iBACT for Startups 12 months of services, free

It's IBACT's programme for young DPIIT-recognised startups. Selected startups get a fixed bundle of IBACT services, with no professional fees for 12 months: GST and TDS returns, the company's income tax return, DIN KYC, Startup India support and a Starter website, plus 2 Growth services of their choice.

Private limited companies, LLPs and registered partnership firms based in India that are recognised by DPIIT under Startup India and were incorporated less than 4 years before the application date. The company must be Active on MCA, and each founding team can enrol only once.

From the date on your Certificate of Incorporation or registration to the date you apply. For example, a company incorporated on 15 November 2022 can apply until 14 November 2026. Once accepted, you still get the full 12 months, even if the company turns 4 during the year.

Yes. You need a valid DPIIT recognition certificate when you apply, and we verify its number on the Startup India portal. If you don't have it yet, we can help you apply for recognition first.

Yes, for IBACT's professional fees on the services in your bundle, for 12 months. Government fees, taxes, interest and penalties, and third-party charges such as Meta's WhatsApp message charges, domain names or ad spend, stay payable by the startup.

The Core pack is worth ₹27,494 at IBACT's list prices before GST, and the full bundle up to ₹50,481 depending on the 2 Growth services you pick.

WhatsApp Business API (Starter) for 12 months, a GST annual return (GSTR-9), a website upgrade from Starter to Classic, 10,000 SMS credits, one trademark filing in one class, or Google Business Profile setup.

Your Certificate of Incorporation (or LLP or firm registration), DPIIT recognition certificate and the startup's PAN card, as PDF, JPG or PNG files up to 5 MB each, plus the founder's contact details.

Our team checks each application against MCA and the Startup India portal within 2 working days, and sends the decision by email and WhatsApp: accepted, waitlisted for the next cohort, or not eligible with the reason.

Each cohort has a limited number of seats, shown live at the top of this page. Accepted and enrolled startups fill the seats; eligible startups that apply after the cohort is full go on the waitlist for the next cohort.

On the day we activate your account after onboarding, not the day you apply. Cohort 1 is planned to start on 1 January 2027, so its free year runs for the 2027 calendar year.

From month 10, your account manager shares a renewal offer of 25% off list prices for year two if you renew before your free year ends. There's no obligation to renew, and if you leave we hand over all your documents and logins with no exit fee.

No. They aren't in the free bundle, but programme startups get them, and any other IBACT service, at our startup price of 30% off list during the year.

Work beyond the caps, such as extra GSTINs, more than 100 invoices a month, more deductees, a second trademark class, a tax audit or notices, is billed at the startup price of 30% off list.

Yes, if your startup meets the rules, but the free bundle can't replace services you already pay IBACT for. We'll check what you use today and tell you what the programme can add.

Proprietorships can't, because they can't hold DPIIT recognition. A One Person Company is a private limited company, so it can apply if it is DPIIT-recognised and less than 4 years old.

No. iBACT for Startups is a private programme run by IBACT Innovations Pvt Ltd to celebrate 8 years of IBACT. It is not run by or affiliated with DPIIT or Startup India.

Your application and documents go only to IBACT's own application system on this website. Documents are stored privately, seen only by our review team, and used only to verify your application.