Services for clients across India. Applicable state, sector and professional requirements are assessed before an engagement.
DPIIT recognition is a gateway, not a trophy: it opens the startup-specific tax regimes, easier public procurement, IPR fast-tracking and fund-of-funds ecosystems — provided the application tells a coherent innovation story backed by documents, and the company actually fits the definition.
When this service is typically required
- A startup wants recognition — eligibility and process in the DPIIT recognition guide
- Section 80-IAC tax-holiday eligibility is being evaluated after recognition
- Angel-round documentation benefits from recognised-startup status
- Public procurement or state-scheme participation requires the certificate
- An earlier application was rejected or sent back for clarification
Indicative scope
- Eligibility assessment against the current DPIIT definition (age, turnover, innovation test)
- Application drafting: the innovation/scalability write-up that actually addresses the criteria
- Document assembly: incorporation papers, funding proof, IP, pitch material
- Filing on the Startup India portal and response to clarifications
- Post-recognition roadmap: 80-IAC application support, scheme mapping
Key points at a glance
| Item | Position |
|---|---|
| Entity age | Within 10 years from incorporation |
| Turnover | Not exceeding ₹100 crore in any FY since incorporation |
| Entity type | Private limited company, LLP or registered partnership |
| Test | Working towards innovation/improvement with employment or wealth-creation potential |
Deliverables
The filed application with its annexure set, the recognition certificate on grant, and a benefits note mapping which regimes (80-IAC, procurement, IPR) the company can realistically pursue next.
Information and documents generally required
Certificate of incorporation, PAN, a clear description of the product/innovation, website/pitch deck, funding details if any, and director/entity KYC as the portal requires.
Engagement process
Client responsibilities, assumptions and reliance
The innovation story must be true — the write-up sharpens what the business genuinely does; it does not invent it. Portal credentials and factual confirmations come from the founders.
Scope exclusions
Grant or scheme outcomes, 80-IAC approval (a separate inter-ministerial process supported as a distinct scope), and fundraising outcomes are not assured — recognition itself is a government decision on the application's merits.
Frequently asked questions
Is every startup eligible?
No — services businesses without an innovation element, entities formed by splitting an existing business, and those over the age/turnover limits fail the definition. The eligibility check says so upfront rather than filing hopefully.
Does recognition automatically give the tax holiday?
No — Section 80-IAC needs a separate application and approval after recognition, with its own criteria; supported as its own engagement (details here).
How long does recognition take?
Processing time is the portal's; complete applications with a clear innovation narrative move faster, which is the part within anyone's control.
We were rejected earlier. Worth retrying?
Often yes — most rejections trace to a generic write-up or missing evidence. The reassessment identifies what failed and whether a stronger, truthful case exists.
What ongoing compliance does recognition add?
Recognition itself adds little, but the company's regular ROC, tax and startup-round compliance continues — mapped in the first-year compliance guide linked on this site.
The applicable scope, documentation, professional responsibilities and timelines are agreed in an engagement letter before commencement.
Section 80-IAC AdvisorySeed Fund ApplicationsStartup ValuationRequest a Scope DiscussionThis page describes the service in general terms as on 6 August 2026 and is not professional advice or an assurance of any outcome. Registrations, filings, refunds and departmental outcomes depend on facts and the concerned authority. Figures and due dates change; verify current positions before acting.
| Compliance | Due | Note |
|---|---|---|
| DPT-3 (deposits/loans return) | 30 June (annual) | Covers director loans and advances |
| DIR-3 KYC | 30 September | Now triennial for unchanged particulars |
| AGM (other than first) | 30 September | First AGM: 9 months from first FY end |
| AOC-4 / MGT-7 | 30 / 60 days from AGM | Rs 100 per day per form if late |
| MSME Form 1 | 30 April / 31 October | If MSE dues pending beyond 45 days |
| CCFS-2026 amnesty | Till 31 August 2026 | 90% additional-fee waiver + immunity |
Dates as generally applicable on 15 July 2026; extensions/notifications can change them — confirm current dates before relying.