Set up & fund · Registrations
Registrations After Incorporation in India
Incorporation gives your Indian subsidiary a legal identity, PAN and TAN. Operating legally needs a few more registrations: some central, some state-specific, and some only when you hire, import or brand. This is the checklist we run for foreign-owned companies.
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Which registrations does a foreign-owned company need after incorporation?
| Registration | Who needs it | When | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIRMS Entity Master and FC-GPR | Every company receiving foreign investment | FC-GPR within 30 days of allotting shares to the foreign parent | FC-GPR and FC-TRS filing |
| GST registration | Businesses above the turnover threshold or within a mandatory category, such as inter-state supplies of goods | Before the threshold is crossed or the first taxable supply in a mandatory category | GST registration guide |
| Import Export Code (IEC) | Businesses importing or exporting goods; service exporters claiming Foreign Trade Policy benefits | Before the first import or export; update every April to June | IEC registration guide |
| Shops and establishments | Offices and commercial establishments, under the law of the state where they are located | Soon after the office opens; in Kerala within 60 days of commencement | Shops and establishments (Kerala) |
| Professional tax | Employers and companies in states that levy it | On starting operations or employing staff in that state | Professional tax (Kerala) |
| Provident fund (EPFO) and ESI (ESIC) | Employers once headcount reaches the thresholds under the Code on Social Security, 2020 | When the threshold is reached; plan before hiring | Payroll and HR compliance |
| Trademark | Any company using a brand, name or logo in India | Before launch, after a search of the register | Trademark for foreign companies |
| DPIIT startup recognition | Eligible innovative Indian companies, including foreign-owned ones | Optional; after incorporation | DPIIT recognition guide |
| Udyam (MSME) registration | Enterprises within the MSME limits that want MSME benefits and payment protection | Optional; after incorporation | Udyam registration and limits |
In what order should the registrations be done?
- 1
Report the foreign capital
Register on FIRMS and file FC-GPR within 30 days of allotting shares to the foreign parent.
- 2
Register for GST
Register in each state where you have a place of business once the threshold or a mandatory trigger applies.
- 3
Register the office
Obtain shops and establishments registration and professional tax enrolment under the law of the state where the office is located.
- 4
Set up payroll registrations
Register with EPFO and ESIC when headcount reaches the thresholds, and build TDS on salaries into payroll.
- 5
Add business-specific registrations
Obtain an IEC for goods trade, file a trademark application, and consider DPIIT recognition and Udyam registration.
What comes with incorporation, and what does not?
Incorporation through the MCA's SPICe+ form gives the company its certificate of incorporation, corporate identity number, PAN and TAN, and opens the route to a bank account. It does not report the foreign investment to the RBI, register the company for GST in every state where it operates, or register its office under state labour law. Those follow, and several carry their own deadlines.
The first one with a hard deadline is usually FC-GPR: once the foreign parent's capital arrives, the shares must be allotted within 60 days and FC-GPR filed within 30 days of allotment. See bank account and capital funding and FC-GPR filing.
Which registrations depend on the state?
Shops and establishments registration and professional tax are state laws. The forms, portals, deadlines and rates differ between states, and a company with offices in Bengaluru and Pune, for example, registers under both Karnataka and Maharashtra law. GST registration is also state-wise: a separate GSTIN is needed in each state where the company has a place of business. Choosing the location of the first office therefore decides which state rules apply first; see best locations for foreign companies in India.
What changes when you start hiring?
Payroll brings provident fund, ESI, professional tax and TDS on salaries. The Code on Social Security, 2020 replaced the Employees' Provident Funds Act and the Employees' State Insurance Act from 21 November 2025, so check the current thresholds and wage ceilings before the first hires. Many foreign-owned companies start with an employer of record and move staff to their own payroll once the entity is ready; see employer of record vs your own entity and payroll and HR compliance.
Registrations and ongoing compliance
Each registration brings its own returns: GST returns, professional tax payments, PF and ESI challans, the annual IEC update, and renewals under the state shops act. Together with the ROC, income tax, transfer pricing and FLA filings, they make up the annual compliance load of a foreign-owned company. See the annual compliance calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What registrations does a foreign-owned company need after incorporation in India?
Are PAN and TAN separate registrations?
Does a foreign subsidiary need GST registration immediately?
Is an Import Export Code needed by a software or services subsidiary?
Do PF and ESI apply to a new subsidiary with a few employees?
Which registrations are state-specific?
Last reviewed: November 2026 · Reviewed by CA Regi Tom Antony, Regi Tom Antony & Associates. Detailed registration guides are published on our sister site SME Advisory. General guidance; requirements depend on the business and state.
Want the registrations handled in one go?
We sequence and file the post-incorporation registrations for foreign-owned companies, then keep the returns running.