Private Limited Company Registration Fees in India (2026): What You Actually Pay

What it really costs to register a Pvt Ltd company in India in 2026. Learn about government fees, stamp duty by state, DSC costs, professional fees, refunds and hidden costs.

Ask three agencies what it costs to register a Pvt Ltd company and you will get three very different numbers.

They are not all lying. Most of the gap is stamp duty, which changes by state, and fees that some quotes leave out on purpose. Here is the honest breakdown, so you know what you are paying for before you file.

Short answer

For a standard 2-director company with Rs 1 to 10 lakh authorised capital, the all-in cost in 2026 is usually Rs 7,000 to Rs 25,000. The unavoidable government portion can be as low as Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000. The rest is your state’s stamp duty and the professional fee.

The full cost breakdown

Figures are indicative for 2026 and change with MCA notifications and state stamp duty schedules. The MCA portal calculates your exact stamp duty at the time of filing.

Most seed-stage companies register with Rs 1 to 10 lakh authorised capital, which sits in the nil government-fee bracket. So the number on your invoice is mostly stamp duty plus the professional fee.

Why the cost changes from state to state

Stamp duty is charged by the state where your registered office sits, and it is calculated on your authorised capital. This is the main reason two quotes differ.

• Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh are on the more competitive side for small capital.
• Gujarat, Karnataka and Punjab run higher.

The MCA portal auto-calculates the exact stamp duty at the time of filing, so a good quote will show it as a separate line, not bury it.

Why two agencies quote such different prices

Usually it is one of three things:

• One quote includes stamp duty and the other does not.
• One counts a single DSC, the other counts one per director.
• Add-ons like GST or compliance packages are folded into a “starting price” that is not really the starting price.

The fix is simple. Ask for the fee split: professional fee, GST, and government fees separately. If a provider will not give you that, the price is not the whole price.

Does authorised capital change the cost?

Yes, but not in the way people fear.

There is no minimum capital, so you can start low. A higher authorised capital increases the stamp duty and can push you into a higher MCA fee slab. Start with what you need. You can raise capital later by filing Form SH-7, and there is no penalty for starting small.

Are the fees refundable if my application is rejected?

Government fees, including stamp duty, are generally non-refundable.

If your name is rejected or your filing bounces, you pay the stamp duty again on the refile. This is exactly why accuracy on the first attempt matters more than shaving a few hundred rupees off the quote.

Hidden costs founders miss

• A second or third DSC, when there is more than one director.
• Stamp duty that was left out of the headline price.
• Resubmission costs after a rejection.
• INC-20A and the first year of compliance, which are separate from registration.
• Upsells sold after you have paid, when it is harder to walk away.

Is it cheaper to register the company myself?

On paper, yes. You save the professional fee, which is a few thousand rupees.

Be honest about the risk, though. A rejected name or a wrong attachment does not cost money at first. It costs a re-paid stamp duty and another week. For most founders, paying a fixed professional fee to get it right once is cheaper than a DIY attempt that has to be redone.

What does it cost to keep the company running each year?

Registration is a one-time cost. A Pvt Ltd company also has annual obligations: an auditor, ROC filings (AOC-4 and MGT-7) and an income tax return.

Budget for this from day one. Ongoing compliance typically runs a few thousand rupees a year for a small company, more as you grow.

FAQ

How much does it cost to register a Pvt Ltd company in India in 2026?

For a standard 2-director company with Rs 1 to 10 lakh capital, usually Rs 7,000 to Rs 25,000 all-in.

Is there a government fee for registration?

The MCA filing fee is nil for authorised capital up to Rs 15 lakh. You still pay stamp duty, DSC and name reservation.

What is the cheapest a genuine registration can be?

The unavoidable government costs bottom out around Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 in a low stamp-duty state. Professional fees are on top of that.

Are registration fees refundable if my application is rejected?

No. Government fees, including stamp duty, are non-refundable, so getting it right first time saves money.

Is there a minimum capital I need to pay?

No. There is no minimum paid-up capital.

What is the annual cost after registration?

Plan for auditor fees, ROC annual filings and an income tax return, typically a few thousand rupees a year for a small company.

Getting a straight number

The reason cost feels confusing is that most quotes are built to look small and grow later.

Elixir Filings shows the full breakdown before you start: the professional fee of Rs 3,999, GST on that fee, and the exact government fees for your state, calculated upfront. No line is hidden, and nothing is added after you pay.

See your exact cost: Get a transparent Pvt Ltd registration quote