12A and 80G Registration Cost in India: Professional Fee, Government Fee and Other Costs (September 2026)
12A and 80G registration cost has two parts: Shunya's professional fee of ₹1,999 for the CA-handled filing, and any costs billed separately, such as a digital signature certificate or statutory charges. Our research found no government fee at filing on the income tax portal as of September 2026, but confirm this on your callback. See the 12A & 80G registration page.
How much does 12A and 80G registration cost in India?
The cost of 12A and 80G registration is Shunya's professional fee of ₹1,999 plus a small set of costs that are billed separately and depend on your organisation. As of September 2026, the income tax portal is reported not to charge a filing fee for these applications, so most of the money you spend goes to professional preparation and any supporting paperwork.
Say Meera runs a public charitable trust in Pune that teaches maths to about 60 children from low-income families. A local company wants to fund her programme, but the company's finance team asks for an 80G certificate before it releases the money. Meera's real question is not "what is the headline price?" but "what will I actually pay before the certificate arrives?" This guide answers that in order.
Two things are worth knowing before you compare quotes. First, 12A and 80G are two separate approvals: 12A exempts your organisation's own income, and 80G lets donors claim a deduction on what they give you. Second, the fee you pay for professional help is different from anything the government or a third party charges. If you want the concept in detail, read our guide on the difference between 12A and 80G.
What does Shunya's professional fee for 12A and 80G cover?
Shunya's professional fee is ₹1,999 and covers CA-handled preparation and filing of your 12A and 80G application on the income tax e-filing portal. It is the fee for the CA's work, not a bundle of every cost that could arise.
According to Shunya's 12A & 80G registration page, the process works like this:
- You share your entity's registration certificate, governing document (trust deed, MOA/AOA or society bye-laws) and stated objects.
- A CA prepares Form 10A with your financials and required disclosures; for renewal cases, Form 10AB is prepared instead.
- The application is filed on the income tax e-filing portal with the jurisdictional Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions), and any department query is handled on your behalf.
- You receive your provisional or regular registration certificate, along with guidance on the annual Form 10BD filing that lets your donors claim their deduction.
A practising Chartered Accountant reviews every filing before it goes in. From 1 April 2026, the Income-tax Act 2025 is reported to have replaced these forms with new ones (Forms 104 and 105), so your CA confirms which form applies to your filing date.
The fee does not include the digital signature certificate (DSC) issuer's charge, government fees or other statutory and third-party costs. These are billed separately, and your CA walks you through them on your callback.
Is there a government fee for Form 10A or Form 10AB?
As of September 2026, we found no government fee for filing Form 10A or Form 10AB on the income tax e-filing portal, but this rests on secondary sources, so confirm it with your CA before you budget. Shunya's own page says that government fees and statutory costs are billed separately, and a CA confirms the full scope on the first call.
What this means in practice:
- Filing itself: no portal fee was reported for Form 10A, Form 10AB or their new-regime equivalents.
- Anything else the department or a registrar charges: for example, if your trust deed needs to be amended or re-registered before you apply, the stamp duty and registration charges for that come under your state's rules, not the tax department's, and vary by state.
- Third-party price lists: figures quoted by private vendors are their own service fees, not government charges. Do not treat them as a fixed government price.
If a provider tells you there is a large "government fee" for 12A or 80G, ask them to name the specific charge and where it is paid.
Share your entity type and documents on a free callback and a CA will list every cost that applies to you.
Start 12A & 80G registration →What other costs should you budget for besides the fee?
Beyond the professional fee, budget for the items that sit outside any filing fee: your digital signature or authentication, accounts and audit work that the application depends on, and any corrections your documents need first. None of these are fixed by Shunya, and none are included in ₹1,999.
Digital signature certificate (DSC)
A DSC is an electronic signature issued by an authorised agency. If your authorised signatory needs one for the e-filing, the issuer charges separately. Ask your CA on the callback whether one is needed for your filing.
Accounts and financial statements
For a fresh provisional application, financial records are minimal, because your organisation may not have started work. For renewal to regular registration, past financial statements and activity reports are reviewed. If your books are not ready, the cost is the time or bookkeeping fee to get them ready, which depends on who maintains your accounts.
Fixing your governing document
If your objects clause does not clearly state charitable purposes, or contradicts what you actually do, the department may ask questions. Amending a trust deed or MOA has its own cost and rules. Read why 12A and 80G applications get rejected before you file.
Incorporating first, if you have not yet
12A and 80G are follow-on steps: the organisation must already exist as a trust, society or Section 8 company. If you are still at the formation stage, see the Section 8 company registration page for that cost.
What is the full cost breakdown for 12A and 80G registration?
