NGO Compliance Services - Stay Legally Compliant Every Year

NGO registration is the one-time process of forming a Trust, Society, or Section 8 Company. NGO compliance is everything that follows - the recurring annual filings (income tax return, audit report), renewals (NGO Darpan, 12A/80G), and returns (FCRA FC-4) that keep that registration and its tax benefits valid.

Yes. Registered NGOs generally file Form ITR-7 every year, regardless of whether they have taxable income, to report their receipts, application of funds, and to claim exemption under Sections 11/12 of the Income Tax Act if they hold valid 12A registration.

Since the regime changed in 2021, both 12A and 80G registrations are granted for a fixed period, typically five years, and must be renewed before expiry. Missing the renewal window can mean the NGO loses exemption status and has to reapply, which is a longer process.

NGO Darpan is NITI Aayog's portal that assigns a unique ID to registered NGOs. It's a prerequisite for accessing many government grants and schemes, and is increasingly checked by corporate CSR teams. Profiles need periodic renewal or updates to stay active.

Yes, if your NGO holds FCRA registration or prior permission, Form FC-4 must be filed annually by 31 December regardless of whether any foreign contribution was received during the year. A nil return is still a required filing.

Consequences vary by filing - a missed ITR-7 can attract late fees and interest, a missed FC-4 can put FCRA registration at risk, and a missed 12A/80G renewal window means the exemption lapses until you reapply. None of these are automatically restored - each requires a corrective filing or fresh application.

Audit applicability depends on your income level and entity type - most NGOs claiming income tax exemption above the basic exemption threshold need an audit report (Form 10B or 10BB) attached to their return. Society and Trust laws in some states also mandate audits independent of income tax rules.

The retainer covers all three, but the specific filings differ - a Section 8 Company also has MCA/ROC filings (like AOC-4 and MGT-7A) in addition to income tax and Darpan/FCRA compliance, while Trusts and Societies follow their state Registrar's requirements instead of MCA.

Your registration certificate or trust deed, PAN, prior year financial statements and audit report, 12A/80G and FCRA certificates if already held, your NGO Darpan ID if registered, and a list of current trustees or governing body members.

CSR-1 is a one-time (or amendment-driven) registration that makes your NGO eligible to receive CSR funds from companies. NGO Compliance is the ongoing annual retainer covering income tax, Darpan, FCRA, and 12A/80G renewals. Many NGOs use both - CSR-1 to become CSR-eligible, and this retainer to stay compliant year over year.

Yes. Under the Standard and Comprehensive plans we help draft minutes for key board or governing body decisions and keep the minute book in a format auditors and funders expect to see during diligence.

We can help assess the current status and guide you through reapplication - a lapsed approval is not usually permanent, but the process to restore it takes longer and involves more documentation than a timely renewal would have.

The base retainer is generally consistent, but it can vary if your NGO crosses an audit threshold, adds FCRA registration, or has a 12A/80G renewal falling due that particular year, since renewal filings are more involved than the routine annual return.

Many NGOs also have TDS deduction obligations (for salaries, professional fees, or rent) and, in some cases, GST registration if they have taxable commercial activity. These are not automatically bundled into this retainer but can be added - ask us during the compliance mapping call.

Not from day one, but the clock starts running - your first income tax return and, if applicable, your first NGO Darpan and 12A/80G applications typically fall within the first year or two of operation, so it's worth setting up a compliance plan early rather than reactively.

This page is the broader umbrella - it covers Trusts, Societies, and Section 8 Companies together, including the MCA/ROC filings (like AOC-4 and MGT-7A) that only apply to Section 8 Companies. If you're specifically running a Trust and don't need that company-side angle, our dedicated Trust Annual Compliance page covers the same Darpan/FCRA/12A-80G/audit/ITR-7 calendar in a trust-only retainer, often at a lower starting price since it's narrower in scope. Use this page if you're a Society or Section 8 Company, or aren't yet sure which entity type's rules apply to you.