Quick answer: A certificate of incorporation is the document the Registrar of Companies issues once it registers a new company under section 7 of the Companies Act, 2013. It names the company, states the date of incorporation and carries the Corporate Identification Number. Under SPICe+, the company’s PAN and TAN are printed on the same certificate.
- The company becomes a body corporate from the date of incorporation shown on the certificate (section 9).
- The CIN is allotted under section 7(3) and shown on the certificate.
- The PAN and TAN allotted by the Income Tax Department are affixed to the certificate.
- A company with share capital must file INC-20A, the declaration of commencement of business, within 180 days of incorporation.
What does the certificate of incorporation show?
It is a short document, and every line on it matters to someone you’ll deal with next.
| Item on the certificate | Who will ask for it |
|---|---|
| Company name and type | Bank, landlord, customers |
| CIN | Every MCA filing and your letterhead |
| Date of incorporation | Your auditor, for the 30-day appointment clock |
| PAN | Bank account opening, tax returns, invoices |
| TAN | Every TDS deposit and return, including salary TDS |
The PAN and TAN printing comes from SPICe+ integration, as MCA’s ease of doing business page states. It saves you two separate applications.
Can you start trading the day you get it?
Not quite. The company exists, but a company with share capital must still file INC-20A before it commences business or borrows.
That’s the step foreign parents forget. The certificate arrives, the champagne goes round, and nobody wires the subscription money from abroad. INC-20A needs proof that subscribers have paid for their shares, so the money has to land in the Indian bank account first.
Miss the 180-day window and the ROC can start removing the company from the register. Then you’re looking at strike-off, not growth.
Two other clocks start on the incorporation date. The board must appoint the first auditor within 30 days. And a foreign-funded company files FC-GPR within 30 days of allotting shares to its overseas parent.
Do you need a certificate of incorporation to hire in India?
No. With an employer of record, your team is employed by a company that already holds its certificate, its PAN and its TAN.
That’s the shortcut. You skip incorporation, INC-20A and the first-year board calendar. Hiring starts in days. An entity is worth it when you’ll invoice Indian customers, hold Indian assets or want a long-term captive team. The Memorandum of Association and articles you file will shape it. Our guide on how to set up a subsidiary in India covers the route from name approval to certificate.
How does Remunance get you hiring before incorporation?
Remunance already holds its own certificate, PAN and TAN as Remunance Services Pvt Ltd in Pune, so your first hire can start in as little as 2 working days from a signed contract. When your own certificate arrives, our subsidiary formation team can move your staff to it. To hire now and incorporate later, map out your India timeline with us.
What else do people ask about the incorporation certificate meaning?
Is a certificate of incorporation proof that a company exists?
Yes. From the date on it, the company is a body corporate with perpetual succession that can own property, contract and sue in its own name.
What is INC-20A and when is it due?
It’s the declaration that the company’s subscribers have paid for their shares. A company with share capital files it within 180 days of incorporation.
Can you download a certificate of incorporation online?
Yes. The certificate is issued electronically on MCA21, and the company’s authorised signatory can access it through the portal. Banks generally accept the digitally signed copy.