
SPICe vs SPICe+: Key Differences in Company Incorporation Forms
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DPIIT recognition under the Startup India scheme, for a company, LLP or registered partnership working on something new. It unlocks a tax holiday, fee rebates, self-certification and access to government tenders.
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What DPIIT recognition is, who qualifies for it, and what it is not the same as.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade runs the Startup India scheme, and recognition under it, formerly called DIPP registration, is what lets a young business claim the benefits the scheme carries. Its purpose is to reward innovation, and the criteria follow from that.
Only an entity registered as a private limited company, a limited liability partnership or a registered partnership firm can apply. It must be working on an innovation, or on a genuine improvement to an existing product, process or service, and that work must be capable of generating wealth and employment.
Creating an account on the Startup India website is not the same thing as being recognised, and the two are confused constantly. The account is a login. Recognition is a separate application to DPIIT, assessed on the innovation, and it is the recognition that the benefits attach to.
The application turns on the write-up describing what is new about what you are building. That is the part we spend the time on.
There is no government fee for recognition. The tax exemption under section 80-IAC is a separate application made after recognition, from your own portal login.
A private limited company, a limited liability partnership, or a registered partnership firm. Nothing else is eligible.
Not more than 10 years old, counted from the date of incorporation.
Turnover must not have crossed ₹100 crore in any previous financial year.
Working towards an innovation, or an improvement to an existing product or service, capable of generating wealth and employment. This is the criterion applications actually fail on.
A recognised startup can apply for exemption from income tax under section 80-IAC for three consecutive financial years out of its first ten. It is a separate application made after recognition, and only a company or an LLP can claim it.
A rebate on the government fee for a trademark application, and up to 80% on patent applications, with access to fast-track patent examination. The facilitator’s fees on any number of patents, trademarks or designs are borne by the government, so a recognised startup pays the statutory fee only.
A recognised startup can self-certify its compliance under six labour laws and three environmental laws for five years from the date of incorporation, rather than face routine inspection.
The prior turnover and prior experience conditions that normally shut a young company out of a government tender do not apply, and recognised startups are exempt from putting up an Earnest Money Deposit. They can also register on the Government e-Marketplace and sell directly to government buyers.
The scheme runs a fund of funds for startups, through which the Small Industries Development Bank of India provides capital to startups approved by the implementing agencies.
A recognised company or LLP with a simple debt structure, or one meeting the specified income criteria, can be wound up within 90 days of applying under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
The first four establish the entity. The rest are the evidence of what you have built, and the more of them there are the stronger the application.
From the MCA, or the registration certificate from the Registrar of Firms.
The PAN of the entity.
The MoA and AoA for a company, or the partnership deed for an LLP or a partnership firm.
With their photographs and contact details.
The URL of the website or mobile app, if there is one, and the LinkedIn or X profiles of the directors, designated partners and members.
Where the entity has raised money, the amount invested and who invested it.
Details of any IP applied for or registered by the entity.
Any award, certificate or recognition the entity has received.
To claim the deduction under section 80-IAC, Form 1 is filed with the annual accounts and the income tax returns for the last three financial years, where those apply.
Step 01
Step 02
Step 03
Subject to government processing time.
About nine working days on our side. How long DPIIT then takes depends on how closely the innovation is examined.
1 of 9 working days
3 of 9 working days
3 of 9 working days
2 of 9 working days
Subject to government processing time. The officers examine every document and every claim in the write-up, so the department’s own timeline is not fixed.
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Recognition granted by DPIIT under a government scheme, which gives startups a set of specific benefits subject to the conditions in the rules.
A private limited company, a limited liability partnership, or a registered partnership firm. No other form of entity can apply.
No. The entity has to be working on the innovation, deployment or commercialisation of a new product, process or service driven by technology or intellectual property.
A significantly improved existing product, process or service qualifies too, provided the improvement creates or adds value for a customer or a workflow.
Yes. A One Person Company is a form of company, so it can be recognised as a startup.
No. An entity formed by splitting up or reconstructing a business already in existence is not eligible under the scheme.
For ten years from the date of incorporation, or until turnover crosses ₹100 crore in a financial year, whichever comes first.
There is no government fee for registration under the Startup India scheme.
No, and this is the commonest misunderstanding about the scheme. Creating an account on the website is a login and nothing more.
To claim any benefit under the scheme the entity has to be recognised by DPIIT, which is a separate application assessed on the innovation.
It depends on the department. The officers check every document and every claim in the application thoroughly, so the timeline is theirs rather than ours.
No. It is submitted online at startupindia.gov.in.
Yes. They can be applied for afterwards.
No. Recognition makes the entity eligible; it does not grant the exemption.
The exemption under section 80-IAC is applied for separately, by logging in to the Startup India portal after recognition.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. It was called DIPP, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, until 2019, which is why older material calls this DIPP registration.
Through the ecosystem section of the Startup India portal, once you are logged in to your account.
No government fee, and the write-up that carries the application drafted for you.
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