NGO & Society Services

Register and maintain compliance for your non-profit organization or trust.

NGO & Society services

NGO & Society: complete guide

Introduction

India has a large and diverse voluntary sector, made up of charitable trusts, societies and non-profit companies working in education, health, livelihoods, environment, disability, women's empowerment, culture, sports, relief and countless other causes. Behind every effective non-profit is a legal structure that allows it to hold money and property, sign agreements, receive donations and grants, and account for how funds are used. Getting that structure right at the start, and keeping it compliant year after year, is what allows an organisation to focus on its mission rather than on paperwork and penalties.

Our NGO & Society services cover the full life of a non-profit organisation. We help founders choose between a trust, a society and a Section 8 company, register the chosen entity, obtain the income tax registrations that make its income exempt and give donors a tax benefit, and complete the registrations that unlock funding, such as the NGO Darpan profile for government grants and Form CSR-1 for corporate CSR funds. After registration, we provide annual compliance packages for NGOs and Section 8 companies so that accounts, audits, returns and filings are done on time.

The law governing non-profits in India comes from several sources. Trusts are governed by the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 for private trusts and by state public trust laws, where they exist, for public charitable trusts. Societies are governed by the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or state-specific societies laws. Section 8 companies are governed by the Companies Act, 2013. All of them are subject to income tax law, which since 1 April 2026 is contained in the Income-tax Act, 2025, carrying forward the regime for charitable entities that was earlier in the 1961 Act. Foreign contributions are governed by the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, and CSR funding by section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 and the CSR rules. Many of these rules change through amendments, notifications and circulars, and we check the current position at the time of each filing.

Professional support helps because non-profit compliance is detailed and the consequences of a mistake can be serious. A poorly drafted trust deed can make it impossible to replace trustees; objects that are too commercial can lead to rejection of tax registration; and a missed renewal or late filing can lead to loss of exemption and tax on the entire income. Our team of chartered accountants, company secretaries and advocates handles these matters for NGOs of every size, from first-time founders to established institutions.

Services in This Category

NGO Registration. We help you register a non-profit organisation as a public charitable trust, a society or a Section 8 company. We compare the three structures for your situation, draft the trust deed, memorandum and rules, or Memorandum and Articles, and file with the right authority in your state. The engagement is quoted after we understand the structure and state involved.

Trust Registration. For founders who prefer a trust, we draft a trust deed covering objects, trustees, succession, powers, accounts and dissolution, arrange its execution on the correct stamp paper and register it with the sub-registrar or charity commissioner as the state's law requires.

Society Registration. For membership-based organisations, we draft the memorandum of association and rules and regulations, collect member consents and file the application with the Registrar of Societies, responding to any objections until the certificate is issued.

Section 8 Company Registration. For organisations that want the structured governance of a company, we handle name approval, the section 8 licence and incorporation through the MCA portal, along with Digital Signature Certificates, Memorandum and Articles, and the declarations required.

Sec.80G & Sec.12A. We apply for registration as a charitable entity, so that income applied to charitable purposes is exempt, and for donor deduction approval, so that donors can claim a tax benefit. These registrations, long known by their section numbers under the 1961 Act, now continue under the Income-tax Act, 2025. We handle provisional registration for new entities, conversion to regular registration and renewal before expiry.

Darpan Registration. We register your organisation on the NGO Darpan portal maintained by NITI Aayog and obtain its Unique ID, which many ministries and departments ask for before considering grant applications.

CSR-1 Filing. For eligible trusts, societies and Section 8 companies, we file Form CSR-1 with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and obtain the CSR Registration Number that companies require before they release CSR funds to an implementing agency.

NGO Compliance. An annual package for trusts and societies covering bookkeeping support, audit coordination, income tax return filing, statements of donations received where required, and filings with the Registrar of Societies or charity commissioner.

Section 8 Compliance. An annual package for Section 8 companies covering board and general meeting documentation, statutory registers, filing of financial statements and the annual return with the Registrar, director KYC and income tax compliance.

How these services fit together. Registration services create the legal entity. Tax registration services decide how the entity's income and its donors are taxed. Darpan and CSR-1 open doors to particular kinds of funding. Compliance packages keep all of these in good standing. An NGO that registers but never obtains tax registrations, or obtains them but lets them lapse through missed filings, can find that its income becomes taxable, so we encourage founders to plan the full sequence from the start.

Who These Services Are For

Our NGO & Society services are designed for:

  • Founders starting a new charitable organisation who need guidance on structure and registration.
  • Community groups, associations and clubs that want to formalise their work as a society.
  • Families and individuals creating a charitable trust for a cause, an institution or a corpus.
  • Companies setting up a CSR foundation to implement their CSR projects.
  • Established NGOs that need tax registrations renewed, a Darpan profile updated or a CSR Registration Number obtained.
  • Schools, clinics, cultural and religious institutions run on a non-profit basis.
  • NGO administrators and treasurers who want reliable annual compliance support so filings are not missed.
  • Organisations taking over a dormant NGO whose earlier trustees or members have changed and whose records and filings need to be brought up to date.
  • Volunteers and part-time teams who run a non-profit alongside their regular work and need a dependable partner to track deadlines.

Whatever your size, the same basic obligations apply: keep proper books, use funds only for the stated objects, file returns on time, and keep the governing body's records current. Smaller NGOs often find these harder because they have fewer staff, which is where structured support helps most.

How to Choose the Right Service

If you are just starting, begin with NGO Registration, or choose Trust Registration, Society Registration or Section 8 Company Registration directly if you already know the structure you want. If you are not sure, a consultation will help you compare them.

