Private Limited Company Registration via SPICe+ (2026)

The private limited company registration process in India runs through SPICe+, a single integrated web form on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal. Part A reserves the company name and Part B carries the incorporation details, filed together with linked forms for the e-MoA, e-AoA and AGILE-PRO-S. Once the Registrar approves it, you receive a certificate of incorporation and the company's PAN and TAN are typically issued with it. The rules below are summarised as of November 2026.

If you are still deciding how to set up, start with the guide on how to register a business in Hyderabad, which maps every registration from day one.

Key Takeaways

• A private company needs at least 2 directors and 2 members, and at least one director must have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the financial year.
• SPICe+ Part A reserves the name for 20 days; under Rule 9A you can pay to extend this to 40 or 60 days.
• Linked forms INC-33 (e-MoA), INC-34 (e-AoA) and INC-35 (AGILE-PRO-S) are filed with SPICe+ Part B.
• The MCA fee for incorporation is nil if authorised capital is ₹15 lakh or less, but stamp duty is still payable.
• If the Registrar raises defects, you get 15 days to resubmit.

Before you start: eligibility checklist

SPICe+ is the MCA's web form for incorporating a company; the name stands for Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus. It combines name reservation, incorporation and several linked registrations in one filing.

Check four things before you open the form. If any is missing, the filing will stall.

At least two directors and two members

Under section 149(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, a private company needs a minimum of 2 directors. The maximum is 15, unless the company passes a special resolution to appoint more.

A private company also needs at least 2 members (shareholders) and can have up to 200. The same people can be both directors and members.

If you are a solo founder, a One Person Company may fit better. The comparison of private limited vs LLP vs OPC vs proprietorship sets out the trade-offs.

One resident director

Section 149(3) requires at least one director who has stayed in India for 182 days or more in the financial year. If all your founders live abroad, you will need to appoint a resident director before filing.

Digital Signature Certificates

Subscribers and directors sign the SPICe+ forms with a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). Arrange a DSC for each signatory early, because nothing can be signed or submitted without one.

A registered office

The company must have a registered office in place from the 30th day after incorporation, under section 12(1). You can give the address in SPICe+ itself. If you do not, you will need to file INC-22 later to notify it.

If you want the company based in Hyderabad, give a Hyderabad address where it can receive official communication. It can be a rented office or other premises you have the right to use, supported by proof.

Documents you will need

The exact list of attachments depends on your facts, such as whether a director is a foreign national or whether the office is rented. MCA's SPICe+ form instructions list the precise attachments, so check them before you file.

In general, you should prepare:

• Identity proof for every subscriber and director.
• Address proof for every subscriber and director.
• Registered office proof, showing the address and that the company has the right to use the premises.
• Details for the e-MoA and e-AoA, including the company's main objects, authorised capital and each subscriber's shareholding.

Keep names and addresses identical across every document. Even small mismatches between an ID card and the form can lead to queries.

Step-by-step SPICe+ process

The sequence runs from signatures to certificate.

Step 1: Get DSCs for all signatories

Obtain a DSC for each proposed director and subscriber. If a director does not yet have a Director Identification Number (DIN), it can be applied for through SPICe+ itself.

Step 2: Reserve the name in SPICe+ Part A

Submit your proposed name in Part A for the Registrar's approval. For a new company, name reservation happens only through SPICe+ Part A; the separate RUN service is used to change the name of an existing company.

An approved name is valid for 20 days from approval under section 4(5). If you need more time, Rule 9A of the incorporation rules allows extensions:

Option	Fee	Name valid for
Standard reservation	Included	20 days
First extension	₹1,000	40 days
Second extension (after the first)	Further ₹2,000	60 days
Single extension straight to 60 days	₹3,000	60 days

Step 3: Fill in SPICe+ Part B

Part B carries the incorporation details. This includes the registered office, authorised and subscribed capital, subscriber and director details, and DIN applications where needed.

Step 4: Prepare the e-MoA (INC-33) and e-AoA (INC-34)

The Memorandum of Association is filed as the linked web form INC-33. The Articles of Association are filed as INC-34.

The MoA sets out the company's objects and capital. The AoA sets out its internal rules, such as how shares are transferred and how board meetings run.

