How long does it take to close a company in India?

Last updated 22 May 2026

Why the timeline matters before you start

Many founders assume closing a company is quick — file a form and it is done in a few weeks. The reality is that the minimum statutory timeline alone is over two months (ROC processing plus public notice period), and that assumes everything is already in order. Understanding the timeline before you begin helps you plan correctly, especially if directors are moving cities, there are tax filings due, or the company's bank is already pressing for account closure.

Stage 1 — Document preparation (1 to 2 weeks)

Before anything can be filed, you need the complete document set: board resolution, indemnity bond on stamp paper (notarised), affidavit (sworn before a notary), CA-certified statement of accounts, bank account closure certificate, ITR copy, and valid DSCs for all directors. For a company with no complications, a well-organised founding team can assemble this in one to two weeks. The main bottleneck is usually getting the notarised indemnity bond and the stamp paper — in metro cities this typically takes two to three working days, longer in smaller cities.

Stage 2 — CA certification of accounts (3 to 7 days)

The practising CA needs to review the company's books, confirm nil assets and nil liabilities, prepare the statement of accounts, and certify it. If the books are clean and the bank account has already been closed, an experienced CA can complete this in three to five working days. If there are minor inconsistencies — a small TDS refund due, an unreconciled bank entry, a creditor entry that was never reversed — it takes longer. Budget one week for this stage, and remember the certified accounts must not be more than 30 days old on the date of filing.

Stage 3 — Filing STK-2 on MCA21 (1 day)

Once all documents are ready and the DSCs are in order, the actual filing on the MCA21 portal takes less than a day for an experienced CA or company secretary. The form is filled online, PDFs of all attachments are uploaded, and the form is digitally signed. MCA21 generates a Service Request Number (SRN) immediately upon successful submission. This is the date the clock starts for the ROC.

Stage 4 — ROC acknowledgement (1 to 2 weeks)

After receiving the SRN, the ROC's back-end team reviews the application for completeness. This is not a full substantive review — it is a check to see if all mandatory fields are filled and mandatory attachments are uploaded. If satisfied, the ROC moves the application forward. If there is a defect — a missing attachment, a discrepancy in the form — the ROC may put the application on "objection" status and send a query by email to the registered email address of the company. This initial review phase takes approximately one to two weeks at most ROC offices.

Stage 5 — Public notice period (30 days)

Once the ROC is satisfied with the application, it publishes a public notice in the Official Gazette and in a local newspaper at the company's registered office location. The notice invites objections from creditors, shareholders, government departments, or any other interested party within 30 days. This 30-day period is mandatory under Section 248 and cannot be shortened. During this time, the ROC is effectively giving the public an opportunity to object if the company has any undisclosed liabilities or obligations.

In practice, objections to STK-2 applications are rare for small dormant companies. They most commonly come from banks (if a loan was not fully settled), the Income Tax department (if there is an outstanding demand), or the GST department (if pending returns were not filed before closure).

Stage 6 — ROC review and final processing (1 to 3 months)

After the public notice period closes with no objections, the ROC officer reviews the application substantively. This is where the most variability in timeline exists. Some ROC offices (particularly Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore) process applications within four to six weeks after the notice period. Others, especially in smaller jurisdictions or during periods of high filing volume (March-April and September-October are peak periods), may take three months or more.

During this stage, the ROC may also raise substantive queries — questions about specific line items in the statement of accounts, explanations for past bank transactions, or confirmation of ITR filing status. Responding to these queries within 15 days (the typical response window given by the ROC) is critical to avoid further delays.

Stage 7 — Gazette notification (1 to 2 weeks after ROC approval)

Once the ROC officer approves the application, the strike off order is published in the Official Gazette of India. This publication typically happens within one to two weeks of the ROC's internal approval. The date of gazette notification is the legal date of dissolution — from that date, the company ceases to exist as a legal entity.

Directors receive email confirmation to their registered MCA email addresses. The company's status on the MCA21 portal is updated to "Struck Off." The company's PAN becomes inactive for future filings.

What commonly causes delays

The most frequent causes of extended timelines are: pending annual returns (AOC-4 or MGT-7 not filed for one or more years — the ROC will not process the application until these are filed), queries about old bank account transactions (the ROC sometimes asks for an explanation of credits or debits in the company's bank account that do not appear to be routine), director DIN deactivation (if any director has not filed DIR-3 KYC for a year, their DIN is deactivated, and the form cannot be digitally signed until the DIN is reactivated — this itself takes two to four weeks), and GST registration not formally cancelled (if the company had a GST registration, it must be cancelled and the cancellation order obtained before filing).

Total realistic timeline by scenario

Clean application — company was incorporated but never operated, no annual returns filed because it was within the first year, bank account opened and immediately closed at nil balance: total timeline 3 months. Standard case — company operated for one to two years, all annual returns filed, bank account closed, no pending dues: total timeline 3.5 to 4.5 months. Application with some pending returns — one or two years of annual returns outstanding that need to be filed before STK-2 can proceed: add 1 to 2 months for the CFSS/condonation process, total 5 to 7 months. Application with multiple complications — pending IT demand, inactive DINs, GST cancellation pending, multiple bank accounts: total 6 to 12 months.

How to get the fastest legitimate timeline

The single most effective thing you can do to speed up the process is to arrive at the filing stage with zero compliance gaps. File all overdue annual returns before you start the STK-2 process. Cancel the GST registration and obtain the cancellation order. Close the bank account and get the official closure letter. Renew any expired DSCs. File the latest ITR. Reactivate any deactivated DINs. Then — and only then — engage a CA to certify the accounts and prepare all documents simultaneously so you can file within days of getting everything ready, before the 30-day certified-accounts window expires.

This article is for general information only. For your specific situation, consult a practicing CA.