valid as on 04/11/2024

384. Debentures, annual return, registration of charges, books of account and their inspection
Effective from 01-04-2014

(1) The provisions of section 71 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a .

(2) The provisions of section 92 shall, subject to such exceptions, modifications and adaptations as may be made therein by under this Act, apply to a foreign company as they apply to a company incorporated in India.

 notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the exemptions provided under section 92 to companies incorporated under this Act for the purpose of operating from the International Financial Services Centre located in an approved multi services Special Economic Zone set-up under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 (28 of 2005) and the Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006, shall apply mutatis mutandis to a foreign company registered under Chapter XXII of this Act, which has a place of business or which conducts business activity from the International Financial Services Centre located in an approved multi services Special Economic Zone set-up under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 and the Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006.

(3) The provisions of section 128 shall apply to a foreign company to the extent of requiring it to keep at its principal place of business in India, the  referred to in that section, with respect to monies received and spent, sales and purchases made, and assets and liabilities, in the course of or in relation to its business in India.

(4) The provisions of Chapter VI shall apply mutatis mutandis to charges on properties which are created or acquired by any foreign company.

 that notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the exemptions provided under Chapter VI to companies incorporated under this Act for the purpose of operating from the International Financial Services Centre located in an approved multi services Special Economic Zone set-up under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 (28 of 2005) and the Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006, shall apply mutatis mutandis to a foreign company registered under Chapter XXII of this Act, which has a place of business or which conducts business activity from the International Financial Services Centre located in an approved multi services Special Economic Zone set-up under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 and the Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006.

(5) The provisions of Chapter XIV shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Indian business of a foreign company as they apply to a company incorporated in India.

2(43) Foreign Company means any company or body corporate incorporated outside India which,—

(a) has a place of business in India whether by itself or through an agent, physically or through   electronic mode;

(b) conducts any business activity in India in any other manner.

Inserted vide Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017 dated 03.01.2018 effective from 09.02.2018. To view the notification,Click Here
Refer rule 7 of the Companies (Registration of Foreign Companies) Rules,2014. To view the rule,Click Here
Inserted vide Exemption Notification to specified IFSC Private Companies, GSR 09 (E) dated 04.01.2017. To view the notification Click Here[/link4
Books of Account includes records maintained in respect of—

(i) all sums of money received and expended by a company and matters in relation to which the receipts and expenditure take place;

(ii) all sales and purchases of goods and services by the company;

(iii) the assets and liabilities of the company; and

(iv) the items of cost as may be prescribed under section 148 in the case of a company

which belongs to any class of companies specified under that section

Inserted vide Exemption Notification to specified IFSC Private Companies, GSR 09 (E) dated 04.01.2017. To view the notification Click Here[/link4

22.1.7-Companies (Registration of Foreign Companies) Rules,2014

7. Annual Return.-

Every foreign company shall prepare and file, within a period of sixty days from the last day of its financial year, to the Registrar annual return in  along with such fee as provided in the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014 containing the particulars as they stood on the close of the financial year.

  1. Substituted vide MCA Notification dated 20.01.2023. To view the notification, Click Here. To view the return, Click Here.
  2. To view the return,Click Here

Commencement Notification dated 09.02.2018


Enforcement Notification S.O. 902(E) dated 26/03/2014


Exemption to Specified IFSC Private company [GSR 09(E)] dated 04/01/2017


MCA Notification dated 20.01.2023 regarding Companies (Registration of Foreign Companies) Amendment Rules, 2023


The Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017 (Effective from 03.01.2018)


FORM FC-4 Annual Return of a Foreign Company


Form FC-4 – Substituted vide MCA Notification dated 20.01.2023


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