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ADT-1 Filing
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ADT-1 Filing

Overview

What is a ADT-1 Filing?

Every company registered under the Companies Act, 2013 is required to appoint a statutory auditor to audit its books of account and financial statements. Once the appointment (or re-appointment) of an auditor is made by the company, it must be intimated to the Registrar of Companies (ROC) by filing Form ADT-1, in accordance with Section 139(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 4 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014.

Note on ADT-1 Filing

Intimation of Appointment of Auditor under Section 139 of the Companies Act, 2013

1. Introduction

Every company registered under the Companies Act, 2013 is required to appoint a statutory auditor to audit its books of account and financial statements. Once the appointment (or re-appointment) of an auditor is made by the company, it must be intimated to the Registrar of Companies (ROC) by filing Form ADT-1, in accordance with Section 139(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 4 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014.

Form ADT-1 is a mandatory e-form filed by the company (not the auditor) to inform the ROC about the appointment of the auditor, whether such appointment is the first auditor appointed by the Board after incorporation, a regular auditor appointed by shareholders at an Annual General Meeting (AGM), or an auditor appointed to fill a casual vacancy.

2. Salient Features of ADT-1 Filing

Mandatory for all companies

Filing of Form ADT-1 is mandatory for every company – private, public, listed, or unlisted – upon appointment or re-appointment of a statutory auditor; there is no exemption based on size or turnover.

Company's obligation, not the auditor's

The responsibility to file Form ADT-1 lies with the company, not the auditor, even though the form pertains to the auditor's appointment.

Auditor appointed for 5 years at a time

An auditor (other than the first auditor) is generally appointed for a term of 5 consecutive years, spanning from the conclusion of that AGM until the conclusion of the sixth AGM.

Strict statutory timeline

Form ADT-1 must be filed with the ROC within 15 days from the date of appointment of the auditor. Delayed filings attract standard additional penalty fees based on the duration of delay.

3. Documents Required for ADT-1 Filing

S. No. Document Name Key Guidelines / Specifications
1 Auditor's Written Consent A formal letter from the auditor or firm expressing willingness to accept the appointment.
2 Eligibility Certificate A statutory declaration confirming criteria fulfillment under Section 141(3) and that they are not disqualified.
3 Board or AGM Resolution Copy A certified true copy of the internal resolution passed appointing the statutory auditor.
4 Intimation Letter to Auditor A copy of the formal notification issued by the company informing the auditor of their appointment.

4. Process Flow for ADT-1 Filing

  1. Obtain Consent & Certificate: Collect the formal written consent and eligibility certificate from the proposed auditor before the meeting.
  2. Pass Appointment Resolution: Convene the Board Meeting or AGM and secure approval to appoint the auditor.
  3. Issue Intimation Letter: Send an official communication letter to the appointed auditor within the prescribed time.
  4. Prepare and Formulate E-Form: Input metadata details, select timelines, and attach the consent, certificate, and resolution documents to Form ADT-1.
  5. Affix DSC and Upload: Digitally sign the e-form using the company's authorized director or secretary DSC, and submit it on the MCA portal within 15 days.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Collapsible FAQs (or accordions) let visitors browse questions and click to expand answers, keeping pages uncluttered

Is ADT-1 required when an auditor is appointed to fill a casual vacancy? +
Ans. Yes. Where a casual vacancy arises (e.g., due to resignation of the auditor), the newly appointed auditor's details must also be intimated to the ROC through Form ADT-1, following approval of the appointment by the company in a General Meeting.
Can an auditor be appointed for a period shorter than 5 years? +
Ans. While the general practice is to appoint an auditor for 5 consecutive years at one AGM (subject to ratification requirements as applicable at the relevant time), a company may appoint an auditor for a shorter specific term as approved by the shareholders, in which case ADT-1 reflects that specific term.
Is a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) required for filing Form ADT-1? +
Ans. Yes. Form ADT-1 must be digitally signed using the DSC of an authorised director or the company secretary of the company before it can be filed on the MCA portal.
Does the auditor also need to file anything with the ROC on being appointed? +
Ans. The primary filing obligation of Form ADT-1 rests with the company. The auditor's role is generally limited to furnishing the written consent and eligibility certificate to the company, which are then attached by the company while filing the form.


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