Startup India Registration (DPIIT Startup Recognition)
Startup India registration is recognition by DPIIT that your business is an eligible startup. Under the new definition notified on 4 February 2026, a company, LLP, registered firm or cooperative qualifies for up to 10 years from incorporation if its turnover has never crossed ₹200 crore. Recognition opens the door to the section 80-IAC tax holiday, lower IP fees and easier government tenders.
What it is
DPIIT recognition is a certificate from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade confirming that your entity is a startup. It does not replace company or LLP registration. It sits on top of it. Banks, investors, government buyers and other departments rely on the recognition number when they extend startup benefits.
The rules changed this year. Notification G.S.R. 108(E) dated 4 February 2026 replaced the 2019 definition (G.S.R. 127(E), 19 February 2019). It raised the turnover limit, brought in cooperatives and created a separate deep tech category. Here is the catch: the innovation test did not get easier. Applications are now made on the National Single Window System (nsws.gov.in) under “Registration as a Startup”, with information on the Startup India website.
Who it applies to
Eligible entity types
Private limited companies, LLPs, registered partnership firms, and multi-state, state or UT cooperative societies. Proprietorships and unregistered firms cannot apply. A farmers’ cooperative building a crop-tracking app, shut out before 2026, can now apply.
Age and turnover
Up to 10 years from incorporation or registration, with turnover not above ₹200 crore in any financial year since then. The entity must not be formed by splitting up or reconstructing an existing business.
Innovation test
The business must work towards innovation or improvement of products, processes or services, or have a scalable model with real potential for jobs or wealth creation.
Why it matters
Claim three tax-free years
An eligible company or LLP can claim 100% of its profits as a deduction under section 80-IAC for any three consecutive years out of its first ten, after certification by the Inter-Ministerial Board.
Protect your brand for less
A recognised startup pays ₹4,500 per class to e-file a trademark for its brand instead of ₹9,000, and gets startup status under the Designs Rules as well.
Bid for tenders without EMD
Under the General Financial Rules, recognised startups are exempt from earnest money deposit and can get relaxation of prior experience and prior turnover, subject to quality and technical specifications.
Recognition vs the 80-IAC tax holiday
These are two separate approvals, and founders often mix them up. Recognition comes first; the tax exemption needs a second certificate.
| Point | DPIIT recognition | Section 80-IAC certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | Company, LLP, registered firm, cooperative society | Company or LLP only |
| Age | Up to 10 years (20 for deep tech) | Incorporated on or after 1 April 2016 and before 1 April 2030 |
| Turnover limit | ₹200 crore in any year (₹300 crore for deep tech) | ₹100 crore in the year of claim |
| Approved by | DPIIT | Inter-Ministerial Board |
| Benefit | Startup status for schemes, IP fees, tenders | 100% profit deduction for 3 consecutive years out of 10 |
Documents required
Entity documents
- Certificate of incorporation or registration
- PAN of the entity, and GSTIN if registered
- Partnership deed or LLP agreement, where relevant
Founders
- Names, contact details and PAN of directors or partners
- Authorised signatory details
The innovation
- A clear write-up of the problem, the solution and what is new
- Website, pitch deck or product demo link
- Patents, trademarks, awards or customer evidence, if any
How it works
Test eligibility against the 2026 rules
We check your entity type, date of incorporation and turnover history against the 2026 definition, and whether the deep tech route fits better. A software product run as a proprietorship from Faridabad, for example, first needs to become a company or LLP.
Write the innovation statement
DPIIT judges this part most closely. We help you explain, in plain terms, what is new about the product or model and who it helps.
File the application on NSWS
We create the NSWS account, fill the “Registration as a Startup” form, attach the documents and track queries from DPIIT.
Apply for 80-IAC when profits arrive
Once recognised, a company or LLP can apply to the Inter-Ministerial Board. In practice, timing is everything: a Gurugram SaaS company that will turn profitable in year four should aim its three tax-free years at years four to six, not at loss-making early years.
