Company Registration · Cost
Govt Fees For Company Registration (India, 2026)
The cost of registering a company in India has two very different parts that are easy to mix up: the government fees, which are fixed and non-negotiable, and the professional fee a consultant charges to do the work. This guide is about the first part, the government fees, so you know what the state actually takes and what is just a service charge. Exact amounts depend on your authorised capital and your state, so the figures here are described as ranges and "as notified"; always confirm the current numbers on the MCA portal.
- Two parts: fixed government fees that go to the state, and a professional fee that varies by provider.
- Single form: a private limited company is incorporated through SPICe+ on the MCA portal, which bundles the approvals.
- MCA fee follows capital: the registration fee depends on authorised capital, with no MCA fee up to a notified threshold.
- Stamp duty is state-set: it varies by state and authorised capital, calculated during SPICe+.
- Not government fees: DSC charges and professional fees are separate from what the state charges.
- Confirm figures: all amounts are as notified; verify on mca.gov.in for your state and capital.
01Government fees vs professional fees
When a consultant quotes you a single "company registration price", it usually bundles two things:
- Government fees: what the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the state charge. These are fixed by rule, the same for everyone, and go to the government.
- Professional fee: what the CA, CS or firm charges to prepare the documents and file the forms. This varies between providers.
Understanding the split lets you compare quotes properly. A low headline price can simply mean the government fees and stamp duty are billed separately later, so always ask whether the quote is inclusive of government fees and stamp duty.
02The government fee heads
A private limited company is incorporated through the single SPICe+ form on the MCA portal, which bundles several approvals. The government charges that can apply are:
| Fee head | What it is |
|---|---|
| Name reservation | Fee to reserve the company name through SPICe+ Part A or RUN |
| Incorporation (MCA) fee | The registration fee, which depends on authorised share capital; nil in many cases up to a notified capital threshold |
| Stamp duty | A state charge on the incorporation documents and memorandum, varying by state and capital |
| DIN | Director Identification Number, allotted through the incorporation form |
| PAN and TAN | Allotted along with incorporation; the PAN and TAN charges are modest and notified |
The exact amounts are set by the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules and the relevant state stamp law, and they are revised from time to time, so treat any figure you see as needing confirmation on the MCA portal.
03Why MCA fees depend on authorised capital
The MCA registration fee is tied to your authorised capital, which is the maximum share capital the company is allowed to issue, not the money you actually put in. To encourage small companies, the rules provide that incorporation carries no MCA registration fee up to a notified authorised capital threshold, with the fee applying in slabs above that level.
The practical takeaway is to set your authorised capital at what the business genuinely needs. Setting it unnecessarily high can push you into a higher fee slab and a higher stamp duty, for no benefit. You can always increase authorised capital later when the business grows.
The MCA fee follows authorised capital, not the cash you invest. Keep authorised capital to what you actually need and you stay in the lowest fee and stamp duty band.
04Stamp duty varies by state
Stamp duty on the incorporation documents is a state subject, so it is the part of the government fee that differs most depending on where your registered office is. Two companies with identical authorised capital can pay different stamp duty simply because one is registered in one state and the other elsewhere.
Stamp duty is collected through the SPICe+ process based on the state of the registered office and the authorised capital. Because the rates are set by each state and change from time to time, the only reliable figure is the one the portal calculates for your specific state and capital at the time of filing.
05Costs that are not government fees
Several costs in a registration quote are real but are not government fees. Separating them helps you judge a price.
- Digital Signature Certificate (DSC): each proposed director needs a DSC, bought from a licensed certifying authority. The charge goes to the DSC provider, not the MCA.
- Professional fee: the charge for preparing the memorandum, articles and forms and filing them.
- Notarisation or apostille: only if a foreign director or document is involved.
Before you pay anything, get the documents clear; see the documents required for a private limited company. If you are looking at a specific structure such as a Section 8 company, the fee position differs; see Section 8 microfinance company registration fees.
06How Claw Tax helps
Claw Tax and Accounts is an online tax, GST and accounting service for India that connects you with a verified chartered accountant at a fixed, published price, with a Claw reviewer checking every filing before it is submitted.
Company registration is a form you can file yourself on the MCA portal, and the government fees are the same whoever files. What a verified CA adds is getting it right the first time: the correct authorised capital so you stay in the lowest fee band, a clean memorandum and articles, the DSC and DIN handled, and the PAN and TAN set up, so the application is not sent back for correction.
With Claw Tax and Accounts company registration, the professional fee is fixed and published and the government fees and stamp duty are passed through at actuals, so you can see exactly what goes to the state and what is the service charge, with a Claw reviewer checking the filing before submission. This is general information, not tax or legal advice; a verified CA handles the specifics, and fees are confirmed as notified at the time of filing.
07Frequently asked questions
What government fees apply to registering a private limited company?
The government charges can include a name reservation fee, the MCA incorporation fee (which depends on authorised capital and is nil up to a notified threshold), state stamp duty on the incorporation documents, and modest PAN and TAN charges. The DIN is allotted through the same incorporation form. All of these are set by rule and revised from time to time.
Why does the registration fee depend on authorised capital?
The MCA registration fee is tied to authorised capital, which is the maximum share capital the company may issue, not the money you actually invest. There is no MCA fee up to a notified capital threshold, with fees applying in slabs above it. Keeping authorised capital to what the business needs keeps you in the lowest fee and stamp duty band.
How much is stamp duty on company incorporation?
Stamp duty is a state charge, so it varies with the state of your registered office and your authorised capital. Two companies with the same capital can pay different amounts in different states. It is calculated during the SPICe+ process, and the only reliable figure is the one the portal computes for your specific state and capital.
Is the Digital Signature Certificate a government fee?
No. Each proposed director needs a Digital Signature Certificate, but it is bought from a licensed certifying authority, and that charge goes to the DSC provider rather than to the MCA. It is a real registration cost, but it is not a government fee, so a transparent quote lists it separately.
Can I register a company myself and pay only the government fees?
Yes. You can file the SPICe+ form yourself on the MCA portal and pay only the government fees and stamp duty, plus the DSC cost. Many founders use a CA or CS to avoid rejections over the memorandum, articles, capital structure or form errors, which are the common reasons a self-filed application is sent back.
Are the government fees the same across India?
The MCA incorporation and name fees and the PAN and TAN charges are central and the same across India. Stamp duty is the exception: it is set by each state, so it differs depending on where the registered office is. That is why total government cost can vary from one state to another for an otherwise identical company.