DPIIT Recognition — filed correctly the first time.
Startup India Registration that protects your carried-forward losses, opens the Section 80-IAC tax holiday pathway, and activates your full suite of Startup India benefits — coordinated and managed by Lekha Advisory.
DPIIT recognition is a Government of India certification for startups, and Lekha files the complete application for a fixed ₹9,999. Under G.S.R. 108(E) of 4 February 2026, eligibility requires incorporation within 10 years (20 for Deep Tech), turnover under ₹200 crore (₹300 crore for Deep Tech), and an eligible entity type. Government fee is nil. Straightforward applications are approved in 7–14 days.
₹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. Benefits include carry-forward of losses under Section 79 despite a change in shareholding, self-certification compliance under several labour laws, fast-track and subsidised patent filing, Seed Fund and GeM access, and eligibility for the Section 80-IAC income tax holiday (which requires a separate IMB application). Recognition plus IMB certification also allows employees to defer ESOP perquisite tax. Note: Angel Tax under Section 56(2)(viib) was abolished by the Finance Act 2024 with effect from 1 April 2025 and is no longer a reason to seek recognition. Lekha coordinates the complete application process — eligibility check, innovation narrative, documentation, and portal coordination.
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 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 7–14 days.
Certificate receipt and briefing
Recognition certificate received and shared with you. Lekha provides a one-page briefing on: how to maintain recognition, which benefits apply immediately, and the next step (IMB application) if you want the income tax holiday or ESOP perquisite deferral.
Questions
Frequently asked
How long does DPIIT recognition take after application?
Most straightforward applications are approved within 7–14 days. Applications with unusual business models or those requiring clarification from the portal can take 2–8 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.
What happened to the Angel Tax exemption?
Angel Tax under Section 56(2)(viib) was abolished by the Finance Act 2024 with effect from 1 April 2025, for all classes of investor. Any round closed on or after that date carries no Angel Tax liability, whether or not the company is DPIIT-recognised, so this is no longer a reason to seek recognition. Assessment years before FY 2025-26 can still be reopened, so historic rounds may still need defending — Lekha can advise separately on legacy exposure.
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.
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