eForm FC-4 Filing Services — Foreign Company Annual Return | Savlana Init

MCA Compliance · Foreign Company

eForm FC-4 Filing — Annual Return. Disclosed. Compliant.

Foreign companies in India must file their annual return with the ROC through eForm FC-4 within 60 days of financial year-end — we prepare the disclosures, compile the documents, and file on MCA21.

eForm FC-4 is the annual return that every foreign company registered in India must file with the Registrar of Companies under Section 384 of the Companies Act, 2013. Unlike eForm FC-3, which contains the financial accounts, FC-4 is a governance return: it discloses the foreign company's directors, principal officers, authorised representatives in India, its registered office and places of business, the nature of business activities conducted in India, and details of securities issued to Indian residents.

The annual return must be filed within 60 days of the close of the financial year — a significantly tighter deadline than the 6-month window for FC-3. The form must be certified by a practising Company Secretary (CS) in whole-time practice, and signed by the authorised representative of the foreign company with a valid DSC. Any changes during the year — new directors, changes in authorised representatives, new places of business — must all be accurately reflected.

We manage the complete FC-4 filing process: reviewing the foreign company's governance structure, compiling updated details of all directors and officers, preparing the FC-4 form, arranging CS certification, and filing on the MCA21 portal within the 60-day deadline. We also maintain a compliance calendar to ensure the filing is never missed.

Our eForm FC-4 Filing Services Services

FC-4 Annual Return Preparation

Complete preparation of eForm FC-4 with all governance disclosures — directors, officers, authorised representatives, and India places of business.

Director and Officer Details

Accurate compilation of the details of all directors, principal officers, and authorised representatives, including their DIN/PAN and addresses.

Business Activity Disclosure

Description of the principal business activities of the foreign company's India operations in the prescribed format.

CS Certification

Certification of eForm FC-4 by a practising Company Secretary (CS) in whole-time practice as required under the Companies Act.

DSC Arrangement

Assistance with Digital Signature Certificate procurement or renewal for the authorised representative for MCA portal signing.

MCA21 Portal Filing

Upload and submission of the certified, DSC-signed eForm FC-4 on the MCA21 portal with payment of prescribed ROC fees.

Annual Compliance Calendar

A maintained compliance calendar ensuring FC-4 and FC-3 filings are completed within their respective deadlines every year.

ROC Notice Response

Drafting of replies to ROC queries or default notices relating to FC-4 filings, with supporting documentation.

Our Process

Information Gathering

We request updated details of the foreign company's directors, officers, India authorised representative, registered address, and business activities.

Data Verification

All details are verified against the foreign company's records and prior MCA filings to ensure accuracy and consistency.

Form Preparation

eForm FC-4 is prepared with all disclosures completed and supporting documents attached.

CS Certification & DSC Signing

The form is certified by our practising CS and digitally signed by the authorised representative.

MCA Portal Filing

The certified, signed form is filed on MCA21, fees are paid, and the SRN and acknowledgement are secured and shared.

Why It Matters

✓FC-4 filed within the 60-day statutory deadline from year-end

✓All directors, officers, and authorised representatives accurately disclosed

✓CS certification arranged — mandatory for FC-4 validity

✓DSC procurement and renewal handled for the authorised representative

✓Annual compliance calendar maintained to prevent missed deadlines

✓ROC default notices and queries responded to promptly

✓Filing coordinated with FC-3 for complete annual MCA compliance

✓Changes in governance structure (new directors, new offices) updated in filing

Frequently Asked Questions

eForm FC-4 is the annual return of a foreign company in India, filed with the Registrar of Companies under Section 384 of the Companies Act, 2013. It contains governance disclosures — directors, officers, authorised representatives, places of business, and business activities — as distinct from the financial accounts in FC-3.

eForm FC-4 must be filed within 60 days from the close of the financial year. For a March 31 year-end, the deadline is May 30.

FC-3 contains the annual financial accounts (balance sheet, profit and loss) of the foreign company. FC-4 is the annual governance return with disclosures of directors, officers, places of business, and business activities. Both must be filed annually but have different deadlines.

eForm FC-4 must be certified by a practising Company Secretary (CS) in whole-time practice. A Chartered Accountant's certification is not accepted for FC-4.

Non-filing attracts a penalty of INR 10,000, plus INR 100 per day of continuing default. Both the foreign company and its officers in default are liable.

FC-4 requires disclosure of: registered office address in the home country and India; all directors and their details; principal officers and authorised representatives; nature of business activities; and details of securities issued to Indian residents during the year.

Need to file eForm FC-4 for your foreign company's India branch?

We prepare the annual return, arrange CS certification, and file on MCA21 within the 60-day deadline — complete FC-4 compliance for your India operations.