OPC Annual Filing: Important Statutory due dates for FY 2021-22 (AY 2022-23)

A One Person Company (OPC) is a type of company that has only one member as its shareholder. Compared to other forms of business such as Private Limited Companies, Public Limited Companies, or LLPs, an OPC has relatively fewer compliance requirements. However, it is still mandatory for every OPC registered in India to complete annual ROC filings and meet statutory deadlines on time.

As soon as a financial year ends, it becomes important for OPC owners to plan their compliance calendar for the next year. To make this easier, we have prepared a clear and accurate list of the important statutory due dates for OPC annual filing for Financial Year 2021-22 (Assessment Year 2022-23). 

What is OPC Annual Filing?

OPC Annual Filing refers to the yearly compliance filings that an OPC must submit to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and other authorities as applicable. Since an OPC has fewer compliance requirements compared to other companies, the overall annual compliance burden is lower. Still, timely filing is mandatory to avoid penalties and legal consequences.

Every OPC is required to file two main annual ROC forms:

• Form AOC-4 (Financial Statements)
• Form MGT-7A (Annual Return)

Let us understand these forms and their due dates for FY 2021-22.

Key Annual ROC Forms for OPC (FY 2021-22)

What is E-Form AOC 4 for OPC?

E-Form AOC-4 is filed to submit the financial statements of the OPC with the ROC. It contains information related to the company’s financial performance and transactions during the financial year.

AOC-4 generally includes:

• Balance Sheet
• Profit and Loss Account
• Auditor’s Report
• Notes to Accounts and other relevant financial statements

What is the due date for filing AOC 4 for OPC for FY 2021-22?

As per the Companies Act provisions, Form AOC-4 for an OPC must be filed within 180 days from the closure of the financial year.

For FY 2021-22, the financial year ended on 31.03.2022.

So, the due date is calculated as:

• FY closure date: 31.03.2022
• Timeline: within 180 days from the closure of FY
• Due date for AOC-4 (FY 2021-22):27.09.2022

What is ROC Form MGT 7A for OPC?

Form MGT-7A is the annual return form applicable to:

• One Person Companies (OPC)
• Small Companies

It was introduced through the Companies (Management and Administration) Amendment Rules, 2021.

Form MGT-7A contains key information such as:

• Company details
• Shareholding structure
• Details of directors and members
• Other annual return information as prescribed

 What is the due date for filing MGT 7A for OPC for FY 2021-22?

Normally, annual returns are filed within a prescribed time from the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting (AGM). However, an OPC is not required to hold an AGM under the Companies Act, 2013.

So, the due date for OPC annual return is not practically based on “AGM date assumptions” in real operations. Instead, it should be followed as per the statutory annual return timeline applicable to OPC filings.

For FY 2021-22, the due date for filing Form MGT-7A is generally considered as:

• Within 60 days from the date on which the annual return becomes due, as per the compliance timeline followed for OPC filings.

For practical compliance tracking and standard filing cycle for FY 2021-22, the commonly followed due date is:

• Due date for MGT-7A for FY 2021-22: 28.11.2022

This date is widely used for FY 2021-22 annual filing calendar tracking for OPCs.

(As per the MGT 7A help kit).

Due date for IT Returns for OPC for FY 2021-22

An OPC is treated as a company under the Income Tax Act. Therefore, the Income Tax Return due date for an OPC depends on whether tax audit is applicable or not.

So, it is not correct to state a single fixed due date for all OPCs without conditions.

ITR Due Date for OPC (General Understanding)

• If tax audit is not applicable; The ITR due date is generally earlier.
• If tax audit is applicable; The ITR due date is generally later and depends on audit report timelines.

Important Note

Tax audit applicability depends on turnover limits and other conditions under the Income Tax Act. For example, if an OPC crosses the applicable turnover threshold, tax audit may become mandatory.

So, the ITR due date for OPC for FY 2021-22 should always be followed based on:

• audit applicability
• current Income Tax Department notifications
• due date extensions (if announced)

Event-based Compliances for OPC

Apart from annual ROC filing, an OPC may also need to complete event-based compliances depending on business activities and registrations.

Some common event-based compliances include:

• Change in directors
• Change in registered office
• Change in share capital
• Filing of resolutions (where applicable)
• Allotment of shares
• Appointment or resignation of auditor

In addition to ROC compliance, an OPC may also have periodic filings such as:

• GST returns (if registered under GST)
• TDS returns (if applicable)
• PF and ESI filings (if applicable)

Event-based compliances depend on the nature of business and operational events during the year.

Informative read on: Due dates for different types of GST returns

Penalty for Late Filing AOC-4 and MGT-7A

If an OPC fails to file annual ROC forms within the prescribed timeline, additional fees and penalties apply.

For late filing:

• MCA imposes additional fees
• Late filing penalty may be charged at INR 100 per day for each day of delay (as applicable)

It is important for every OPC to complete annual filings on time to avoid unnecessary penalties and ensure smooth compliance status on MCA records.

Conclusion

Even though an OPC has fewer compliance requirements compared to other company structures, it still must complete annual filings correctly and within due dates. For Financial Year 2021-22 (AY 2022-23), the most important annual ROC filings for OPC include AOC-4 and MGT-7A, along with income tax return filing based on audit applicability.

Maintaining a compliance calendar and filing forms on time helps OPCs avoid penalties and remain compliant under the Companies Act and Income Tax laws.