pvtltd.co

Company · Birth

We're incorporated — what's due in the first 180 days?

The short answer

The first 180 days after incorporation are when most early compliance actually lands. Your first board meeting — due within 30 days — appoints the first auditor, opens the bank account, and collects MBP-1 disclosures from every director. Share certificates go to subscribers within two months, INC-20A is due within 180 days, and ADT-1 follows within 15 days once the auditor is appointed.

The paperwork nobody tells you about

Statutory formats that never touch the MCA portal — but an ROC inspection or due diligence will ask for every one of them.

Share certificates (SH-1)

Issued to subscribers within 2 months of incorporation; stamp duty payable

Section 56(4)(a), Companies Act 2013

MBP-1

Every director's disclosure of interest at the first board meeting

Section 184(1), Companies Act 2013

First board meeting

Within 30 days of incorporation — appoints first auditor, opens bank account

Section 173(1), Companies Act 2013

The sequence

  1. 1Hold the first board meeting within 30 days — appoint the first auditor and open a bank account
  2. 2Collect MBP-1 disclosure of interest from every director at that meeting
  3. 3Issue share certificates (SH-1) to subscribers within two months of incorporation
  4. 4File INC-20A within 180 days of incorporation
  5. 5File ADT-1 within 15 days of the board appointment and INC-22 within 30 days if the registered office address was incomplete at incorporation

Questions founders actually ask

When do we appoint our first auditor?

The first board meeting within 30 days of incorporation appoints the first auditor under Section 173(1). ADT-1 must be filed with the ROC within 15 days of that board appointment under Section 139 and Rule 4 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules 2014.

What is INC-20A and when is it due?

INC-20A is the commencement of business declaration under Section 10A, inserted by the Companies Amendment Act 2019. It must be filed within 180 days of incorporation — missing it blocks the company from commencing business.

When do subscribers receive their share certificates?

Share certificates in Form SH-1 must be issued to subscribers within two months of incorporation under Section 56(4)(a). Stamp duty is payable on the certificates.

Last verified 2026-08-24 against MCA V3 records and ICSI reference material. Form-level deadlines and penalties live on the linked form pages and update there.