Compliance terms, translated.

CIN

Corporate Identification Number

21-character unique identifier issued by MCA to every registered company.

DIN

Director Identification Number

8-digit unique number assigned to a person who is or intends to be a director of a company.

DSC

Digital Signature Certificate

Digital equivalent of a handwritten signature, mandatory for MCA / GST / IT e-filings.

LLPIN

LLP Identification Number

7-character identifier issued by MCA to every Limited Liability Partnership.

MoA

Memorandum of Association

The constitutional document of a company defining its objects, capital and scope.

AoA

Articles of Association

Internal rule book of a company governing day-to-day management.

SPICe+

Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus

Single integrated MCA form for company incorporation since 2020.

FiLLiP

Form for incorporation of LLP

MCA form to incorporate a Limited Liability Partnership.

AOC-4

MCA form for filing audited financial statements annually.

MGT-7

MCA form for filing the company's annual return.

AGM

Annual General Meeting

Mandatory annual shareholder meeting under the Companies Act.

EGM

Extraordinary General Meeting

Shareholder meeting called to approve any urgent / non-routine matter.

FCRA

Foreign Contribution Regulation Act

Mandatory law for NGOs receiving foreign donations.

12A

IT exemption registration for non-profits.

80G

Donor tax-deduction certificate for non-profits.

CSR-1

MCA registration that lets NGOs receive corporate CSR funds.

DIR-3 KYC

Annual director KYC filing — mandatory by 30 September.

FC-GPR

RBI form for reporting foreign capital received in shares.

GSTIN

Goods and Services Tax Identification Number

15-digit unique identifier for any GST-registered taxpayer.

HSN

Harmonized System of Nomenclature

International product classification code used for GST on goods.

SAC

Services Accounting Code

6-digit code classifying services for GST purposes.

GSTR-1

Monthly outward-supply return showing all sales.

GSTR-3B

Monthly summary return + tax payment.

GSTR-9

Annual GST return — mandatory above ₹2 cr turnover.

ITC

Input Tax Credit

Credit of GST paid on purchases, used to offset GST on sales.

LUT

Letter of Undertaking

Annual filing that lets exporters export without paying IGST.

E-Way Bill

Electronic permit required for goods movement above ₹50,000.

IRN

Invoice Reference Number

Unique reference issued by IRP for every B2B invoice (e-invoicing).

PAN

Permanent Account Number

10-character ID issued by IT department for tax tracking.

TAN

Tax Deduction Account Number

10-character ID required for any entity deducting TDS.

TDS

Tax Deducted at Source

Tax deducted by the payer at the time of payment to the payee.

TCS

Tax Collected at Source

Tax collected by seller at the time of sale of specified goods.

Form 16

TDS certificate issued by employer for salary deducted.

Form 26AS

Consolidated tax-credit statement showing all TDS, TCS, and tax payments under your PAN.

AIS

Annual Information Statement

Comprehensive statement of all financial transactions reported to IT Department.

ITR-1

Income tax return form for salaried individuals (Sahaj).

ITR-3

ITR for individuals + HUFs with business / professional income.

ITR-4

ITR for presumptive-taxation businesses and professionals (Sugam).

Section 44ADA

Presumptive taxation for professionals — 50% of receipts treated as profit.

Section 44AD

Presumptive taxation for small businesses — 8% (cash) or 6% (digital) of turnover treated as profit.

Tax Audit

Mandatory audit under Section 44AB above turnover thresholds.

Professional Tax

State-level tax on professionals and salaried employees.

Udyam

Government recognition of Micro, Small or Medium Enterprises.

FSSAI

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

Food regulator issuing licenses to all businesses handling food.

IEC

Importer Exporter Code

10-digit DGFT code mandatory for any import or export from India.

RCMC

Registration-cum-Membership Certificate

Membership certificate from Export Promotion Council.

Shop Act

Shop & Establishment Act

State-level licence for any commercial premise.

PF

Provident Fund

Mandatory retirement fund for employees, managed by EPFO.

ESI

Employees' State Insurance

Mandatory health-insurance contribution for low-income employees.

RERA

Real Estate Regulatory Authority

Real estate regulator under the RERA Act 2016.

Startup India / DPIIT

Government recognition unlocking 3-year tax holiday + IP subsidies.

CGTMSE

Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises

Government scheme guaranteeing collateral-free MSME loans up to ₹2 crore.

SAMADHAAN

MSME portal to recover delayed payments from buyers.