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Company name board, letterhead and invoice rules under Section 12

1 min read

Section 12(3) of the Companies Act sets out what a company must show to the outside world: on its office, its letterheads and its official documents. It is simple to get right on day one and annoying to fix later.

Name board outside every office

The company's name and registered office address must be painted or affixed outside every office or place where it carries on business, in legible letters. If the name is in a language other than the local one, it must also be shown in the local language.

Letterheads, invoices and official documents

Every business letter, bill head, invoice, notice and other official publication must show:

  • Company name
  • Address of the registered office
  • Corporate Identity Number (CIN)
  • Telephone number, email address and website, if any

Where the company has changed its name in the last two years, the former name must also be shown after the new one.

Website

If the company has a website, it must display the company's name, registered office address, CIN, phone number and email address, in addition to anything specific laws require.

Frequently asked questions

The company and every officer in default can be penalised ₹1,000 per day of default, up to a maximum limit.

No. The common seal has been optional since 2015.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Government fees and procedures change; confirm current figures before you file.

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