Dormant Status Filing pause your company, the lawful way.
End-to-end dormant company status filing services in Mumbai and across India — Form MSC-1 application, maintenance of dormant status, MSC-3 annual return, and reactivation support for inactive companies.
Dormant status is a formal designation under Section 455 of the Companies Act, 2013 for a company that has no significant accounting transactions. It is designed for companies that are inactive — formed to hold an asset or intellectual property, kept ready for a future project, or simply not yet operational — and that want a lawful, low-compliance way to stay registered without closing down.
Obtaining dormant status involves passing a board or special resolution and filing an application in Form MSC-1 with the Registrar of Companies. Once granted, the company is recorded as dormant on the MCA register. It enjoys reduced compliance — fewer board meetings and a simplified annual return in Form MSC-3 — but it must still file that return each year to retain the status.
Our dormant status practice covers the full cycle — assessing eligibility, drafting the resolution, filing Form MSC-1, and then maintaining the status through the annual MSC-3 return. When the company is ready to restart operations, we also handle reactivation by filing Form MSC-4 so the company can return to active status cleanly. It is a practical alternative to either closure or full compliance for a company that is simply on pause.
Our Dormant Status Services
Eligibility Assessment
Assessment of whether the company qualifies as dormant under Section 455 of the Companies Act.
Form MSC-1 Application
Drafting and filing of the application for dormant status in Form MSC-1 with the Registrar.
Board & Shareholder Approval
Drafting of the board or special resolution required to apply for dormant status.
Dormant Status Certificate
Coordination of the Registrar's grant of dormant status and recording on the MCA register.
MSC-3 Annual Return
Filing of the simplified annual return in Form MSC-3 to maintain the dormant status.
Status Maintenance
Ongoing monitoring to ensure the company continues to meet dormant company conditions.
Reactivation — MSC-4
Filing of Form MSC-4 to convert the company back to active status when operations resume.
Closure Advisory
Advice on whether dormant status or strike-off is the better route for an inactive company.
Our Dormant Status Workflow
Eligibility Review
Assessment of transactions and filing history to confirm the company qualifies as dormant.
Approval
Passing of the board or special resolution authorising the dormant status application.
MSC-1 Filing
Filing of Form MSC-1 with the Registrar to apply for dormant company status.
Status Granted
Recording of dormant status on the MCA register after the Registrar's approval.
Annual Maintenance
Filing of the MSC-3 return each year, with reactivation through MSC-4 when needed.
Benefits of Dormant Status
Frequently Asked Questions
A dormant company is one with no significant accounting transactions, formally recorded as dormant under Section 455 of the Companies Act.
Form MSC-1 is filed with the Registrar of Companies to apply for dormant company status.
Yes. A dormant company must file a simplified annual return in Form MSC-3 each year to retain its status.
A company returns to active status by filing Form MSC-4 with the Registrar when it resumes operations.
It depends. Dormant status suits companies that may restart; strike-off suits those with no future plans.
Need to Make Your Company Dormant?
Whether your company is on pause, holding an asset, or waiting for a future project, talk to our team for a clean dormant status filing and ongoing maintenance.
Apply for Dormant Status or call +91 9819 000 511