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Online Section 8 Company Registration in India
Legal recognition for an NGO, charity or foundation, with the credibility that brings to donors and partners. LegalWiz.in handles the incorporation and the Central Government licence that goes with it.
- Dedicated support for non-profit incorporation
- Expert assistance with documentation and approvals
- Enhanced credibility for donors, partners and stakeholders
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- DSC, name reservation, MoA, AoA and the section 8 licence all handled
- Typically registered in 25 working days
- Exclusive partner offers on hosting and payment gateways
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Close the formA few details, then secure checkout. Your expert takes it from there.
Starting at₹12,999+ Govt. Fees
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What is a Section 8 company?
What a Section 8 company is, how it differs from an NGO registered another way, and why founders choose LegalWiz.in to register one.
A Section 8 company is a company registered with charitable objects: promoting arts, commerce, science, education, sport, religion, charity or the protection of the environment, among others. It is registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, which is what gives it its special status.
Calling it a not-for-profit does not mean it cannot make money. The Act does not bar a Section 8 company from creating a profit; it bars the company from distributing that profit among its members. All income from any activity of the company has to be applied to the charitable purpose it was registered for.
It is popularly called an NGO, and it is one, but the two are not the same thing: an NGO can equally be registered as a trust or as a society. What a Section 8 company adds over those is a corporate structure, with a separate legal identity and limited liability, and the exemptions the Act grants it.
- Members
- Minimum 2
- Both subscribe to capital at incorporation
- Directors
- Minimum 2
- At least one Indian citizen and resident
- Minimum capital
- None prescribed
- Enough to start and run on
- Government licence
- Required
- Applied for in INC-12, granted in INC-16
- Registration time
- 25 working days
- Subject to government processing
- Dividends
- Not permitted
- Surplus is applied to the objects
- Name suffix
- Not required
- No “Private Limited” or “Limited” needed
- Liability
- Limited
- To the capital subscribed and unpaid
Why founders choose LegalWiz.in
- An expert team of qualified CA, CS and lawyers
- A dedicated relationship manager with on-call support
- The entire registration process is managed online
- Quick turnaround and economical pricing
- Thousands of happy customers across every state in India
- Backed by secure technology
- Exclusive partner offers on web hosting, payment gateways and more
What the registration covers
Everything below is handled by your relationship manager and the filing team. You supply the documents once and approve the drafts.
- Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for every subscriber and director
- Name availability check against the naming guidelines
- Name reservation through the RUN form
- Drafting of the Memorandum of Association (MoA) and Articles of Association (AoA)
- Payment of stamp duty and notarisation of the required documents
- Application for the Central Government licence in form INC-12
- Director Identification Number (DIN) allotment for the directors
- Incorporation filing for the Certificate of Incorporation
- PAN and TAN application for the company
Government fees and stamp duty are charged at actuals. The application in INC-12 must be accompanied by an estimated statement of income and expenditure for the next three years.
How to decide a Section 8 company name
Make it unique
The name becomes the organisation’s brand, so a coined word that is not already taken is the strongest choice.
Signal the activity
The second part of the name should suggest what the company actually does.
Use a not-for-profit suffix
The name must include a word such as Foundation, Forum, Federation, Chambers, Association or Council.
No corporate suffix
Unlike every other company, it does not add “Private Limited” or “Limited” to its name.
Benefits of registering a Section 8 company
Tax and compliance exemptions
Registration under Section 8 gives the company a status distinct from other entities. It enjoys tax exemptions, donors can claim a deduction for what they give under the Income Tax Act, and many compliance provisions that bind other companies do not apply.
Separate legal identity
As a company it is legally distinct from its members. It owns assets and carries liabilities in its own name, and a change of members or directors affects neither its existence nor its rights and obligations.
Limited liability
A member’s liability is limited to the capital they subscribed and have not yet paid. Losses and obligations of the company create no charge over the personal property of the members or the directors.
No corporate title
It gets the benefits of a corporate entity without being labelled one: there is no “Private Limited” or “Limited” after the name. That exemption exists so third parties attend to the purpose rather than assuming a profit-making business.
Customer reviews
What our clients say
- Rated 5 out of 5
Had a great experience with LegalWiz for my trademark registration. The service was smooth, and the after sales support was excellent. Although the filing took around 3 days, the team stayed connected throughout, provided clear updates, and there were no communication issues. Overall, a very professional and reliable experience.
Vishvam PGJune 2026 - Rated 5 out of 5
Had a wonderful experience. The team was very supportive, responsive and completed everything on time. Thank you for the excellent support.
Ujwala ShettyJune 2026 - Rated 5 out of 5
Jignesh was very helpful and amazing while filling the compliance form for my business. Will take your service again.
Sumit YadavApril 2026 - Rated 5 out of 5
Good support team. No hindrance in executions. Go for it.
