Overview

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has given lakhs of non-compliant and defunct companies a fresh lease of life through the Companies Compliance Facilitation Scheme, 2026 (CCFS-2026). Originally notified vide General Circular No. 01/2026 dated 24th February 2026 and effective from 15th April 2026 to 15th July 2026, the scheme has now been extended up to 31st August 2026 vide General Circular No. 03/2026 dated 8th July 2026, following capacity restoration work at the MCA data centre after a fire incident on 5th June 2026.

If your company has pending Annual Return or Financial Statement filings, even from several years ago, this scheme allows you to regularise them by paying just 10% of the additional (late) fee, instead of the full ₹100-per-day penalty that can run into lakhs of rupees. Companies that no longer wish to operate can also close down at a fraction of the normal cost, and inactive companies can convert to "Dormant" status at half the usual fee.

This blog breaks down everything you need to know about CCFS-2026 eligibility, applicable forms, fee structure, immunity from penalty, and a fully worked-out example showing exactly how much a company can save.

Key Highlights

Scheme Name: Companies Compliance Facilitation Scheme, 2026 (CCFS-2026)
Issued Under: Section 460 read with Section 403 of the Companies Act, 2013
Original Validity: 15th April 2026 to 15th July 2026
Extended Validity: Up to 31st August 2026 (extended via General Circular No. 03/2026 dated 08.07.2026)
Reason for Extension: Restoration of MCA-21 data centre capacity following a fire incident on 05.06.2026
Core Benefit: Pay only 10% of the additional fee on pending annual filings instead of the full late fee
For Inactive Companies: Apply for Dormant Status (Form MSC-1) at half the normal fee
For Companies Winding Up: File for strike-off (Form STK-2) by paying only 25% of the filing fee
Immunity: Protection from penalty proceedings under Section 92 (Annual Return) and Section 137 (Financial Statements), subject to conditions
Not Applicable To: Companies already under strike-off action, companies that have applied for strike-off/dormancy, amalgamated or vanishing companies

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Companies Compliance Facilitation Scheme (CCFS-2026)