Section 25 Companies have wider acceptance in the society and before various authorities. These kind of companies have various privileges mentioned in Section 25 of Indian companies Act, 1956. Section 25 companies are those companies which are formed for the sole purpose of promoting commerce, art, science, religion, charity or any other useful object and have been granted a licence by the central government recognizing them as such. Such companies should intend to apply its profits, if any, or other income only in promoting its objects and must also prohibit payment of dividend to its members.
Benefits of Section 25 Companies
Main Conditions
Main Requirements
• DIN (Director Identification Number) for all the Directors
• DSC (Digital Signature Certificate) for two of the Directors
Thus there are three criteria for determining whether a
particular company is section 25 company or not:
1) Its objects should be only to promote commerce, art, science,
religion, charity or any other useful object.
2) It should intend to apply its profits or other incomes only in
promoting its objects; and
3) Central government should have granted a licence to such a company
recognising them as such,
These types of companies can be either public company or private company
having a limited liability. The biggest advantage of securing a licence
from Central Govt. under section 25 is that such company is allowed to
drop the word 'limited' or 'private limited' from their names. So these
companies can continue to enjoy their stature as a Limited company
without disclosing to the public whether the liability of its members is
limited by share or guarantee. As these companies do not have the object
of creating profits from its business activities and instead are
indulged in activities useful to society the legislature intends to
grant them some advantages and privileges on them for ensuring that such
companies carry on their activities without undue hassles. Apart from
enjoying many privileges and advantages they do have some obligations
which they are required to adhere to.
Privileges and Advantages
The section 25 company enjoys all advantages that any other limited
company registered under companies act enjoys. But apart from these
advantages there are some specific privileges conferred upon them that
distinguish them from other companies. These privileges are in nature of
exemptions from some provisions of the companies act or apply with some
modifications to section 25 company.
1) All companies having limited liability are required to use the term
'limited' or 'private limited' as the case may be in their names as
required by section 13. But section 25 companies are allowed to dispense
with the use of term 'limited' or 'private limited' from their names
[sub-sec. (6)]. This helps the company to enjoy limited liability
without disclosing to the public the nature of liability of its members.
2) A partnership firm is allowed to be a member of the section 25
company [sub-sec (4)] inspite of the fact that the law does not
recognises them as a legal person. The only limitation in this regard is
that on dissolution of such a firm its membership of the company ceases.
3) Minimum Share Capital: As per the provision of section 3 of the
companies act a private company is required to have a minimum share
capital of rupees one lakh and public company is required to have
minimum share capital of five lakh rupees. However Section 25 Companies
have been exempted from this requirement regarding minimum share capital
by insertion of sub-section (6) through Amendment Act of 2000. As such
they can be registered even if they have share capital les than the
statutory minimum.
4) Publication of Name: By provisions of section 147 of the companies
act every company registered under the act is required to paint or affix
and to keep painted or affixed its name and address of its registered
office on the outside of every office or place where its business is
carried on in a conspicuous position and in easily legible letters. It
is further required to have its name engraved in legible characters on
its seal and is required to its name and address of its registered
office mentioned in all its business letters, bill heads, letter papers,
publications, bills, receipts, etc. However a section 25 company has
been exempted from the provisions of this section and as such is not
required to mention its name and address as required in case of all
other companies.
5) Annual Returns of a Company not having Share Capital: Every company
not having a share capital is required by provisions of section 160 to
file within 60 days of every Annual General Meeting a return with the
Registrar containing following particulars: i) address of its registered
office; ii) names and address of its members with date on which they
became members and names of members who ceased to be so from last AGM
with date on which they left the company; and iii) particulars of
persons who are Directors, Managers or Secretary of the company on the
date of the return. Section 25 Company without a share capital is also
required to file returns with the Registrar as required by section 160
but it has been exempted from mentioning the particulars of the members
who are presently with the company or have ceased to be members since
holding of its last AGM.
6) Time and Place of AGM: Every company registered under the companies
Act is required by section 166(2) to hold its Annual General Meeting
during business hours and on a day that is not a public holiday and has
to be held at its registered office or at a place within the limits of
city, town or village where its registered office is situated. Section
25 Company has been exempted from this provision provided the time place
and date of the AGM has been decided before hand by the Board of
Directors having regard to the direction given by the company in a
General Meeting. As such they are free to determine the date, place and
time of its AGM according to their convenience and feasibility the only
condition being that time, place and date of such meeting should have
been pre determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with
directions of the company if any.
7) Notice of AGM: By virtue of section 171(1) a company is required to
call AGM by giving not less than 21 dayss notice in writing to its
members. Date on which meeting is to be held and date on which such a
notice is served has to be excluded in computing the period of 21 dayss
for purpose of section 171. But Section 25 Company has been given some
relief in this regard by allowing them to hold an AGM after giving a
notice of 14 days length instead of 21 dayss as required by section
171(1). Therefore they can call an AGM at a short notice of 14 days
instead of 21 dayss.
8) Maintaining of Books of Accounts: Every company is required by
section 209(4-A) to maintain books of accounts relating to a period of
eight years immediately preceding current year alongwith its vouchers.
