Section 8 Company Registration Online – Licence + Incorporation in One Application
Section 8 company registration for your NGO, done 100% online. Our team of qualified Chartered Accountants drafts your MoA and AoA, applies for the Section 8 licence and incorporation together in SPICe+, and hands over your Certificate of Incorporation, PAN and TAN — typically in 10–20 working days.
Professional fee from ₹5,999 + GST
Start Your Section 8 Company
Share your details — our expert will call you back, check your proposed name and objects, and list exactly which documents you need.
What is a Section 8 company?
A Section 8 company is a non-profit company registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. It works like any company — separate legal entity, limited liability, board of directors — but it must use all its income only to promote its charitable objects and can never pay dividends to its members.
Objects allowed under Section 8
- Commerce, art, science and sports
- Education and research
- Social welfare and charity
- Religion
- Protection of the environment
- Any other similar object that serves the public good
Rules every Section 8 company follows
- Profits and income are applied only to promote its objects — no dividend to members.
- No minimum paid-up capital. Most NGOs start with a small authorised capital.
- The name must include a word such as Foundation, Forum, Association, Federation, Council, Chambers or Confederation; “Limited” or “Private Limited” is not needed.
- The licence can be revoked if the company breaks its conditions, and its assets then go to another similar non-profit.
Section 8 company registration plans
One fixed professional fee. Government fees, stamp duty and Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) are charged at actuals — we tell you the exact amount for your state before filing.
Basic
Incorporation + Section 8 licence
- DIN for 2 directors
- Company name approval
- MoA & AoA drafting
- Section 8 licence via SPICe+
- Certificate of Incorporation
- PAN & TAN of the company
- Free expert consultation
Premium
Complete NGO launch + govt registrations
- Everything in Basic
- MSME / Udyam registration
- NGO Darpan (NITI Aayog) registration
- e-Anudaan registration
- One Form CSR-1 filing, once 12A & 80G are approved
- Priority processing by our team (MCA timelines unchanged)
- Dedicated account manager till the add-ons are filed
12A + 80G + Darpan
Add-on after incorporation
- 12A application (income-tax exemption, if approved)
- 80G application (donor deduction, if approved)
- NGO Darpan Unique ID
- Document review by a CA
- Single point of contact
How 12A & 80G registration works →
Section 8 company registration fees in 2026
Your total cost has three parts: the government fee paid to MCA, stamp duty paid to your state, and our professional fee. Here is each one.
| Cost item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation (SPICe+ Part A) | ₹1,000 | Paid to MCA. Reserves the proposed name for 20 days. |
| Incorporation fee (SPICe+) | ₹0 | MCA charges no incorporation fee where authorised capital is up to ₹15 lakh — enough for almost every NGO. |
| Section 8 licence | Included in SPICe+ | No separate INC-12 filing for a new company; any MCA fee appears on the SPICe+ challan and is charged at actuals. |
| Stamp duty on MoA & AoA | Varies by state | Paid online through SPICe+ to the state of the registered office. It is nil or nominal in some states. |
| Digital Signature Certificates | At actuals | Needed for each director and subscriber to sign the forms. Not a government fee. |
| Our professional fee (Basic) | ₹5,999 + GST | Drafting, filing, MCA query replies and certificate handover. |
| Late annual ROC filing | ₹100 per day per form | Additional fee for late AOC-4 or MGT-7 after incorporation. |
Section 8 company vs Trust vs Society
All three can apply for 12A, 80G, NGO Darpan and FCRA registration. The difference is in governance, cost and how much comfort large donors take from the structure.
| Point | Section 8 company | Trust | Society |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | Companies Act, 2013 | Indian Trusts Act, 1882 or state public trust law | Societies Registration Act, 1860 or state law |
| Registered with | MCA / Registrar of Companies (online) | Sub-Registrar or Charity Commissioner (state) | Registrar of Societies (state) |
| Minimum people | 2 directors & 2 members (private) | Usually 2 or more trustees | 7 members under the 1860 Act (varies by state) |
| Run by | Board of directors | Trustees | Governing body |
| Changing objects | With MCA approval | Difficult; depends on the deed | Special resolution + registrar filing |
| Annual compliance | ROC filings, audit, ITR | Audit & ITR; state filings | Audit & ITR; annual list to registrar |
| Donor perception | Often preferred by CSR & foreign donors | Widely accepted | Widely accepted |
Who can register a Section 8 company?
Any group of individuals (Indian or foreign) or existing bodies that want to run a non-profit with charitable objects can apply.
Minimum requirements
- 2 directors for a private Section 8 company (3 for a public one)
- At least one director resident in India (stayed 182 days or more in the financial year)
- 2 members (7 for a public company); directors can be the members
- A registered office address in India
- Clear charitable objects and a plan of activities
Good to know
- No minimum capital — you choose the authorised capital.
- Directors must hold a DIN; we apply for up to 3 DINs inside SPICe+.
- A director must not be disqualified under the Companies Act.
- You must give an estimate of income and expenditure for the next 3 years with the application.
Documents required for Section 8 company registration
Scans or clear phone photos are enough. Address proofs and bank statements should not be older than 2 months.
