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Registered office proof and NOC for company registration

2 min read

Every company must have a registered office in India where it can receive letters and notices. Section 12 of the Companies Act requires it, and SPICe+ asks you to prove it. In practice, that means two documents: a recent utility bill and a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the owner.

What MCA accepts as proof

Your situationDocuments to attach
Owned by a directorUtility bill (not older than two months) and NOC from the director as owner. Ownership proof such as a sale deed or property tax receipt helps.
Owned by a relativeUtility bill and NOC from the relative who owns it.
RentedRent or lease agreement, utility bill and NOC from the landlord.
Co-working or virtual officeAgreement with the provider, the provider's utility bill and an NOC from the provider.

The utility bill can be an electricity, water, gas, telephone or broadband bill. It must show the full address you are registering.

What the NOC must say

The NOC is a short letter from the owner. It should include:

  • Owner's name and full address of the premises, exactly as on the utility bill
  • The proposed company name
  • A clear statement that the owner has no objection to the company using the premises as its registered office
  • Date, place and the owner's signature

Keep the address identical across the NOC, the utility bill and SPICe+. A missing floor number or a different pin code is enough to get the form sent back.

Can I use my home address?

Yes. There is no rule against a residential address as a registered office. Many early-stage companies use a director's home. Things to check:

  • Your housing society or landlord should be comfortable with it. Some rental agreements prohibit commercial use.
  • The company's name board and registered office address must be displayed outside the office under Section 12(3).
  • The address will appear on the MCA master data, letterheads and invoices, so it becomes public.

If you do not have an office yet

SPICe+ lets you give the registered office address at incorporation, which is what most founders do. If the company does not have an office on day one, the law allows it to provide a correspondence address and then establish the registered office within 30 days of incorporation, filing INC-22 with proof.

Changing the registered office later within the same city is a board resolution and INC-22. Moving to another city or state takes more steps.

Frequently asked questions

No. A signed NOC on plain paper is accepted. Some states or banks may ask for notarisation separately.

It should match the person giving the NOC. If the bill is in a different name, get the NOC from that person or attach proof linking them to the owner.

Not older than two months on the date of filing.

Yes. For rented premises, attach the rent or lease agreement along with the NOC and utility bill.

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

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