Section 8 Company Registration | Savlana Init

Company Registration · Section 8 / Non-Profit

Section 8 Company — Incorporate for Impact.

Register a Section 8 Non-Profit Company in India with CA-assisted Central Government licence (INC-12), SPICe+ filing, MOA/AOA drafting, and 12A/80G tax exemption registration.

A Section 8 Company is a company incorporated under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 for the promotion of charitable objectives — including education, arts, science, sports, research, social welfare, environmental protection, or religion. The defining feature is that profits (if any) are applied solely towards the promotion of these objectives and are not distributed as dividends to members. Section 8 Companies use the words "Foundation", "Forum", "Association", "Federation", "Chambers", "Confederation", "Council", "Electoral Trust", or similar in their names — without needing to add "Private Limited" or "Limited".

Compared to Trusts and Societies, a Section 8 Company offers stronger governance, legal accountability, and greater credibility with institutional donors, CSR contributors, and foreign funding agencies. The registration process involves first obtaining a licence from the Central Government (Regional Director of MCA) in Form INC-12, followed by SPICe+ incorporation. On receipt of the licence (Form INC-16), the company is incorporated and proceeds to obtain 12A and 80G registrations from the Income Tax Department for tax exemption on income and donor deduction benefits.

We handle the complete journey — from drafting the charitable objects and projected income/expenditure statement, to obtaining the Central Government licence, incorporating the company, and registering for 12A, 80G, and FCRA (for foreign contributions) as needed. Your non-profit will be set up with a strong legal and tax foundation.

Our Section 8 Services

Central Government Licence (INC-12)

Preparation and filing of Form INC-12 with the MCA Regional Director, including charitable objects statement and projected income/expenditure for 3 years.

MOA & AOA Drafting

Drafting of Memorandum and Articles of Association with precisely worded charitable objects and non-distribution of profits clauses.

SPICe+ Incorporation Filing

End-to-end SPICe+ filing after receipt of the Central Government licence (INC-16) to complete incorporation and obtain CIN, PAN, and TAN.

12A Registration (Income Tax Exemption)

Application for registration under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act for exemption of the company's income applied to charitable purposes.

80G Registration (Donor Deduction)

Application for approval under Section 80G to enable donors to claim income tax deduction on contributions made to the Section 8 Company.

FCRA Registration Assistance

Assistance with application for Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration to enable receipt of foreign donations and grants.

CSR Eligibility Setup

Registration of the Section 8 Company on the MCA CSR portal to qualify for corporate CSR contributions under Schedule VII of the Companies Act.

Annual MCA & IT Compliance

Filing of AOC-4 and MGT-7 with the MCA, income tax returns, 12A/80G renewal, and FCRA annual return as applicable.

Our Process

Objects Drafting & INC-12 Preparation

We draft the charitable objects and prepare the projected income and expenditure statement and INC-12 application for the Central Government licence.

Central Government Licence (INC-16)

INC-12 is filed with the MCA Regional Director. On approval, Form INC-16 (the licence) is issued, permitting incorporation as a Section 8 Company.

SPICe+ Incorporation

MOA, AOA, and SPICe+ form are prepared and filed after receipt of INC-16. Certificate of Incorporation with CIN, PAN, and TAN is obtained.

12A & 80G Registration

Applications for 12A (tax exemption) and 80G (donor deduction) are filed with the Income Tax Department after incorporation.

FCRA & CSR Registration

FCRA registration (if required for foreign funds) and CSR portal registration are completed to enable the full range of funding sources.

Why It Matters

✓Strongest non-profit structure — MCA-regulated with full accountability

✓12A registration — income applied to charitable purpose is tax-exempt

✓80G approval — donors can claim income tax deduction on contributions

✓Eligible for corporate CSR funding under Companies Act Schedule VII

✓FCRA registration enables receipt of foreign donations and grants

✓No "Private Limited" suffix — use "Foundation", "Forum", or "Trust"

✓Complete INC-12 and SPICe+ filing managed by us

✓12A, 80G, FCRA, and CSR registrations handled end-to-end

Frequently Asked Questions

A Section 8 Company is a company licensed under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 to promote charitable objects — commerce, arts, science, sports, education, research, social welfare, religion, charity, or environmental protection — and which prohibits dividend distribution. Unlike a Trust or Society, a Section 8 Company is regulated by the MCA and has stronger governance structures, making it more credible for CSR funding and institutional donors.

Yes. A Section 8 Company can pay reasonable remuneration to its directors, employees, and officers for services rendered. The prohibition is on distributing profits as dividends to members. Salaries, allowances, and professional fees paid at market rates are permissible. However, the remuneration must be reasonable and not disguised profit distribution.

The licence under Section 8 is obtained by filing Form INC-12 with the MCA (Regional Director). The application must be accompanied by the draft MOA and AOA, estimated income and expenditure for the next 3 years, a declaration by an advocate or CA, and a statement of charitable objects. On approval, Form INC-16 (licence) is issued, after which the company is incorporated via SPICe+.

A Section 8 Company is eligible for registration under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act for exemption from income tax on its income applied for charitable purposes. Donors to the company may claim deduction under Section 80G. Registration under Section 80G makes the company attractive for corporate CSR contributions. FCRA registration may also be obtained for receiving foreign contributions.

Yes. Donations to a Section 8 Company registered under Schedule VII of the Companies Act and meeting CSR eligibility criteria can be treated as CSR expenditure by corporates. The Section 8 Company must comply with the CSR Rules, including maintaining a CSR project registration on the MCA portal, to be eligible for corporate CSR contributions.

A Section 8 Company must file AOC-4 (financial statements) and MGT-7 (annual return) with the MCA, conduct a statutory audit, hold board meetings, and file income tax returns. Separately, it must comply with 12A/80G renewal requirements, FCRA annual return (if applicable), and any state-specific requirements. The Section 8 licence can be revoked by the Central Government if the company violates the conditions of the licence.

Ready to incorporate your Section 8 Non-Profit Company?

We manage the complete registration — Central Government licence, SPICe+ filing, 12A, 80G, FCRA, and CSR compliance — so your non-profit is ready to receive funding and create impact.