How to register a company or partnership in Kerala? How to apply for KVAT registration and Import Export Code.

1. Checklist for an Entreprenuer:
Decide what you want?
1. Pvt. Ltd. Company,
2. Partnership,
3. Proprietorship.
Requirements:
Company:
Min 2 Directors required.
Each Director will be assigned a Director Identification Number and a Director
can be on the board of Directors of maximum 12 companies at the same
time.
A Digital Signature Certificate will be made in the name of the Managing
Director who will sign all the documents digitally.
DSC are commonly used to file papers with ROC, Sales Tax dept., Customs,
DGFT, etc.
Upon incorporation, the Certificate of Incorporation will be received by the
person filing the documents (mostly the Managing Director or the
person who is the promoter) via email. No hard copies will be sent.
Bank Account:
Be careful while choosing a bank. Build a rapport with the Bank Manager.
Chose a nationalized bank always. The Incorporation Certificate may be
printed along with the AOA and MOA and one copy may be submitted to
the bank to open a current account for the purpose of Business
transactions. A copy of Board Resolution may also be provided to the
bank as to the mode of operation.
Partnership:

2. Min 2 partners are required.
Make a partnership deed (in a 1000 Rs. stamp paper)after a reaching a
consensus on share holding, revenue sharing, roles and responsibilities,
etc between the parners. Register the same with the Registrar of Firm,
Vanchiyoor, Thiruvanthapuram.
Sole Proprietorship:
As the term indicates, it is managed by a single person. No need of documents.
However to open a bank account the bank will insist on a Shop license
from the Panchayat which is mandatory for company and partnership as
well.
Shop License:
Shop License is issued from the Panchayat or Corporation as the case may be.
Upon submitting an application along with required fee, an officer will
inspect the premises and give you a certificate.
PAN CARD:
Apply for a Pan card as soon as the partnership registration or Company
Incorporation is done. The individual can apply for PAN in his person al
name.
TAN:
As soon as the PAN is approved, apply for a TAN (Tax Account Number) This is
for the purpose of deducting TDS from outbound payments. No cash
transaction shall be made above Rs.20000. All transactions shall be
made via cheque and TDS shall be deducted.
TDS returns statement should be filed with the Income tax department every
quarter, failing which an interest will be added upon the TDS amount
already collected but not paid to the government.
Do not confuse TAN with TIN.
TIN or Tax Identification Number:

3. In Kerala we have the KVAT or Kerala Value Added Tax which registration we
have to do with the Commercial Taxes Office in each Taluk. The CST or
Central Sales Tax registration is also issued from the same office. If at
the end of the number, alphabet C is also mentioned it means it is also a
CST registration number.
Documents required for KVAT/CST registration.
Applications should be made online a hard copy shall be submitted to the
respective office along with the following documents.
• Challan of fee paid,
• Affidavit,
• National Savings Certificate,
• Copy of ID proof,
• PAN Card copy,
• Photos,
• Self-addressed envelope.
The list is not complete. Please refer circular no. 10/2006 of the Sales Tax
department. Link available:
http://keralataxes.gov.in/circular/10_06.pdf
Register your business with the Kerala Labour Welfare Fund board.
Apply for Pollution Control Board’s Certificate if necessary.
ESI & PF registration. Unless your employee count is more than 10 there is no
need to hurry for these things.
Service Tax:
Copy of Pan Card and Lease deed of the office premises or if owned, the copy of
building tax receipt shall be furnished. This is done at the Central Excise
and Customs dept. who have offices in every district of the state.

4. Import Export License:
This is issued from the Office of the Director General of Foreign Trade who have
offices at Trivandrum & Kochi. Details about how to apply can be had
from the website: http://www.dgft.gov.in/ Mention of IEC in Invoices is
necessary to receive payments from abroad in case you have clients
abroad.
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