Startup Compliance Calendar for the First Year: What to File and When
A first-year compliance calendar for startups in Hyderabad: first board meeting, auditor, INC-20A, GST, TDS, ROC and income tax, with a month-wise checklist.
You have your Certificate of Incorporation and a first client. What now? Many founders discover compliance deadlines only after a notice arrives. This calendar lays out the first year so that nothing surprises you.
Short answer: within 30 days of incorporation hold the first board meeting and appoint the first auditor, within 180 days file INC-20A (declaration for commencement of business), file GST and TDS on their monthly and quarterly schedules, and complete AGM, ROC filings and income tax return after the financial year ends. Due dates change, so confirm each on the official portal.
Timeline
Immediately after incorporation
- Bank account and capital: open the company account and let subscribers pay for their shares. INC-20A requires proof of payment of subscribed capital.
- First board meeting within 30 days (section 173(1)): approve auditor, registered office, bank account, adoption of seal if any, and authorise filings.
- First auditor appointed by the board within 30 days (section 139(6)), and ADT-1 filed after appointment.
- Share certificates, statutory registers and disclosure of directors’ interests must be maintained.
- INC-20A within 180 days (section 10A) to commence business and exercise borrowing powers.
Tax registrations
- GST: register when turnover or the nature of supply requires. See GST for startups.
- TAN and TDS: TAN is obtained during incorporation. Deduct TDS where applicable and deposit by the 7th of the following month (March has a different date, confirm). File quarterly TDS returns after each quarter.
- Professional tax and labour registrations: where you have employees in Telangana (confirm applicability and thresholds).
- Advance tax: if the estimated tax liability exceeds the threshold, pay in instalments.
Month-by-month snapshot
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Month 1 | First board meeting, auditor appointment, bank account, registers |
| Month 2 to 6 | INC-20A, GST registration, trademark filing, Udyam and DPIIT |
| Every month | GST returns, TDS deposit, payroll, bookkeeping |
| Every quarter | TDS returns, advance tax instalments (as applicable) |
| After year end | Audit, AGM, AOC-4, MGT-7, income tax return |
Related guides: Udyam registration, trademark registration and annual ROC compliance.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting INC-20A, which can lead to strike-off proceedings.
- Ignoring ROC filings in the first year because there is no turnover.
- Mixing personal and company funds, which complicates the audit.
- Not reconciling GST returns with books.
For startups in Hyderabad
Whether your team sits in Kondapur, Gachibowli or Hitech City, the compliance calendar is the same. If you are still at the incorporation stage, start with company incorporation in Hyderabad.
Why work with ComplianceKart
ComplianceKart is a boutique practice bringing Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries and advocates under one roof. Think of a multi-speciality hospital: you walk in with one concern, and the physician, the radiologist and the surgeon coordinate on your case instead of you running between three clinics. First-year compliance works the same way, because it touches company law, tax, banking and contracts at once, and a single coordinated team keeps those pieces consistent.
We do not guarantee approvals or timelines, since those depend on the regulator and on your documents. What we can do is prepare the filings carefully, tell you what is likely to be queried and keep you informed at each step.
Talk to us: WhatsApp 99595 36391 | Call 9959536391 | team@compliancekart.com | compliancekart.com
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to file anything if there is no revenue?
Yes. ROC filings, audit and income tax return are required even with no revenue.
What is INC-20A?
A declaration that subscribers have paid for their shares, filed within 180 days of incorporation.
When is the first AGM due?
Within nine months of the first financial year end.
Do I need an accountant?
Compliance and bookkeeping need consistent records. Professional support reduces missed deadlines.
Sources
- MCA: Companies Act, 2013 (sections 10A, 139, 173); Income Tax Department; GST Portal.
This article is general information as on 16 October 2026 and is not advice on your specific facts. Rules, fees, thresholds and portals change, so confirm current requirements on the official source before acting.
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