About the Service
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) has become a
preferred form of organization among entrepreneurs as it incorporates the
benefits of both partnership firm and company into a single form of
organisation. The concept of the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) was
introduced in India in 2008. An LLP has the characteristics of both the
partnership firm and company. The Limited liability Partnership Act, 2008
regulates the LLP in India. Minimum two partners are required to incorporate an
LLP. However, there is no upper limit on the maximum number of partners of an
LLP.
Among the partners, there should be a minimum of two
designated partners who shall be individuals, and at least one of them should
be resident in India. The rights and duties of designated partners are governed
by the LLP agreement. They are directly responsible for the compliance of all
the provisions of the LLP Act, 2008 and provisions specified in the LLP
agreement.
Documents Required
A. Documents of Partners
1. PAN Card/ ID Proof of Partners – All the partners are
required to provide their PAN at the time of registering LLP. PAN card acts as
a primary ID proof.
2. Address Proof of Partners – Partner can submit any one
document out of Voter’s ID, Passport, Driver’s license or Aadhar Card. Name and
other details as per address proof and PAN card should be exactly the same. If
the spelling of own name or father’s name or date of birth is different in
address proof and PAN card, it should be corrected before submitting to RoC.
3. Residence Proof of Partners – Latest bank statement,
telephone bill, mobile bill, electricity bill or gas bill should be submitted
as residence proof. Such bill or statement shouldn’t be more than 2-3 months
old and must contain the name of partner as mentioned in PAN card.
4. Photograph – Partners should also provide their
passport size photograph, preferably on white background.
5. Passport (in case of Foreign Nationals/ NRIs) – For
becoming a partner in Indian LLP, foreign nationals and NRIs have to submit
their passport compulsorily. Passport has to be notarized or apostilled by the
relevant authorities in the country of such foreign nationals and NRI, else
Indian Embassy situated in that country can also sign the documents.
6. Foreign nationals or NRIs have to submit proof of address
also which will be a driving license, bank statement, residence card or any
government-issued identity proof containing the address.
If the documents are in other than the English language, a notarized or apostilled translation copy will be also be attached.
B. Documents of LLP
1. Proof of Registered Office Address: Proof of registered
office has to be submitted during registration or within 30 days of its
incorporation.
If the registered office is taken on rent, a rent agreement
and a no-objection certificate from the landlord has to be submitted. No
objection certificate will be the consent of the landlord to allow the LLP
to use the place as a ‘registered office’.
2. Any one document out of utility bills like gas,
electricity, or telephone bill must be submitted. The bill should contain the
complete address of the premise and owner’s name and the document shouldn’t be
older than 2 months.
3. Digital Signature Certificate: One of the designated
partners needs to opt for a digital signature certificate also since
all documents and applications will be digitally signed by the authorized
signatory
Timeline of the service
LLP formation starting from obtaining DSC to Filing Form 3
takes approximately 10 days, subject to departmental approval and revert from
the respective department.
FAQs
1. Is LLP registration mandatory?
Yes, an registration of an LLP on the Ministry of Corporate
(MCA) portal is mandatory. An LLP must obtain registration under the Limited
Liability Partnership (LLP) Act to be a legally valid entity.
2. 2. What is the difference between LLP and a
Partnership Firm?
An LLP must be registered under the LLP Act to operate its
business. However, the registration of a partnership firm is voluntary under
the Partnership Act, 1932. The liability of each partner is limited to the
contribution made by the partner in an LLP. But in a partnership firm, all
partners are personally liable for the loss/debts of the firm.
The LLP has a separate legal entity, i.e. it can buy
property, sue and be sued in its name. Partnership firms cannot buy a property
or sue anyone in the partnership firm’s name. It has to be in the name of the
authorised partner as the partnership firm does not have a separate legal
entity.
3.
3. Does LLP require MoA and AoA?
No, the Memorandum of Association (MOA) and the Articles of Association (AOA) are important documents of a company registered under the Companies Act, 2013. The LLP agreement governs the LLP and not the MOA and AOA. Thus, an LLP does not have to draft the MOA and AOA. It has to draft the LLP agreement.4
4. Should directors be appointed to an LLP?
No, there are no directors in an LLP. An LLP does not have
to appoint directors or have a board of directors. The partners govern the
business of an LLP. The partners take decisions regarding the working and
business of the LLP. Thus, an LLP needs to have a minimum of two partners at
all times.
5. 5. What is DPIN?
Designated Partner Identification Number (DPIN) is a unique
number given by the MCA to the designated partner of an LLP. The DPIN is
similar to the Director Identification Number (DIN) of a company director. DPIN
can be obtained for any person when registering an LLP, or a person can later
apply for a DPIN to become a designated partner of an existing LLP.
6.
6. What is the eligibility to be appointed as a designated
partner in an LLP?
Any individual partner can become a designated partner in an
LLP by consenting to it and in accordance with the LLP agreement. A body
corporate cannot be a designated partner. All partners can be designated
partners in an LLP if such a provision is provided in the LLP agreement.
7.
7. Who can be partners in an LLP?
Any individual or body corporate can be a partner in an LLP.
However, minors, persons of unsound mind and an undischarged insolvent cannot
be partners in an LLP.
8.
How many designated partners are required in an
LLP?
Every LLP must have at least two designated partners, and at
least one of them should be a resident in India. If all partners in an LLP are
body corporates, then at least two individual nominees of such body corporates
should act as designated partners. Any partner can be a designated partner in
accordance with the LLP agreement.
9.
8. What if the partner’s number in an LLP reduces
to one?
If the number of partners of an LLP reduces to one at any
time, the single partner can carry on the business of the LLP for six months.
After six months, if the LLP still has only one partner and that partner
carries on a business of the LLP, the single partner will be liable personally
for the obligations of the LLP. The National Company Law Tribunal can also wind
up the LLP when the number of partners of the LLP is reduced below two for more
than six months.