If you are already registered but do not have tax registrations, choose Sec.80G & Sec.12A. This is usually the most urgent step after registration, because without it the NGO's income may be taxed and donors cannot claim deductions.

If you want government grants, add Darpan Registration. Some ministries also ask for audited accounts, activity reports and income tax registration orders along with the Darpan ID, so keep these ready as well.

If you want corporate CSR funding, check whether you meet the CSR-1 eligibility conditions, including the requirement for income tax registrations and, for independent NGOs, a three-year track record, and then choose CSR-1 Filing.

If you need help keeping up with filings, choose NGO Compliance for a trust or society, or Section 8 Compliance for a Section 8 company.

A simple sequence for most new NGOs is: register the entity, obtain PAN and open a bank account, apply for provisional tax registrations, register on Darpan, build a track record, then apply for regular tax registrations and, when eligible, file CSR-1. Annual compliance runs alongside from the first year.

Questions that help you decide on a structure. How many people will govern the organisation, and do you want them to be elected or appointed? Will the organisation own land or buildings? Do you expect funding from companies or international donors? Will you work in one state or across several? How much annual compliance can your team manage? Your answers usually point towards one structure, and we help you think through the trade-offs.

How We Work

  1. Consultation. We understand your cause, your founders, your state and your funding plans, and recommend the services you need.
  2. Written scope and quote. You receive a clear scope and fee in writing. Government fees, stamp duty and other statutory charges are shown separately as payable at actual.
  3. Document checklist. We share a tailored checklist and collect documents through a secure process.
  4. Drafting and review. We draft the constitution documents, applications and forms, and review them with you before filing.
  5. Filing and follow-up. We file with the relevant authority, track the application and respond to objections or queries within the time allowed.
  6. Handover. We share certificates, registration numbers and login details, and explain the next steps.
  7. Ongoing support. Through our compliance packages, we remind you of due dates, prepare filings and help with audits, renewals and changes in trustees, members or directors.

We assign a single point of contact for each engagement and keep you informed at each stage. We do not promise any particular outcome from an authority, but we prepare every application carefully to avoid avoidable objections.

What we ask from you. We need accurate information about the founders, trustees, members or directors, prompt responses to verification steps such as OTPs and signatures, and timely sharing of accounts and records for compliance work. Where an authority requires founders to appear in person, we tell you in advance what to bring and what to expect.

Confidentiality and records. We treat the information you share as confidential and keep an organised record of the documents we prepare and file, so that you have a complete set when funders, auditors or authorities ask for it.

Pricing

Pricing in the NGO & Society category depends on the service you choose. Each service page shows its own fee, or explains how the fee is quoted.

  • Fixed-fee services cover a defined scope, such as a specific registration or filing.
  • Annual compliance packages are charged for a year of support and are shown on their own pages.
  • Quoted services are priced after we understand the structure, the state and the number of people involved, because costs differ widely between states and authorities.

Every quote is given in writing and lists what is included. Stamp duty, registration fees, government filing fees and audit-related statutory charges are payable at actual and are not part of our professional fee.

FAQs

What is the difference between an NGO and a society?

An NGO is a general term for a non-profit organisation. A society is one of the legal forms an NGO can take, alongside a trust and a Section 8 company.

Which structure should I choose for my NGO?

It depends on your governance preferences, funding plans and how much compliance you can manage. We compare the options for you during the consultation.

Do I need separate tax registration after registering the NGO?

Yes. Registering a trust, society or Section 8 company does not automatically give tax exemption. You must apply separately for registration as a charitable entity and for donor deduction approval.

What are 12A and 80G?

They were the section numbers under the Income-tax Act, 1961 for registration as a charitable entity and for donor deduction approval. The same benefits continue under the Income-tax Act, 2025 from 1 April 2026, under renumbered provisions.

Is Darpan registration compulsory?

It is not compulsory for all NGOs, but many government ministries and departments require it for grant applications.

Who can file CSR-1?

Section 8 companies, registered public trusts and registered societies with the required income tax registrations, if they are established by a company or government or have a three-year track record, and entities established by law.

Can my NGO receive foreign donations?

Only after obtaining FCRA registration or prior permission under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. Eligibility conditions apply.

Do NGOs have to file annual returns?

Yes. NGOs must file income tax returns, and depending on their structure and state, annual filings with the Registrar of Societies, charity commissioner or Registrar of Companies.

Can you help an NGO that has missed filings?

Yes. We can review the position, prepare pending filings and advise on how to regularise the organisation's compliance.

Do you work with NGOs across India?

Yes. Our process is largely online, and we follow the procedure of the relevant state's registering authority for trusts and societies.

Are NGO laws the same in every state?

No. Trust and society laws vary from state to state, and some states have their own public trust and societies laws. We check the rules that apply to you.

How long does it take to set up an NGO with tax registrations?

Registration of the entity usually takes a few weeks, depending on the structure and state. Provisional tax registrations are applied for after that and are processed within the time set by the income tax authorities. We plan the timeline with you at the start.

Can an NGO pay salaries to its staff?

Yes. An NGO can pay reasonable salaries and professional fees to staff and consultants for work done for its objects. Payments to founders, trustees or their relatives need extra care, because income tax law restricts benefits to such persons.

Can an existing NGO change its structure?

Converting directly from one structure to another is generally not straightforward. In some cases, a new entity is formed and the activities and assets are transferred in accordance with the law and the constitution. We advise on the options for your case.