Directors & members
- PAN card
- Aadhaar / passport / voter ID / driving licence
- Bank statement or utility bill (address proof)
- Passport-size photo
- Email ID & mobile number
Foreign nationals
- Passport
- Address proof from home country
- Documents notarised / apostilled as required
- Email ID & mobile number
Registered office
- Electricity / water / gas bill
- Rent agreement (if rented)
- NOC from the property owner
- Ownership proof if owned
About your NGO
- 2–3 proposed names
- Main objects & planned activities
- Estimated income & expenditure for 3 years
- Proposed authorised capital
How our Section 8 registration service works
Talk to us
Fill the form or WhatsApp us. We check your objects, suggest compliant names and confirm the fee for your state.
Documents & DSC
Share documents online. We arrange DSCs and draft the MoA, AoA and declarations.
SPICe+ filing
Name, licence and incorporation are filed together, usually within 2 working days of complete documents.
Company ready
You receive the Certificate of Incorporation, Section 8 licence, PAN and TAN.
What to do after Section 8 company registration
Registration is the start. Incorporation alone does not make income tax-free or make you eligible for CSR or grants. These separate registrations decide whether your NGO can apply for tax exemption, CSR money, government grants and foreign funds – funding itself is always at the donor’s or department’s discretion.
Bank, auditor & Darpan
Open a bank account, appoint the first auditor within 30 days and get your NGO Darpan Unique ID.
12A & 80G
Apply for provisional 12A and 80G with the Income Tax Department. Exemption and the donor deduction apply only after approval and continue only with ongoing compliance.
CSR-1 registration
Under rule 4 of the Companies (CSR Policy) Rules, 2014, a Section 8 company must be registered under 12A and approved under 80G before it files Form CSR-1 on the MCA portal. To implement CSR for companies that did not set it up, it also needs an established track record of at least three years in similar activities.
FCRA
FCRA registration generally needs about 3 years of activity; newer NGOs can apply for prior permission for a specific donor.
Your NGO is set up by qualified Chartered Accountants
MDF Consultancy Services runs mydigitalfiling.in from Agra and serves clients across India. Every Section 8 application is drafted and checked by our team of qualified Chartered Accountants and company law professionals — not by a call centre.
Expert CA team
Objects, MoA and AoA are drafted to avoid MCA objections.
Filed in 2 working days
From complete documents and DSCs to SPICe+ filing.
Data kept private
Your documents are used only for your filing.
One team for the NGO journey
12A, 80G, Darpan, CSR-1, audit and annual filings.
Money-back guarantee
If we are unable to complete your Section 8 company registration, or you are not satisfied with our service, we refund our professional fee in full — only government fees already paid on your behalf are deducted, as per our refund policy. Refund requests can be raised within 30 days of payment.
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Section 8 & NGO guides
Section 8 company registration – frequently asked questions
What is Section 8 company registration?
It is the process of incorporating a non-profit company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. A single SPICe+ application to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs covers name approval, the Section 8 licence and incorporation, and also allots the company PAN and TAN.
How much does Section 8 company registration cost?
Our professional fee starts at ₹5,999 + GST. Government costs are extra at actuals: ₹1,000 for name reservation, no MCA incorporation fee for authorised capital up to ₹15 lakh, state stamp duty on the MoA and AoA, and Digital Signature Certificates for the directors.
How long does it take to register a Section 8 company?
With complete documents, it typically takes 10–20 working days. We file within about 2 working days of receiving complete documents and DSCs; the balance is MCA processing time, which can be longer if the Registrar raises a query.
Is there a minimum capital requirement for a Section 8 company?
No. There is no minimum paid-up capital. Most NGOs keep a small authorised capital, which also keeps the MCA incorporation fee at zero.
How many directors and members are required?
A private Section 8 company needs at least 2 directors and 2 members; a public one needs 3 directors and 7 members. The same people can be directors and members, and at least one director must be resident in India.
Is Form INC-12 still required for a new Section 8 company?
Not as a separate form. For a new company, the licence application is part of SPICe+, and the licence is issued in Form INC-16 along with the Certificate of Incorporation. INC-12 is still used to convert an existing company into a Section 8 company.
Can a Section 8 company earn a profit or pay salaries?
Yes. It can earn a surplus and pay reasonable salaries for services actually rendered, but every rupee of profit must be used for its objects. It cannot pay dividends to its members.
Does a Section 8 company get 12A and 80G automatically?
No. Section 8 incorporation does not by itself give income-tax exemption, an 80G deduction for donors, or CSR or grant eligibility. 12A and 80G are separate approvals from the Income Tax Department. Apply for provisional registration soon after incorporation; exemption and the donor deduction apply only once approved and continue only with ongoing compliance.
Which is better for CSR and foreign funding: Section 8, Trust or Society?
All three can be eligible once they have the required registrations, but none is automatic. For CSR, rule 4 of the Companies (CSR Policy) Rules, 2014 requires the entity to be registered under 12A and approved under 80G and to file Form CSR-1; an entity not set up by the donor company also needs an established track record of at least three years in similar activities. Foreign funds need FCRA registration or prior permission. Many donors prefer a Section 8 company for its MCA regulation and board governance, but funding is always the donor’s decision.
Is GST registration needed for a Section 8 company?
Only if it makes taxable supplies above the GST threshold or falls under compulsory registration. Many charitable activities are exempt, so most new NGOs do not need GST at the start.
Reviewed by the MDF Tax Team • Last updated: 5 October 2026 • Sources: Companies Act, 2013 & MCA ease-of-doing-business initiatives (zero fee up to ₹15 lakh capital; Section 8 licence in SPICe+), MCA table of fees, Income Tax e-filing: Form 104. This page is general information, not legal advice.
