Dormant Company Status — MSC-1
Put an inactive company on hold under Section 455
- 1CheckEligibility and outstanding liabilities reviewed.
- 2ApplyMSC-1 filed; Registrar issues certificate of dormant status.
- 3MaintainMSC-3 filed every year until revival.
Share your details. We’ll reply on WhatsApp with the next steps and a checklist.
Pick a plan — the fee is adjusted if you hire us within 30 days.
About Dormant Company Status — MSC-1
A clear overview, in simple terms — what it is, why it matters, and how we handle it.
A company formed for a future project or to hold an asset or intellectual property, or one with no significant accounting transactions in the last two financial years, can apply under Section 455 for dormant status by filing Form MSC-1. It then files only a return of dormant company (MSC-3) each year, and keeps the minimum number of directors. Dormant status lasts up to five consecutive years; the company returns to active status by filing MSC-4.
Dormant status suits companies that want to keep their name, registration or an asset but have no current operations — unlike strike-off, which ends the company. It isn't available to companies with outstanding public deposits, unpaid loans, pending tax or investigations, or listed securities.
The Companies Compliance Facilitation Scheme 2026 had halved the MSC-1 fee for defaulting companies, but it closed on 31 August 2026, so normal fees apply now. Overdue filings must still be cleared before applying.
| Law | Section 455, Companies Act 2013 |
|---|---|
| Apply | Form MSC-1 |
| Annual return | Form MSC-3 |
| Back to active | Form MSC-4 |
| Maximum period | 5 consecutive financial years |
Who this is for
Common scenarios where this service is a good fit.
- Companies with no operations planning to restart later
- Asset- or IP-holding companies
- Companies formed for a future project
What you get
Clear deliverables so you know exactly what's included.
- Eligibility check
- Pending filings cleared
- Resolutions and MSC-1 filing
- MSC-3 every year and MSC-4 on revival
Expert review before every submission — not just data entry.
Working notes and reconciliations you can rely on in future notices.
Resident Indians, NRIs, expats and cross-border businesses — all served.
Documents required
A practical checklist. We'll tell you if anything else is needed based on your case.
* This is a base checklist. After a quick pre-check, we may ask for additional items specific to your case.
Process
A simple, trackable workflow — designed to avoid back-and-forth.
Eligibility and outstanding liabilities reviewed.
MSC-1 filed; Registrar issues certificate of dormant status.
MSC-3 filed every year until revival.
Get a quote
We share a clear quote on WhatsApp after a quick checklist pre-check.
- Fixed quote on WhatsApp after a short look at your facts and documents.
- Government fees, if any, are paid at actuals and shown separately.
| Factor | DIY | Indus Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Expert review | ❌ | ✅ |
| Notice risk reduction | ❌ | ✅ |
| Deduction optimisation | ❌ | ✅ |
| Audit-ready records | ❌ | ✅ |
| AIS/26AS reconciliation | ❌ | ✅ |
Share your facts and deadline. We'll reply with the right checklist and a clear quote.
Fee adjusted against our service fee if you go ahead within 30 days.
- Priority CA Call-backSkip the queue — a CA calls you within 30 minutes.₹255
- RecommendedCA Consultation (30 min)Talk one matter through properly with a CA.₹755
- In-depth CA Review (60 min)Documents reviewed before the call, written action plan after.₹1,155
Call-backs run Mon–Sat, 9 AM–6 PM IST. Booked outside these hours? We call you first thing the next working morning.
Compare the 3 plansFrequently asked questions
Answers to the most common questions we get.
Official sources
Indus Tax is a private professional services firm and is not affiliated with any government authority. Rules and fees change — we confirm current positions before filing.
