Company Registration in Chennai: ROC Chennai, stamp duty and local rules
In short
Company Registration in Chennai is fully online via SPICe+. The company comes under ROC Chennai, pays Tamil Nadu stamp duty on its MOA and AOA and follows local professional tax rules.
Company Registration in Chennai is done entirely online through the SPICe+ form on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal; there is no office to visit. What makes Chennai different is local: the company comes under the Registrar of Companies, Chennai, pays Tamil Nadu stamp duty on its MOA and AOA, and has Tamil Nadu rules to follow after incorporation, such as Chennai professional tax and the Shops and Establishments Act.
This guide explains those local pieces in plain language. For the national process, start with the pillar guide How to Register a Company in India, then come back here for the Chennai and Tamil Nadu details. Rules and rates below are as of October 2026.
Is Company Registration in Chennai different from the rest of India?
The core process is the same everywhere in India. A Private Limited Company (PVT. LTD.), One Person Company (OPC) or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) is registered under central law — the Companies Act, 2013 or the LLP Act, 2008 — on the same MCA portal, using the same forms. The incorporation application itself is processed centrally by the Registrar of Companies at the Central Registration Centre (CRC), which issues the Certificate of Incorporation for companies across the country.
Three things do depend on your registered office being in Chennai:
- Which Registrar of Companies (ROC) supervises the company after incorporation.
- Stamp duty on the Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association (AOA), which is a state tax.
- State and local Registrations, such as professional tax and Shop and Establishment Registration.
The step-by-step lessons for each structure are in the PVT. LTD. Registration guide, the LLP Registration guide and the OPC Registration guide.
Which ROC covers a company registered in Chennai?
The Registrar of Companies (ROC) is the MCA office that keeps a company's records, examines its filings and acts on defaults. Tamil Nadu has two ROCs:
| ROC | Main area covered |
|---|---|
| ROC Chennai | Tamil Nadu except the nine western districts listed below — including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur |
| ROC Coimbatore | Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Erode, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, Nilgiris, Salem and Tiruppur districts |
So a company with its registered office in T. Nagar, OMR or Guindy comes under ROC Chennai, while one registered in Coimbatore or Salem comes under ROC Coimbatore. The MCA reorganised several ROC offices with effect from 16 February 2026 (PIB release), splitting the offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Kanpur; Tamil Nadu's ROCs were not part of that change. District lists can be adjusted by later notifications, so confirm the current jurisdiction on the MCA portal.
One practical point: moving the registered office from one ROC's area to another within Tamil Nadu (for example, from Chennai to Coimbatore) is more than an address change; it needs the Regional Director's confirmation.
How much is stamp duty on the MOA and AOA in Tamil Nadu?
Stamp duty is a tax the state charges on legal documents. Tamil Nadu revised its rates through the Indian Stamp (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2023, in force from 3 May 2024:
| Document | Tamil Nadu stamp duty |
|---|---|
| Memorandum of Association (MOA) | ₹200 (flat) |
| Articles of Association (AOA) | 0.05% of authorised share capital (₹500 for every ₹10 lakh), up to a maximum of ₹5 lakh |
Before this change, the AOA paid a flat ₹300. For a small company with ₹10 lakh of authorised capital, the AOA duty is now ₹500, which is still modest compared with states that charge a higher percentage.
You do not have to calculate the duty or buy stamp paper. SPICe+ computes the Tamil Nadu stamp duty from the authorised capital you enter, and you pay it online along with the MCA fees; the e-stamp certificate becomes part of the company's records. The guide to Registration cost and government fees lists every statutory cost.
What address can you use as a registered office in Chennai?
Every company needs a registered office in India where it can receive official letters. In Chennai this can be a rented or owned commercial office, a residential flat (your own or a family member's) or a co-working space, as long as you have proof of address, such as a recent electricity bill, and a no-objection certificate from the owner. There is no rule that a Chennai company must have a commercial address. Later Registrations such as GST may involve a check of the premises, so the address must be genuine. The lesson Registered office: which address can you use? covers this in detail.
What state Registrations does a Chennai business need after incorporation?
Professional tax in Chennai
Professional tax is a tax on professions, trades and employment that the Constitution caps at ₹2,500 per person per year. In Tamil Nadu it is levied by local bodies, so in Chennai it is administered by the Greater Chennai Corporation under the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998. Key points:
- It is assessed half-yearly (April–September and October–March), not monthly.
- An employer deducts it from employees' salaries according to the Corporation's half-yearly income slabs and pays it to the Corporation.
- Low half-yearly incomes are exempt, and the maximum is ₹1,250 per half-year.
The slabs are revised by the Corporation from time to time, so check the current schedule before running payroll. A company registered elsewhere in Tamil Nadu deals with its own municipal corporation or local body instead.
Shop and Establishment Registration
Offices and shops are covered by the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947. Following an amendment notified on 2 July 2024, an establishment with 10 or more workers must apply for Registration in Form Y within six months of starting business; the certificate is issued in Form Z through the Tamil Nadu labour department. Smaller establishments should still check which provisions of the Act apply to them.