However a Section 25 Company is required to maintain books of account
relating to a period of only four years instead of eight years
immediately preceding the current year.
9) Service of Copies of Certain Documents: A company is required to send
a copy of every balance sheet (including profit and loss account) and
other documents required by law to be laid before a company in the
General Meeting to its members, debenture holders and debenture trustees
atleast 21 dayss before the date on which such a meeting is to be held in
accordance with section 219(1). But a Section 25 Company is allowed to
send the required documents atleast fourteen days before the date of
meeting instead of 21 dayss [vide Notification No. GSR 73 dated
30-12-1965].
10) Right of Persons other that Retiring Director to stand for
Directorship: Section 257 deals with the procedure to be followed in
case a person who is not a retiring director intends to stand for
directorship of the company. If the Articles of the Section 25 Company
provide for election of the Directors by ballot system then the
provisions of section 257 will not apply to such a company and as a
result a person who is not a retiring director and is intending to stand
for directorship will not have to follow the procedure laid down by
section 257. But if the Articles of the company do not provide for
election of director by ballot then section 257 will have to be complied
in whole.
11) Increase in Number of Directors: Under section 259 a public company
is not allowed to increase the number of it directors beyond the
permissible limits under its articles without the approval of Central
Government provided such increase results in total number of directors
to go beyond twelve. But Section 25 Companies are exempted from this
section and are thus free to increase the number of its directors
without seeking approval of central government [vide Notification No.
2767, dated 5-8-1964].
12) Filing of Consent for Directorship: Every person who intends to
stand for directorship in accordance with section 257 is required by
section 264(1) to file with the company his consent to act as a director
if he gets appointed as such. This section is meant for the persons who
are seeking afresh appointment and not for those who are seeking
reappointment as director. It ensures that a person does not refuse to
act as director after his appointment on ground that his consent was not
taken by the company. But sub-section (1) has been made non-applicable
to the Section 25 Company and as such a person seeking appointment as
director for first time need not file his consent in advance with the
company for working as a director if appointed.
13) Board Meetings: Under section 285 the meeting of Board of Directors
should be held atleast once in every three months and four meetings
should be held in a year. However section 25 companies are required to
hold meetings of Board of Directors/Executive Committee/Governing
Committee only once in every six months[vide Notification No. SO 1578
dated 1-7-1968]. The rest of the section 285 will apply to section 25
companies as it is, therefore section 25 companies are allowed to hold
Board meetings only once in six months but should have held four
meetings in a year.
14) Quorum for Meetings: The required quorum for a board meeting of any
company under section 287 is one/third of its total strength which is
arrived at after deducting the number of interested directors from the
total number of directors on the Board or atleast two whichever is
higher. But the section 25 company is exempt from this section to the
extent that the required quorum for any board meeting is eight members
or one/fourth of its total strength whichever is less provided it should
not be less than two members in any case.
15) Exercise of certain Powers: Under section 292 there are certain
specified powers which a Board of Directors of the concerned company can
exercise only by passing of resolution at the meeting. The Board can
exercise all other powers by passing of resolutions by circulation
instead of taking them at meetings by following the procedure specified
in section 289 of the Act. However section 25 companies are allowed to
decide following three matters by passing a resolution by circulation
instead of at meetings:
· the power to borrow moneys other than on debentures,
· the power to invest funds of the company, and
· the power to make loans.
The remaining powers specified in section 292 viz., power to make calls
on shareholders in respect of money unpaid on their shares; power to
authorise by back of shares in accordance with section 77A; and power to
issue debentures, can be exercised only by passing of resolutions at
duly conducted meeting of Board of Directors of section 25 company [vide
Notification No. 2767, dated 5-8-1964].
16) Disclosure of Interest: Under section 297 a company is not allowed
to enter into contract for (i) purchase, sale or supply of any goods,
material or services; or (ii) for underwriting subscription of any
shares in or debentures of company, with a director of the company; or
his relative; or a firm in which such a director or relative is a
partner; or a partner in such a firm; or a private company in which such
director is member or director unless consent of the Board of Directors
has been obtained before entering into such contract [sub-sec. (1)]. If
any of the persons or entity mentioned above regularly trades or does
business in the subject matter of contract and such contract is made for
cash at prevailing market prices then consent of Board is required only
in those cases where cost of such contract exceeds five thousand rupees
aggregate in a particular year[sub section (2)]. Consent of Board can be
obtained within three months from date on which such contract is entered
into if there arises some urgent necessity even if cost or value of such
contract exceeds rupees five thousand in a year.[sub-sec. (3)]. Section
299 lays down the circumstances when disclosure of interests by
Directors of the company is mandatory and procedure in regard to such
disclosure. It directs a director to disclose his interest (direct or
indirect) or concern in any contract or arrangement made or proposed by
the company at the first meeting of Board when such contract is being
considered or at first meeting held after he became interested in a
contract already entered into by the company. But in case of section 25
companies section 299 applies only to the matters covered by sub-section
(1) and (3) of section 297. It follows that section 25 companies are
allowed to enter into contracts or arrangements with all of the persons
or entity mentioned earlier if such person or entity regularly does
trade or business in the subject matter of such contract or arrangement
and cost of such contract is made at prevailing market prices without
seeking the consent of the Board of Directors even if the cost of such
contract exceeds five thousand rupees aggregate in a year. Hence section
25 companies are allowed to conduct trade or business with private
companies, firms or persons where some director may be having an
interest provided such private company, firm or person regularly does
trade or business in such a contract without seeking approval of Board
again and again where the cost of such contracts exceeds five thousand
rupees in a particular year in which such a contract is entered or
seeking approval of central government where share capital of the
company exceeds one crore rupees.
