SPICe+
What SPICe+ means, how it works, a worked example, the mistakes we see and the questions founders ask.
DefinitionSPICe+ is the MCA's integrated web form for incorporating a company, with Part A for name reservation and Part B for incorporation, PAN, TAN, DIN allotment and the linked AGILE-PRO-S registrations.
SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus) replaced the older SPICe form in 2020. Part A reserves the name, usually within 3 to 4 working days. Part B then collects the registered office, subscribers, directors, capital and attachments, allots DINs to up to three directors who do not have one, and applies for PAN and TAN; the MOA (INC-33), AOA (INC-34), declarations (INC-9) and AGILE-PRO-S are linked forms filed with it. Incorporation follows in 8 to 10 working days after filing, so 12 to 15 working days end to end from complete documents. You meet it once, at the start, but every document you upload becomes part of the permanent MCA record. What it means for you: the MCA fee is nil up to ₹15 lakh authorised capital, stamp duty depends on the state, and errors mean a resubmission that adds a week.
How SPICe+ works
SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus) replaced the separate name, incorporation, PAN and TAN applications with one web form on the MCA portal. Part A reserves the name: up to two proposed names, checked against existing companies, LLPs and trademarks, approved or rejected within a working day or two. Part B is the incorporation itself: the registered office or correspondence address, the capital, the subscribers and first directors, and the attachments.
The attachments are the electronic memorandum and articles (e-MOA and e-AOA, or physical ones where a subscriber is abroad), proof of the office address, the identity and address proofs of each subscriber and director, the INC-9 declaration that the form generates, and the professional's certificate on INC-8. Linked forms ride along: AGILE-PRO-S for GST, EPFO, ESIC, profession tax and the bank account, and DIR-3 for up to three directors without a DIN.
On approval the Registrar issues the certificate of incorporation with the CIN, and PAN and TAN are allotted with it, so the company exists on day one with everything it needs to open a bank account. Name reservation costs ₹1,000; the incorporation fee is nil for authorised capital up to ₹15 lakh, with stamp duty on the memorandum, articles and the form itself varying by State.
Two founders in Pune apply in Part A on a Monday with their preferred name and one alternative. The name is approved on Wednesday and reserved for 20 days. They file Part B the following Monday with ₹10 lakh authorised capital, their Aadhaar and PAN, a rent agreement with the owner's NOC and a June electricity bill, and AGILE-PRO-S opting into GST and a current account. The certificate, PAN and TAN arrive on Thursday, a fortnight end to end.
Mistakes we see with SPICe+
- Proposing a name that contains a registered trademark in the same class, which Part A rejects and which costs a fresh ₹1,000 and a few days.
- Attaching a utility bill older than two months or in a name that does not match the NOC, the most common resubmission.
- Letting the 20-day name reservation lapse while documents are gathered; the name goes back into the pool.
Last updated 19 October 2026. Checked against the MCA, GST, Income-tax and Trade Marks rules in force for October 2026.
Where you will meet this term
Questions founders ask about SPICe+
How long does SPICe+ incorporation take?
Usually 7 to 15 working days from filing Part A, depending on how quickly the Registrar clears the name and whether Part B is marked for resubmission. Clean documents are the whole game.
What does company incorporation cost through SPICe+?
₹1,000 for name reservation; no Registrar fee for authorised capital up to ₹15 lakh; stamp duty that depends on the State and the capital (₹1,000 to ₹2,000 for most States at ₹1 lakh capital, far more in a few); plus the digital signatures and the professional's fee.
Can a foreign national be a subscriber through SPICe+?
Yes, with notarised and apostilled proofs, physical memorandum and articles signed before a notary, and at least one resident director. The rest of the process is the same.