Register your society with Legal Startup. A dedicated expert reviews your objects and name, drafts the memorandum and bye-laws, prepares the documents for the Registrar of Societies, and explains PAN, 12A, 80G and ongoing compliance.
Free call & custom quote · Professional fee + Registrar fee & documentation costs
Society registration means registering a group of at least seven persons as a society with the Registrar of Societies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or the societies law of your state. The society files a memorandum of association and rules, and receives a registration certificate that lets it hold property and open a bank account in its name.
Last updated: October 2026. Fees, forms and requirements differ by state, so we confirm the position for your state before you start.
A society is an association of persons who join together to promote a common purpose such as charity, education, science, literature, art, culture, sports, health care or community welfare. It is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or under a state law on societies, and is run by a governing body elected as per its bye-laws.
Resident welfare associations, schools and colleges, sports clubs, cultural groups and many NGOs are registered as societies. A society has members, and decisions are taken by the governing body and the general body. It cannot distribute profit to its members, and its income must be used for its objects.
Society registration is done with the Registrar of Societies of the state or Union Territory where the society has its office. Rules, forms and fees vary by state. For tax benefits, a charitable society applies separately through the Income Tax Department portal, the official website of the Income Tax Department, Government of India.
The Societies Registration Act and your state's rules set the conditions for registration.
People who form and run the society.
What the society is meant to do.
How the society presents itself.
How it is managed and funded.
Not sure whether a society, a trust or a Section 8 company suits your plan? Tell us about your objects and our experts will explain the options free of charge.
Why groups, clubs and non-profits choose a society for their work.
A society suits groups with many members who elect a governing body and take decisions together.
A registration certificate gives the society an identity to hold property and deal with banks and authorities.
A registered society can open a bank account and apply for grants, donations and government schemes.
A charitable society can apply for 12A and 80G, subject to approval by the Income Tax Department.
The society continues even when members or office bearers change.
Compliance is usually lighter than for a Section 8 company, though it varies by state.
From planning to registration certificate and tax registration, here is how it works.
Timelines depend on document accuracy, Registrar scrutiny and your state's process. Not to scale.
Settle what the society will do, choose a name, and gather at least seven members who will sign the memorandum.
Choose the president, secretary, treasurer and other office bearers who will run the society.
We draft the memorandum of association and the rules and regulations covering membership, meetings, elections, funds and dissolution.
We prepare the governing body list, affidavit formats and the member and office documents your state requires.
The set is submitted to the Registrar of your state with the fee. We guide you on any queries raised during scrutiny, and the registration certificate is issued.
Apply for the society PAN, open a bank account, and apply to the Income Tax Department for 12A and 80G if the society is charitable.
Keep these ready to avoid delays. Our expert will confirm the exact list for your state.
The total cost depends on your state and the documents it requires. It generally has three parts:
The Registrar of Societies charges a registration fee as per the state schedule. We confirm the current amount before you pay.
Affidavits, stamp paper, notary charges and copies may be needed, and these vary by state.
Our fee depends on the case and the work required. Call free for a custom quote before you pay anything.
12A and 80G registration, FCRA, GST registration and ongoing compliance are quoted separately. We share a clear, itemised quote before you begin. Get your free quote →
Choose the situation that matches your plan, or call free for a custom quote.
Groups registering a society from scratch.
Society registration and tax registration for donor-funded work.
Registering an unregistered society, or handling annual filings.
Our professional fee is quoted after a free call. Registrar fee and documentation costs are separate and depend on your state. Not sure which option fits? Ask for a free consultation.
A quick view of how a society differs from other common structures.
| Structure | Who it serves | Minimum members | Regulator | Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Society | Non-profit membership body | 7 members | Registrar of Societies | Moderate |
| Trust | Charitable, religious or family purposes | Settlor and trustees; usually 2 or more trustees | Sub-Registrar and state public trusts authority | Lower |
| Section 8 company | Non-profit objects | 2 directors and 2 members (private), 3 and 7 (public) | MCA and Registrar of Companies | Higher |
| Private limited company | Profit-making business | 2 directors, 2 shareholders | MCA | Higher |
Comparing options? Read about trust registration or Section 8 company registration.
Careful drafting before you file prevents most queries and rejections.
Registration is the start. A society also has ongoing governance, accounting and tax obligations.
The society needs its own PAN for its bank account, tax filings and registrations.
Open an account in the society's name for fees, donations and grants, and keep society funds separate.
A charitable society applies to the Income Tax Department for exemption and donor deductions. These do not come with registration.
Hold general body meetings and elections as per the bye-laws, keep books of accounts, file the annual list of the governing body and other returns your state requires, and file the income tax return.
GST registration, CSR-1 for corporate funding, or FCRA for foreign contributions may apply depending on your activities.
Quick answers on society registration in India.
A society is an association of persons who come together for a charitable, literary, scientific, educational, cultural, sports or similar purpose. It is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or the societies registration law of the state where it is based, and is supervised by the Registrar of Societies.
Form a group of at least 7 members, choose a name, prepare the memorandum of association and rules and regulations, list the governing body, arrange affidavits and address proof, and file the set with the Registrar of Societies of your state along with the fee. After scrutiny, the Registrar issues the registration certificate.
At least 7 persons must sign the memorandum of association under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. State laws can add conditions, so we confirm the requirement for your state. The members should be adults and may include individuals or, in some cases, other registered bodies.
You typically need the memorandum of association, rules and regulations, a list of governing body members, identity and address proof and photographs of members, proof of the registered office with an owner NOC if rented, and affidavits as required by your state. The exact list varies by state.
The memorandum states the name, objects, office address and the names of the governing body members. The rules and regulations, often called bye-laws, set out membership, meetings, elections, powers of office bearers, handling of funds and dissolution. Both are filed with the Registrar.
The name should not be identical or deceptively similar to an existing society, and it must not suggest government sponsorship or misuse prohibited names and emblems. We review the name against your state's practice before filing, and it should also avoid conflict with existing trademarks.
The cost has three parts: the Registrar's registration fee, documentation costs such as affidavits, stamp paper and notary charges, and the professional fee. Fees and requirements vary by state, so we confirm them before you start.
The time depends on the accuracy of documents, the Registrar's scrutiny and the workload of the state office. Some states allow online filing while others need a physical visit. We cannot guarantee a fixed timeline, but we prepare the set so that it is ready for submission.
A society can receive membership fees, donations, grants and income from its activities, but it must apply them only to its objects. It cannot distribute profit among its members. Reasonable payment for services actually provided is possible if the bye-laws and state law allow it.
A society is a membership body registered with the Registrar of Societies, a trust is created by a deed and run by trustees, and a Section 8 company is a non-profit company under the Companies Act, 2013. A society suits groups with many members, while a Section 8 company usually has the most compliance.
Society registration does not give income tax exemption or donor tax benefits. A charitable society applies separately to the Income Tax Department for 12A registration, and for 80G if it wants donors to claim deductions. We guide you on both applications.
A society should hold meetings and elections as per its bye-laws, keep books of accounts, file the annual list of its governing body and other returns required in its state, get accounts audited where required, and file its income tax return. We give you a current compliance calendar.
Planning a society? Speak to our expert today – the consultation and the quote are free.
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