Upkar ChaurasiyaApril 2026 - Rated 5 out of 5
JIGNESH BHAI, I wanted to take some time to sincerely thank you for your incredible support with my MSME registration through LegalWiz. From start to finish, Jignesh Bhai, your guidance, patience, and professionalism made what could have been a stressful and confusing process feel completely smooth and manageable. You took the time to explain every step clearly, answered all my questions patiently, and ensured that nothing was left uncertain. Your attention to detail and dedication truly stood out, and it gave me a lot of confidence throughout the process. I really appreciate the effort, care, and commitment you put into helping me. Jignesh Bhai, your service has been exceptional, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Heartfelt thanks once again!
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Limited Liability PartnershipHad a great experience working with the team! They handled my LLP registration smoothly, guided me clearly through every step, and were always quick to respond. Really appreciate their professionalism and support. Highly recommended!
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Documents required to register a Section 8 company
The same set is needed for every shareholder and director. Scanned copies are enough to begin, and your relationship manager will tell you if anything needs to be re-shared in a clearer format.
Photographs
A recent passport size photograph of every shareholder and director.
PAN card
For every shareholder and director. A foreign national provides a valid passport instead.
Identity proof
Voter ID, passport or driving licence for each person.
Address proof
The latest telephone bill, electricity bill or bank statement.
Business address proof
The latest electricity or telephone bill for the registered office address in India.
NOC from the owner
A no objection certificate from the owner of the registered office premises.
Rent agreement
The rent agreement for the registered office, where the premises are rented.
Income and expenditure statement
An estimated statement of income and expenditure for the next three years, which the licence application requires.
Register a company in three easy steps
Step 01
Answer a few quick questions
- Spend less than 10 minutes on a simple set of questions
- Tell us the charitable objects the company will be registered for
- Share the basic details and documents against the checklist
- Pay through a secure payment gateway
Step 02
Our experts take over
- You are assigned a dedicated relationship manager
- Digital signatures are procured and the name is reserved
- MoA, AoA and the supporting declarations are drafted
- The section 8 licence is applied for, and incorporation filed once it is granted
Step 03
Your company is registered
- The whole process takes 25 working days
- Book a free assessment call to keep the company compliant from day one
Subject to government processing time.
How long Section 8 registration takes
A typical registration runs to 25 working days, longer than any other structure in this hub because of the licence stage. Here is where the first nineteen go.
Day 1
1 of 19 working days
- Application for the Digital Signature Certificate
Days 2 to 4
3 of 19 working days
- Name availability check
- Name reservation filed through RUN
- Name reserved by the registrar
Days 5 to 8
4 of 19 working days
- MoA, AoA and the other required documents drafted
- Stamp duty paid
- Documents notarised
Days 9 to 13
5 of 19 working days
- Application for the Central Government licence in form INC-12
- Awaiting government approval
- Licence under section 8 granted in form INC-16
Days 14 to 16
3 of 19 working days
- Company registration application filed
- DIN allotment application
- PAN and TAN application
Days 17 to 19
3 of 19 working days
- Awaiting government processing
- Certificate of Incorporation issued
Subject to government processing time. The licence stage is a wait on the Central Government and is the least predictable part of the schedule.
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What are the minimum requirements to register a charitable company in India?
The promoters have to be able to satisfy four things:
- The main object of the company must be a charitable purpose among those prescribed in law
- At least two members, who subscribe to the capital on incorporation
- At least two directors, one of whom must be an Indian citizen and resident
- A registered office situated in India
What is the minimum capital required?
There is no minimum amount of capital prescribed for a charitable company.
The promoters introduce whatever is sufficient to start and run the organisation.
How is the company name reserved?
The name must be formulated according to the naming guidelines. The application is made in a web form called RUN, with a maximum of two proposed names.
The registrar may ask for a fresh application with a different name if the proposals do not meet the requirements.
How is Central Government approval obtained?
The promoters apply in e-form INC-12. The form goes in with the company’s MoA and AoA, declarations from the promoters, and an estimated statement of income and expenditure for the next three years.
If the application is approved, the approval letter is issued in form INC-16, and only then can the incorporation forms be filed.
Do the promoters have to be physically present during registration?
No. The registration process is completely online and no promoter needs to be present anywhere. Documents and details can be emailed or uploaded.
Can an NRI or a foreign national be a director of a Section 8 company?
Yes, once they have obtained a Director Identification Number.
At least one director on the board must still be an Indian citizen and resident.
Are a Section 8 company and an NGO the same thing?
A Section 8 company is popularly called an NGO, and it is one. But the terms are not interchangeable.
An NGO can equally be registered as a trust or as a society. Section 8 is the route that gives it a corporate structure under the Companies Act.
Can a Section 8 company declare dividends?
No. A Section 8 or charitable company cannot pay a dividend to its members.
Any surplus of receipts over payments is applied to promoting the objects the company was registered for.
How long does the registration stay valid?
There is no expiry. Once the company is incorporated it stays in existence and active for as long as its annual compliances are met.
It ends only if it is wound up voluntarily, or if the compliances are not kept up.
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