MCA notifies Relaxation of Additional Fees and Time Extension for filing of Financial Statements and Annual Returns under Companies Act [Read Circular]

In a significant relief for companies navigating the revised MCA e-filing system, the Ministryof Corporate Affairs (MCA) has issued General Circular No. 06/2025, dated October 17, 2025, granting relaxation in the payment of additional fees and extending the deadline for annual filings under the Companies Act, 2013.

The relaxation comes amid the deployment of the newly revised e-Forms: MGT-7, MGT-7A, AOC-4, AOC-4 CFS, AOC-4 NBFC (Ind AS), AOC-4 CFS NBFC (Ind AS), and AOC-4 (XBRL) on the MCA-21 Version 3 portal. The Ministry acknowledged that companies may require additional time to familiarize themselves with the new filing process and interface.

Accordingly, the MCA has decided that companies will be permitted to complete their annual filings for the financial year 2024–25 up to December 31, 2025, without payment of additional fees. This relief measure applies to filings of financial statements and annual returns using the revised forms.

The decision follows several representations and requests from various stakeholders, including professional bodies and corporate associations, citing technical and procedural challenges in adapting to the newly introduced Version 3 portal forms.

However, the Ministry made it clear that the circular does not extend the statutory timeline for holding Annual General Meetings (AGMs). Companies that fail to comply with the prescribed deadlines for conducting AGMs as mandated under the Companies Act will still be subject to legal action under the relevant provisions.

Further, the circular clarified that any filings made after the validity of this relaxation period will attract the payment of all applicable fees, including additional fees, as per the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014, from the date such filings were originally due.

This clarification ensures that while companies receive procedural relief for adapting to the updated e-filing environment, statutory compliance obligations remain intact.

The circular was issued with the approval of the competent authority and signed by Dr. Amit Kumar, Deputy Director (Policy), MCA. It directs the e-Governance section and the Web Content Officer to publish the circular on the official MCA website.

The move is expected to provide substantial compliance relief for companies adjusting to the Version 3 e-filing ecosystem, particularly small and mid-sized entities that rely on professional intermediaries for statutory filings. However, experts note that while the relaxation of fees offers short-term ease, companies must remain vigilant about their AGM compliance to avoid penalties under the Companies Act.

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