Annual Filing for LLP: Everything You Need to Know

Starting an Annual Filing for LLP in India has benefits – a flexible form of organization, limited liability, and a lighter compliance burden than a private limited company. But to be clear: “lighter” does not mean “no.” Like every other registered entity, an LLP needs to file annual documents every financial year to maintain its compliance obligations and to avoid penalties.

So, whether you're an entrepreneur balancing several tasks or a first-time LLP partner confused about filing deadlines, this is a guide for you. We’ll walk you through LLP annual filings in everyday English.

Why Filings Matter for LLPs
Think of annual compliance for an LLP as a health check. It's evidence to the Government of India that your business exists, is operational, and transparent about what it's doing. Missing compliance notwithstanding, the potential penalties put the risk of your LLP being struck off the register.

Don’t be alarmed – once you understand the what and when for filings, it is all very easy.

Two Annual Filings Every LLP Must Make
Unlike companies that have multiple returns to file, LLPs generally only have two filings per year:
1. Form 11 – Statement of Account & Solvency
This is similar to saying, Here you go, government, this is what we own, we would owe, and how solvent we are."

Due Date: every May 30
What it includes:
A list of all partners
Each partner's contribution obligations
A declaration of solvency (meaning that your LLP can pay its debts)
A statement of assets and liabilities
A statement of income and expenditure

Form 11 must be filed even if your LLP did not conduct any business for the year. It is compulsory.
2. Form 8 - Statement of Account & Solvency (I know the name is confusing!)
This form is more or less your LLP's financial report card. It is a status of financials for the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).

Due Date: every October 30
What it includes:
Balance sheet
Profit and loss statement
Disclosure of contingent liability (if any)

A declaration signed by two designated partners confirming that everything is correct.
Note: If your annual turnover in the preceding year exceeds ₹40 Lakhs or your capital exceeds ₹25 Lakhs, then you must have your books audited by a Chartered Accountant before you file Form 8.
Income Tax Return for LLPs
Yes, we are not done yet. Aside from the MCA filings, we still have to file our Income Tax Return (ITR) with the Income Tax Department.

Form needed: ITR-5
When is it due?
Without audit: 31st July
With audit: 31st October

This is standard for all businesses and includes your income, expenses, deductions, and taxes owing.

What Happens When You File Late:
Let’s face it — sometimes it just happens. But when it comes to LLP filings, it can get expensive quite fast.

Late filing fees:
₹100 per day per form. Yes — with absolutely no upper limit on the total. So if you’re 100 days late on two forms, at ₹20,000.

Other implications:
You can’t file other forms until the past dues are filed.

Can make it difficult to acquire loans or investments — no investor wants to invest in an entity that’s in non-compliance.

How to file those forms: the step-by-step
You can do this online, and it is very simple to do, assuming you are comfortable with filing digital forms.

Step 1: Get your documents ready
For both Form 11 and Form 8, you will need:

Books of accounts
List of partners and their contributions
PAN and digital signatures of the Designated Partners
Financial Statements (audited or not, as the case may be)

Step 2: Log in to the MCA Portal
Visit www.mca.gov.in and log in with the details provided.

Step 3: Complete Forms
Download the forms you need (either Form 11 or Form 8), fill them out offline, taking help of the MCA utility, and upload them on the portal.

Step 4: Attach DSC (Digital Signature Certificate)
Both Forms must be signed by a minimum of two designated partners with a valid DSC.

Step 5: Pay Fees
Fees vary as per your LLP’s total contribution amount — you would pay between ₹50 to ₹600.

Common Traps
There are always a few traps that LLPs — especially new LLPs — tend to fall into:

Assuming nil turnover means no filings....wrong!. Every LLP must file Form 11 and Form 8 regardless of turnover.
Forgetting to employ a digital signature...only DSC accepted. Scanned signatures will not work.
Partner details do not match....make sure your partner information is consistent with what was registered.
Hold off on audit (if applicable) - Don’t wait until October for the audit - if obliged by your financials.

How can Kanakkupillai help?
Let's face it - you didn't start your LLP to get overwhelmed with paperwork - that's our job!
We can help your business, from collecting all the right documents to ensuring the form is filled out correctly and lodged on time, safely with Kanakkupillai.
Final Thoughts
Annual filing for LLPs isn't as tough as it appears, once you know what's required. Just keep organized, keep deadlines, and keep your records on file.

Form 11 is filed by May 30
Form 8 is filed by October 30
ITR is filed by July 31 or October 31, depending on the auditing

And if you are unsure, do not hesitate to seek help. A little assistance right now can allow you to avoid a big penalty (and a lot of stress). Here is to keeping your LLP healthy, happy, and compliant!
Need help with your LLP annual filing?
Check out Kanakkupillai.com — chaste compliance experts for businesses in India.