Section 8 Company registration — the serious way to run a non-profit.

What is a Section 8 Company?

A Section 8 Company is a company registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, for a charitable or not-for-profit purpose — promoting education, social welfare, science, sports, the environment, or similar objects of public utility. It works like a normal company but with one defining rule: its profits can never be distributed to members. All income must be applied toward its stated objectives.

It's the most respected of India's non-profit structures because it carries a company's governance and transparency — which is exactly why donors, CSR funders and government agencies tend to prefer it over a Trust or Society. Uniquely, a Section 8 Company is licensed by the Central Government and is permitted to drop "Limited"/"Private Limited" from its name.

Section 8 vs Trust vs Society — why founders pick Section 8

India recognises three main non-profit vehicles. A Trust is simple but offers weak governance and limited credibility. A Society needs members across states and can be cumbersome to run. A Section 8 Company brings corporate-grade governance, pan-India operation from a single registration, and the strongest standing with serious funders — at the cost of somewhat higher compliance.

What you need to register

Requirements for a private-limited Section 8 Company:

• Minimum 2 directors and 2 members (they can be the same people). A public Section 8 needs 3 directors and 7 members.
• At least one director resident in India (present 182+ days in the preceding financial year).
• No minimum capital — you can start with any amount suited to your activities.
• A clearly charitable object — your goals must fall squarely within Section 8's permitted purposes.
• Central Government licence — approval is required before incorporation (we obtain this as part of the process).
• Foreign nationals may be directors, provided at least one director is a resident Indian.

How registration works

1. DSC & DIN

Digital signatures and director IDs for all directors, filed in parallel so nothing sits idle.

2. Name approval

We reserve a name aligned with your charitable object via the MCA's RUN/SPICe+ service.

3. Section 8 licence

We apply for the Central Government licence with the draft MoA (Form INC-12, integrated via SPICe+), including the required declarations and projected income/expenditure.

4. Incorporation

SPICe+ is filed with MoA & AoA drafted specifically for a non-profit object.

5. PAN, TAN & bank

Issued together with incorporation; we help you open the account.

6. 12A & 80G

We apply for these tax-exemption registrations so the entity and its donors both get the benefits (see below).

Documents you'll need

• PAN & Aadhaar of all directors and members.
• Passport-size photographs of each director.
• Address proof — a recent bank statement or utility bill.
• Registered-office proof plus a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the owner.
• Proposed name options aligned to your charitable object.
• A note on objects and proposed activities — used for both the MoA and the licence application.
• Projected statement of income & expenditure — required for the licence.

12A and 80G — the reason to do this properly

Two registrations under the Income Tax Act make a Section 8 Company genuinely tax-efficient — and much more attractive to donors (see our full 12A & 80G explained guide):

• 12A — exempts the company's own income from tax, provided it's applied to its objects.
• 80G — lets your donors claim a deduction on what they give you, which materially improves fundraising.

We apply for both immediately after incorporation. If you intend to receive foreign contributions, you'll also need FCRA registration — we advise on eligibility and timing.

Ongoing compliance

A Section 8 Company carries real, corporate-grade compliance — which is what underpins its credibility. Expect annual ROC filings, board meetings and minutes, a statutory audit, an income-tax return, and — if applicable — 12A/80G renewals and FCRA returns. On dissolution, any remaining assets must transfer to another Section 8 Company with similar objects; they can't go to members. We handle the full calendar so nothing lapses. For exact registration and retainer pricing, see our pricing page or get an itemised quote on a call.

Frequently asked questions