The Registrar of Companies (ROC) is the authority for registering and administrating companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs). It functions under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). A company and LLP must adhere to various compliances after registration. One of the essential compliance is filing forms with the ROC throughout the year.

ROC Forms

ROC forms are the forms filed with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) on the MCA website. When a person wants to register a company or LLP, they must file the registration form with the ROC. The ROC will verify the company or LLP registration form and issue the Certificate of Registration. Once the company or LLP is registered, there are various other forms that a company and LLP must file with the ROC to ensure compliance with the Companies Act, 2013 and Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008. 

All LLPs and companies, including One-Person Companies (OPCs), private limited companies, and public companies, must file the ROC forms applicable to them within the specified deadline. Any delay in filing the forms with the ROC will attract penalties.

Various ROC Forms

These are the various ROC forms that a company must file with the ROC:

These are the various ROC forms that an LLP must file with the ROC:

How to File ROC Forms?

The designated director or partner must file the ROC forms within the deadline. Following is the process to file ROC forms:

• The designated director or partner should download the necessary company or LLP e-forms from the MCA portal. 
• Open the downloaded form, fill it out, and attach the required supporting documents and Digital Signature Certificate.
• Register and log into the MCA portal as a Business User.
• After logging in, upload the filled-out and signed form to the portal.
• The system will generate a Service Request Number (SRN) upon successful upload. Next, payment can be made immediately or by choosing the ‘Pay Later’ option and completing the payment within the prescribed time frame using the saved challan.

Importance of ROC Forms

Here is why ROC forms must be filed by companies and LLPs:

• Annual ROC forms must be filed with the ROC since they are mandatory under the Companies Act and the LLP Act. 
• If the annual ROC forms are not filed, penalties must be paid, and continuous non-filing of returns may lead to legal action and closure of a company or LLP.
• ROC filing helps to maintain up-to-date and accurate records of a company and LLP, including details about its directors or partners, financial statements and other important information.
• ROC forms provide insights into the company’s or LLP’s financial stability, aiding stakeholders in making informed decisions.
• ROC filing helps maintain a company or LLP’s credibility and transparency, which is essential for building trust among stakeholders, customers, investors, suppliers, and lenders.
• ROC filing is required for certain business operations, such as securing loans, opening a bank account and entering into contracts with suppliers and clients.

Registrar of Companies (ROC) forms are very essential for a company and LLP. All registered companies and LLP must file the required ROC forms to ensure that they are compliant under the laws.