Company Annual Filing: MGT-7, AOC-4 and Due Dates
Every private limited company must file two mandatory annual returns with the MCA each year: MGT-7 (Annual Return) and AOC-4 (Financial Statements). Missing these filings triggers penalties of ₹100 per day per form - with no upper cap - and can lead to director disqualification after three consecutive years of default.
Overview
Annual filing is not optional - it is a statutory obligation under the Companies Act 2013. The two core forms are MGT-7 and AOC-4. Both are anchored to the Annual General Meeting (AGM), which must be held within 6 months of the financial year end. For companies following the April–March financial year, the AGM deadline is 30 September.
30 days
AOC-4 deadline
After AGM date
60 days
MGT-7 deadline
After AGM date
₹100/day
Late fee per form
No maximum cap
MGT-7 - Annual Return
MGT-7 is the Annual Return filed under Section 92 of the Companies Act 2013. It provides the Registrar of Companies a snapshot of the company’s structure and ownership as on the last day of the financial year.
MGT-7 contains: share capital and debenture details, directors and key managerial personnel, shareholders and changes during the year, indebtedness, and details of meetings held. OPCs (One Person Companies) file a simplified variant called MGT-7A instead.
MGT-7 vs MGT-7A
MGT-7 is filed by all companies except OPCs and small companies. OPCs and small companies (paid-up capital up to ₹2 crore and turnover up to ₹20 crore) file the shorter MGT-7A form.
AOC-4 - Financial Statements
AOC-4 is the form through which a company files its audited financial statements with the MCA under Section 137 of the Companies Act 2013. It must be accompanied by the complete set of audited accounts - not just a summary.
- Balance Sheet as at the year end
- Profit and Loss Account for the year
- Cash Flow Statement (mandatory for turnover above ₹50 crore or borrowings above ₹25 crore)
- Directors' Report
- Auditor's Report
- Notes to Accounts
Due Dates
| Form | Filing Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AOC-4 | Within 30 days of AGM | OPCs: within 180 days of financial year end |
| MGT-7 | Within 60 days of AGM | OPCs: use MGT-7A |
| ADT-1 (auditor) | Within 15 days of AGM | Only for new auditor appointments |
For a company holding its AGM on 28 September, AOC-4 is due by 28 October and MGT-7 is due by 27 November.
Late Fees
Late fees accrue at ₹100 per day per form from the day after the filing deadline. There is no maximum cap - the MCA removed the cap in July 2021. A company that is two years behind on both forms can accumulate ₹70,000 or more in penalties per form before accounting for any NCLT-imposed fines.
No amnesty scheme currently active
While the MCA has periodically offered CFSS (Companies Fresh Start Scheme) windows to clear arrears at reduced fees, no such scheme is active as of mid-2026. File at the earliest to stop the penalty clock.
Consequences of Non-Filing
- Director disqualification: Under Section 164(2), a director of a company that has not filed financial statements or annual returns for three consecutive years is disqualified from acting as a director of any company for five years.
- Strike-off: The RoC can strike off a company under Section 248 if it has not filed annual returns or financial statements for two consecutive years. Struck-off companies lose the ability to transact, hold bank accounts, or execute contracts.
- Prosecution: The company and every defaulting officer face prosecution under Section 137(3) - a fine between ₹1,000 and ₹10 lakh plus a continuing fine of ₹100 per day.
- ✓Confirm AGM date and calculate AOC-4 and MGT-7 deadlines immediately after year end
- ✓Ensure audit is completed before the AGM
- ✓Prepare Director's Report and get it approved at the Board meeting before AGM
- ✓File ADT-1 within 15 days of AGM for any new auditor
- ✓File AOC-4 within 30 days of AGM
- ✓File MGT-7 within 60 days of AGM
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