Under the Startup India Action Plan, startups that meet the definition as prescribed under G.S.R. notification 127 (E) are eligible to apply for recognition under the program. The Startups have to provide support documents, at the time of application.

Under the Startup India initiative, eligible companies can get recognised as Startups by DPIIT, in order to access a host of tax benefits, easier compliance, IPR fast-tracking & more. Learn more about eligibility and benefits below.

Eligibility Criteria for Startup Recognition:

• The Startup should be incorporated as a private limited company or registered as a partnership firm or a limited liability partnership
• Turnover should be less than INR 100 Crores in any of the previous financial years
• An entity shall be considered as a startup up to 10 years from the date of its incorporation
• The Startup should be working towards innovation/ improvement of existing products, services and processes and should have the potential to generate employment/ create wealth. An entity formed by splitting up or reconstruction of an existing business shall not be considered a “Startup”

DPIIT recognised startups can get the following benefits under the Startup India Initiative

Self Certification:

• Startups shall be allowed to be self-certify compliance for 6 Labour Laws and 3 Environmental Laws through a simple online procedure.
• In the case of labour laws, no inspections will be conducted for a period of 5 years. Startups may be inspected only on receipt of credible and verifiable complaint of violation, filed in writing and approved by at least one level senior to the inspecting officer.
• In the case of environment laws, startups which fall under the ‘white category’ (as defined by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)) would be able to self-certify compliance and only random checks would be carried out in such cases.

Startup Patent Application & IPR Application:

Fast-tracking of Startup Patent Applications: 

Patent applications filed by startups shall be fast-tracked for examination so that their value can be realised sooner.

Panel of facilitators to assist in filing of IP applications: 

For effective implementation of the scheme, a panel of “facilitators” shall be empanelled by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (CGPDTM), who shall also regulate their conduct and functions. Facilitators will be responsible for providing general advisory on different intellectually property as well as information on protecting and promoting intellectual property in other countries.

Government to bear facilitation cost: 

Under this scheme, the Central Government shall bear the entire fees of the facilitators for any number of patents, trademarks or designs that a Startup may file, and the Startups shall bear the cost of only the statutory fees payable.

Rebate on filing of application: 

Startups shall be provided an 80% rebate in filing of patents vis-a-vis other companies. This will help them pare costs in the crucial formative years

Tax Exemption Under 80IAC:

Post getting recognition a Startup may apply for Tax exemption under section 80 IAC of the Income Tax Act. Post getting clearance for Tax exemption, the Startup can avail tax holiday for 3 consecutive financial years out of its first ten years since incorporation.

Eligibility Criteria for applying to Income Tax exemption (80IAC):

• The entity should be a recognized Startup  
• Only Private limited or a Limited Liability Partnership is eligible for Tax exemption under Section 80IAC
• The Startup should have been incorporated after 1st April, 2016

Tax Exemption under Section 56 of the Income Tax Act (Angel Tax):

• Exemption under Section 56(2)(VIIB) of Income Tax Act
• Post getting recognition a Startup may apply for Angel Tax Exemption.
• Investments into eligible startups by listed companies with a net worth of more than INR 100 Crore or turnover more than INR 250 Crore shall be exempt under Section 56 (2) VIIB of Income Tax Act
• Investments into eligible Startups by Accredited Investors, Non-Residents, AIFs (Category I), & listed companies with a net worth more than 100 crores or turnover more than INR 250 Crore, shall be exempt under Section 56(2)(VIIB) of Income Tax Act
• Consideration of shares received by eligible startups shall be exempt upto an aggregate limit of INR 25 Crore

Eligibility Criteria for Tax Exemption under Section 56 of the Income Tax Act:

• The entity should be a DPIIT recognized Startup
• Aggregate amount of paid up share capital and share premium of the Startup after the proposed issue of share, if any, does not exceed INR 25 Crore.

Easy winding Up Of Company:

• As per the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, startups with simple debt structures, or those meeting certain income specified criteria* can be wound up within 90 days of filing an application for insolvency.
• An insolvency professional shall be appointed for the Startup, who shall thereafter be in charge of the company (the promoters and management shall no longer run the company) including liquidation of its assets and paying its creditors within six months of such appointment.
• Upon appointment of the insolvency professional, the liquidator shall be responsible for the swift closure of the business, sale of assets and repayment of creditors in accordance with the distribution waterfall set out in the IBC. This process will respect the concept of limited liability.

Easier Public Procurement Norms:

Opportunity to list your product on Government e-Marketplace:

Government e Marketplace (GeM) is an online procurement platform and the largest marketplace for Government Departments to procure products and services. DPIIT Recognized Startups can register on GeM as sellers and sell their products and services directly to Government entities. This is a great opportunity for startups to work on trial orders with the Government.

Exemption from Prior Experience/Turnover:

In order to promote startups, the Government shall exempt Startups in the manufacturing sector from the criteria of “prior experience/ turnover” without any compromise on the stated quality standards or technical parameters. The Startups will also have to demonstrate requisite capability to execute the project as per the requirements and should have their own manufacturing facility in India. Click here to refer to the notification

EMD Exemption: 

DPIIT recognised startups have been exempted from submitting Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) or bid security while filling government tenders. Click here to refer to the notification