Step 5: Complete AGILE-PRO-S (INC-35)

AGILE-PRO-S is the linked form that bundles several registrations with incorporation. It is widely described as covering the following; confirm the current list in MCA's SPICe+ instructions:

• PAN and TAN for the company
• EPFO and ESIC registration
• Opening a bank account for the company
• GSTIN, which is optional
• Profession tax registration, but only in some states

Do not assume Telangana profession tax is handled here. Treat it as a separate registration and confirm the position when you file.

Step 6: Sign, pay and submit

Once the main form and linked forms are complete, the directors and subscribers sign with their DSCs. You then pay any applicable fees and stamp duty and submit the filing on the MCA portal.

Step 7: Receive the certificate of incorporation

When the Registrar approves the application, the company receives its certificate of incorporation, typically along with its PAN and TAN. Processing time varies, so do not plan around a fixed number of days.

Government fees and stamp duty

Under the fee rules (G.S.R. 180(E), effective 18 March 2019, published in the MCA rules collection), the MCA fee for incorporation is nil if authorised capital is ₹15 lakh or less.

Stamp duty is still payable on the MoA and AoA, even when the MCA fee is nil. SPICe+ calculates it automatically based on the details you enter, so you do not need to work it out by hand.

For example, two founders setting up with ₹1 lakh of authorised capital would pay no MCA incorporation fee, but stamp duty would still apply. You can also check MCA filing fees with MCA's fee calculator.

The fees for name extensions under Rule 9A, listed in the table above, are separate from the incorporation fee. Professional fees for help with the filing are also separate.

Common reasons for resubmission

If the Registrar finds defects, the application is sent back for resubmission. Under the incorporation rules, you have 15 days to fix the defects and resubmit, so keep your documents and DSCs to hand after filing.

Typical reasons include:

• Name issues: the proposed name is too similar to an existing company or trademark, or does not suit the stated objects.
• Document mismatches: a name, date of birth or address differs between the form and the attached proof.
• Weak registered office proof: the address on the proof does not match the address in the form, or the right to use the premises is not clear.
• Objects drafting: the main objects in the e-MoA are vague or do not match the activities described elsewhere.
• Signature problems: a DSC has expired or does not belong to the person shown as signing.

A line-by-line check before submission catches many of these.

What happens after incorporation

The certificate of incorporation is the start of your compliance calendar, not the end. Some deadlines begin running from the date on the certificate.

The most important is INC-20A, the declaration of commencement of business under section 10A. It is due within 180 days of incorporation, and the company cannot start business or use its borrowing powers until it is filed.

Within 30 days of incorporation, the board must hold its first meeting (section 173) and appoint the first auditor (section 139(6)). The compliance after company incorporation checklist covers the full first-year timeline.

If you did not opt for GSTIN in AGILE-PRO-S, check whether your business needs to register. The guide to GST registration in Telangana explains the limits and steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a company name reserved under SPICe+?

As of November 2026, an approved name is valid for 20 days from approval. Under Rule 9A, you can pay ₹1,000 to extend it to 40 days and a further ₹2,000 to extend it to 60 days, or pay ₹3,000 once to go straight to 60 days.

What is the government fee to register a private limited company?

The MCA fee for incorporation is nil if authorised capital is ₹15 lakh or less, as of November 2026. Stamp duty is still payable, and SPICe+ calculates it automatically from the details you enter.

How many directors do I need?

A private limited company needs at least 2 directors and at least 2 members. At least one director must have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the financial year.

Is a bank account part of the SPICe+ process?

Generally, yes. AGILE-PRO-S (INC-35) is widely described as including a bank account application for the company, alongside PAN, TAN, EPFO and ESIC. Check MCA's current SPICe+ instructions for the banks and options available when you file.

Do I need an office in Hyderabad to register a company there?

If the company is to be based in Hyderabad, its registered office address should be in Hyderabad, and the office must be in place from the 30th day after incorporation. You can give the address in SPICe+ with supporting proof, or notify it later through INC-22.

Next steps

If you would like support, ProficientNow Books handles private limited company registration through its Start an Entrepreneurship service. After incorporation, our Special Services include the INC-20A commencement of business filing and DIR-3 KYC. You can contact us with any questions about your registration.

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice for your specific situation, and the rules change, so confirm the current position before you file.

Editorial note: prepared by the ProficientNow Books Team from the official sources linked in this article, as of November 2026. Read more about ProficientNow Books on the About Us page.