ROC Late Fee Relief 2026

ROC Late Fees Waiver Notification 2026: File Your Pending ROC Before the Window Closes

If your company has pending ROC filing, this is the time to act. MCA's 2026 compliance relief window allows eligible companies to regularise delayed annual filings by paying only a small part of the additional fee burden.

Updated: 30 April 2026 Scheme window: 15 Apr to 15 Jul 2026 Keyword: ROC late fees waiver notification 2026
10% Additional fee payable for eligible annual filings
15 Jul Last date of the 2026 scheme window
50% Normal fee for eligible dormant status application
25% Applicable filing fee for eligible strike-off filing

The phrase ROC late fees waiver notification 2026 is being searched by many company owners because MCA has opened a special compliance relief window in 2026. The official name of this relief is the Companies Compliance Facilitation Scheme, 2026, also called CCFS-2026. In simple words, it is a limited-time opportunity for companies to file pending ROC forms with a major reduction in additional fees.

If your company has not filed AOC-4, MGT-7, MGT-7A, ADT-1 or other eligible ROC forms, this notification can help you reduce the financial pressure. For many small businesses, startups, inactive companies and MSMEs, pending ROC filing becomes stressful because the additional fee keeps increasing with time. This scheme gives such companies a practical way to come back into compliance.

Important: This is not a complete waiver of all fees. Eligible companies still pay the normal filing fee, but the additional fee burden is reduced to 10% for eligible annual filings under the scheme.

What Is ROC Late Fees Waiver Notification 2026?

The ROC late fees waiver notification 2026 refers to MCA's one-time compliance relief under General Circular No. 01/2026 dated 24 February 2026. The scheme is available from 15 April 2026 to 15 July 2026. During this period, eligible companies can file pending annual documents by paying normal filing fees plus only 10% of the additional fees.

This matters because ROC additional fees can become very high when filings remain pending for months or years. Under normal rules, delayed filing of annual return and financial statements may attract additional fees of Rs. 100 per day. For companies with multiple years pending, the final amount may feel impossible to handle. CCFS-2026 reduces that pressure and encourages companies to clean up their MCA record.

Why This Notification Is a Big Opportunity

Many company owners delay compliance because they are worried about cost. They know ROC filing is pending, but when they see the accumulated late fee, they postpone it again. Unfortunately, waiting usually makes the problem bigger. The company record remains non-compliant, directors remain under stress, and the business may face problems in bank loan, tender, funding, due diligence or closure.

The ROC late fees waiver notification 2026 gives a short window to fix this. It is not only about saving money. It is about removing a long-pending compliance headache and making the company usable again.

Save on Additional Fees

Eligible companies can reduce additional fee burden by paying only 10% of additional fees for covered annual filings.

Clean MCA Record

Pending annual filings can affect credibility. Regular filing helps make the company's public record more reliable.

Reduce Future Risk

Completing pending ROC filings early may reduce notice, penalty and enforcement-related stress.

Choose the Right Exit

Inactive companies can explore dormant status or strike-off instead of carrying unnecessary annual compliance.

File Your ROC Pending: Who Should Act Now?

If your company has pending ROC forms, this is the right time to review the MCA record. The scheme is especially useful for companies that want to continue business, raise funds, apply for loans, register as vendors, participate in tenders, or close old compliance gaps before they become bigger.

  • Private limited companies with pending annual returns or financial statements.
  • OPCs with delayed MGT-7A or AOC-4 filings.
  • Startups that paused compliance due to low business activity.
  • MSMEs that want to regularise old ROC defaults at reduced additional fee.
  • Inactive companies that want dormant status instead of full active compliance.
  • Companies that have stopped business and want strike-off.
  • Directors who want to avoid last-minute MCA portal and documentation issues.
CompanyJi Tip

Do not check only one form

Many companies think only AOC-4 or MGT-7 is pending. But sometimes ADT-1, older annual forms, director KYC, DSC renewal or attachment issues also block filing. Always check the complete MCA filing position before calculating the benefit.

Forms Commonly Covered Under the 2026 ROC Relief

The exact applicability should be checked company-wise, but the scheme commonly helps with pending annual filing and related forms. A practical list is given below for easy understanding.

Form What It Is Used For Why It Matters
AOC-4 Filing financial statements Shows the company's annual financial position on MCA records
AOC-4 CFS Consolidated financial statements Required where consolidated reporting applies
AOC-4 XBRL XBRL-based financial statement filing Needed for companies covered under XBRL filing rules
MGT-7 Annual return filing Updates shareholding, directors and company details
MGT-7A Annual return for OPCs and small companies Simplified annual return for eligible companies
ADT-1 Auditor appointment filing Important for proper audit trail and future annual filings
FC-3 / FC-4 Foreign company filings Useful where foreign company compliance applies

How Much Can a Company Save?

Let us understand this in a simple way. Suppose a company has delayed ROC filing and the additional fee has reached Rs. 1,00,000. Under normal rules, the company may need to pay the full additional fee plus normal filing fee. Under the ROC late fees waiver notification 2026, if the company is eligible, it may pay only 10% of the additional fee, which means Rs. 10,000 plus normal filing fee.

This kind of relief can make pending ROC filing affordable again. For companies with multiple years of delay, the saving may be significant. However, the exact fee should always be calculated on the MCA portal and checked form-wise.

