Compliance
Missing the 30‑day deadline for filing the AOC‑4 financial statement can cost a company up to ₹2 lakh and its senior officers up to ₹50,000, plus daily fines that add up quickly if the delay continues.
Check your DPDP readiness — free More on the blogThe requirement is triggered the moment the annual general meeting (AGM) adopts the financial statements. The company must prepare a complete set of statements – balance sheet, profit and loss account, cash flow statement and notes – together with every annexure prescribed in the Companies Act. These documents become the official record that must be filed with the Registrar of Companies within thirty days of the AGM date.
The finance team, led by the chief financial officer (CFO) or the managing director if there is no CFO, drafts the statements. The draft is reviewed by the audit committee and then signed by the directors who are charged with the responsibility for compliance. The signatures confirm that the accounts are true and have been adopted at the AGM.
If the AGM is not held on schedule, the same filing must be made within thirty days of the date on which the meeting should have taken place. In that case the company must also attach a brief explanation of why the meeting was not convened, ensuring the regulator understands the delay was justified rather than an oversight.
The registrar expects a fully signed set of financial statements, the AOC‑4 form, and any supporting documents such as auditor's report and board resolution. The filing must be done through the MCA online system, which generates an acknowledgement number. This number is the proof that the filing was made on time and must be stored safely for inspection by tax authorities or investors.
A frequent mistake is to file an unsigned draft in the hope of stopping the penalty clock; the law requires the adopted, signed statements. Another error is assuming a dormant or loss‑making company is exempt – the filing obligation applies regardless of profit or loss. Finally, many firms overlook the separate filing fee under section 403, which is payable in addition to any penalty that may arise.
If the filing is late, the company faces a base fine of ₹10,000 plus ₹100 for each day of continued default, capped at ₹2 lakh. The managing director, CFO or the responsible directors each incur a personal fine of ₹10,000 plus ₹100 per day, capped at ₹50,000. The daily component means that even a short delay can quickly become costly, so prompt action is essential.
After successful filing, keep the acknowledgement receipt, the signed financial statements and the AOC‑4 copy in the statutory registers. These records should be accessible for at least eight years, as they may be requested by regulators, banks or potential investors during due diligence.
If the finance team lacks experience with the MCA portal, or if the AGM was postponed and the reasons for delay are complex, engaging a company secretary or chartered accountant can ensure the filing meets all technical requirements and avoids inadvertent penalties.
The AOC‑4 financial statements must be filed with the Registrar of Companies within thirty days of the annual general meeting at which the accounts were adopted, according to Section 137 of the Companies Act.
The company can be fined a minimum of ₹10,000 plus ₹100 for each day the default continues, with the total amount capped at ₹2 lakh.
Yes, the managing director, chief financial officer or the directors charged with compliance each face a personal fine of ₹10,000 plus ₹100 per day, up to a maximum of ₹50,000 per officer.
In addition to any penalty, the filing attracts a separate fee under Section 403 of the Companies Act, which must be paid at the time of submitting the AOC‑4 form on the MCA portal.
Published 8 October 2026. Founder & CEO at VidhiSar. I have watched four companies pay for the same mistake, and it was never the mistake anyone expected. VidhiSar is software, not a law firm: every answer names the section it relies on so you can check it, and anything turning on your specific facts is worth putting to a professional. More about who builds this
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