AS | Ankit Sarawagi|Founder, CFOmatrix·June 2026·11 min read | Updated Jun 2026 |
- SPICe+ already gave you PAN, TAN, EPFO and ESIC numbers through AGILE-PRO-S (INC-35), so do not apply for those again.
- GST is mandatory above ₹40 lakh turnover (goods) or ₹20 lakh (services), or immediately for inter-state supply or e-commerce; otherwise it is voluntary.
- EPF kicks in at 20 employees; ESI at 10 employees (wages up to ₹21,000 a month). The numbers exist from day one, but obligations start at headcount.
- DPIIT (Startup India) and Udyam (MSME) are free and online. Udyam is instant; DPIIT unlocks tax breaks if you qualify.
- Professional Tax and Shops and Establishment are state-specific. Check your state before assuming they apply.
| ₹40 / 20 L GST turnover threshold for goods / services | 20 / 10 Employees that trigger EPF / ESI | ₹0 Government fee for GST, DPIIT and Udyam |
Grab our incorporation document checklist to keep the PAN, bank, address proof and KYC papers each registration asks for in one place, and the post-incorporation compliance checklist for the statutory deadlines (auditor, share certificates, INC-20A) that run alongside these registrations.
What SPICe+ Already Bundled (Do Not Re-Apply)
Before you start a fresh registration, check what you already have. A Private Limited company is incorporated through SPICe+ (INC-32), and its linked AGILE-PRO-S form (INC-35) bundles several registrations at the same time. Re-applying for these wastes money and creates duplicate records.
At incorporation, SPICe+ and AGILE-PRO-S already issue your PAN, TAN, EPFO registration, ESIC registration, Professional Tax registration in Maharashtra, and a company bank account. The EPFO and ESIC numbers exist from day one even though contribution and filing duties begin only once you cross the employee thresholds.
- PAN and TAN: issued with the Certificate of Incorporation. No separate application.
- EPFO and ESIC numbers: allotted via AGILE-PRO-S. You activate compliance later at 20 and 10 employees.
- Professional Tax (Maharashtra only): bundled in SPICe+. Other states need a separate application.
- Bank account: AGILE-PRO-S opens one; you still deposit the subscribed paid-up capital into it.
GST is not bundled in SPICe+. You apply for it separately on the GST portal when you cross the threshold or make inter-state or e-commerce supplies. Many founders assume GST came with incorporation; it did not.
All Registrations After Company Incorporation at a Glance
Here are the seven registrations after company incorporation, each with who needs it, how long it takes, and the approximate cost. Treat costs as guide figures and verify current fees on mca.gov.in and the relevant department portal.
| Registration | Applicability | Timeline | Approx cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| GST | Above ₹40 L (goods) / ₹20 L (services), or inter-state / e-commerce | ~7 working days | Govt ₹0 (pro fees extra) |
| Professional Tax (PTEC / PTRC) | Only in states that levy it; PTEC for company, PTRC for employees | A few days | Low state fee |
| Shops & Establishment | State / municipal; register soon after starting operations | A few days to ~2 weeks | State-specific fee |
| DPIIT / Startup India | Optional; under 10 years old, turnover under ₹100 cr, innovative | A few days | Free |
| Udyam (MSME) | Optional but useful for any MSME-sized company | Instant | Free |
| EPF (Provident Fund) | Mandatory at 20 or more employees | Number already issued via SPICe+ | No reg fee; contributions apply |
| ESI | Mandatory at 10 or more employees, wages up to ₹21,000 / month | Number already issued via SPICe+ | No reg fee; contributions apply |
Sort the seven into three buckets: turnover-triggered (GST), state-specific (Professional Tax, Shops Act), and free or headcount-triggered (DPIIT, Udyam, EPF, ESI). You only chase what your situation actually triggers.
GST Registration: When It Becomes Mandatory
GST registration is mandatory once your turnover crosses ₹40 lakh for goods or ₹20 lakh for services, and it is mandatory immediately, regardless of turnover, if you make inter-state supplies or sell through an e-commerce platform. Below the thresholds it stays voluntary.
