COMPANY SECRETARIAL · ROC COMPLIANCE

Company Secretarial Services in India: ROC & MCA Compliance

Stay compliant with the Companies Act, 2013 all year round. Our company secretarial services cover board and general meetings, minutes and statutory registers, annual and event-based ROC filings, director KYC, secretarial audit support and FEMA reporting, for private, public and foreign-owned companies and LLPs.

20+Company Secretaries and lawyers on our team
4minimum board meetings a year for most companies
30+countries our clients come from
426client engagements completed in the last 5 years
01

Why Company Secretarial Compliance Matters

To operate with confidence in a competitive environment, a company must manage and reduce the risk of corporate non-compliance.

The Companies Act, 2013 requires every company to hold meetings, keep minutes and registers, and file a steady stream of annual and event-based forms with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Missed or incorrect filings lead to additional fees and penalties for the company and its officers. Prolonged defaults can lead to directors being disqualified or the company being struck off the register.

Our experience, combined with structured compliance processes, guides you through regulatory requirements and changes across functions and locations, so you avoid serious legal consequences and keep your records investor- and audit-ready.

02

Our Company Secretarial Services

1

Compliance Health Check

We assess your current compliance status, including past filings, registers, minutes, director KYC and charges, and identify gaps and penalties to regularise. This is useful before due diligence, fundraising, M&A or a corporate reorganisation.

2

Meetings & Minutes

We draft notices, agendas and resolutions, help you hold board, committee and general meetings in line with Secretarial Standards SS-1 and SS-2, and maintain minute books.

3

Statutory Registers & Records

We maintain registers of members, directors and KMP, charges, contracts, and loans and investments, along with share certificates and other statutory records.

4

Annual ROC Filings

We file financial statements (AOC-4), annual returns (MGT-7/7A), auditor appointment (ADT-1), deposit returns (DPT-3), MSME returns, director KYC, and LLP Forms 8 and 11.

5

Event-Based Filings

We handle changes in directors and KMP, share allotments and transfers, charge creation and satisfaction, registered office changes, and amendments to the MOA and AOA. For major events, see our corporate legal advisory.

6

Secretarial Audit & Governance

We support the secretarial audit (MR-3) where applicable, the Board's report, related party approvals, independent director compliance, and governance policies.

03

Key Annual Compliance for Companies

ComplianceTypical timeline
Board meetingsAt least four a year, with no more than 120 days between two meetings (relaxed for small companies and OPCs)
Annual General Meeting (AGM)Within six months of the financial year-end, generally by 30 September
ADT-1: auditor appointmentWithin 15 days of the AGM
AOC-4: financial statementsWithin 30 days of the AGM
MGT-7 / MGT-7A: annual returnWithin 60 days of the AGM
DPT-3: return of depositsBy 30 June each year
MSME-1: dues to micro and small enterprisesHalf-yearly, where applicable
DIR-3 KYC: director KYCAs prescribed for each director holding a DIN
LLP Form 11 / Form 8By 30 May / 30 October respectively

Timelines are indicative and subject to MCA notifications and extensions. We maintain a client-specific compliance calendar and send reminders well in advance.

04

Secretarial Compliance for Foreign-Owned Companies

Indian subsidiaries of foreign companies have additional requirements, and their foreign directors and shareholders often need extra support.

  • Resident director. At least one director must have stayed in India for at least 182 days during the financial year.
  • FEMA reporting. Form FC-GPR for share allotments, FC-TRS for transfers, and the annual FLA return to the RBI.
  • Significant beneficial ownership. Identification of beneficial owners and BEN-2 filings for foreign group structures.
  • Foreign directors. DIN, digital signatures, KYC and remote participation in meetings.
  • Dematerialisation. Private companies other than small companies must issue and hold securities in demat form. See our demat services and RTA services.
05

Company Secretarial Services vs Corporate Legal Advisory

Company Secretarial ServicesCorporate Legal & Secretarial Advisory
FocusRoutine, year-round complianceStructural and one-time company law events
ExamplesBoard meetings, minutes, registers, AOC-4, MGT-7, KYCIncorporation, conversion, registered office shift to another state, closure
EngagementAnnual retainerProject-based
06

How We Work

Health Check

We review MCA records, filings, registers, minutes and director status.

Regularise

We file overdue forms, update registers and resolve gaps.

Compliance Calendar

We agree a company-specific calendar of meetings and filings.

Meetings & Documents

We prepare notices, agendas, resolutions and minutes for every meeting.

File & Track

We file forms on the MCA portal and track approvals.

Report

We give management and the board regular compliance status reports.

07

Why Choose AAPT & Associates

  • An experienced CS team. More than 20 Company Secretaries and lawyers with 7–12 years' experience.
  • Company law, FEMA and tax together. CS, CA and legal expertise in one firm.
  • Proactive reminders. You hear from us before every deadline.
  • Foreign-client experience. Indian subsidiaries of groups from over 30 countries.
  • Audit- and diligence-ready records. Clean registers and minutes when investors or acquirers ask.
  • One partner for all compliance. Secretarial work alongside accounting, payroll and tax.

Get a Compliance Health Check

08

Frequently Asked Questions

What do company secretarial services include?
They typically include compliance health checks, organising board and general meetings, drafting notices, resolutions and minutes, maintaining statutory registers, filing annual and event-based forms with the ROC, director KYC, FEMA reporting for foreign-owned companies, and support with secretarial audits.
Which annual ROC filings does a private limited company need to make?
Key annual filings include AOC-4 for financial statements, MGT-7 or MGT-7A for the annual return, ADT-1 for auditor appointment where applicable, DPT-3 for deposits and outstanding loans, MSME-1 where applicable, and DIR-3 KYC for directors.
What happens if ROC filings are missed?
Late filings attract additional fees for each day of delay, and the company and its officers can face penalties. Continued non-filing can lead to directors being disqualified and the company being struck off. Overdue filings should be regularised as soon as possible.
How many board meetings must a company hold?
Most companies must hold at least four board meetings a year, with no more than 120 days between two consecutive meetings. Small companies, OPCs and certain others need to hold at least two meetings a year, one in each half of the calendar year.
Is a Company Secretary mandatory for every company?
A whole-time Company Secretary is mandatory for listed companies and for other companies above the prescribed paid-up capital threshold. Other companies can meet their compliance needs by engaging a practising Company Secretary firm.
Do you support LLP compliance as well?
Yes. We handle LLP annual filings (Form 11 and Form 8), changes in designated partners, LLP agreement amendments and other LLP compliance.

Is your company fully up to date with the ROC?

Share your company name or CIN. Our team will review your MCA compliance status and flag any gaps, at no cost and with no obligation.

Book a Free Compliance Check