Timelines
Recognition period
10 years from incorporation or registration (20 for deep tech), ending earlier if turnover crosses ₹200 crore (₹300 crore for deep tech).
80-IAC cut-off
The company or LLP must be incorporated before 1 April 2030 to qualify for the tax holiday.
Choosing your 3 years
Any three consecutive years within the first ten from incorporation, in which turnover stays within ₹100 crore.
What happens if you cross the limits
Recognition ends
Status lapses after 10 years, or once turnover crosses ₹200 crore in any financial year. Startup-only concessions stop from then on.
Investment restrictions
The 2026 notification bars recognised startups from putting money into residential real estate, luxury assets, jewellery, speculative activities or passive investments, unless that is the ordinary business.
Revocation for false details
DPIIT now has stronger powers to revoke recognition granted on false or misleading information, and the benefits claimed on it can unravel.
Frequently asked questions
What changed in the 2026 startup definition?
Notification G.S.R. 108(E) of 4 February 2026 replaced the 2019 definition. The turnover limit rose from ₹100 crore to ₹200 crore, cooperative societies became eligible, and a new deep tech category allows 20 years and ₹300 crore turnover. It also bars certain investments, such as residential property and jewellery, outside the ordinary business. If you were recognised under the old rules, we can check how the new conditions affect you.
Can a proprietorship get DPIIT recognition?
No. Only private limited companies, LLPs, registered partnership firms and cooperative societies are eligible. A sole proprietor who wants recognition must first set up one of these structures, usually a private limited company or LLP if the tax holiday is a goal, since 80-IAC is open only to those two. We can handle the private limited company incorporation and the startup application together.
Is DPIIT recognition the same as the 80-IAC tax exemption?
No. Recognition is the first step and is granted by DPIIT. The tax holiday under section 80-IAC needs a separate certificate from the Inter-Ministerial Board, and only companies and LLPs incorporated between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2030 can apply. Turnover must stay within ₹100 crore in the year you claim. Plan the 80-IAC application with your accountant early, not as an afterthought.
How much does Startup India registration cost?
There is no government fee for DPIIT recognition. You pay only for professional help if you choose it, mainly for preparing the innovation write-up and handling queries. A weak application costs time instead: a queried or rejected case delays every benefit tied to the recognition number. We quote our fee in advance after a quick look at your business.
What is a deep tech startup under the new rules?
A deep tech startup builds solutions on new scientific or engineering advances, with substantial R&D spending, significant new intellectual property and long commercialisation timelines. Such startups keep recognition for up to 20 years and up to ₹300 crore turnover, against 10 years and ₹200 crore for others. DPIIT assesses deep tech status under a separate framework, so the evidence of research and IP needs careful presentation.
Do startups still face angel tax?
No. Section 56(2)(viib), the so-called angel tax on share premium, no longer applies from FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26) onwards, after the Finance Act, 2024 removed it for all companies. Recognised startups no longer need a separate exemption for it. You still need a proper valuation report when issuing shares, because company law and FEMA rules on pricing continue to apply. We can arrange that along with the share allotment filings.
Can a recognised startup bid for government tenders without experience?
Often, yes. Under Rule 170(i) of the General Financial Rules, 2017, recognised startups are exempt from earnest money deposit, and Rule 173(i) allows relaxation of prior experience and prior turnover. The product must still meet the quality and technical specifications of the tender. On GeM, startups register as sellers using their DPIIT recognition number. We help set up your GeM seller account so the startup badge shows.
What happens when our turnover crosses ₹200 crore?
Recognition ends once turnover exceeds ₹200 crore in any financial year since incorporation, or ₹300 crore for a deep tech startup. From that point, startup-only concessions stop for later periods. The 80-IAC deduction has its own ₹100 crore test for the year of claim. We help you plan the tax-free years well before that limit comes into view.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
DPIIT does not charge a fee for startup recognition.
Ready to begin?
Tell us what you are building and we will check your eligibility under the 2026 rules and file your DPIIT application.