MSME compliance checklist The registrations, filings and licenses an Indian MSME needs — filtered for where your business is in its journey. Tick items off as you complete them (sign in to save your progress).
All items Starting up Running business
0/28 completed
Sign in to save your progress across devices.
Registration Udyam Registration One-time (update on reclassification) Register the enterprise on the Udyam portal to be recognised as an MSME. Free, Aadhaar-based, and a prerequisite for most schemes, priority-sector lending and delayed-payment protection. Udyam Registration Portal ↗ Business constitution & incorporation One-time Choose and register the business form: proprietorship, partnership deed, LLP or private limited company (via MCA SPICe+). Determines all downstream compliances. MCA ↗ Keep Udyam classification updated Annual review Update turnover/investment on the Udyam portal as ITR/GST data flows in; reclassification (micro→small→medium) changes which schemes you qualify for. Udyam Registration Portal ↗ Tax PAN and TAN for the entity One-time Obtain the entity's PAN, and TAN if the business will deduct TDS on salaries, rent, contractor or professional payments. Income Tax Department ↗ GST registration One-time Mandatory above turnover thresholds (generally ₹40 lakh for goods, ₹20 lakh for services; lower in special-category states) or for inter-state supply and e-commerce sellers. Many schemes (e.g. PSB59) require GST compliance. GST Portal ↗ Professional tax registration Monthly/annual (state-specific) Levied by many states on employers and employees (e.g. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal). Register and remit per the state schedule. GST returns (GSTR-1, GSTR-3B) Monthly / quarterly File outward-supply and summary returns monthly, or quarterly under the QRMP scheme for turnover up to ₹5 crore. Late filing attracts fees and blocks e-way bills. GST Portal ↗ GST annual return (GSTR-9) Annual (31 December) Annual consolidated return, mandatory above ₹2 crore turnover; GSTR-9C reconciliation applies above ₹5 crore. Income tax return of the business Annual File the entity's ITR annually (ITR-3/4 for proprietors, ITR-5 for firms/LLPs, ITR-6 for companies). Most lenders and schemes ask for the last 1–3 years' ITRs. Income Tax e-Filing ↗ Advance tax instalments Quarterly Pay advance tax in four instalments (Jun/Sep/Dec/Mar) if annual tax liability exceeds ₹10,000; presumptive-scheme taxpayers pay once by 15 March. TDS deduction and quarterly returns Monthly deposit, quarterly returns Deduct TDS on salaries, rent, contractor and professional payments where applicable; deposit monthly and file quarterly returns (24Q/26Q); issue Form 16/16A. Banking Business current account One-time Open a current account in the business name — required for loan applications, subsidy disbursal and clean books. Labour Shops & Establishments registration One-time / periodic renewal (state-specific) State-specific registration for any premises where business is carried on; governs working hours, leave and employment conditions. Register with the state labour department. EPF registration & monthly filing Monthly Mandatory at 20+ employees: register with EPFO, deposit 12% + 12% contributions and file monthly ECR. EPFO ↗ ESIC registration & contributions Monthly Mandatory at 10+ employees (with wages up to ₹21,000/month): register with ESIC and remit monthly contributions (0.75% employee + 3.25% employer). ESIC ↗ Labour Welfare Fund contributions Half-yearly/annual (state-specific) Several states require periodic employer/employee contributions to the state Labour Welfare Board. POSH Internal Committee & annual report Annual report Workplaces with 10+ employees must constitute an Internal Committee under the POSH Act, 2013, run awareness training and file the annual report. Wage records & statutory registers Ongoing Maintain registers of wages, attendance, overtime and deductions, and issue payslips, as consolidated under the state rules / new labour codes. Local Municipal trade license Annual renewal License from the local municipal body to run the trade at the premises. Renewal is typically annual. Manufacturing Factory license (manufacturing) Periodic renewal Required under the Factories Act, 1948 for premises with 10+ workers (with power) or 20+ (without power). Apply to the state Directorate of Factories; renew periodically. Pollution Control Board consents (CTE/CTO) Periodic renewal Manufacturing units need Consent to Establish before setup and Consent to Operate before production from the State Pollution Control Board, categorised White/Green/Orange/Red by pollution potential. CPCB ↗ Sector-specific FSSAI registration/license (food businesses) 1–5 year validity, renewable Any food manufacturing, processing, storage or sale needs FSSAI basic registration or a state/central license depending on turnover. FoSCoS ↗ Trade Import Export Code (IEC) One-time + annual KYC update Required to import or export. One-time issuance from DGFT with a mandatory annual electronic KYC update. DGFT ↗ Audit Tax audit (Section 44AB) Annual Required when turnover exceeds ₹1 crore (₹10 crore where 95%+ transactions are digital) or professional receipts exceed ₹75 lakh (previously ₹50 lakh, raised by Finance Act 2024). Books of accounts & statutory audit Ongoing / annual audit Maintain books of accounts; companies require statutory audit regardless of turnover, LLPs above ₹40 lakh turnover / ₹25 lakh contribution. Corporate ROC annual filings (companies & LLPs) Annual Companies file AOC-4 (accounts) and MGT-7/7A (annual return); LLPs file Form 11 (by 30 May) and Form 8 (by 30 October). Heavy per-day late fees. MCA ↗ MSME Form 1 (payables to MSME suppliers) Half-yearly (30 April / 31 October) Companies with outstanding dues to micro/small suppliers beyond 45 days must file MSME Form 1 half-yearly — this is how the delayed-payment protection you get as an MSME is enforced on your buyers too. MCA ↗ Director KYC (DIR-3 KYC) Annual Every person holding a DIN must complete DIR-3 KYC annually by 30 September, else the DIN is deactivated (₹5,000 to reactivate). This checklist covers common central and state requirements; exact applicability depends on your state, sector, headcount and turnover. Treat it as a readiness guide, not legal advice.