Key features of SPICe+ (Pronounced as SPICe plus)

From 15th February 2020, MCA is all set to deploy a new webform “ SPICe+” pronounced as SPICe plus as a Part of the Government of India’s “Ease of Doing Business (EODB) initiatives which will replace the existing SPICe form. Earlier in January 2020 The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), notified to issue a new form SPICe Plus as a part of India’s Ease of Doing Business initiatives.

The new MCA form which is named Spice Plus or Spice + shall be a replacement for the old system of uploading the pdf file. That means the existing pdf version of the spice 32 form shall be discontinued for the launch of the new web-based SPICe plus Form. This will definitely be a boost the “Ease of Doing Business” initiatives.

SPICe+ would offer 10 services by 3 Central Govt Ministries & Departments. (Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Labour & Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance) and One State Govt. (Maharashtra), thereby saving as many procedures, time, and cost for Starting a Business in India and would be applicable for all new company incorporations

What is MCA Form SPICe+ (SPICe Plus)?

SPICe+ would be an integrated Web form offering multiple services related to Company incorporation name reservation, incorporation, DIN allotment, mandatory issue of PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, Profession Tax (Maharashtra), and Opening of Bank Account. It will also facilitate allotment of GSTIN wherever so applied for by the Stakeholders. After deployment of SPICe plus web form, RUN shall be applicable only for a change of name of existing companies.

Key features of SPICe+ (SPICe plus):

Following can be classified as the key features of SPICe+ (SPICe plus): 

1. MCA from SPICe+ is an integrated Web Form.

2. SPICe+ offers 10 services in total which is divided into two parts. Part A and Part-B

       -Part A offers Name reservations for new companies and

       -Part B offers other nine services which are as follows:

• Incorporation 
• DIN allotment 
• Mandatory issue of PAN 
• Mandatory issue of TAN 
• Mandatory issue of EPFO registration 
• Mandatory issue of ESIC registration 
• Mandatory issue of Profession Tax registration(Maharashtra) 
• Mandatory Opening of Bank Account for the Company and 
• Allotment of GSTIN (if so applied for) 

3. Users will have options to choose from as follows.

• The User may either choose to submit Part-A for reserving a name first and thereafter submit Part B for incorporation & other services or 
• The user can File Part A and B together at one go for incorporating a new company and availing the bouquet of services as above.

4. There is a setup of a new and user-friendly Dashboard on the Front Office for company incorporation applications (SPICe+ and linked forms as applicable).

5. Stakeholders can submit the Incorporation applications (Part B) after name reservation (In Part A) as a seamless process in continuation of Part A of SPICe+.

6. Stakeholders are not required to even enter the SRN of the approved name as the approved Name will be prominently displayed on the Dashboard and a click on the same will take the user for the continuation of the application through a hyperlink that will be available on the SRN / application number in the new dashboard.

7. There would be easy resubmission of the application, whenever required as Resubmission of applications for company name reservation and/or incorporation shall be handled through the application number / Name applied for the link on the new dashboard. A hyperlink will be available for the SRN / application number.

8. From 15th February 2020 onwards, RUN service is applicable only for the ‘change of name’ of an existing company.

9. The new web form Facilitates the user in On-screen filing and real-time data validation for seamless incorporation of companies.

10. The approved name and related incorporation details as submitted in Part A would be automatically Pre-filled in all linked forms such as AGILE-PRO, eMoA, eAoA, URC1, INC-9 also.

11. For ensuring ease while filing, SPICe+ is structured into various sections.

12. Information once entered can be saved and modified at a later stage.

13. All Check form and Pre-scrutiny validations (except DSC validation) will happen on the webform SPICe+ (SAPICe Plus) itself.

14. Once the SPICe Plus is filled completely with all relevant details, the same would then have to be converted into pdf format, with just a click of the mouse button, for affixing Digital Signature Certificates.

15. All digitally signed applications can then be uploaded along with the linked forms as per the existing process.

16. Changes/modifications to SPICe+ (even after generating pdf and affixing DSCs), can also be done by editing the same web form application which has been saved, generating the updated pdf affixing DSCs, and uploading the same.

17. DSC validation and other validations will happen at Upload Level.

18. Registration for EPFO and ESIC shall be mandatory for all new companies incorporated w.e.f 15 February 2020 and no EPFO & ESIC registration nos. shall be separately issued by the respective agencies.

19. Registration for Profession Tax shall also be mandatory for all new companies incorporated in the State of Maharashtra w.e.f 15th February 2020.

20. All new companies incorporated through SPICe+ (w.e.f 15th February 2020) would also be mandatorily required to apply for opening the company’s Bank account through the AGILE-PRO linked web form.

21. Declaration by all Subscribers and first Directors in INC-9 shall be auto-generated in pdf format and would have to be submitted only in Electronic form in all cases, except where

• The total number of subscribers and/or directors is greater than 20 and/or 
• Any such subscribers and/or directors have neither DIN nor PAN.

Courtesy – mca.gov.in. This content is also available in PDF form on the MCA website.

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