Keep your registered society in good standing with Legal Startup. A dedicated compliance expert tracks your Registrar filings, audit and ITR-7, 12A and 80G renewals and FCRA returns, and clears overdue filings before they put your exemption or funding at risk.
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Society compliance is the set of filings, meetings, records and tax obligations a registered society must follow each year. It covers the Registrar of Societies, the Income Tax Department and, for societies receiving foreign funds, FCRA.
Last updated: October 2026. Rules vary by state, and forms, fees and due dates can change, so we confirm the current position before filing. This page is general information, not legal advice.
A society is an association of persons registered for a charitable, educational, literary, scientific or similar purpose under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or the equivalent state law. It has a governing body, bye-laws and a Registrar in the state where it is registered.
Compliance has three layers. The first is with the Registrar: annual lists, AGMs, minutes and amendments. The second is with the Income Tax Department: audit, ITR-7, 12A and 80G renewals and donation reporting. The third applies only if you take foreign money: FCRA registration and returns.
Missing deadlines can cost a society its tax exemption, its donors and its grants. This page covers societies registered under the 1860 Act or a state version of it. Housing and cooperative societies are governed by separate cooperative laws, so please speak to us about those. For official filing, use the Income Tax Department and FCRA portal. To protect your society's name and logo, see our trademark registration online service.
Common timelines every society should know. Confirm current figures before relying on them.
What applies to your society depends on its state, funding and registrations.
Filings and records under the Societies Registration Act or state law.
Returns that protect the society's tax exemption.
Approvals that give tax exemption and donor deduction.
For societies receiving foreign contributions.
Registrations that grant-makers and CSR donors ask for.
Help when filings were missed or a notice has arrived.
Not sure which of these apply to your society? Share your registration details and our experts will review them free of charge.
Why societies keep their filings and records up to date.
Timely audit and returns help the society keep its income tax exemption.
Valid 80G approval and Form 10BD reporting help donors claim deductions.
Funders check registrations, audited accounts and filing history.
Reduces the risk of penalties and action by the Registrar.
Organised minutes, registers and accounts simplify any review.
Most filings are handled from anywhere without office visits.
From health check to filed returns, here is how online society compliance works with us.
Timelines depend on how quickly records are ready, your state's Registrar and portal workload. Not to scale.
We check your registration, 12A and 80G status, FCRA status and past filings to see what is pending.
Your state, income, donations and foreign funding decide which forms and audits you need.
Books are reconciled and the auditor's report is prepared in the prescribed form.
We draft notices, minutes and resolutions, and the list of governing body members.
Registrar filings, ITR-7, Form 10BD and FCRA returns are filed within due dates.
You get filing receipts and a calendar including your renewal dates.
Keep these ready to avoid delays. Our expert will confirm the exact list for your society.
The total cost depends on your state, the size of the accounts, whether 12A, 80G or FCRA apply and how many years are pending. It generally has three parts:
Registrar fees vary by state, and some income tax or FCRA filings carry none. Late filing can add fees. We confirm what applies.
Our fee depends on the volume of accounts and the filings involved. Call free for a custom quote before you pay anything.
Audit fee, pending years, renewal applications and notice replies are charged separately.
We share a clear, itemised quote before you begin – no hidden charges. Get your free quote →
Choose the situation that matches your society, or call free for a custom quote.
Your society is up to date and needs this year's filings done right.
Filings are pending, 12A or 80G is due for renewal, or you have received a notice.
You want Registrar, tax, donation and FCRA work handled in one place.
Our professional fee is quoted after a free call. Government fee and audit fee are separate; additional fees apply to late filings. Not sure which option fits? Ask for a free compliance check.
Every registered society has to comply, whether it is small or well established.
Set up the right records, PAN, bank account and tax registrations from the start.
Keep exemption, 12A and 80G approvals valid and donors confident.
Schools, colleges and associations with fees, grants and staff to account for.
FCRA brings quarterly disclosures and strict account norms.
Funders check audited accounts, registrations and filing history.
If years have been missed, speak to us early to limit penalties.
A quick view of how societies compare with other structures. Rules vary by state, so ask us what suits your organisation.
| Structure | Registered with | Annual filings | Audit | Compliance load |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Society | State Registrar of Societies | Annual list and records, plus tax filings | As per bye-laws, tax law and FCRA | Moderate |
| Public charitable trust | State trust authority or sub-registrar | Varies by state, plus tax filings | As per state law and tax law | Moderate |
| Section 8 company | Registrar of Companies | AOC-4 and MGT-7, plus tax filings | Mandatory every year | Highest |
Good records and a due-date calendar prevent most problems.
Indicative dates for an April–March financial year. Dates can change, so confirm before relying on them.
FCRA holders disclose receipts within 15 days of each quarter end. File TDS returns where you deduct tax.
Statement of donations for the previous year, followed by donor certificates in Form 10BE.
Hold the AGM, then file the governing body list within the time your state allows.
The audit report is generally due by 30 September and the return by 31 October.
For associations with FCRA registration or permission, for the previous financial year.
Apply using Form 10AB at least six months before expiry.
Protecting your society's name is part of staying protected. See our trademark registration online service, or if you have received a trademark notice, our trademark hearing online support.
Quick answers on society compliance in India.
It is the set of filings, meetings, records and tax obligations a registered society must follow every year, including Registrar filings under the Societies Registration Act or the relevant state law, income tax returns and, where applicable, donation reporting and FCRA returns.
Yes. A society generally has to file an annual list of its governing body and related documents with the Registrar. The exact documents, time limit and fee depend on the state where the society is registered.
In practice, yes. The society's bye-laws or state law usually require audited accounts, the Income-tax Act requires an audit report where income exceeds the prescribed limit before exemptions, and FCRA holders must have accounts audited.
A society claiming exemption as a charitable or religious institution usually files ITR-7 along with the audit report in Form 10B or 10BB where audit applies. Due dates are generally 30 September for the audit report and 31 October for the return, subject to change.
Final registrations are generally valid for five years, and provisional registrations for three years. Renewal or final registration is applied for using Form 10AB, generally at least six months before expiry.
Form 10BD is the annual statement of donations received that a society with 80G approval files with the Income Tax Department, generally by 31 May. Donors are then issued a certificate in Form 10BE.
Only if it receives foreign contributions. Registered or permitted associations must use a designated bank account, disclose receipts quarterly and file the annual return in Form FC-4, generally by 31 December for the previous financial year.
Consequences can include late fees and penalties, loss of income tax exemption, rejection of grants or CSR funding, suspension or cancellation of FCRA registration, and action by the Registrar under state law.
Yes. Changes in office bearers, registered address or bye-laws are generally recorded with the Registrar, and the Income Tax Department should be informed where relevant. Procedures differ by state.
It depends on the state, size of accounts, whether 12A, 80G or FCRA apply and how many years are pending. Government fees are separate from our professional fee, and we share an itemised quote after a free call.
Not sure what your society has filed? Speak to our compliance expert today – the health check and the quote are free.
Tell us what you need and our team will get back to you with the right guidance.
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