements. Non-audited companies or failure to file auditor appointment attracts heavy penalties and disqualification of directors in extreme cases.
GST Compliance for Registered Entities
Companies registered under GST must also fulfill monthly, quarterly, and annual compliance requirements including GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-9, and GSTR-9C.
Mismatch between returns and financial books can trigger GST notices and audits. Regular GST reconciliation, timely return filing, and error-free reporting are critical for maintaining compliance. Our GST Services can be integrated with your overall compliance plan for seamless execution.
TDS Return Filing
If your company deducts Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on salaries, contractor payments, rent, or professional fees, then filing quarterly TDS returns is mandatory. Forms such as 24Q, 26Q, and 27Q must be submitted to the Income Tax Department.
Late filing leads to late fees under Section 234E and penalties under Section 271H. Also ensure TDS certificates (Form 16 and 16A) are issued on time to vendors and employees.
Income Tax Return for Companies
All companies, regardless of profit or loss, must file their Income Tax Return (ITR-6 or ITR-7, as applicable) on or before the due date. Even if there is no taxable income, filing a nil return is mandatory.
Companies with turnover above specified limits must also get a tax audit done under Section 44AB and file Form 3CA-3CD or 3CB-3CD accordingly.
Late filing or non-filing can lead to loss of carry-forward losses and penalties up to ₹10,000 under Section 234F.
Trademark and IP Compliance
If your company owns a registered trademark, ensure that renewals are filed on time. Trademark registrations are valid for 10 years but require proactive renewal before expiry. Failure to do so could lead to cancellation and loss of brand protection.
In case your intellectual property is not yet protected, filing a trademark application early is recommended. Our Trademark & IP Services assist businesses with filing, monitoring, and renewals.
Secretarial Compliance for Private Limited Companies
As per SEBI and MCA norms, certain private companies must submit Secretarial Audit Reports, CSR reports, and other event-based filings. These include:
- PAS-3 (for allotment of shares)
- DIR-12 (change in directors)
- SH-7 (change in share capital)
- INC-22 (change in registered address)
Missing these filings can result in the company being marked as non-compliant on the MCA portal, restricting fundraising, bank dealings, and government tenders.
Business Licenses and Local Registrations
Apart from central-level compliances, businesses must ensure state and municipal-level licenses such as:
- Shops and Establishment License
- Professional Tax Registration
- Trade License
- FSSAI (for food businesses)
These must be renewed as per local regulations. Expired licenses can result in notices, closures, or penalties from local authorities.
Staying Ahead with a Compliance Calendar
Creating a compliance calendar for the year helps you monitor all due dates and avoid last-minute stress. You can either maintain this internally or outsource it to a compliance partner who provides alerts and handles filings on your behalf.
We offer an end-to-end Company Compliance Service that covers annual, monthly, and event-based compliances to help you stay audit-ready throughout the year.
Conclusion
As compliance requirements grow more complex, audit readiness in 2025 is about systematic tracking, accurate documentation, and timely filings. Non-compliance is no longer viewed lightly by regulators. It impacts your brand, restricts access to funding, and puts your directors at risk.
If you are unsure whether your company is fully compliant, this is the right time to act. Let our experts take care of your compliance obligations so you can focus on growing your business.
Explore our Company Compliance Services to stay ahead of deadlines, avoid penalties, and be always audit-ready.