17) Maintenance of Registers of Contracts: Under section 301 a company
is required to maintain register of all the contracts to which section
297 or 299 applies. But a section 25 company is exempt to the extent
that it allowed to maintain register of only those contracts to which
sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 297 apply. Thus they are exempted
from maintaining registers of those contracts which are made in
pursuance of sub-section (2) of section 297 or are covered by section
299.
18) Maintenance of Register of Directors: Under section 303 of the
companies act every company is required to maintain a register
containing particulars of its Directors, Managing Directors, Managers
and Secretary in manner prescribed in sub-section (1). These companies
are further required to send to the Registrar of Company a duplicate in
prescribed form containing all particulars of such register and a
notification in duplicate informing the Registrar of nay changes among
its Directors, Managing Directors, Managers or Secretary within 30 days
of such changes or appointment of First Directors of the company
[sub-sec. (2)]. Section 25 company has been exempted from operation of
sub-section (2) of section 303 and as such they are not required to
notify changes among its directors, etc to the Registrar. They are only
required to maintain Registers of their Directors, Managing Directors,
Managers and Secretary in prescribed format containing specified
particulars and updating the register by making changes in it as when
there is some change among the Directors, Managing Directors, Managers
and Secretary of the company.
19) Qualification for Secretary
ship: Every company registered under the
companies act is required to have a Secretary as defined under section
2(45) and having prescribed qualifications as laid down in the companies
act itself and in Companies (Appointment and Qualifications of
Secretary) Rules, 1988 and is required to be appointed in accordance
with Chapter IV (sections 383-A) of the companies act. However a Section
25 Company is exempt from the provision of section to the extent that
the rules regarding the qualification of a Secretary do not apply to
them [vide Notification NO. F.2/3/76-CLV dated 09-01-1976]. As section
2(45) do not apply to them they are free to appoint any person as its
Secretary whom it feels fit and proper for the same.
20) Applicability of CARO: Section 25 Companies are exempted from
applicability of Companies Auditor's Report Order 2003(CARO). CARO has
been made applicable to all companies from 1st January 2004. But CARO
expressly exempts section 25 companies from its applicability vide
Clause 2(iii) of Para I of the Order.
21) Payment of Registration Fees: The fees payable by a Section 25
Company at the time of registration and further increase of its share
capital has been kept very low in comparison to other companies and is
at present fixed at mere Rs. 50/- irrespective of the authorized amount
of share capital (Circular No. 6 dated 24-06-1996 and Notification No.
SO 3879 dated 22-12-1962)
22) Stamping of Memorandum and Articles: The Articles and Memorandum of
a Section 25 Company are not required to be stamped in accordance with
the Indian Stamp Act, 1899.
Obligations
Though a Section 25 Company has many advantages and enjoys many
privileges yet there are some statutory obligations which are required
to be complied with and taken care of by such companies.
1) A Section 25 Company has to ensure that its profits and all other
incomes are utilised only for the purpose of promoting its objects and
not for any other purpose.
2) It should also ensure that its profits are not distributed as
dividend among its members.
3) Section 25 Company cannot alter its objects clause in its Memorandum
without seeking the written approval of central government [sub section
(8)].
4) If the Central Government has imposed some conditions and regulations
upon the company for granting a licence under section 25 then such a
company is bind by such conditions and has to ensure adequate compliance
with them. Where such conditions and regulations have been imposed then
such conditions and regulations are required to be included in the
Articles or/and memorandum of the company as may be directed by the
government.
5) Section 25 Company is regarded as a 'company' within the meaning of
the Income Tax Act, 1961 and as such its income is taxable according to
the applicable rates similar to those applying to other companies.
6) If an existing company obtains a licence under section 25 it has to
ensure that its objects are confined to those mentioned in section 25
itself and if not make proper alteration to its memorandum and articles.
Apart from above mentioned privileges a Section 25 Company enjoys all
other advantages that a company registered under the companies act has
after incorporation. Similarly it is required to comply with all other
provisions of the Act just like any other normal company from which it
has not been expressly exempted. As such it will be subject to penalties
if there is a default in compliance with any of the provision of the
Companies Act. Such a default can also result in revocation of the
licence granted by the central government under section 25.
Our expert professionals are providing services for formation of Section 25 Company to Registration of it with Income Tax Department u/s 12A and Exemptions Under Section 80-G of Income Tax Act, 1961.