MCA Gives Companies More Time for FY26 Filings, Extends Return Deadlines Without Late Fees
What Happened
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has extended the filing deadlines for annual financial statements and annual returns for FY2025-26 without additional fees, following representations from stakeholders facing difficulties on the MCA-21 portal. Financial statements filed through AOC-4 and related forms can now be submitted until December 31, 2026, while annual returns through MGT-7 and MGT-7A can be filed until January 31, 2027. The relief was announced through MCA General Circular No. 05/2026 dated October 24, 2026.
Key Takeaways
The extension gives companies additional time to complete statutory filings without incurring extra fees amid reported technical issues on the MCA-21 V3 portal. The MCA has clarified that the relaxation applies only to filing deadlines and does not extend statutory deadlines for holding Annual General Meetings (AGMs).