Important fee note: The relief applies as per scheme conditions. It should not be assumed that every pending form of every company will automatically get the same treatment.

Benefit for Inactive Companies

Some companies are not doing business but are still active on MCA records. These companies often keep accumulating compliance obligations even though there is no real business activity. For such cases, CCFS-2026 provides a route to apply for dormant status through MSC-1 by paying 50% of the normal filing fee, if eligible.

Dormant status is useful when the promoters want to keep the company for future use but do not want full active-company compliance pressure at the moment.

Benefit for Companies Planning Closure

If the company is no longer required, filing pending ROC forms may be only one part of the solution. Promoters should also consider whether the company should be closed properly. Under the 2026 scheme, eligible companies can file STK-2 for strike-off by paying 25% of the applicable filing fee.

This is helpful for companies that have no business, no future plan and no reason to remain registered. A proper closure avoids future compliance burden and gives promoters a cleaner exit.

Step-by-Step Process to File Pending ROC

  1. Check the company's MCA master data and filing history.
  2. List all pending ROC forms year-wise and form-wise.
  3. Check whether the company is eligible for CCFS-2026 benefits.
  4. Decide whether to regularise, apply for dormant status, or apply for strike-off.
  5. Prepare financial statements, board report and audit report, where required.
  6. Check DSC validity, DIN KYC and auditor appointment status.
  7. Prepare correct attachments and professional certification, if applicable.
  8. File the pending forms during the scheme period.
  9. Pay the MCA fee and save challans and acknowledgements.
  10. Review MCA records after filing to confirm the status is updated.
CompanyJi Tip

File early, not at the deadline

The last date is 15 July 2026, but the practical deadline for a serious company should be earlier. Audit documents, UDIN, DSC, MCA payment and resubmission can take time. Filing in the final week is a risk that can be avoided.

Documents You Should Keep Ready

Before starting the filing work, keep your documents ready. This saves time and helps avoid wrong filing or repeated professional follow-up.

  • Company CIN and MCA login access.
  • Financial statements for pending years.
  • Board report and audit report, where applicable.
  • Auditor appointment details and ADT-1 status.
  • Valid DSC of authorised director.
  • DIN KYC status of directors.
  • Shareholding and director details for annual return.
  • Professional certification, where required.
  • UDIN for certified documents, where applicable.
  • Previous challans and filing acknowledgements, if available.

Common Mistakes That Can Waste the Waiver Benefit

The scheme gives relief, but companies still need to file correctly. Wrong forms, missing attachments, expired DSC or incomplete audit documents can delay filing and may cause the company to miss the benefit window.

  • Waiting until the last date to start the filing process.
  • Calculating late fee without checking actual MCA form status.
  • Ignoring pending ADT-1 before annual filing.
  • Uploading incomplete financial statements or wrong attachments.
  • Not checking DSC expiry in advance.
  • Assuming every company is automatically eligible.
  • Choosing strike-off without checking liabilities, bank account or pending matters.
  • Not saving challans after payment.

What Happens If You Do Not File Pending ROC?

If a company ignores the scheme and continues to remain in default, it may face future ROC action. MCA has indicated that after the scheme period, Registrars of Companies may take necessary action against defaulting companies that do not use the opportunity.

For directors and promoters, the safer approach is to check the pending status now. Even if the company is inactive, there may be a better route: dormant status or strike-off. Ignoring the company rarely solves the problem.

CompanyJi Tip

Decide the future of the company first

Before filing, decide whether the company should continue, remain dormant, or close. This decision saves money because the right route depends on the company's actual business plan.

FAQs on ROC Late Fees Waiver Notification 2026

1. Is there any ROC late fees waiver notification in 2026?

Yes. MCA introduced the Companies Compliance Facilitation Scheme, 2026 through General Circular No. 01/2026 dated 24 February 2026. It gives reduced additional fee benefit for eligible pending annual filings.

2. What is the last date to file pending ROC under this scheme?

The scheme is available from 15 April 2026 to 15 July 2026.

3. Is it a full waiver of ROC late fees?

No. Eligible companies pay normal filing fee plus only 10% of additional fees for covered annual filings. It is a major reduction, not a complete zero-fee waiver.

4. Which forms should a company check first?

Start with AOC-4, MGT-7 or MGT-7A, ADT-1 and any old annual forms pending on MCA records.

5. Can an inactive company use this notification?

Yes, eligible inactive companies may use the scheme to apply for dormant status through MSC-1 or strike-off through STK-2.

6. Can I file multiple years of pending ROC forms?

Yes, subject to eligibility and the MCA portal process, companies can regularise multiple pending annual filings during the scheme period.

7. Should I wait for more clarification before filing?

If your company has pending filings, start document preparation immediately. Eligibility and fee can be checked while preparing documents. Waiting may create deadline pressure.

8. Do I need professional help?

Professional help is recommended where multiple years are pending, audit documents are incomplete, auditor appointment is unclear, or the company is considering strike-off.

Source note: This article is based on MCA's Companies Compliance Facilitation Scheme, 2026, notified through General Circular No. 01/2026 dated 24 February 2026, and publicly available professional summaries of CCFS-2026. Companies should verify eligibility and exact fee calculation on MCA records before filing.