The Complete Compliance Calendar for an Indian Startup (FY 2026–27)
Every recurring compliance deadline an Indian private limited startup owes across the year — GST, TDS, advance tax, PF/ESI, ROC and FEMA — in one month-by-month calendar. Bookmark it.
Here's the full year of recurring compliance for an Indian private limited startup, month by month: monthly GST and TDS, quarterly TDS returns and advance tax, the annual ROC filings (AOC-4, MGT-7, DIR-3 KYC, DPT-3), income tax and the FEMA FLA return — plus the event-driven items that fire when you hire, raise, or cross a threshold. Exact dates shift with your filing scheme and any government extension, so treat this as the map and confirm each date for your case. Bookmark it.
The recurring monthly rhythm
Every month, most startups owe:
- GST — GSTR-1 (11th, monthly filers) and GSTR-3B (20th); QRMP filers are quarterly with monthly payment.
- TDS deposit — by the 7th of the following month for the prior month's deductions (TDS sections).
- PF & ESI — by the 15th (PF/ESI due dates).
- Professional tax — where applicable, per state cadence (state-wise PT).
The quarterly beats
- Advance tax — 15 Jun (15%), 15 Sep (45%), 15 Dec (75%), 15 Mar (100%) (advance tax + 234B/C).
- TDS returns — quarterly (24Q/26Q/27Q).
The annual calendar (key dates)
| Around | Filing |
|---|---|
| 30 May | LLP Form 11 (LLPs) |
| 30 June | DPT-3 (deposits/loans return) |
| 15 July | FLA Return (if foreign investment) |
| 30 September | DIR-3 KYC; AGM; tax-audit report |
| 30 October | LLP Form 8 (LLPs) |
| 31 October | Company ITR (audited) — ITR-6 |
| Within 30/60 days of AGM | AOC-4 / MGT-7 |
| 31 December | GSTR-9 / 9C |
(Full ROC detail in the ROC annual calendar.)
The event-driven items (no fixed date)
These fire on a trigger, not the calendar — and are the ones most often missed:
- On hiring — PF/ESI registration at 20/10 employees; professional tax and S&E per state.
- On raising a round — PAS-3, MGT-14, valuation, share certificates; and if foreign, FC-GPR / FC-TRS.
- On crossing a threshold — tax audit, e-invoicing (₹5cr), GSTR-9C (₹5cr).
- On a notice — a defined response window.
- Ongoing — board meetings and minutes, statutory registers, DSC validity, IP assignment, DPDP readiness.
Why a static calendar isn't enough
A generic calendar can't know your scheme election, states, turnover band, funding status, or the events you trigger during the year — so it either over- or under-states your obligations. The applicable calendar is the one derived from your profile and updated as you grow and raise.
Get your calendar, not a generic one
ComplianceStack builds your applicable compliance calendar from your company profile — the right monthly, quarterly, annual and event-driven items, with owners, reminders and evidence — and updates it as you hire, raise, and cross thresholds. Get your free compliance health check.
FAQs
- What are the main annual compliance deadlines for an Indian startup?
- Around: DPT-3 (30 Jun), FLA (15 Jul, if foreign investment), DIR-3 KYC and AGM and tax-audit report (30 Sep), company ITR (31 Oct), AOC-4/MGT-7 (post-AGM), and GSTR-9/9C (31 Dec) — plus monthly GST/TDS/PF-ESI and quarterly advance tax.
- When is advance tax due?
- 15% by 15 June, 45% by 15 September, 75% by 15 December, 100% by 15 March.
- Which compliances are event-driven?
- Hiring (PF/ESI, PT), raising a round (PAS-3, MGT-14, FC-GPR/FC-TRS), crossing thresholds (tax audit, e-invoicing, GSTR-9C), notices, and ongoing items (board minutes, registers, DSC, IP, DPDP).
- Do the dates change?
- Yes — they shift with your filing scheme and government extensions, so confirm each date for your specific case.
This article is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Statutory timelines and thresholds change by notification — confirm applicability and interpretation with your CA, CS, or lawyer before acting.
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