The full breakdown has one fixed line from Shunya and several lines that depend on your situation. Use this table as a budgeting checklist, as of September 2026.
| Cost item | Who charges it | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional fee for 12A and 80G registration | Shunya | ₹1,999 | CA prepares and files the application on the e-filing portal, handles department queries, delivers the certificate |
| Portal filing fee for Form 10A / 10AB | Income tax department | None reported | Based on secondary sources; confirm with your CA |
| Digital signature certificate | DSC issuer | Billed separately | Only if your signatory needs one |
| Accounts, audit or bookkeeping catch-up | Your accountant or auditor | Varies | Matters more for renewals and for organisations already operating |
| Deed amendment or re-registration | State authorities and drafter | Varies by state | Only if your governing document needs fixing first |
| Annual Form 10BD (donation statement) after 80G | Ongoing compliance | Confirm scope with your CA | Due 31 May after the financial year; not part of the initial registration |
Shunya's fee is for the registration itself. The annual filings after registration are a separate, recurring obligation, covered in our guide on 12A and 80G annual compliance.
What does it cost to renew 12A or 80G, or to miss the deadline?
Renewal is filed on Form 10AB at least six months before your current registration expires, and missing that window can cost you far more than any filing fee. Provisional registration is valid for three years and regular registration for five, with a possible ten-year validity for small organisations that meet the income test.
The consequences of a lapse, as reported by practitioners, are that the registration stops and the organisation may face tax on its accreted income. Under the Income-tax Act 2025 (in force from 1 April 2026), the registration sits under section 332 and the 80G-type approval under section 354, and the old accreted-income tax is reported at section 352. Confirm the current numbering with your CA.
There has also been relief for some organisations that filed late. CBDT Circular No. 06/2026 dated 2 July 2026 is reported to condone delay in filing Form 10AB for 80G renewal where the approval expired on 31 March 2026 and the form was filed between 1 October 2025 and 31 March 2026. It does not grant automatic approval, and the six-month advance rule stays for the future. Read more in our guide on 12A and 80G validity and renewal.
Can you file 12A and 80G yourself, and when is a CA worth paying?
You can file Form 10A or 10AB yourself on the income tax e-filing portal, and if your documents are clean and your objects are clearly charitable, a DIY filing can work. A CA is worth paying when your paperwork has gaps, when the department raises queries, or when the cost of a mistake (a rejection, a lapse, donors who cannot claim) outweighs the fee.
Return to Meera. Her trust deed lists "education and welfare" as objects, her accounts are a mix of bank statements and notebooks, and her donor wants a certificate. For her, the CA's work is mostly about making the application consistent: objects, activities and accounts telling one story. That is where applications tend to stall.
DIY suits you if your entity is registered, your governing document is clear, and you are comfortable with the e-filing portal. Paying a CA suits you if you want someone to prepare the form, answer department queries and explain the Form 10BD reporting that follows.
To start with Shunya, request a free callback on the 12A & 80G registration page (name and phone; a CA calls within the hour) or pay the professional fee of ₹1,999 online. You can also call or WhatsApp +91 80809 18797. If you have not yet incorporated, review the Section 8 route first.
How much does 12A and 80G registration cost with Shunya?
Shunya's professional fee for 12A and 80G registration is ₹1,999. It covers CA preparation and filing on the income tax e-filing portal. It does not include the DSC issuer's charge, government fees or other statutory and third-party costs, which are billed separately. Your CA walks you through them on the callback.
Is there a government fee for 12A and 80G registration?
As of September 2026, we found no fee for filing Form 10A or 10AB on the income tax portal, but this comes from secondary sources. Confirm it with your CA before you budget. Costs outside the filing, such as deed amendments or a digital signature, are charged separately by other parties.
Do I pay separately for 12A and for 80G?
They are two separate approvals with separate application numbers, but they are usually applied for together. Shunya's page lists one professional fee, ₹1,999, for 12A and 80G registration. Your CA confirms on the callback exactly which applications your entity needs and what is billed separately.
Are there costs after I get the registration?
Yes. Once you hold 80G, you must report donations every year. Under the old forms this is Form 10BD, due 31 May after the financial year, and donors receive Form 10BE. There are also income tax return and audit obligations. These are ongoing compliance, not part of the registration fee.
What happens to costs if my application is rejected or delayed?
A rejection can mean refiling, and a lapsed registration can expose you to tax on accreted income, so the real cost of errors is higher than any fee. Ask your CA what would trigger a query in your case. Do not assume a fee is refunded, and check the cancellation and refund terms first.
Can I skip the CA and file 12A and 80G myself?
Yes, the forms are filed by the organisation on the income tax e-filing portal, so a DIY filing is possible. It tends to work when your entity is registered, objects are clearly charitable and accounts are in order. A CA helps when documents do not line up or the department raises queries.
This article is for general information only. For your specific situation, consult a practicing CA.
Ready to register your 12A & 80G?
Request a free callback or pay the ₹1,999 professional fee online and a CA starts your filing. Government fees and other statutory costs are billed separately at actual cost.
Professional fee ₹1,999. Government fees, statutory costs and any third-party charges are billed separately; your CA walks you through them on your callback.