Registration is on the GST portal, the government charges no fee, and it usually takes about 7 working days. You will need your company PAN, Certificate of Incorporation, board resolution or authorisation, address proof for the registered office, bank details and director KYC.
- Mandatory: turnover above the threshold, any inter-state supply, or e-commerce selling.
- Voluntary: below the threshold but you want input tax credit or B2B customers expect a GSTIN.
- Cost: ₹0 government fee; professional help is optional.
Many early B2B startups register for GST voluntarily even below the threshold, because their customers want a GST invoice and they want to claim input tax credit on vendor bills. Just remember: once registered, you must file GST returns even in months with zero sales.
Professional Tax and Shops & Establishment (State-Specific)
These two are state-specific, so whether you need them depends entirely on where your office and employees are. Do not assume; check your state.
Professional Tax (PTEC and PTRC)
Professional Tax is a state levy that exists only in some states (for example Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal), not everywhere. There are two parts: PTEC (Professional Tax Enrolment Certificate) for the company to pay its own professional tax, and PTRC (Professional Tax Registration Certificate) to deduct and deposit professional tax from employee salaries. A company with employees in a Professional Tax state usually needs both. In Maharashtra, registration is already bundled in SPICe+; elsewhere you apply on the state portal.
Shops and Establishment Registration
The Shops and Establishment registration is governed by state or municipal law and covers your workplace and working conditions. Most states expect you to register soon after you start operations at a commercial premises. The fee is state-specific and the process is usually online with the local labour department or municipal corporation. You will typically need the office address proof, the Certificate of Incorporation and employee details.
DPIIT and Udyam: The Free Wins
Two registrations cost nothing, are fully online, and are worth doing as soon as you qualify: DPIIT Startup India recognition and Udyam MSME registration.
DPIIT / Startup India Recognition
DPIIT recognition is free and online. You qualify if the company is incorporated for under 10 years, has turnover under ₹100 crore, and is working on an innovative or scalable product or service. Recognition unlocks income tax exemptions (including the angel tax relief route), self-certification under several labour and environment laws, easier public procurement, and access to government schemes. It is optional, not a statutory requirement, but the upside is real for a genuine startup.
Udyam (MSME) Registration
Udyam registration is free, online and instant. It gives your company official MSME status, which helps with priority-sector lending, protection against delayed payments from buyers, subsidies and easier access to certain tenders. There is almost no downside for an MSME-sized company, so most founders register early.
DPIIT recognition is the one to prioritise if you plan to raise money: it is your route to the angel-tax-style exemptions and signals legitimacy to investors. Udyam takes minutes, so do both in the same sitting.
EPF and ESI: Triggered by Headcount
EPF and ESI are payroll registrations whose numbers were already issued through SPICe+, but whose obligations start only when you cross an employee threshold. This catches founders out, so be clear on both.
- EPF (Provident Fund): becomes mandatory at 20 or more employees. Once triggered, both employer and employee contribute and you file monthly returns.
- ESI: becomes mandatory at 10 or more employees, and covers employees with monthly wages up to ₹21,000. It funds medical and cash benefits for those employees.
There is no separate registration fee; the cost is the ongoing contribution. Below these headcounts you generally do not need to contribute, though once you cross a threshold you must comply for the relevant employees.
Do not ignore EPF and ESI just because the numbers were auto-issued. The moment you cross 20 (EPF) or 10 (ESI) employees, contribution and filing duties switch on, and late compliance attracts interest and penalties. Track your headcount against these two numbers as you hire.
Founder Watch-Outs and the Non-Resident Angle
The registrations are not hard individually; the mistakes come from missing what runs alongside them or what a foreign shareholder triggers.
- Registrations are not the same as compliance. Alongside GST and the rest, you still have hard MCA deadlines: appoint the first auditor and file ADT-1 within 30 days, issue share certificates within 60 days, and file INC-20A within 180 days before you can start business or borrow. Use our post-incorporation compliance checklist so these do not slip.
- Do not double-register. PAN, TAN, EPFO and ESIC numbers already exist from SPICe+.
