e-balance sheets mandatory from Sept 16

Corporates will have to mandatorily file annual returns and balance sheets electronically as the Registrar of Companies will stop accepting these documents in physical form from September 16.

Having rolled out the e-filing programme at all offices of Registrar of Companies, the ministry of company affairs today said corporates will have to mandatorily file annual returns and balance sheets electronically from September 16.

All the company representatives authorised to sign the documents are required to obtain digital signatures by that time to ensure the security and authenticity of filings in the electronic mode, Company Affairs Minister P C Gupta said.

The filing in electronic mode is part of e-governance project - MCA21 - initiated by the ministry. The project includes introduction of anywhere, anytime secure electronic filing for MCA transactions, adaptation of all statutory forms to e-forms for electronic filing, and use of digital signatures to ensure the security of electronic forms and documents.