Other common ones
- GST Registration, when turnover or the type of supply requires it (see below).
- Trade licence from the Greater Chennai Corporation for certain trades, and food licences for food businesses.
- EPF and ESI Registration, central schemes that apply once employee numbers cross their thresholds.
How does GST Registration in Chennai work?
GST Registration in Chennai is online on the GST portal, with no government fee. You apply with the company's PAN, directors' details, proof of the principal place of business and bank details. The GSTIN begins with 33, the state code for Tamil Nadu. Each registered person is allotted for administration either to the Tamil Nadu Commercial Taxes Department or to the Central GST authority; you do not choose which.
A company does not need GST just because it is incorporated. It needs GST Registration when turnover crosses the threshold, or when the law makes it compulsory regardless of turnover, for example for most inter-state sales of goods. Read Who must register for GST? for the full rules.
Do you need "Company Registration near me" in Chennai?
Many founders search for Company Registration near me, expecting to visit an office. In reality, every step — name approval, Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), SPICe+, PAN, TAN and GST Registration — is done online. A founder living in Madurai, Bengaluru or abroad can register a Chennai company without visiting Chennai. Location matters for the registered office address, stamp duty and state rules, not for who files the forms.
What does matter is that SPICe+ must be certified by a practising professional — a Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary or Cost Accountant. If you engage one, check their membership on the official institute website and understand exactly what they will file. CA or CS: who does what for your company? explains the difference.
What does the first year look like for a Chennai company?
- Open the bank account and deposit the share subscription money.
- Hold the first board meeting within 30 days and appoint the first auditor.
- Set up professional tax with the Greater Chennai Corporation once you pay salaries, and complete Shop and Establishment formalities.
- File Form INC-20A (commencement of business) within 180 days of incorporation.
- Apply for GST Registration when required.
- Prepare for the first AGM and annual filings with ROC Chennai.
Company Registration in other cities
- Company Registration in Mumbai
- Company Registration in Delhi
- Company Registration in Bangalore
- Company Registration in Pune
- Company Registration in Hyderabad
- Company Registration in Ahmedabad
- Company Registration in Kolkata
- Company Registration in Lucknow
- Company Registration in Noida
- Company Registration in Jaipur
- Company Registration in Kochi
Key takeaways
- Company Registration in Chennai is fully online through SPICe+; incorporation is processed centrally by the CRC.
- Chennai companies come under ROC Chennai; nine western Tamil Nadu districts, including Coimbatore and Salem, come under ROC Coimbatore.
- Since 3 May 2024, Tamil Nadu charges ₹200 on the MOA and 0.05% of authorised capital (maximum ₹5 lakh) on the AOA, calculated and paid through SPICe+.
- In Chennai, professional tax is collected half-yearly by the Greater Chennai Corporation; establishments with 10 or more workers need Shop and Establishment Registration.
- GST Registration is online and free (GSTIN starts with 33) and is needed only when turnover or the nature of supply requires it.
Frequently asked questions
Which ROC handles a company registered in Chennai?
A company with its registered office in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur or most other Tamil Nadu districts comes under ROC Chennai. Nine western districts, including Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Tiruppur, come under ROC Coimbatore. New incorporations are processed centrally by the Central Registration Centre, and the jurisdictional ROC supervises the company after that. The February 2026 ROC reorganisation did not change Tamil Nadu's offices.
What is the stamp duty for company incorporation in Tamil Nadu?
Since 3 May 2024, Tamil Nadu charges ₹200 on the Memorandum of Association and 0.05% of authorised share capital on the Articles of Association, which works out to ₹500 for every ₹10 lakh, subject to a maximum of ₹5 lakh. SPICe+ calculates the exact amount from the authorised capital you enter, and you pay it online together with the MCA fees, so no physical stamp paper is needed.
Do I need to visit an office for Company Registration in Chennai?
No. Company Registration in Chennai is completed online on the MCA portal through SPICe+, using Digital Signature Certificates, and you do not visit the ROC. You need a genuine registered office address in Chennai with proof such as an electricity bill and the owner's no-objection certificate, and a practising CA, CS or Cost Accountant must certify the form before it is filed.
How does professional tax work for a company in Chennai?
In Chennai, professional tax is levied by the Greater Chennai Corporation under the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998. It is assessed half-yearly, for April to September and October to March. An employer deducts it from employees' salaries according to the Corporation's half-yearly income slabs and pays it to the Corporation. Low incomes are exempt and the maximum is ₹1,250 per half-year.
Is Shop and Establishment Registration compulsory in Tamil Nadu?
Under the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947, as amended with effect from 2 July 2024, an establishment employing 10 or more workers must apply for Registration in Form Y within six months of starting business, and the certificate is issued in Form Z. Smaller establishments are not covered by this Registration requirement but should still check which other provisions of the Act apply to them.