- Keep documents ready. Each registration asks for the same core papers; our document checklist keeps them in one folder.
- Filing follows registration. A GST or PT registration with no returns filed is a compliance liability, not a badge.
If a non-resident (foreign) shareholder holds shares, you have an extra RBI filing on top of these registrations: FC-GPR on the FIRMS portal within 30 days of allotment, with the FIRC and KYC from the bank and at a FEMA-compliant price. Foreign documents may also need apostille or notarization, so onboarding for bank and registration KYC is slower and pricier than for a resident-only company.
“You do not need every registration on day one. You need the ones your turnover, your state and your headcount actually trigger, plus the free ones that quietly pay for themselves.”
Ankit Sarawagi, CFOmatrixFrequently Asked Questions
What registrations are needed after company incorporation in India?
The common registrations after company incorporation in India are GST (if you cross the turnover threshold or supply inter-state or sell on e-commerce), Professional Tax (in states that levy it, as PTEC and PTRC), Shops and Establishment (state or municipal), DPIIT Startup India recognition (free and optional), Udyam MSME registration (free and instant), EPF (mandatory at 20 employees) and ESI (mandatory at 10 employees with wages up to ₹21,000 a month). PAN, TAN, EPFO and ESIC numbers are already issued through SPICe+ via AGILE-PRO-S, so you do not apply for those again.
Is GST registration mandatory immediately after incorporation?
No. GST registration is mandatory only when your turnover crosses ₹40 lakh for goods or ₹20 lakh for services, or immediately if you make inter-state supplies or sell through e-commerce, regardless of turnover. Below those thresholds it is voluntary. Registration is free on the GST portal and usually takes about 7 working days.
Does SPICe+ already cover PAN, TAN and PF registration?
Yes. SPICe+ bundles the AGILE-PRO-S form (INC-35), which issues PAN, TAN, EPFO and ESIC registration, Professional Tax registration in Maharashtra, and a bank account at the time of incorporation. You still apply separately for GST, Shops and Establishment, DPIIT, Udyam and Professional Tax in most other states, and EPF and ESI compliance starts when you cross the employee thresholds.
When is EPF and ESI registration mandatory for a new company?
EPF (Provident Fund) becomes mandatory once you have 20 or more employees. ESI becomes mandatory once you have 10 or more employees and applies to employees with monthly wages up to ₹21,000. The EPFO and ESIC numbers are already allotted through SPICe+, but active contribution and filing obligations begin only when you cross these headcounts.
Is DPIIT Startup India recognition worth getting?
DPIIT recognition is free, fully online and worth getting if you qualify: incorporated for less than 10 years, turnover under ₹100 crore, and working on an innovative or scalable product or service. It unlocks income tax exemptions, easier compliance, self-certification and access to government schemes and tenders. It is optional, not a statutory requirement.
What is the difference between PTEC and PTRC in Professional Tax?
Professional Tax exists only in some states. PTEC (Professional Tax Enrolment Certificate) is for the company or business itself to pay its own professional tax. PTRC (Professional Tax Registration Certificate) is for the company to deduct and deposit professional tax from employee salaries. A company with employees in a Professional Tax state usually needs both. Verify your state rules, as the tax and slabs vary.
Do non-resident founders need extra registrations after incorporation?
Yes. The registrations themselves are similar, but a non-resident shareholder triggers an extra RBI filing: FC-GPR on the FIRMS portal within 30 days of allotting shares to the foreign investor, with the FIRC and KYC from the bank and at a FEMA-compliant price. Foreign documents may also need apostille or notarization, which makes onboarding for registrations slower and pricier.
Thresholds, fees and timelines are general guidance for India as of 2026 and vary by state, sector and stage. This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Verify current fees and rules on mca.gov.in and the relevant department portals, and speak to a qualified adviser about your specific situation.
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AS | Founder, CFOmatrix | Finance Strategy & Equity Compliance CFOmatrix is a knowledge platform focused on how finance actually works inside growing companies. Every insight is shaped by real operating experience across startups and growth-stage companies, including cross-border setups. |