Startup India Registration done. Angel Tax protection from day one.
The registration that removes Angel Tax risk, gives you a 3-year income tax holiday eligibility, and unlocks Startup India benefits — filed correctly the first time.
Get started — ₹9,999 →₹9,999
Fixed price · one Lekha invoice
About this service
What is startup india registration & dpiit recognition?
Startup India Registration & DPIIT Recognition is a government certification that your company qualifies as an eligible startup. The most immediate benefit: exemption from Section 56(2)(viib) Angel Tax for investments up to ₹25 crore from Indian resident investors. Beyond that: self-certification compliance under several labour laws, fast-track and subsidised patent filing, and eligibility for the Section 80-IAC income tax holiday (which requires a separate IMB application). Lekha handles the complete application — eligibility check, innovation narrative, documentation, and portal filing.
What you get
Everything included in this service
Eligibility assessment
A structured check against all DPIIT criteria — company age (under 10 years), turnover (under ₹100 crore), entity type, and innovation qualification — before filing.
Innovation narrative drafting
The strongest part of a DPIIT application is the innovation description. Lekha works with you to articulate your product's innovation clearly in the language DPIIT reviewers respond to.
Portal application filing
Complete application filed on the Startup India portal — all fields, attachments (COI, PAN, pitch/product description), and declarations.
DPIIT recognition certificate
The digitally signed recognition certificate from DPIIT — the document that activates your Angel Tax exemption and all other Startup India benefits.
Post-recognition guidance
Clear instructions on: how to cite recognition in investment documents, how to apply for Section 80-IAC (separate IMB application), and compliance required to maintain recognition.
Who it's for
Is this right for you?
- ✓
Startups planning any priced equity round with Indian resident investors in the next 12 months
- ✓
Companies approaching their 2nd or 3rd year without having applied — before crossing eligibility limits
- ✓
Founders who were rejected or uncertain whether their business qualifies as 'innovative'
- ✓
Any Pvt Ltd or LLP below the 10-year age and ₹100 crore turnover thresholds
Process
How it works
Eligibility check
Lekha reviews your company's age, turnover, entity type, and business nature against the DPIIT criteria. If there's a borderline innovation question, we discuss and assess before filing.
Innovation narrative
The most important document in the application. Lekha drafts a 200–400 word innovation description that accurately describes your product or service in terms that align with DPIIT's stated criteria for recognition.
Portal submission
Complete application filed on the Startup India portal — company details, director information, incorporation documents, and the innovation narrative. Most straightforward applications are approved within 2–5 business days.
Certificate receipt and briefing
Recognition certificate received and shared with you. Lekha provides a one-page briefing on: how to maintain recognition, when the Angel Tax exemption applies, and the next step (IMB application) if you want the income tax holiday.
Questions
Frequently asked
How long does DPIIT recognition take after application?
Most straightforward applications are approved within 2–5 business days. Applications with unusual business models or those requiring clarification from the portal can take 2–4 weeks. The DPIIT processes applications on a rolling basis — there's no fixed batch review schedule.
Can I apply if my startup is already 4 years old?
Yes. The eligibility window is up to 10 years from the date of incorporation. A 4-year-old company is well within the window. Apply before crossing the 10-year mark or the ₹100 crore annual turnover threshold, whichever comes first.
Does DPIIT recognition automatically give me the Section 80-IAC tax holiday?
No. Recognition is step one. The Section 80-IAC tax holiday (100% deduction on profits for 3 consecutive years out of the first 10) requires a separate Inter-Ministerial Board (IMB) certification that your startup is 'innovative' under a stricter evaluation. IMB approval takes 3–6 months. Lekha can advise on the IMB process separately.
Does recognition make me automatically exempt from all Angel Tax?
Recognition gives Angel Tax exemption for investments up to ₹25 crore aggregate, provided the company has no accumulated losses at the time of the investment (a post-2023 condition). For investments where this condition is not met, a Rule 11UA merchant banker valuation remains advisable as additional protection.
Can a company with a foreign investor already on the cap table get DPIIT recognition?
Yes. There is no restriction on foreign shareholding for DPIIT recognition eligibility. Companies with any percentage of foreign shareholding — as long as they meet the age, turnover, and entity-type criteria — can apply and receive recognition.
Related services