Description

Ministry of Corporate Affairs extends deadline to January 31, 2026 for filing annual financial statements and returns for FY 2024-25 without additional fees.

Summary

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has issued General Circular No. 08/2025 dated December 30, 2025, providing regulatory relief to companies by extending the deadline for filing annual financial statements and returns for FY 2024-25. Companies can now complete their annual filings up to January 31, 2026 without payment of additional fees. This circular continues the relief measures announced in General Circular No. 06/2025 dated October 17, 2025, and responds to stakeholder representations.

Key Points

  • Extension granted for filing e-Forms MGT-7, MGT-7A, AOC-4, AOC-4 CFS, AOC-4 NBFC (Ind AS), AOC-4 CFS NBFC (Ind AS), and AOC-4 (XBRL)
  • Filings pertaining to Financial Year 2024-25 can be completed until January 31, 2026
  • No additional fees will be charged for filings made within the extended period
  • Relief applies to all companies required to file annual returns and financial statements
  • All other requirements of General Circular No. 06/2025 remain unchanged
  • Circular issued with approval of competent authority under MCA

Regulatory Changes

This circular modifies the compliance timeline for annual filings under the Companies Act, 2013. The standard deadline for filing annual returns and financial statements has been extended by granting companies additional time without the burden of late filing fees. The extension applies specifically to:

  • Form MGT-7: Annual Return (for companies other than OPCs, small companies, and dormant companies)
  • Form MGT-7A: Annual Return (for OPCs, small companies, and dormant companies)
  • Form AOC-4: Financial Statements
  • Form AOC-4 CFS: Consolidated Financial Statements
  • Form AOC-4 NBFC (Ind AS): Financial Statements for NBFCs following Ind AS
  • Form AOC-4 CFS NBFC (Ind AS): Consolidated Financial Statements for NBFCs following Ind AS
  • Form AOC-4 (XBRL): Financial Statements in XBRL format

This represents a continuation of the regulatory relief framework established under General Circular No. 06/2025.

Compliance Requirements

For All Companies:

  • Must file annual returns and financial statements for FY 2024-25 by January 31, 2026
  • Forms covered: MGT-7, MGT-7A, AOC-4, AOC-4 CFS, AOC-4 NBFC (Ind AS), AOC-4 CFS NBFC (Ind AS), AOC-4 (XBRL)
  • Filings made within extended deadline will not attract additional fees
  • Companies must ensure all other requirements specified in General Circular No. 06/2025 are met
  • Normal filing procedures and documentation requirements remain applicable

Applicable To:

  • All companies registered under the Companies Act, 2013
  • Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) following Ind AS
  • One Person Companies (OPCs), small companies, and dormant companies
  • Companies required to file consolidated financial statements

Important Dates

  • December 30, 2025: Date of MCA General Circular No. 08/2025
  • December 31, 2025: BSE circular disseminating MCA notification
  • January 31, 2026: Extended deadline for filing annual returns and financial statements for FY 2024-25 without additional fees
  • Reference: General Circular No. 06/2025 dated October 17, 2025 (previous circular on this subject)

Impact Assessment

Positive Impact:

  • Provides significant compliance relief to all companies facing time constraints in completing annual filings
  • Eliminates financial burden of additional late filing fees for companies
  • Allows companies additional time to ensure accurate and complete annual reporting
  • Responds to stakeholder concerns and representations regarding filing challenges
  • Reduces compliance pressure during the year-end period

Operational Impact:

  • Companies gain approximately one additional month beyond typical deadlines for annual compliance
  • Finance and secretarial departments have extended time for audit completion and filing
  • Reduces risk of non-compliance penalties for delayed filings
  • Professional service providers (auditors, company secretaries) benefit from reduced time pressure

Market-wide Impact:

  • Affects all listed and unlisted companies under the Companies Act, 2013
  • Ensures smoother compliance process across corporate sector
  • Demonstrates regulatory flexibility in response to stakeholder feedback
  • No direct impact on trading or market operations, but improves corporate governance timeline flexibility

Impact Justification

Critical regulatory relief affecting all companies for mandatory annual compliance filings with significant deadline extension and fee waiver